I've been researching various Light Meters capable of measuring LED or other artificial lights. We're not talking about your basic exposure type light meter, we're talking about ones that can read Spectrum, CRI, LUX, etc. In hand, they are simple tools to operate, but yet everything on the market is still quite expensive. I poked around for suggestions, and for under $2,000 bucks many kept referring me to the UPRtek MK350. Here's a quick video showing the basic features of the UPRtek MK350 LED Spectrometer.
NOW ON TO THE GOOD STUFF
At CineGear, I was able to stop by one booth where Asensetek was showcasing their new Lighting Passport Spectrometer. (They were also showcasing this meter at NAB2013). Check out some of the features you can do with this Spectrometer.
Specifically designed to measure LED or Artificial lights, and supposedly with more accuracy than the MK350. I love the convenience of being able to separate the lumisphere and having controls via Bluetooth. This saves so much time going back and forth from the measuring point back to the lights, making adjustments, and then walking back again to take another measurement.
At the Asensetek booth, they had mentioned they have been working with light measuring tools for over 7 years, and claim to be the most accurate LED meter in the world. Big words, but all I really care about at this point is being more accurate than the MK350 (or equal). The UPRtek software and features really seem outdated when compared to the controls you have with the Asensetek iOS Genius application. With an iOS device (iPad, iPhone, iPod) you can even share the data instantly via email or upload them. Besides all the basic measuring scopes, you can even store pictures of your set so you know exactly how your lighting was set up in case you ever have to reshoot.
Here's another video from their website showcasing the features of the Asensetek Lighting Passport
Being that the Asensetek is cheaper and offers a more full featured Spectrometer, this seems like a no brainer for me. The workflow with the Asensetek Lighting Passport with their Genius Software is just brilliant. I don't know how many of you have a need for such a tool, but you can find more information about the Asensetek Lighting Passport, you can contact them at their website (found here), or contact their distributor website https://alliedscientificpro.com/.
Or message them via their Facebook page (here).
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Maria Rodriguez
the best option is AsenseTEK - LPP Lighting Passport Pro
Eduardo
Peter, look for TM-30-15 IES - DOE Regulation. CRI 1935 is an eighty years old, pre digital age regulation. Totally outdated for LED reliable measurements. You can use Lighting Passport for measuring Spectral distribution of an LED light source and then process it with IES TM-30-15 software and get three new measures. CRI 1935 use 8 color samples. TM-30-15 compares 99 color samples plus graphics. You can learn more listenig these webinars: httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ifae-J1URc
httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=7&v=TX1KAHABFao
Best regards, Eduardo
Peter
Bit confused by the videos. In one we have the guy taking photos of food and with nothing more than a re-arranging of lights the CRI goes from 67 to 82 to 92?
THen with the one at the product booth he was measuring light with a CRI of 99?? My question is what light was he measuring to get 99?
Lastly I have an issue with CRI measurements with LEDs - if different light sources require different measurement devices, how do we know the results are comparable? Does a CRI 99 with this device on an LED actually mean the light quality is as good as the sun for example?
Luc
Official Distribute for North America:
https://alliedscientificpro.com/shop/worlds-first-smartphone-spectrometer-lighting-passport/