Some time ago we reported on the Lumu accessory which aims to turn your smartphone into a light meter. The device worked quite well in our brief test but had a couple of limitations: it only works with Apple smartphones as support for Android had been dropped, and it cannot not be used as a flash meter.
The LxMeter from Italian manufacturer Optivelox is a very similar device to the Lumu but provides flash meter functionality and is capable of working with Android devices via a dedicated app. According to the manufacturer, the hardware is compatible with Apple iPhones but no corresponding app has been released yet.
The LxMeter can trigger a flash via Bluetooth and compatible receivers. Thanks to its ability to capture very short light impulses, it can also measure flash output. Flash duration comes into the equation with the help of a database that includes flash time values for many known flash models. If your model is not included you can add its information manually.
The LxMeter is currently available in two versions starting from 59 Euros (approximately $65) for the standard version. The "P" version comes with a rugged case and a light shield that allows for better light readings from flat surfaces such as manuscripts or paintings. The LxMeter website still looks a little rudimentary but provides more information on smartphone compatibility and ordering instructions. The device can be seen in action in the video below.
I wonder if DPreview bothered to check out optivelox's user ratings on google play before showing this device. The ratings are often VERY BAD. The sensors, not just the flash meter, all sound like good ideas but do they actually exist, can you get hold of them, for what price and do they really work. If the answer to these questions is yes then they are very worthwhile and may be useful for teaching students apart from anything else. But if the answer is no (as might be the case from some of the reviews) then it is just a scam. Would hope that DPreview might check this out and give an answer.
well, we haven't tested the device...as this is merely a news story, so we can't make any statement with regard to its performance. In any case I am not sure how this could be a scam. The app is free to install, so if for some reason you can't get hold of the device you haven't lost anything, right?
As far as I can see you can use the free apps only with their test data not anything real, so yes it could still be a scam. I am not saying it definitely is but just pointing to the large number of 'maximum badness' reviews.
I've just downloaded LxMeter for my old Samsung Galaxy S and it works like a charm with the internal light sensor of the phone. I didn't find anything about test data or 'maximum badness' reviews (I read just a single bad review of someone that complained about a bug of a previous release).
From the looks of their website, it must have been designed in the 60's..... long before the internet.
NO THANK YOU!
Why is DP Review even promoting this App? They cannot design a simple and easy website? What about the functionality of the App? Will it be any better?
we're not promoting anything, we are reporting about a new product that we thought might be interesting to some of our readers. Personally I am not sure if judging a product by the website of its makers makes too much sense. Clearly this is a small company, so if they are putting more effort into the product than the website that can only be in their customers' interest.
Very nice!!! I would have bought this couple of months back. I went and bought old Minolta lightmeter instead but it is bigger and bulkier than my phone.
I wonder if they have advanced features like measurement of ambient vs flash, mulitple flashes etc. This should be SW only change of this type of meter.
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