Light Meter Ultra

I know, I know... 'film photography in 2024?' But hear me out.

In the same way there's been a 'vinyl revival' with sales of vinyl recently outpacing CD sales for the first time in decades, there's also been a lesser known 'film revival'. Sales of film are steadily on the rise and Leica has even announced it's upping the production of its film cameras.

Some say it's the 'look' that film gives you, or how enjoyable it is to shoot with something with all the mechanical craftsmanship of a vintage Cartier watch.

For me, it's the way that film can keep you in the present moment while at the same time giving you something to look forward to in the future. Each time you release the shutter you're filling a Schrödinger's box of 36 surprises for your future self.

There's something magical about the process of shooting on film that you simply don't get with digital.

That said, when your photos come back looking like they've been shot on the vinyl b-side of Barry's Manilow's 'Could it be magic?', it can really make you rethink your decisions in life.

(Plus, have you seen how much a roll of Portra 400 costs?)

That's the situation that brought me to the App Store looking for a light meter app.

Of course it had to be accurate, but I also wanted a UI that would get out of your way when shooting rather than a digital recreation of an antique light meter. Vintage tribute acts are fun, but they do get tedious when you're trying to complete a task.

Nothing fit the bill.

So I made one myself. Accurate, very. But also with a glanceable interface that gets out of your way while shooting and, more importantly, keeps you in the moment. It's unapologetic about its digital nature in the service of your next shot.

The best of analog meets the best of digital.

So, for all you film photographers out there, this is for you. I hope you enjoy it.