# Photon Camera vs Filmic Firstlight

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.

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.

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Photon Camera | Filmic Firstlight |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.1 (71 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/photon-camera/id1439310090/reviews) | **[4.5 (919 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/filmic-firstlight-photo-app/id1482338564/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 71 | **919** |
| Positive reviews | 24.2% of reviews | **37.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 60 MB | 126 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **14.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPod, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [LateNiteSoft S.L.](https://appshunter.io/developer/283292600) | [BENDING SPOONS OPERATIONS SPA](https://appshunter.io/developer/1280299077) |

## What reviewers say

### Photon Camera

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/photon-camera/id1439310090)

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:** Family Sharing, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $3.99 | per month |
| Yearly | $19.99 | per year |
| One-time purchase | $39.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

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


### Filmic Firstlight

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/filmic-firstlight-photo-app/id1482338564)

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:** Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| FirstLight Weekly With FT | $0.99 | per 7 days |
| FirstLight Weekly | $1.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly Subscription | $1.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly Bundle with Free Trial | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly Bundle Subscription | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| FirstLight Yearly With FT | $9.99 | per year |
| Weekly Bundle with Free Trial | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| FirstLight Weekly | $19.99 | per year |
| Yearly Subscription | $19.99 | per year |
| Yearly Super Bundle with FT | $99.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

- 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**

- Ability to save preferred filters
- White balance control
- Longer shutter speed
- Digital zoom
- Horizontal shooting


## Frequently asked 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.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*