Topic: Free or cheap lightmeter alternatives

[Francois]

As this will come once in a while, here are a few exposure metering gadgets that are free or cheap.

To start up, here's the free cardboard exposure meters.
http://squit.co.uk/photo/downloads.html
http://expomat.tripod.com/

And for those with an android smartphone, here is the lightmeter free app
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dq.fotometro

And here is the one I use. It's the same as above but without adverts.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dq.fotometroNa

[jharr]

The Ilford cut & assemble exposure meter for the Titan also works pretty well.

http://www.thedarkroom.co.uk/cameras/ilford-pinhole-photography-kit.html

[Bryan]

I wonder if anyone has tried to make a home made extinction meter?  It seem like it could be fairly simple.

[Francois]

If I had one to take apart to see how it works, it would be a fun project

[chris667]

Brilliant! Thank you!

Regarding extinction meters, they are not particularly complicated. Just a series of ND filters. I had one once. If I find a damaged filter, I will try and make one.

[jharr]

Not free, but it looks handy.

http://filmphotographyproject.com/store/black-cat-exposure-guide-light-meter

[Late Developer]

If you can get it on Android, I can recommend "MyLightmeterPro".  I have it on my iPhone and, in the conditions in which I normally shoot, I've not noticed any appreciable difference to the readings off my Gossen Starlite.  It'll do reflective and incident, you can adjust for high and low key and it even has a modest spot / heavy centre-weighted function.  Not free but far from expensive either...

[Francois]

And there's Fred Parker's Ultimate Exposure Computer
http://www.fredparker.com/ultexp1.htm

[jojonas~]

I wonder if anyone has tried to make a home made extinction meter?  It seem like it could be fairly simple.

how about an extention meter?

for large format shooting

Print, mount on cardboard (if you want), cut out and put together in the middle with something that makes it spinable. When focal length 75 is readable on bellows output 75, the blue arrow will end up at 1, ie exposure time times 1 (focus on infinity). If you spin the disc and 75 end up with about 140, then there will be 2 stops or factor 4, where the blue arrow will end up (scale 1: 1). And so on.