Comparison

Photon Camera vs Filmic Firstlight

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

Head to head
About

Photon Camera

Transform your iPhone into a professional camera with full manual controls. Achieve DSLR-quality photos with advanced tools like focus peaking, live exposure, and RAW capture. Take creative control with AI processing options and a minimalist interface.

Highlights
  • Full manual control (ISO, shutter speed, white balance)
  • Focus peaking and focus loupe
  • Live exposure and histogram
  • RAW, ProRAW, HEIF, and JPEG capture
  • Adjustable AI processing (Process Control)
  • Minimalist and intuitive interface
  • Image browser with photo details
Features
Read full description

Turn your iPhone and iPad into a powerful photography tool with Photon Camera. Ideal for passionate enthusiasts and those venturing into professional photography, Photon Camera ensures DSLR-quality captures with every tap. DSLR-Quality Photos with Professional Features Photon Camera brings DSLR-quality photos to your iPhone and iPad with professional features for full manual control. Adjust focus, ISO, shutter speed, white balance, and, on iPhone 18 Pro, aperture, to capture unbelievable images. The ultimate camera app for creative photographers. Minimalist, Intuitive Design Ditch the clutter and focus on your shot. Photon sports a sleek, minimalist design that puts essential features at your fingertips. Clearly labeled, high-contrast, easy-to-tap controls give you instant access to focus, exposure, and white balance, so you can capture the perfect shot every time. Powerful, Professional Tools Experience the best of professional photography on your iPhone and iPad. Photon Camera equips you with robust tools such as live exposure, histogram, level, a focus loupe, timer, exposure clipping, and focus peaking, ensuring you capture exactly what you want. A Native iPad Camera Photon is built for iPad. All your pro tools are there: manual controls, histogram, level, focus peaking, and loupe, with layouts designed for the larger screen. A dedicated editing sidebar gives your photos more room while keeping adjustments close at hand. Smart, Precise Editing Edit with the same precision you shoot with. Smart Selection lets you tap an object and adjust it independently: Photon detects its edges, so you can brighten your subject, cool the background, or give each its own look. Blur and Sharpen tools let you soften a background or bring out detail, across the whole image or just a selection. On iPad, a dedicated editing sidebar gives your photos more room while keeping adjustments close at hand. Smart Selection requires iOS 27. Take Creative Control with Process Control Go beyond the basics of RAW photography with Process Control. This innovative tool lets you select the level of AI processing applied to your photos on a scale from 0% to 100%. Whether you prefer unprocessed RAW purity, fully enhanced photos, or something in between, Process Control ensures your creative vision comes to life. Process Control photos open directly in the editor, ready for finishing touches. Seamless Image Browser Relive your memories in a swipe with our easy-to-use image browser. Browse through your recent captures, get detailed insights about each photo, move smoothly into the editor, and share or delete with a single tap. Why Choose Photon? Simple, clutter-free interface designed for focused photography A native camera experience on iPad Capture in any format you like, including True RAW, ProRAW, HEIF, JPEG, and JPEG XL (iPhone 16 Pro and later). Or combine RAW and non-RAW formats. Instant access to manual controls, including Best-on-iPhone focus tools and manual aperture on iPhone 18 Pro, also through Camera Control Smart Selection, Blur, and Sharpen for precise, targeted edits Professional tools like live exposure, histogram, level, focus peaking, loupe, timer, exposure clipping, reliable RAW burst shooting, and external storage (iPhone 15 Pro and later) A user-friendly image browser that doubles as your digital photo album Photon Studio companion app that shows a live preview as you shoot your photos! Free for all Photon Pro users. Join the community of aspiring photographers taking their iPhone and iPad photography to the next level with Photon. It is not just a camera; it is a tool to unleash your creative vision. Download now and start capturing the world around you in stunning detail. You can review terms of use at https://photon.cam/terms/.

About

Filmic Firstlight

This camera app offers a creative and fun photography experience with custom film simulations and adaptive film grain. It provides advanced yet approachable controls for focus, exposure, and image aesthetics, allowing users to capture and share stunning photos with a vintage analog vibe without extensive post-editing.

Highlights
  • Custom film simulations
  • Adaptive film grain
  • Live analytics
  • Manual focus and exposure controls
  • Vintage film looks
  • Burst mode
  • DNG, TIFF, JPG, HEIC export
Features
Read full description

Filmic Firstlight is a revolutionary photo camera from the makers of the class leading Filmic Pro cinema video camera that makes live photography fun and creative. -- -- -- -- -- -- Rediscover the joy of capturing life’s moments in photographs you will immediately treasure and want to share. Firstlight combines custom film simulations, adaptive film grain and FiLMiC Pro’s famous live analytics to offer an advanced but approachable front end camera experience like no other. Fast, easy and intuitive, Firstlight lets you envision and capture your best moments in camera, without having to spend hours editing your photos later. Shoot and share, it’s that easy. -- -- -- -- -- -- ADVANCED IMAGE CONTROLS - Fast, intuitive focus and exposure controls: Tap the screen to set focus/exposure, tap again to lock. - Shutter and ISO Priority Modes: In addition to auto exposure, you can set specific Shutter Speed or ISO values to adhere to and let the app automatically adjust exposure for the unlocked value. - Cross-swipe manual controls: The most intuitive way to manually adjust focus and exposure. Swipe across the image to dial in your perfect shot. Swipe up and down to adjust exposure. Swipe left and right to adjust focus. - Reactive analytics: A foundation feature of Filmic Pro and now in a photo app. Manually adjusting your focus and exposure will automatically apply focus peaking or zebra stripes to make sure you get your shot just right. - RGB Histogram: Dynamically shows the exposure profile of the image across all color channels. GET THE LOOK YOU WANT - Vintage film simulations: The magic of Firstlight is in our realistic tributes to authentic film stocks. - Film grain: Apply natural-looking, dynamically-generated film grain effects to give your photos that ‘film look’. - Vignette: Apply a subtle dark vignette to your image. - Lens selector: Quickly switch between all available lenses on your device. Go from tele to ultrawide with the tap of a finger. (Note: camera/lens support is device specific). PROFESSIONAL CAMERA TOOLS - Burst mode - Timer - Flash - Grid overlays - Aspect ratios: 4:3, 16:9, 3:2, 1:1, 5:4 - Expanded shadow detail - DNG, TIFF, JPG or HEIC Selection - HDR control (This feature is supported by iPhone Xs Max, Xs, Xr and newer) - Volume button shutter and support for most bluetooth camera shutter remotes - Configurable burst mode - Anamorphic adapter support - Custom Function button - Custom live analytics - Configurable Focus and Exposure controls - Embedded copyright - Filmic Pro quick launch button (for owners of Filmic Pro) If you have any questions for the Filmic team either before or after you purchase Firstlight or one of our other apps please feel free to reach out to us at: support@filmicpro.com Terms of Service: https://support.bendingspoons.com/tos.html?app=1482338564

Screenshots

Photon Camera4 screens
Filmic Firstlight4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Filmic Firstlight at 4.5 against Photon Camera's 4.1. Filmic Firstlight also leads on ratings volume (919 vs 71) and review sentiment (37% vs 24%). Photon Camera's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. Photon Camera sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and Filmic Firstlight sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Filmic Firstlight holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Filmic Firstlight has 919 ratings behind it against 71, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 24% of Photon Camera's written reviews are positive against 37% of Filmic Firstlight's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Photon Camera ships an update every 3 weeks, Filmic Firstlight every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Photon Camera versus Filmic Firstlight: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPhoton CameraFilmic Firstlight
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.1 (71 ratings)4.5 (919 ratings) — better
Positive reviews24.2% of reviews37.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings71919 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple WatchiPhone, iPod, Apple Watch
Requires iOS26.014.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size60 MB126 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLateNiteSoft S.L.BENDING SPOONS OPERATIONS SPA

Customer experience

Photon Camera

All ratings71 ratings
Positive76.1%
Neutral0.0%
Negative23.9%
Written reviews124 reviews
Positive24.2%
Neutral8.1%
Negative67.7%

Filmic Firstlight

All ratings910 ratings
Positive86.4%
Neutral3.8%
Negative9.8%
Written reviews243 reviews
Positive37.0%
Neutral14.0%
Negative49.0%

User reviews

Photon Camera

From 71 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Great camera controls
  • 👍 Intuitive interface
  • 🔋 Efficient battery usage
  • 💡 Direct USB storage option
  • 🚀 Fast and responsive

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Crashes and bugs
  • 💰 Expensive subscription model
  • 🔒 Lack of transparency around app ownership
  • 🔒 Concerns about developer trustworthiness
  • 🔍 Limited zoom and lens options

Filmic Firstlight

From 919 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Smooth interface
  • 🎨 Excellent film emulations and grain
  • 👍 Intuitive controls
  • 📷 Good image quality
  • 💡 Anamorphic de-squeeze feature

Room to improve

  • 🐛 App crashes and freezes
  • 🔋 High battery consumption
  • 📂 Inconvenient file management
  • 💰 Subscription model
  • 🔍 Limited manual controls

Bugs and requests

Photon Camera

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Manual mode crashes
  • Inability to access external storage
  • Incompatibility with certain devices
  • Unreliable photo saving and syncing

Requested features

5 requests
  • Bracketed HDR mode
  • Customizable white balance controls
  • Landscape orientation support
  • Macro mode
  • Integration with other photo apps

Filmic Firstlight

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • RAW files appear blurry
  • Incompatibility with iPhone 14 Pro
  • Inconsistent behavior with lens switching
  • Inability to export DNG files
  • HDR setting resets on app launch

Requested features

7 requests
  • Ability to save preferred filters
  • White balance control
  • Longer shutter speed
  • Digital zoom
  • Horizontal shooting
Show 2 more
  • Focus stacking
  • Wireless tethering

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Photon Camera

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly7 Days trial$3.991 Month
  • Yearly7 Days trial$19.991 Year
One-time1
  • One-time purchase$39.99
10 purchases

Filmic Firstlight

Subscriptions10
  • FirstLight Weekly With FT7 Days trial$0.997 Days
  • FirstLight Weekly7 Days trial$1.997 Days
  • Weekly Subscription$1.997 Days
Show 7 more
  • Weekly Bundle with Free Trial7 Days trial$4.997 Days
  • Weekly Bundle Subscription$4.997 Days
  • FirstLight Yearly With FT7 Days trial$9.991 Year
  • Weekly Bundle with Free Trial7 Days trial$9.997 Days
  • FirstLight Weekly7 Days trial$19.991 Year
  • Yearly Subscription$19.991 Year
  • Yearly Super Bundle with FT7 Days trial$99.991 Year

Questions

Is Photon Camera free?
Photon Camera is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Filmic Firstlight free?
Filmic Firstlight is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Photon Camera or Filmic Firstlight?
Filmic Firstlight is rated higher. Photon Camera averages 4.1 out of 5 from 71 ratings, while Filmic Firstlight averages 4.5 from 919 ratings.
Do Photon Camera or Filmic Firstlight have ads?
Neither Photon Camera nor Filmic Firstlight shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Photon Camera or Filmic Firstlight?
Photon Camera ships an update every 3 weeks, and Filmic Firstlight every 2 months. Most recently, Photon Camera was updated on November 2, 2026 and Filmic Firstlight on November 3, 2026.

Other comparisons