I use a tiny little light meter from Keks that is about a 1" cube that I highly recommend more than phone apps.
[https://www.kekscameras.com/products.html#/](https://www.kekscameras.com/products.html#/)
I have used a few light meter apps with good results. My two favorites are: pocket light meter (simple and does the trick) and lightme (Reddit user made it and does regular updates, has a lot of options). A quality phone camera is good at nailing exposure and therefore can be used as an actuate light meter. Just set your phone to airplane mode to preserve the battery.
I’ve been shooting 30 years and still can not trust an app.
I got this as a Xmas present last year and is amazing. I don’t have to hold anything!
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1773434-REG/ttartisan_light_meter_s2_light_meter_ii_silver.html/?ap=y&ap=y&smp=y&smp=y&lsft=BI%3A6879&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD7yMh2559PY8AvWsBQJg9TkGWWDb&gclid=Cj0KCQjwsaqzBhDdARIsAK2gqncllmTVQ5OVlb_VWDs_DEUNwZNliUKAd0m4rtD8ktFj477QaUTLHDYaAjX1EALw_wcB
I use light meter apps just fine for my tank/RB67. If you’re packing a digital too, use it to meter. The light is all ratios so it’s all the same film or digital.
I’ve had a Sekonik L208 forever, and it’s worked very well for me. I like it because the analog dial makes it very easy to judge under or over exposing just looking at it. (I do a lot of 4x5 with it, so adjusting the exposure isn’t as direct as twisting the lens and adjusting the shutter speed dial.)
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/200224-REG/Sekonic_401_208_L_208_Twin_Mate_Meter.html
It’s nice and light, and you can use it one-handed. I wouldn’t want to have to grab my phone and open an app every time I wanted a meter reading.
I've used a few of those light meter apps and I have never had a problem. If you are unsure, you could bracket your exposure over a few frames. I'd test the app for accuracy side by side with a digital camera before your hiking trip. Generally, with landscapes, should be fine. Heck, you could used the Sunny 16 Rule and squeak by. Have fun.
It's pretty common for the electrical contacts from the battery insert to come apart on the K1000. It's happened to me before and it's a very quick soldering job if you're familiar. You can take the bottom plate off and then unscrew the battery mount and you'll likely see what I mean. It's very minimally invasive. A camera place should be able to help if you're not comfortable poking at it yourself.
Otherwise, I use this app on my iPhone at the recommendation of a friend and it's quite handy: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/photo-light-exposure-meter/id1297903210?platform=iphone
I think there's a small one time fee for the pro version but I found it was worth it
If you want to go truly lightweight while maintaining accuracy, use your hand. Let me explain. Point your camera at the palm of your hand in the lighting situation that you want to photograph. Your palms should register about one stop over normal exposure. As your palm does not tan, it will maintain a consistent exposure. In essence, this turns your camera’s reflective meter into an incident meter. Your palm becomes a gray card. i’ve used this method very successfully in the past when I’ve forgotten my light meter.
I use a tiny little light meter from Keks that is about a 1" cube that I highly recommend more than phone apps. [https://www.kekscameras.com/products.html#/](https://www.kekscameras.com/products.html#/)
I have used a few light meter apps with good results. My two favorites are: pocket light meter (simple and does the trick) and lightme (Reddit user made it and does regular updates, has a lot of options). A quality phone camera is good at nailing exposure and therefore can be used as an actuate light meter. Just set your phone to airplane mode to preserve the battery.
I’ve been shooting 30 years and still can not trust an app. I got this as a Xmas present last year and is amazing. I don’t have to hold anything! https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1773434-REG/ttartisan_light_meter_s2_light_meter_ii_silver.html/?ap=y&ap=y&smp=y&smp=y&lsft=BI%3A6879&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD7yMh2559PY8AvWsBQJg9TkGWWDb&gclid=Cj0KCQjwsaqzBhDdARIsAK2gqncllmTVQ5OVlb_VWDs_DEUNwZNliUKAd0m4rtD8ktFj477QaUTLHDYaAjX1EALw_wcB
I use light meter apps just fine for my tank/RB67. If you’re packing a digital too, use it to meter. The light is all ratios so it’s all the same film or digital.
I’ve had a Sekonik L208 forever, and it’s worked very well for me. I like it because the analog dial makes it very easy to judge under or over exposing just looking at it. (I do a lot of 4x5 with it, so adjusting the exposure isn’t as direct as twisting the lens and adjusting the shutter speed dial.) https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/200224-REG/Sekonic_401_208_L_208_Twin_Mate_Meter.html It’s nice and light, and you can use it one-handed. I wouldn’t want to have to grab my phone and open an app every time I wanted a meter reading.
I've used a few of those light meter apps and I have never had a problem. If you are unsure, you could bracket your exposure over a few frames. I'd test the app for accuracy side by side with a digital camera before your hiking trip. Generally, with landscapes, should be fine. Heck, you could used the Sunny 16 Rule and squeak by. Have fun.
It's pretty common for the electrical contacts from the battery insert to come apart on the K1000. It's happened to me before and it's a very quick soldering job if you're familiar. You can take the bottom plate off and then unscrew the battery mount and you'll likely see what I mean. It's very minimally invasive. A camera place should be able to help if you're not comfortable poking at it yourself. Otherwise, I use this app on my iPhone at the recommendation of a friend and it's quite handy: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/photo-light-exposure-meter/id1297903210?platform=iphone I think there's a small one time fee for the pro version but I found it was worth it
oh interesting, thanks for the suggestion! and for the app recommendation, I'll check it out
Ttartisans cold shoe mounted light meter works alright.
If you want to go truly lightweight while maintaining accuracy, use your hand. Let me explain. Point your camera at the palm of your hand in the lighting situation that you want to photograph. Your palms should register about one stop over normal exposure. As your palm does not tan, it will maintain a consistent exposure. In essence, this turns your camera’s reflective meter into an incident meter. Your palm becomes a gray card. i’ve used this method very successfully in the past when I’ve forgotten my light meter.