Filmic Firstlight User Reviews

Top reviews

Good, could be better

Some settings are vague, like “burst rate: low, medium,high”? How about the actual numbers4,6,8fps or whatever they are. And anomorphic desqueeze? What’s that? How could it be used? Idk. The UI is great, feels intuitive for the most part, just needs a few tweaks, or maybe even a “pro” version like you have in the filmic pro app for cinematographers... thanks
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So disappointed 😔

When I saw that Filmic made a still photo app I stopped reading the article I was reading immediately and went to go buy it. The camera seems good and simple but I will never use apps that require a subscription unless I have to. I will gladly pay up to $60 for a lifetime purchase but the subscription kills it completely for me. Yea I know that’s “the way of the future” but it’s still disappointing.
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Making moves...

The app is great, pretty intuitive. I’ve only been using it for a little while and have yet to use it in a professional setting. It’s a little slow on the trigger tho and so you’re not sure you’ve got the shot until it shows in the camera roll. Definitely use some type of stabilizer until you get use to the way it functions, it’s good that they have a big shutter button. However I do like the familiar feel from using FilMic Pro and it has the desqueeze feature for anamorphic lenses. I love that I can shoot RAW DNG & TIFF files, the histogram is like right there and it doesn’t get into the way. I have an iPhone 11 Pro max so I can change between all 4 lenses pretty easily. Although I’m missing one huge feature, I hope it’s going to be a quick and easy update. Give me the ability to use the DOF MK2 adapter from BeastGrip Pro for stills PLEASE!!! I know you can do this. Cheers!
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Come on!

How do you guys go from a near-perfect video app to a half-baked photo app that requires a subscription? I might like this app, I would even buy it if it were a flat fee (Halide says hello), but how or why would I try it any further than what it is now. Thanks for the awesome video app, best of luck with this one.
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Camera rental

This is a nice looking app, and I bought and use filmic pro, but this app is requiring a rental agreement to use it. No, sorry. Not for me. And I hate writing this, but I think you’ve got this wrong, I don’t want a subscription to a camera app.

Response from developer

Hi Peter Piper and the Pickles. Thank you for the review. No rental agreement required for this app unless you want to get into the full range of film simulations and have access to all the great additional functionality that will be coming in the future. Otherwise, we have included every aspect of the primary workflow of this app for free, no gimmicks. You can take as many photos as you want, and you have access to a host of free film simulations as well as one of our grain and vignette options. Add to that our cross-swipe manual controls and you have a really tidy and awesome free camera app that showcases what this app is all about. We hope you will give the free capabilities a try to see how this app shines. This is not intended to 'compete' with Halide or any of the others out there, because truthfully there is no other app that bring the workflow for quick live photography so well in an easy-to-use package. We think it's the fastest way to shoot a photo the way you want it to look, right when you tap that shutter button. No extra tools, set it, shoot it and share it. It's a different type of photography and we think that more and more people will like this approach where you 'commit to your creativity' rather than shoot a thousand photos to edit them later (only to never get back to it). Anyway we hope you appreciate some of our thoughts on the subject and we would be more than happy to discuss it further or answer any questions at: support@filmicpro.com

Unprofessional

This app is the worst camera app I’ve used on iPhone, and that’s saying a lot.

The focus is way off and the fact that it requires a subscription for basic elements that other apps provide is ludicrous.

Although the UI is minimalistic, I shall tell my filmmaker and photographer friends to avoid this app unless the above changes.
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Subscription no thanks.

Nothing to justify the cost the subscription that no one wants. Make it £8 fully unlocked if you have to. Disappointing and uninstalled.

Response from developer

Hello mewnor, thank you for the review and your thoughts. You wrote a review so you already have the app, so why not give the free capabilities a go? You stated that the included functions are too basic, but cross-swipe, along with the included grain, vignette and film simulations are enough for most people to realize what a great app this is and may have a place in your toolbox. This is a new platform and it is here for the long haul and that is going to take continual investment from us so the subscription is the best option for us to provide the platform that many people already love and others are starting to get to know...and do it for many years to come. Give a try with what's included and let us know what you think, or if you ever have any questions or suggestions please let us know at support@filmicpro.com

Another App Going Subscription

It’s too bad Filmic is going down the subscription route, people hate that payment model for apps, especially ones they only use occasionally. You can use basic features for free, but you may as well just use the built in camera app. All other features require a subscription. NO THANKS. I sure hope Filmic Pro, their video app, does not turn into a subscription, too, otherwise bye bye to that app s as well.
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Response from developer

Hello Donnie Summers, thank you for your review. Yes, we are offering Firstlight with a different sales model from FiLMiC Pro, but we are still the same company and with the same approach. We decided to offer an app that you can freely download and get a sense of what you can do with it and how it can impact your photography without ever having to spend a single penny. If you then decide you like using the app and you are using it as part of your regular photography workflow then you can always choose to subscribe for a period of time, or go for the annual subscription, both at very reasonable costs. We hope you will consider just how much we are providing for free within the app. We have included every aspect of the primary workflow of this app for free, no gimmicks. You can take as many photos as you want, and you have access to a host of free film simulations as well as one of our grain and vignette options. Add to that our cross-swipe manual controls and you have a really tidy and awesome free camera app that showcases what this app is all about. We hope you will give the free capabilities a try to see how this app shines. This is not intended to 'compete' with Halide or any of the others out there, because truthfully there is no other app that bring the workflow for quick live photography so well in an easy-to-use package. We think it's the fastest way to shoot a photo the way you want it to look, right when you tap that shutter button. No extra tools, set it, shoot it and share it. It's a different type of photography and we think that more and more people will like this approach where you 'commit to your creativity' rather than shoot a thousand photos to edit them later (only to never get back to it). Anyway we hope you appreciate some of our thoughts on the subject and we would be more than happy to discuss it further or answer any questions at: support@filmicpro.com

Subscription app, not for me...

I’m so disappointed. I really enjoy Filmic Pro and I will stop updating it and block notifications to be sure it will never became a subscription app too. So, I chosen Moments Pro app instead for photography... sorry guys but I will boycott every subscription app (unless you give a lot of new content EVERY week, there’s no reason).
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Response from developer

Hi whatwhaco, Thank you for the review. We understand that you do not like a subscription, and you do not have to, we will not try to sway your opinion there, but what we would like you to consider is what you get for free in the app. We have included every aspect of the primary workflow of this app for free, no gimmicks. You can take as many photos as you want, and you have access to a host of free film simulations as well as one of our grain and vignette options. Add to that our cross-swipe manual controls and you have a really tidy and awesome free camera app that showcases what this app is all about. We hope you will give the free capabilities a try to see how this app shines. This is not intended to 'compete' with any of the other camera apps out there because truthfully there is no other app that brings the workflow for quick live photography so well in an easy-to-use package. We think it's the fastest way to shoot a photo the way you want it to look, right when you tap that shutter button. No extra tools, set it, shoot it and share it. It's a different type of photography and we think that more and more people will like this approach where you 'commit to your creativity' rather than shoot a thousand photos to edit them later (only to never get back to it). Anyway we hope you appreciate some of our thoughts on the subject and we would be more than happy to discuss it further or answer any questions at: support@filmicpro.com

Argh, Hate Subscription Model Pricing

App looks promising but then In realised it has a subscription based model for the extra features and I despise them. I have purchased Filmic Pro and it’s extras all with a one off purchase which I am more than happy with and would have done the same easily. I can’t see how you can justify milking your customers for $12.99 pa when there are many free camera apps with many of the features you off as premium. Hope that in the future you change the pricing model
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Response from developer

Hi Fly4_ever thank you for your review and we appreciate your viewpoint. You may want to consider evaluating all the functionality you get for free with the app to determine if the app has a place in your photography toolbox as it is. Firstlight has been carefully designed to give free users of the app an exceptional shooting experience and exploratory access to some of the most compelling premium functionality. For users who want to entrust and empower FiLMiC to build an ever evolving best in class photography experience, there is a fully optional subscription level that will fund the ongoing future development commitment we have already made to you.

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