View Full Version : Shutter Speed testing with Android Phone and Photoplug
Came recently across a fairly old (2013) thread on this forum:
https://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?104402-Shutter-Speed-Tester-for-the-iPhone
So I downloaded the Android version:
https://www.filmomat.eu/photoplug
Although the app is relatively old, and could be improved, it basically works quite nice in audio mode for speeds up to 1/30. And it helps if you have a loud shutter..:).. Placing the shutter on a table, and the mic of your smartphone as close as possible, use a cable release & no other sounds.
Than I read about the Photoplug and I released that I had made something similar in the past (well an acquaintance did actually): a photo diode which plugs in a PC, and you can measure behind the shutter when having a light source on the other side, opening and closing gives you a wave form on an Audio program such as Audicity.
The scheme:
218588
It involves a AA battery of 1.5 Volt.
No my question is: can I plug in this sensor in my Android phone (the 2mm Jack Plug for headphones) ?
I am not very knowledgeable on electronics, and I wonder about the 1.5 volt battery could damage my phone ?
thanks in advance,
best,
Cor
Tin Can
13-Aug-2021, 08:24
I used my original light sensor many times to test a bunch of shutters including Packards
I lost the sensor in my move
Just ordered another
Tin Can
13-Aug-2021, 08:34
Read this
https://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?56786-High-shutter-speed-accuracy&p=536366&viewfull=1#post536366
I am aware of the pitfalls, but I am only interested in measuring upto 1/30, cannot remember I ever used a faster speed. So my question remains: will my home made sensor damage my phone ?
Cor
Tin Can
13-Aug-2021, 09:49
Who knows until someone tries
I doubt the plugin has a battery, as the 'light' sensor will produce a tiny amount of electricity as 'signal'
Soon phones won't have an input socket. but I have 3 old ones to test with
I can answer in a month
remind me
You don't need a battery (nor a switch). You need to connect it to the correct terminals of the jack.
http://www.artdecocameras.com/resources/shutterspeed/
Ron (Netherlands)
14-Aug-2021, 03:41
Have one that I directly plug into the jack of my Ipad....works perfect
chris73
14-Aug-2021, 10:48
I made something like this and works perfect at least up to 1/1000
http://www.willegal.net/photo/repair/shuttertester.htm
218619
218620
Or just use directly a solar panel from a garden light
218621
218622
In both cases i didnt have any problem with the sound card of my laptop.
There was a thread just last week that discussed this app and testing shutter speed generally: Copal 0 Shutter Speed Accuracy (https://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?164825-Copal-0-shutter-speed-accuracy&highlight=shutter+speed)
I don't believe that an optical assist is necessary to test to 1/30. See the first full paragraph in post #7 of that thread. It discusses Tom Johnstone's test with a lens that had just received a CLA from SK Grimes and had known shutter speeds. Unlike Johnstone, the people who claim that a sound recording isn't good enough haven't actually tried it. A search will find the full Photo.net thread.
I'd also suggest that you import your audio recording into an app that will give you a better waveform image than you'll get on a phone. For an example, see post #13.
lassethomas
14-Aug-2021, 13:14
There was a thread just last week that discussed this app and testing shutter speed generally: Copal 0 Shutter Speed Accuracy (https://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?164825-Copal-0-shutter-speed-accuracy&highlight=shutter+speed)
I don't believe that an optical assist is necessary to test to 1/30. See the first full paragraph in post #7 of that thread. It discusses Tom Johnstone's test with a lens that had just received a CLA from SK Grimes and had known shutter speeds. Unlike Johnstone, the people who claim that a sound recording isn't good enough haven't actually tried it. A search will find the full Photo.net thread.
I'd also suggest that you import your audio recording into an app that will give you a better waveform image than you'll get on a phone. For an example, see post #13.
I'll go as far as to say that audio is accurate enough even up to 1/60. After that it's really hard to identify the start and end as there is so much noise from the shutter. All this from a lot of experience of using the app both with audio and the suggested optical hardware.
Perhaps audio measurements are not 100% exact, but good enough to give a reading within 1/3 of a stop. Who needs more precision anyway for most situations?
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