Methods of testing the shutter speed?

[onewheelskyward]

I have a new-to-me Kodak Ektar 127mm lens that I'm putting through its paces, and I wanted to know how you folks test shutters for accuracy. I know mine sounds a little slow on the 1s setting. Obviously, I can run some film through and see the results, but I was hoping for something a little more mathematical.

My first thought is to digitally record the shutter and compare the time indexes. Are there other ways to handle shutter testing?

[djdister]

You can:

- Buy a used Calumet shutter speed tester off ebay (they show up from time to time, no pun intended)
- Build one for cheap if you are handy with a wires and electrical doodads (http://denis.pleic.com/photo/shutter_v2/shutter2.html)
- Try one of the shutter speed tester apps on your iPhone or Android

[Peter Lewin]

Here is an app that I use on my iPad to test shutter speeds: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/shutter-speed/id560154244?l=de&ls=1&mt=8

[Jim Jones]

Back when record players were still plentiful, we photographed a radial strip of white on the turntable to test the low speeds. Analog television screens were a useful test of higher speeds. Unlike the digital methods that merely test the noise the shutter makes, these two methods actually tested the time the shutter passed light.

[baro-nite]

I have a (fairly) cheap Casio point & shoot that has a 480 fps video option and have used that to test shutter speeds. I'm merely assuming that the 480 fps is reasonably accurate, but for now I'm happy enough with a rough measurement.

[onewheelskyward]

Thanks, all!

That Calumet tester (at $130) seems a bit pricey if you can find one on sale. My iphone will video record at 240fps, that's an option. It does not (apparently) support the app designed to do this, but the photo-resistor plugged into a soundcard sounds like the ideal scenario. I'll run some tests and report back. Thank you again!

[Tin Can]

Here is an app that I use on my iPad to test shutter speeds: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/shutter-speed/id560154244?l=de&ls=1&mt=8

I use this APP often with the optional plug in sensor with a bright LED penlight on the other side of any shutter.

Works well for me.