# NightCap Camera: Long Exposure — Astrophotography and Low Light

> Advanced low-light and night photography app with AI and manual controls. (iPhone/iPad app by RTD.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nightcap-camera-long-exposure/id754105884 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [RTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1804158489)
- Category: Photo & Video, Utilities
- Price: $2.99
- Rating: 4.40/5 from 2,953 App Store ratings · 668 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 18.6 · 8 MB
- Languages: Russian, American English, European Spanish, Italian, Korean, German (Germany), Brazilian Portuguese, Thai, Chinese (Traditional, Taiwan), Chinese (Simplified, China) and 2 more
- Released: 2013-12-12
- Data updated: 2026-08-29
- Monetization: paid
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nightcap-camera-long-exposure/id754105884/reviews.md

## What is NightCap Camera?

Photograph star trails or stunning smooth waterfalls. Capture a meteor mid-streak or traffic with light trails. And clear, detailed photos where there’s barely any light at all. One-time purchase, no subscription.

ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY
Four modes that automatically set the camera up for you.
- Star Trails: watch the stars draw circles overhead
- Meteors: automatic capture of shooting stars
- ISS: the International Space Station passing over
- Stars: starry skies and the Milky Way
- New in version 10: Aurora, a time-lapse mode for the Northern and Southern Lights

LONG EXPOSURE
Hold the shutter open for seconds or minutes and movement becomes light.
- Long Exposure: motion blur, or a cleaner shot when you hold still
- Light Trails: traffic at night, fireworks, light painting
- Both as time-lapse too, up to 4K with adjustable speed

LOW LIGHT
- ISO Boost for up to 4x beyond the standard camera range
- Light Boost
- Noise Reduction
- Night Mode video and timelapse

HANDHELD
New in version 10. NightCap steadies and aligns every frame as you shoot, so long exposures no longer need a tripod.

MANUAL CONTROL
- Swipe to adjust exposure, ISO, focus and white balance
- Camera Control on iPhone 16 and later
- Zoom to 16x
- Black and white mode

Also includes an interval programmer, self-timer, and an Apple Watch app with live preview and remote control.

## Key features

- Low light and night photo/video capture
- Long exposure and motion blur effects
- Astrophotography modes (stars, aurora, ISS, meteors)
- AI camera control for automatic settings
- Manual gesture-based adjustments
- 4K time lapse recording
- ISO Boost for brighter low-light shots

## Chart rankings

- #2 in Top Paid · Photo & Video (US App Store)
- #74 in Top Paid (US App Store)

## What do users think of NightCap Camera?

Overall sentiment: positive

**Pros**

- 🚀 Great for astrophotography
- 👍 Excellent night/low light photography
- 💡 Powerful manual controls
- 👍 Easy to use
- 👍 Produces high-quality results

**Cons**

- 🐛 Crashes and freezes on newer devices
- 🐛 Focus issues on iPhone 7+
- 🔋 Drains battery quickly
- 👎 Unintuitive user interface
- 👎 Disappointing results for some users

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Photos not saving properly
- Meteor mode not working as expected
- Compatibility issues with iOS 8 and iPhone 6 Plus

**Most requested features**

- RAW image support
- Bluetooth remote shutter control
- Ability to save settings
- More exposure options
- Improved timelapse features

## Recent user reviews (10 of 668)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nightcap-camera-long-exposure/id754105884/reviews.md

### 2/5 — I understand the goal, but…

*2026-08-24, version 10.0.0*

Completely useless with my 11”
SCT.

### 1/5 — Doesn’t Work With iPhone SE3 iOS 26.6

*2026-08-24, version 10.0.0*

iPhone SE (3rd generation), iOS 26.6. NightCap 10.0.0 crashes immediately on launch. Camera permission is never requested and NightCap does not appear under Settings → Privacy & Security → Camera.

### 1/5 — Zero Shooting Stars

*2026-08-14, version 9.9.1*

NightCap captured zero shooting stars on the best meteor shower night of the year. Free alternatives are much better.

### 3/5 — didn't save all photos

*2026-08-13*

was capturing photos of the meteor shower last night (august 13th) and i didn't save every photo it took. i had it taking photos for about 1 hour and 30 minutes and was taking photos every 5-10 seconds so in that type of situation you'd expect quite a lot of photos but i ended up with only about 30 photos actually in my camera roll that it had taken even though that would only add up to about 30-60 seconds of photos being taken yet i had photos being taken for well over an hour and didn't even get them all. lost some amazing photos because of this. other than that, the app was easy to use and easy to work out and worked very well. though i do wish the meteor option was allowed with videos and time lapse and not just photos.

### 1/5 — 比原相机还糊，怪不得不让试用直接收费才能安装

*2026-08-13*

从没见过这么差的收费应用，完全不可用，用三角架拍星空无论照片还是视频全是糊的

### 2/5 — problem

*2026-08-13, version 9.9.1*

I do not know how to describe it, I was very infuriated that I left the timelapse for the whole night until morning, it did not survive. It just wasn't preserved!!!!!!!!! the shutter button was not pressed, it was just 6 hours empty, the design of the application is terrible, inconvenient, nothing is clear

### 5/5 — A MUST HAVE for astrophotography and a wonderful dev team!

*2026-08-01*

I’ve been using NightCap for years for astrophotography, and it’s become one of those rare apps that stays on my iPhone because I genuinely use it. Whether I’m photographing the Milky Way, star trails, or just experimenting with low-light photography, it’s consistently produced results that simply aren’t possible with the standard camera app.

What really prompted me to write this review, though, was my recent experience with the developer. I reached out with a feature request after noticing that background music would stop while using the app. I honestly wasn’t expecting much, but they responded quickly, explained that the issue had already been addressed in the upcoming version, and even invited me to help beta test the new release.

It’s refreshing to see a small developer who genuinely listens to users and is passionate about improving their app. That kind of support is becoming increasingly rare.

If you’re interested in night photography or astrophotography on iPhone, I highly recommend giving NightCap a try. It’s been one of my favorite photography apps for years, and after interacting with the developer, I’m even more confident recommending it to anyone interested in night photography on iPhone.

### 2/5 — Kann Sterne-technisch nicht mehr als die native Kamera

*2026-07-10*

Die App ist zwar laggy, allerdings ist sie auf meinem iPhone 15 Pro nicht so beeinträchtigt wie in den anderen letzten Rezensionen. Der Hauptgrund warum ich die App heruntergeladen habe-um die Milchstraße zu fotografieren- lässt sich mit der App leider nicht besser als mit der Nativen Kamera App bei 30s machen. Selbst bei 90s Belichtung in der App sehen die Bilder schlechter aus. Wer sich die App allerdings für Zeitraffer oder ähnliches herunterlädt, der wird vermutlich wenige Probleme haben.

### 5/5 — Iss

*2026-07-09, version 9.9.1*

I was trying to get a photo of the ISS as had seen others doing, I asked how and was told to use this great app, wow worked so well 😊

### 5/5 — Very good tools to do challenging shots, great at night shots and more

*2026-06-23*

This is one app that I can’t find an equivalent for on the non iPhone platforms.  It takes some time getting to know its capabilities,
But it’s well worth it.  Timelapse, deep camera control using traditional photography controls and nomenclature, stars, space station mode, light trails.  A lot of things found in other apps, but this one does it right and best.

## Frequently asked questions about NightCap Camera

### What does NightCap Camera do?

NightCap Camera is designed to take amazing low light and night photos, videos, and 4K time lapses. It utilizes features like long exposure and specialized astronomy modes to capture clear and detailed images in challenging lighting conditions, overcoming the limitations of standard phone cameras.

### What are the key features of NightCap Camera?

Key features include Long Exposure mode for motion blur and reduced noise, dedicated astrophotography modes for stars and the Northern Lights, AI camera control for automatic optimal settings, and manual gesture-based controls for exposure, ISO, and focus. It also supports 4K time lapse recording and has an ISO Boost feature for significantly brighter low-light photos.

### How much does NightCap Camera cost?

Based on the provided information, NightCap Camera is a paid application. There are no mentions of in-app purchases or subscription models, indicating a one-time purchase for the full functionality of the app.

### What devices is NightCap Camera compatible with?

NightCap Camera is designed for iPhone and iPad devices. Specific features like 4K time lapse resolution may vary depending on the device model, with 4K available on iPhone 6s or newer and 1080p HD on older devices. It also offers full Apple Watch support.

### What are some common use cases for NightCap Camera?

Common use cases include capturing starry skies, the Northern Lights (Aurora), meteors, and the International Space Station. It's also ideal for creating motion blur effects with long exposure, light painting, photographing moving traffic at night, and generally improving the quality of photos and videos taken in dimly lit environments.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 10.0.4 — 2026-08-29

10.0.4 fixes a crash in the Apple Watch app, and improves viewing and sharing photos in NightCap.

10.0.3:
- Fixes a crash at launch on some iPad models.
- Fixes a crash that could occur while granting photo library access during setup.

10.0.2:
- Photos and videos now save much more detailed metadata.
- The iPhone interface no longer rotates to landscape unexpectedly.

10.0.1 fixes a rare crash on launch affecting some devices.

NightCap 10 is a complete rebuild using the latest technology, and a free update for existing customers.

- Handheld long exposure — no tripod needed. NightCap steadies and aligns the shot while you hold the phone.
- Aurora — a new time-lapse mode for the Northern and Southern Lights.
- Camera Control on iPhone 16 and later — switch lenses, zoom and focus without touching the screen.
- Improved manual controls, zoom to 16x, and improved in-app help.
- Improved interface 
- Full compatibility with all current devices

All features from version 9 are still here.

### 10.0.3 — 2026-08-28

10.0.3:
- Fixes a crash at launch on some iPad models.
- Fixes a crash that could occur while granting photo library access during setup.

10.0.2:
- Photos and videos now save much more detailed metadata.
- The iPhone interface no longer rotates to landscape unexpectedly.

10.0.1 fixes a rare crash on launch affecting some devices.

NightCap 10 is a complete rebuild using the latest technology, and a free update for existing customers.

- Handheld long exposure — no tripod needed. NightCap steadies and aligns the shot while you hold the phone.
- Aurora — a new time-lapse mode for the Northern and Southern Lights.
- Camera Control on iPhone 16 and later — switch lenses, zoom and focus without touching the screen.
- Improved manual controls, zoom to 16x, and improved in-app help.
- Improved interface 
- Full compatibility with all current devices

All features from version 9 are still here.

### 10.0.2 — 2026-08-24

10.0.2:
- Photos and videos now save much more detailed metadata.
- The iPhone interface no longer rotates to landscape unexpectedly.

10.0.1 fixes a rare crash on launch affecting some devices.

NightCap 10 is a complete rebuild using the latest technology, and a free update for existing customers.

- Handheld long exposure — no tripod needed. NightCap steadies and aligns the shot while you hold the phone.
- Aurora — a new time-lapse mode for the Northern and Southern Lights.
- Camera Control on iPhone 16 and later — switch lenses, zoom and focus without touching the screen.
- Improved manual controls, zoom to 16x, and improved in-app help.
- Improved interface 
- Full compatibility with all current devices

All features from version 9 are still here.

### 10.0.1 — 2026-08-24

10.0.1 fixes a rare crash on launch affecting some devices.

NightCap 10 is a complete rebuild using the latest technology, and a free update for existing customers.

- Handheld long exposure — no tripod needed. NightCap steadies and aligns the shot while you hold the phone.
- Aurora — a new time-lapse mode for the Northern and Southern Lights.
- Camera Control on iPhone 16 and later — switch lenses, zoom and focus without touching the screen.
- Improved manual controls, zoom to 16x, and improved in-app help.
- Improved interface 
- Full compatibility with all current devices

All features from version 9 are still here.

### 10.0.0 — 2026-08-19

NightCap 10 is a complete rebuild using the latest technology, and a free update for existing customers.

- Handheld long exposure — no tripod needed. NightCap steadies and aligns the shot while you hold the phone.
- Aurora — a new time-lapse mode for the Northern and Southern Lights.
- Camera Control on iPhone 16 and later — switch lenses, zoom and focus without touching the screen.
- Improved manual controls, zoom to 16x, and improved in-app help.
- Improved interface 
- Full compatibility with all current devices

All features from version 9 are still here.

## Apps similar to NightCap Camera

| App | Rating | Price | Category |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Night Camera: Low light photos](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/night-camera-low-light-photos/id843439749) | 4.3 (4,195) | Free | Photo & Video |
| [Night Camera HD](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/night-camera-hd/id562160609) | 4.4 (337) | $12.99 | Photo & Video |
| [ProCamera. Professional Camera](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/procamera-professional-camera/id694647259) | 4.7 (11,155) | Free | Photo & Video |
| [Camera+ Legacy](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/camera-plus-legacy/id329670577) | 4.2 (2,336) | $4.99 | Photo & Video |
| [ProCam - Pro Camera](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/procam-pro-camera/id730712409) | 4.6 (35,198) | $9.99 | Photo & Video |
| [Nightcam Camera: Night Mode](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nightcam-camera-night-mode/id1485217423) | 4.1 (2,523) | Free | Photo & Video |

## More apps by RTD

- [Virtual Night Vision](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/virtual-night-vision/id407897439)

All apps by RTD: https://appshunter.io/developer/1804158489

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-29.*