Lumu Labs have announced the long awaited Lumu Power, flash metering version of their popular original iPhone incident light meter attachment.
And the Lumu Power are available to purchase now from Lumu’s already well funded Kickstarter campaign, with shipping expected around June 2016.
Not only will the new Lumu Power now meter flash, as well as provide flash to ambient ratios, they also provide simple and accurate color temperature metering.
Both in Kelvin, as well as Green Vs Magenta tint compensation required for white balance setting.
For ultra fast communication speed the Lumu Power now make use of Apples Lightining Port (rather than the headphone jack used with the original Lumu meters).
LUMU POWER SPECS
Exposure
– Measuring range: EV -4 to 20 at ISO 100
– Accuracy: +/- 0.1 EV
– Light receptor: fast-response Silicon photo diode, CIE spectral luminous efficiency
– Hemispherical Diffuser, Cardioid-type responses
Color (Temperature)
– Light receptor: True Color Sensor, CIE 1931 Color standard Human eye perception
– Sensitivity: Visible light
– Dynamic range: 1:1,000,000
– Accuracy: < 0.6 deltaE, Repeatability: < 0.2 deltaE
– Flat Diffuser, Cosine-type response
Illuminance
– Measuring range: 0.15 – 250,000 lux
– Accuracy: +/- 3%
– Flat Diffuser, Cosine-type response
Other
– Power source: iOS device
– Materials: Housing: Stainless Steel, Diffusers: Polycarbonate Lexan
– Compatibility: iOS devices using Lightning connector, running iOS 8+
The Lumu Power operate in the simple cordless mode found in most dedicated flash meters, where the meter waits for the flash to fire and then takes a reading.
Lumu Labs future goals are to make the Lumu Power compatible with WiFi enabled flash units, like the Broncolor Siros and Elinchrom Skyport systems.
Lumu Labs also provide a Software Developer Kit so that more iPhone apps can incorporate the Lumu Power meter as well.
For full detail please see the Lumu Power Kickstarter campaign.
PRICE AND AVAILABILITY
Lumu Power are available for purchase now from Lumu’s Kickstarter campaign for $199 (with estimated retail price after the campaign at $299)
Shipping is expected around June 2016.
Lumu Labs – Website
Lumu Power – Kickstarter Campaign
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I think the post-campaign price is incredibly over-priced. I understand there is lots of R&D to be paid for, but you can get a an incredibly good light meter, like the Sekonic Litemaster Pro L-478D, for even less money and it’s probably going to be more accurate. Though when connected to an iOS device, there is more functionality that can be added later as mentioned in the article. I don’t see that need for my work though…
If they cut the price in half or at least a third, I’d probably go for it.
I agree with Ricardo. At a retail price of $300 and I believe there’s an additional cost for the app…(not sure on that). You might as well buy a dedicated light meter. A decent one will run you about $200. The only advantage I can see is that it is one less bulky item. But you have to be a iphone user in the first place to take advantage of that. If you are Android. Then it is a waste of money. $300 for the Lumu, then another $300 for the ipod. Yeah not worth it in my opinion.
Don’t forget the color temperature measurement feature. That could be very valuable. B&H is selling a Kenko color temp meter for $800 and a Sekonic for $1700. Assuming it actually works, I can see myself using this feature to match a variable color temp LCD panel to mixed ambient lighting.
Flash meter and color temp meter all in one, assuming that they work well and are accurate, then that makes the Kickstarter price for the pair really pretty good.
if theyd have it for andorid then id buy it. flash and ambient light is not even relevant but a kelvin meter is expensive and extremely useful. if its accurate. within 50 kelvin is fine.
Man, the PRE-sale price of $299 is nuts… not even going to talk about the 50% higher after sales price.
For $379.8, you can get a Sekonic L-478, and it’s 10 times the light meter than this thing is! Lets see this piece of software control the light output of anything that is PW ControlTL compatible!
As far as WB… it may be in the ballpark, but I highly doubt it will be really accurate in real life tests. In the end, you are paying for a bit of code (albeit interesting code), and a $10 lumisphere with an iPhone attachment.
Jerry, the pre-sale price started at $149, and $199 pledges are still available while the Kickstarter campaign runs. The retail price is estimated at $299.
I wish I would have heard about this when it was $150. I pledged it at $200, it’s still a whole lot better than $1,699.00 for the Sekonic C-700. What attracted me most was the Tint compensation (Green vs. Magenta cast) for the WB. I have spent a lot of money for just about every WB gadget, and have yet to find one that gets it right. ExpoDisk has been the best, but it still misses the mark about 30% of the time, when it misses, it always the Tint. Passport, WhiBal, and all the rest are about 50/50 at best, always too warm and too green regardless of camera (Canon, Olympus, and Nikon), I usually end up just playing with the WB in post. If the Color meter is not up to snuff, oh well, I had $100 in my PayPal balance for months, so it felt like I only spent $100 of my own money. Hopefully it will also have a B-A color shift compensation. And yes, my monitors are calibrated.
When we used light meters back in the day, we banged the living crap out of them. Maybe the most beat up thing in my entire camera bag was my Minolta flash meter.
I’m wondering how popular this attachment will be at it’s price point and after purchasers realize how much abuse their phones are getting!
i backed and i cannot wait to get it , seems to be a must have tool in my bag
What are your thoughts after using this device for over a year? Would love to hear. I’m looking at using these mostly for filming. Thanks.