# Photon Camera vs Luwian

The clearest difference is rating: Luwian at 4.5 against Photon Camera's 4.0. Luwian also leads on review sentiment (46% vs 24%) and ratings volume (354 vs 64). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Photon Camera sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and Luwian sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Luwian holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Luwian has 354 ratings behind it against 64, 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 46% of Luwian's.

Photon Camera ships an update every 3 weeks, Luwian every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Photon Camera | Luwian |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.0 (64 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/photon-camera/id1439310090/reviews) | **[4.5 (354 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/luwian/id1519571900/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 64 | **354** |
| Positive reviews | 23.8% of reviews | **45.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 10 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 59 MB | 211 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | 26.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [LateNiteSoft S.L.](https://appshunter.io/developer/283292600) | [Erkan SIRIN](https://appshunter.io/developer/617648754) |

## 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


### Luwian

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/luwian/id1519571900)

Transform your phone into a professional camera with full manual controls for photography and videography. Edit your shots with advanced tools, including RAW file editing and creative filters, to achieve a professional masterpiece.

**Highlights:** Full manual camera controls (ISO, Shutter Speed, Exposure), Precise focus and white balance adjustment, Analog film and cinematic filters, Professional video recording (Slow Motion, Time-lapse), RAW file editing and color correction, Perspective correction and cropping, Long exposure and HDRi modes

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Luwian Pro Monthly Membership | $2.99 | per month |
| Luwian Pro Annual Membership | $14.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 📸 Excellent image quality and sharpness with ProRAW
- 🎯 Precise autofocus and tap-to-focus functionality
- ⚙️ Extensive manual controls and detailed adjustments
- 🎬 Professional-grade features rivaling DSLR cameras
- 🎨 Creative filters and film stock options

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and CTD (crash-to-desktop) issues
- 🐢 Very slow processing and performance
- 🎨 Cluttered menu interface and poor UI/UX
- 💳 Shift to subscription model in recent updates
- 📱 Inconsistent performance across devices

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes immediately on startup, especially on iPad
- Memory issues preventing photo capture
- Panorama mode requests landscape when already in landscape
- Duplicate panorama files in camera roll
- Image preview turns dark brown when changing lenses

**Requested features**

- Better effects and filters library
- Improved focus peeking for manual focus
- Clearer user instructions and documentation
- Better panorama handling with single output
- Improved video editing and saving capabilities


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Photon Camera free?

Photon Camera is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Luwian free?

Luwian is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Photon Camera or Luwian?

Luwian is rated higher. Photon Camera averages 4.0 out of 5 from 64 ratings, while Luwian averages 4.5 from 354 ratings.

### Do Photon Camera or Luwian have ads?

Neither Photon Camera nor Luwian shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Photon Camera or Luwian?

Photon Camera ships an update every 3 weeks, and Luwian every 10 days. Most recently, Photon Camera was updated on September 23, 2026 and Luwian on September 27, 2026.

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