It’s useful for comparisons mainly. Absolute values can be quite off. Also, if you know the common binnings, you can find out which one you have. I find it very useful.
I'm using it mostly to determine CCT, and the extra ability to 'measure' CRI is really nice.
Just wondering what you need the DUV for? If it had all those abilitites, really cool, but that's probably only available in handheld devices of $500+?
Been eyeing a Gossen Spectromaster, but they are like 20 times this little device.
it tells me the tint of the LED (I dont mean the color temperature).
tint is a major deciding factor in my LED selection… I intentionally do not buy LEDs with DUV above the BBL
Im much less concerned about color temperature. I can pretty easily figure that out by shining a light on a wall that is illuminated by an incandescent bulb (3000k), or by one of my flashlights LEDs with a known LED color temperature such as 4000k.
It has become pretty easy for me to know when Im looking at a sample that is either cooler or warmer than one of my reference lights.
there are many LEDs that can claim High CRI, but they can have green tint.
there are also many LEDs that can claim High CRI, but they can have very low Red CRI R9
for me, the Red CRI R9 specification is a Major and usually overlooked criteria, that helps me decide which LEDs to buy.
so Im not tempted to buy an Opple, since it is not accurate for DUV, does not offer CRI R9, and I dont need a device just to determine color temperature… thats pretty easy for me.
I also dont like the Ali price being double what you guys pay in Europe.
You wrote in another thread that Opple told you the Light Master Pro version (see https://ifworlddesignguide.com/entry/282367-lightmaster-pro) would be identical with the Light Master III. The picture in the ‘iF world design guide’ clearly shows R9, Rf, Rg values on the app screen. Is this just a different software version if the hardware is identical? Did Opple clarify this?
Hmm. I wonder if it’s just a different app? That AliExpress listing calls it the Light Meter Pro G3 and the product is labeled “pro” on the bottom. Perhaps it can measure R9 but the app just doesn’t have it displayed?
I don’t think there’s a “Pro” model (yet). Those Pro-images are around since I bought the Opple months ago. Asked Opple and got no answer. Also, the naming is inconsistent. Sometimes it’s called Lightmaster III, sometimes it’s Lightmaster G3. The App is called Lightmaster Pro.
I bet someone was working on an improved model, maybe using a CCD with more suitable color filters, and hence the renderings and the made-up app pictures with R9. But I bet it would have been way more expensive with customized CCD, more in the range of other devices of this kind.
Another point: Let’s not seriously discuss the precision of the CIE diagram location. Mine was, iirc, 40 EUR. It’s fun, it’s useful in cases I stated above. But of course it is no scientific tool.