BTZS ExpoDev for iOS is now available in the iTunes store

[Jason Greenberg Motamedi]

Not only do you have to buy the plotter program, you also have to buy a densitometer and step tablet...

However, ViewCamera Store will do the sensitometry and data entry for you, and send you a file which will drop into iTunes.

[Ben Syverson]

Ah, I see this process is quite a bit more involved than I thought, so my critique really doesn't make much sense.

[Jim Cole]

I've been using ExpoDev for about 3 years now and it's a bit simpler that it's being made out here.

I contacted Fred Newman at the View Camera Store (VCS) and talked about what was necessary to start using ExpoDev. Using their instructions, I shot a series of film tests for 3 different film/developer combinations and mailed them of to the VCS. I use Jobo Expert drums so my developing technique is taken into account. They performed the densitomiter measurements, asked me what paper/developer I was going to use and applied the proper paper curve, made the computations and emailed me three film/developer/paper files to load into ExpoDev.

While waiting for the film tests, I bought a NOS Palm M500 off eBay for $20, the ExpoDev program, and I was ready to hit the ground running when the files arrived. I was using ExpoDev successfully for over a year when I decided to buy the Plotter program so I could change the paper curves myself. My darkroom plans fell through and I never used Lodima and Amidol I had bought, so I changed the paper curve to something that would scan well.

In use, I enter:

1) the film/developer/paper curve from a dropdown
2)lens FL
3)the lo EV and the zone I want it mapped to and the same for the hi EV
4)filter factor (if any)
5)bellows extension (or subject distance)
6)and the f stop being used (it calculates DOF as well).

It calculates the exposure time and developing time based on the curves. It also compensates for reciprocity.

I get really consistent negatives using ExpoDev and I highly recommend it.

EDIT: Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, that I am looking to pick up a used iPod Touch Gen 3 so I can ditch the Palm and it's PITA stylus!

[david.jade]

Ah, I see this process is quite a bit more involved than I thought, so my critique really doesn't make much sense.

Ben, I appreciate your suggestions and thoughts but as others have pointed out, Plotter is the core of the BTZS methodology and ExpoDev can be thought of as the companion field app.

BTZS Film testing is a process that requires many pieces besides just Plotter or ExpoDev if one wants to do it themselves.

For others, the ViewCameraStore.com offers a film testing service at a reasonable price (vs. computers, software, and densitometers).

As others here can attest, ExpoDev (and BTZS) usually saves money by having less bad film exposures from the start and this new version of ExpoDev is the least expensive version to ever be released.

[david.jade]

Any eta for an Android version?

Not currently. An Android version will be produced when there is sufficient demand to cover the costs of development, but there has been very little demand vs. the iOS version.

The one other huge benefit to having an iOS version vs. Android is that you can run ExpoDev on an iPod Touch without having to pay for a monthly smartphone contract. This is a huge benefit to many users.

[david.jade]

Given this is for Apple hardware, where is the "Plotter-for-Mac" option?

ExpoDev can be thought of as the companion app for Plotter users. As such it has existed on several platforms over the years as technology has shifted (Palm, Pocket PC, and now iOS). ExpoDev was brought to iOS recently because that is where the demand is currently. It was the next logical platform to develop ExpoDev for.

While it is true that the original version of Plotter existed on a Mac, all later development was shifted to Windows for a variety of reasons (not the least is that is where the most demand was). Unlike Mac applications, a Windows application can be easily run on either Windows or OS X (using a variety of different OS emulators/virtualizers). Some have even gotten it to run on Linux. The market as it stands right now is simply too small to support the future development/re-write of Plotter for any other platforms. It that significantly changes, the situation will be re-evaluated.

[Shen45]

Thanks for the continued effort with ExpoDev David. Plotter runs very well in Linux using WINE however I have never been able to get the Expodev side of things to work using WINE. That is more likely some issue with the Palm interface. $25 is a very fair cost balanced against the hours of work you have put in for the Apple version.

[coops]

I got tired of using a Palm Pilot in the sun, with the screen being almost impossible to see and having to use a golf tee lol because I lost the pen along time ago. I purchased a new Ipod and the the Expodev download and its great. Highly recommend it.