How To: Use Exposure Presets

Do you have your favourite exposure settings - Aperture, ISO, shutter speed? Remember the 'Sunny f/16 rule'?

The Photoxor Toolkit June 2019 edition will extend the presets onto the EV screen, a good opportunity to present a few tips and tricks around this feature.

Now we explore the power behind these three little round blue and orange buttons found on a number of calculation screens.

5 Years of Photoxor Toolkit

Photoxor Toolkit is 5!!

This is a very exciting milestone in the journey of this App. Let's celebrate!! Over the next couple of weeks we'll mark down some of the in-app extensions. They might even be free for a short time.
Check out the anniversary release with the 5 hedgehogs. Do you like them?

New Filter and Time-lapse features - Available now in Photoxor C1 Toolkit Version 1.9.1

Photoxor C1 Toolkit version 1.9.1 is available; it delivers:

• Filter stack: Show exact calculated exposure times
• Time-lapse: Calculate how may images can be held by a storage device
• Tracks: ZIP files supported also for import
• Definition lists for cameras, lenses, ..., now allow for multi-line Note entry
• Places: A separation line between list rows for easier readability
• Internal improvements and fixes

Filter Stack: Exact calculated exposure  times

Our calculations are rounded to the nearest value of the selected Stop system. And that's how we set our cameras for aperture, ISO, exposure times naturally. But then there is the special case in Filter Stack calculations, where the result shows long exposure times (Bulb). So far Photoxor C1 Toolkit did the same rounding to the nearest Stop instead of showing the exact values. And some of our user were rightfully concerned, are our calculations correct. We therefore now show both values, have a look at the new screen:

The timer will now run with the 'exact' time, in this example 1024 seconds (instead of 960):

For some more background information on Filter calculations and Stops please also see this Blog entry.

Time-lapse: Storage calculation

The Time-lapse screen received a little facelift in the Storage area.
Recommended by one of our power users we introduced the capability to calculate how many images could be held by a storage device approximately .

When you enter the storage capacity, make sure you use the formatted capacity instead of raw capacity.

For this calculation we use 1GB = 1000MB.

Photoxor C1 Toolkit - upcoming new features

Our next release of Photoxor C1 Toolkit runs through internal testing now and will be available for open Beta testing shortly. Stay tuned, there are a number of good new features.

Filter Screen

Our calculations are rounded to the nearest value of the selected Stop system. And that's how we set our cameras for aperture, ISO, exposure times naturally. But then there is the special case in Filter Stack calculations, where the result shows long exposure times (Bulb). So far Photoxor C1 Toolkit did the same rounding to the nearest Stop instead of showing the exact values. And some of our user were rightfully concerned, are our calculations are correct. The upcoming version 1.9.1 will therefore show both values. Have a look at the new screen:

The timer will now run with the 'exact' time, in this example 1024 seconds instead of 960):

This is just one of the new features. If you are interested to get updates early, consider registration for the Beta program.

FAQ: Filter Calculations and Accuracy

Neutral density (ND) filters are an important photography accessory. The Photoxor C1 Toolkit provides a calculation tool to determine adjusted camera settings when a ND filter is applied.

How accurate is this calculation?

The short answer: Yes it is accurate in accordance to the selected stop system.

Photoxor C1 Toolkit Version 1.6.4 in Beta - KMZ files, long exposure times, and fixes

We just released Photoxor C1 Toolkit version 1.6.4 into Beta Testing. This version brings you some new features and a few fixes.

Interested to explore them now? We continue our public Beta program for this release.

Please feel free to join in. Whilst our internal tests were very promising, there is always a chance that the Beta version might have some flaws. If you find a problem, please let us know to improve the release version of Photoxor Toolkit.

Enable your Beta testing here: https://play.google.com/apps/testing/com.photoxor.fotoapp

The new main features of version 1.6.4 beta are:

• KMZ files are now supported to import locations.
• Improved readability of long exposure times.
• Filter screen: locks do not automatically open.
• Edited configuration information (cameras, lenses, flashes, ...) is retained during screen rotation.
• A number of smaller fixes.

Photoxor C1 Toolkit Version 1.6.3 Released - Additional fields for Camera, lens, flash definitions

Photoxor C1 Toolkit version 1.6.3 is available now; upgrade or download for free.

The new main features of version 1.6.3 are:

• Camera, Lens, Flash definitions now allow to store serial number, purchase date, notes.
• Accuracy improved for Filter calculations.
• A number of smaller fixes.

Photoxor C1 Toolkit Version 1.6.3 in Beta - Additional fields for Camera, lens, flash definitions

We just released Photoxor C1 Toolkit version 1.6.3 into Beta Testing. This version brings you additional description fields for camera, lens, flash definitions, and a few important fixes.

Interested to explore them now? We continue our public Beta program for this release.

Please feel free to join in. Whilst our internal tests were very promising, there is always a chance that the Beta version might have some flaws. If you find a problem, please let us know to improve the release version of Photoxor Toolkit.

Enable your Beta testing here: https://play.google.com/apps/testing/com.photoxor.fotoapp

The new main features of version 1.6.3 beta are:

• Camera, Lens, Flash definitions now allow to store serial number, purchase date, notes.
• Accuracy improved for Filter calculations.
• A number of smaller fixes.

Photoxor C1 Version 1.5.4a: Enhanced Tracking

Photoxor C1 Version 1.5.4a is available now; upgrade or download for free.


Please upgrade to version 1.5.4a; it provides a fix to a crash in the Rewards screen and some other minor fixes.

The new features of version 1.5.4 are:

• Tracking enhancements:
• A redesigned Tracking Screen now provides simplified start / pause / stop controls.
• A matching new Widget is available.
• Filter Screen: Alert icon when result value out of range.
• Filter & EV Screens: Now allows user to manually adjust 'locked' values.
• Improved dialog to select the most appropriate location provider.
• A number of bug fixes and lots of internal improvements.

Please read on ...

Filter Screen Improvements

The Filters screen is part of the Photoxor C1 toolkit since its first release. It provides the calculation on how to correct the camera exposure settings when adding neutral density filters.

The standard workflow is:

• Measure the light situation without filters attached.Apply the filter stack.
• Get the new camera settings with filters attached.The calculation retains ISO and aperture settings, and adjusts the exposure time.
• Optionally, the calculated settings can be adjusted, and a lock may be used to keep a value from changing.For example, you may lock aperture to retain the aperture setting (i.e. aperture priority).

Up to now, all locks on the filter screen are released as soon as you change either the values of ‘camera settings without filter’ or modify the filter stack.

Version 1.5.3 of Photoxor C1 will change this behaviour slightly and not release locks on changes to the filter stack. Why will this be useful?

In addition to above ‘standard’ workflow (where we are able to adjust aperture, exposure time, ISO settings), we are now able to also change the filter stack to adjust our exposure target and retain locked values!

As an example, you require a specific target exposure time to achieve a particular effect, but also want to utilise a specific aperture and ISO value:

• Measure the light situation without filters attached.
• Apply the initial filter stack.
• Now you receive the result settings.
• Set the result aperture to your preferred value, and set the aperture lock.
• Set the result ISO to your preferred value, and set the ISO lock.
• This will result in a calculated exposure time value (which can’t be changed as the other two values are locked).
• Now adjust your filter stack to achieve the desired exposure time.
  Both aperture and ISO remain fixed, only exposure time will change accordingly.

Please let us know what you think about this new workflow. Is it useful for you?

Photoxor C1 Version 1.4.6: New Exposure Timer and Update to Flash Screen

Photoxor C1 Version 1.4.6 is available now. Upgrade or download for free now from Google Play.

This version brings you two new features:

• Flash Screen: You are now able to modify the guide number (GN) value.
  Use this feature to fine-tune the GN value, or to do a quick calculation for a known GN.
  
• Filter Screen: For exposure times of at least 3 seconds a countdown timer is available now.

On the Filter screen look out for the new button (only shown for exposure times of 3 or more seconds!):

10 Ways to Use Photoxor C1

The Android application Photoxor C1 provides a rich photography toolset for photographers at all levels. Beginners may use this tool to better understand how exposure, aperture, exposure time and film sensitivity (ISO) depend on each other. The advanced photographer may calculate camera settings for "black glass" filters, plan a photoshoot considering Blue Hour, sun and moon directions.

Which Photoxor C1 functions did you explore so far? With this article let's walk through 10 typical use scenarios.

"Black Glass" Neutral Density Challenge on Pixoto

Did you use Photoxor C1 to calculate camera settings when using "black glass" neutral density filters?

Photo Challenge:

Enter images where you used extreme neutral density filters with at least 10 stops of light reduction.

PIXOTO.COM|BY PIXOTO

Photoxor C1: New Version 1.4.3 Released

Photoxor C1 Version 1.4.3 is available now. Upgrade or download for free now from Google Play.

The enhanced Filter screen  allows to store your favorite exposure settings. The free version gives you two settings on a click of a button. As part of the Filter Pro add-on you are additionally able to define custom exposure settings for your specific lighting conditions and give them a meaningful scenario name.

Blue Buttons:
Select aperture, exposure time and film speed and then perform a 'long' click on one of the blue buttons to store the setting. To recall the stored setting perform a 'short' click.

Golden Button:
Select aperture, exposure time and film speed and then perform a 'long' click on the golden button. This brings up a dialog to store the current settings.
To recall a setting perform a 'short' click, which shows a dialog to select one of the name stored settings. You are also able to add the current setting as a new preset or go to the list of presets.

How To: Calculate Exposure for 'Black Glass' Filter

You would like to capture long exposure photographs in daylight? Then you need to significantly reduce the amount of light reaching your camera sensor. 'Black Glass' (BG) is a popular term for Neutral Density (ND) filters reducing the light by 10 stops, which means by a factor of 1000! Such filters are very, very dark and once attached to the lens of your DSLR you can't really see through, and in most cases the camera will be unable to focus or measure for exposure settings.

How to determine the camera exposure settings? This is where the Photoxor C1 filter calculator comes to help.