# Photon Camera vs Manual Camera

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Manual Camera at 59% against Photon Camera's 24%. Manual Camera also leads on rating (4.3 vs 4.1) and ratings volume (454 vs 71). 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 Manual Camera sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Manual Camera holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Manual Camera has 454 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 59% of Manual Camera's.

Photon Camera ships an update every 3 weeks, Manual Camera every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Photon Camera | Manual Camera |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.1 (71 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/photon-camera/id1439310090/reviews) | **[4.3 (454 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/manual-camera-focus-iso-wb/id1543743256/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 71 | **454** |
| Positive reviews | 24.2% of reviews | **58.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 4 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 60 MB | 25 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [LateNiteSoft S.L.](https://appshunter.io/developer/283292600) | [Vladislav Dugnist](https://appshunter.io/developer/960734880) |

## 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


### Manual Camera

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/manual-camera-focus-iso-wb/id1543743256)

Take full control of your mobile photography with manual adjustments for focus, ISO, shutter speed, and white balance. Achieve professional-looking shots with reduced noise and creative motion blur effects.

**Highlights:** Manual focus control, Adjustable ISO sensitivity, Variable shutter speed, Customizable white balance, Long exposure photography, RAW photo capture

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Manual Camera PRO | $5.99 | per year |
| Manual Camera PRO | $11.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Useful for manual focus
- 👍 Good for astronomy photos
- 👍 Allows specific parameter settings
- 👍 Great for low light environments
- 👍 Free long exposure photos

**What reviewers complain about**

- 👎 Free version HEIF format
- 👎 Requires access to all photos
- 👎 Aspect ratio issues in free version
- 👎 Difficult to use slow shutter
- 👎 Cannot take selfies

**Reported bugs**

- Unable to save photos
- Aspect ratio not saving correctly in free version
- Slow shutter not working as expected
- App crashes
- Cannot access selfie camera

**Requested features**

- Ability to turn on macro focus mode
- Option to switch to selfie camera
- Longer exposure times (e.g., 30 seconds)
- Support for ultra wide and telephoto cameras
- ND filter for daylight slow shutter speeds


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Photon Camera free?

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

### Is Manual Camera free?

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

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

Manual Camera is rated higher. Photon Camera averages 4.1 out of 5 from 71 ratings, while Manual Camera averages 4.3 from 454 ratings.

### Do Photon Camera or Manual Camera have ads?

Neither Photon Camera nor Manual Camera shows ads.

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

Photon Camera ships an update every 3 weeks, and Manual Camera every 4 weeks. Most recently, Photon Camera was updated on October 29, 2026 and Manual Camera on October 23, 2026.

---

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