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Film Spot Meter Support

Getting started

  1. Open the app and tap Allow when it asks for camera access. The camera is used only to measure light.
  2. Choose your film speed on the Film ISO wheel.
  3. Pick Set aperture to choose an f-stop and get a shutter time, or Set shutter to choose a time and get an aperture.
  4. Tap the area you want to meter in the viewfinder. The amber spot circle moves there.
  5. Read the result under Expose for (or Set the lens to) and set it on your camera.

The full guide covers the zone system, bellows extension, reciprocity, and calibration. It’s the same guide the ? button opens in the app.

Common questions

The app shows a black screen or keeps asking for the camera.

Camera access is turned off. Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Camera and turn on Film Spot Meter, then reopen the app. You can also use the app without the camera by switching to Manual EV.

The reading doesn’t match my other meter.

First, check what each one is reading. Film Spot Meter reads only the area inside the spot circle, while most in-camera meters average the whole frame, so the two will disagree on most scenes. To compare them fairly, meter a gray card or an evenly lit wall with both. If they still differ, use the Calibration + and − buttons until they agree. You only need to do this once; the calibration is saved. Calibration steps.

The app says “Too bright” or “Too dark.”

The spot is outside the range your phone’s camera can measure. Meter something nearby and adjust, or enter the light level yourself with Manual EV.

My film isn’t in the reciprocity list.

Choose Custom exponent and enter the value p from your film’s data sheet. The film stock pages are a good place to start looking. Manufacturer figures are a starting point, so a test roll is worth doing for important long exposures.

Does the app collect my data?

No. It doesn’t connect to the internet, and your settings stay on your iPhone. See the privacy policy.

Contact support

Have a question that isn’t answered above, or found a bug? Send a message and you’ll get a reply by email.

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