There is no better thing than to combine one hobby with another. For me, that means hooking something up to a computer or utilizing a computer to expand on a hobby or pastime. The iPod Touch has really come into its own as a constant companion. Browsing through the application store, I found two rather interesting  applications in the photography section. Since I couldn’t really decide which of the two would be better than the other, I purchased both. In fact, they are complementary in many ways, even though certain features are provided by both.

PhotoBuddy provides a quick and easy way of calculating the most basic camera settings. These include exposure, depth of field and flashlight range. The interface is clean and uncluttered with an attractive interface for the depth of field determination. A database of SLR cameras is included to populate possible settings – my new EOS 5D Mark II is included.

Using the application is a pleasure – very few options and easy entry fields make getting the required information hassle-free. The exposure calculation is particularly pleasant to use: lock the field that is to be calculated by pressing the corresponding button, then twirl through the other two. The field to be calculated is adjusted based on the law of reciprocity.

A number of preset exposure settings are included for predefined lighting conditions. As I mentioned, the DOF calculator includes an attractive user interface. It is possible to drag distances along the landscape picture to influence the calculation.

Many additional functions are available. These include distance calculators, angle of view calculators and a bulb timer. Additionally, specific camera settings may be input for use by the program.

PhotoBuddy is an excellent reference and calculator for the photography bag. At USD 1.99, price should not be an issue.

PhotoCalc provides many of the features PhotoBuddy does. In addition to the calculators, PhotoCalc provides a handy glossary and reference section – that’s the main reason I augmented my application collection with PhotoCalc. The calculators are not as attractive, making use of selection lists and separate panes for data entry. Nonetheless, the calculators achieve the same effect.

The DOF calculator is certainly not as impressive-looking as the one PhotoBuddy. Again, it does get the job done.

A camera database is included, though the 5D Mark II is not yet added there. Not a big deal and I’m sure an update will fix that. The selling point for me was the inclusion of a reference section. It’s handy to have at hand.

PhotoCalc is sold for USD 2.99. The price of both applications is very reasonable.

If I’d have to choose only one, PhotoBuddy would be my choice. Hopefully an updated version will include a reference section to make the entire application complete. Of course, a computerized gadget is not something you have to have in your camera bag. The Ultimate Exposure Computer is a very handy and informative paper guide available for download. Hugely valuable and definitely worth reading and storing in a camera bag.

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