Comparison

CameraPixels Lite vs SMO

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

CameraPixels Lite

This app offers advanced manual controls for mobile photography and videography. It provides features like bracketing, slow shutter, and time-lapse modes, along with tools for macro and HDR photography. The intuitive interface helps users focus on capturing the perfect shot.

Highlights
  • Manual photography and videography controls
  • Exposure and focus bracketing
  • Slow shutter and time-lapse modes
  • Macro photography support
  • Professional HDR capabilities
  • ISO/Shutter priority modes
  • Histogram and clipping warnings
Features
Read full description

CameraPixels is a unique manual photography app. The premium tools and intuitive UI make CameraPixels the best choice for professional mobile photographers. CameraPixels participated in Berkley Eclipse Megamovie 2017 thanks to its extensive raw bracketing. All-in-one ============= CameraPixels is all-in-one capture solution, that supports multiple photo and video capture modes. Among them are Bracketing, Slow Shutter and Time-lapse modes. CameraPixels has the most advanced bracketing available on the iOS platform, which includes exposure and focus bracketing. Best for macro photography ============= With CameraPixels you can capture the best macro shots, be it a single image or a series of images, called focus bracketing, which can later be combined into one all-in-focus photo (requires external app for focus stacking). If you have an external macro lens, let CameraPixels save its name to the EXIF data for you, so later you can always remember which lens was used. Currently CameraPixels supports Olloclip™, Loupe System™ and Moment™ lenses. Best for professional HDR photography ============= CameraPixels has the most advanced exposure bracketing on iOS. With up to 15 images per bracket you can capture even the most difficult lighting situations. CameraPixels support auto-, iso and shutter-brackets, with an optional flash frame. The captured images can be used to create stunning HDR photos using your favorite professional HDR software. Intuitive UI ============= CameraPixels has a simple and efficient UI. The most important information is always in front of your eyes, and this allows you to avoid surprises like an unexpected flash fire or the wrong output photo or video format. Stop being distracted by the uncertainty of the settings, concentrate on your capture! ISO/Shutter priority modes ============= CameraPixels is among a few photography apps that support advanced exposure modes like ISO and Shutter priority. These modes are indispensable during dynamic photography when there is no time for adjusting manual exposure. Histogram and clipping warnings ============= The histogram is a great tool to estimate your exposure. It can show you if the photo has under-exposed or over-exposed areas. Clipping warnings, on the other hand, can show you exactly where those under and over-exposed areas in your photo are. Depth capture ============= On dual/triple-camera devices, CameraPixels can capture depth information alongside the colour photo. If the photo has depth information, in the preview window, two additional buttons appear (depth and portrait) that allow you to inspect the depth of the image and apply it to simulate an aperture. Presets ============= CameraPixels was designed for professional photographers that value efficiency of their workflow. The unlimited presets, including the possibility to expose them to Widget make CameraPixels the ultimate photography tool. Features overview ============= - UI optimized for manual capture - RAW and ProRAW (on supported devices) photo capture - Auto, manual and semi-automatic (ISO- and Shutter-priority) exposure modes - Photo, Burst, Portrait, Slow Shutter, Exposure Bracket, Focus Bracket, Video and Time-lapse - Clipping warnings to highlight under- and over-exposed areas in real time - Focus peaking and loupe during the manual focus adjustments - Single or series of Exposure Brackets with up to 15 images per bracket. AEB, ISO- and Shutter-brackets are available. - Single or series of Focus Brackets with up to 100 images per bracket - Adjustable photo and video resolution - Adjustable photo and video quality - Advanced photo processing (Smart HDR and Deep fusion on supported devices) - Unlimited presets with the possibility of exposing them to the widget - Advanced intervalometer - Multiple framing options

About

SMO

Capture detailed macro and microscopic photos and videos with enhanced magnification and illumination. Features digital zoom, adjustable autofocus, and a timer for stable shots.

Highlights
  • Capture photos and videos
  • Digital zoom for magnification
  • Adjustable flashlight for illumination
  • Manual and autofocus control
  • Full-screen observation
  • In-app timer for stable shots
Features
Read full description

Application with dedicated functions for easy use of the BLIPS lenses; for Macro photos or videos, or for observation at Microscopic scales. FEATURES: - Ability to take pictures and to shoot videos. - Digital Zoom to further increase the magnification and to observe microscopic details on the smartphone screen. - Flashlight can be activated whenever the user wants to increase the illumination on the observed subject, for enhancing the image definition. - Autofocus normally turned off; it can be easily activated and locked, if needed. - Full use of the screen to observe the tiniest details directly on your smartphone. - Timer: for keeping the camera still during the shot

Screenshots

CameraPixels Lite4 screens
SMO3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: CameraPixels Lite at 4.3 against SMO's 3.2. CameraPixels Lite also leads on review sentiment (74% vs 45%) and update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 4 months). SMO's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 15.6). On price, ratings volume, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. CameraPixels Lite sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. SMO asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

CameraPixels Lite holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 46 and 16 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 74% of CameraPixels Lite's written reviews are positive against 45% of SMO's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

CameraPixels Lite ships an update every 6 weeks, SMO every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on September 27, 2026 and June 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
CameraPixels Lite versus SMO: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCameraPixels LiteSMO
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (46 ratings) — better3.2 (16 ratings)
Positive reviews73.8% of reviews — better45.5% of reviews
Number of ratings46 — better16
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeks — betterEvery 4 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.68.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size8 MB2 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNatalya PetrenkoSmartMicroOptics

Customer experience

CameraPixels Lite

All ratings46 ratings
Positive78.3%
Neutral4.3%
Negative17.4%
Written reviews84 reviews
Positive73.8%
Neutral7.1%
Negative19.0%

SMO

All ratings16 ratings
Positive56.3%
Neutral12.5%
Negative31.3%
Written reviews11 reviews
Positive45.5%
Neutral9.1%
Negative45.5%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

CameraPixels Lite

One-time1
  • Full resolution pack$7.99
None

SMO

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is CameraPixels Lite free?
CameraPixels Lite is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is SMO free?
SMO is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, CameraPixels Lite or SMO?
CameraPixels Lite is rated higher. CameraPixels Lite averages 4.3 out of 5 from 46 ratings, while SMO averages 3.2 from 16 ratings.
Do CameraPixels Lite or SMO have ads?
Neither CameraPixels Lite nor SMO shows ads.
Which is updated more often, CameraPixels Lite or SMO?
CameraPixels Lite ships an update every 6 weeks, and SMO every 4 months. Most recently, CameraPixels Lite was updated on September 27, 2026 and SMO on June 1, 2026.

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