Comparison

LF Companion vs Lightme

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

Head to head
About

LF Companion

This app assists photographers by simulating a large format camera viewfinder and offering tools for composition. It also allows for digital contact sheet creation and film negative review.

Highlights
  • 4x5 viewfinder simulation
  • Customizable grid sizes
  • Invert colors for film review
  • Digital contact sheet creation
  • Save photos with filters
Features
Read full description

LF Companion is a simple assistant for photographers of any kind. The core functions are designed to help you become a better image-maker. The 4x5 mode flips your viewfinder to mimic looking through a large format camera. Combine this with your preferred grid size to make the perfect composition every time. Reviewing your 35mm, 120, or sheet film negatives on the light table? Use the Invert Colors toggle to review your film without modifying your iPhone's accessibility settings. Turn on the 'Save Photo with Filters' toggle to create digital contact sheets straight on your device - now your photograph's are ready to head straight to Instagram, Facebook, or wherever for editing and sharing. Be sure to use #lfcompanion when sharing your photos!

About

Lightme

This app provides a powerful yet simple light metering tool for photographers. It offers advanced features like spot metering, zone system implementation, and reciprocity failure compensation, alongside a clean interface for easy one-handed use. It supports a wide range of films and camera setups, making it suitable for both beginners and experienced users.

Highlights
  • Multiple aperture/shutterspeed combinations
  • Spot metering with variable zoom
  • Automatic reciprocity failure compensation
  • Pinhole mode with timer
  • Incident light metering with calibration
  • Black and white preview
  • Film stock selection
Features
Read full description

Lightme - Lightmeter is a clean, simple to use yet very powerful lightmeter. It is optimised for an easy one-handed use, both for left-handed and right-handed users, with the main controls within your thumb's reach, without the fatiguing juggling of your precious smartphone. A core distinguishing feature of Lightme - Lightmeter is that - differently from most of the other apps - it can show multiple combinations of valid settings for aperture and shutterspeed at the same time by working like a - stretched out - old needle and wheel lightmeter. This allows the user to quickly pick the desired settings without having to scroll on a tiny wheel picker. The app is designed to be welcoming to people who are just starting out, with a simple one-button use. But it offers many useful and advanced features for the more experienced shooters/users: Continuous metering (by pressing and holding or double tapping the measure button) Spot metering with a variable zoom (for more precision) which also supports average metering, and a very intuitive implementation of the zone system Automatic reciprocity failure compensation (for 25+ films, if you see exposure times in red, they are being compensated) A dedicated pinhole mode with precise exposure times for user defined apertures (multiple apertures at a time), with the possibility of setting a timer (through a shortcut) Incident light metering with calibration when using the front facing camera And more ... It also includes some other features that are enjoyable by any kind of user: Black and white preview The ability to use any of the cameras on your smartphone (swipe left/right on the preview) Multiple presets for your different camera/film/lens setups Framelines for previewing your shot, before setting up your tripod etc. A searchable list of useful tips to make better use of the application's potential A searchable list of more than 70 films to choose from with the possibility of selecting a few favourites Dark mode support and a useful level of customisation You can find even more info in the tips inside the app or you can have a look at full user manual by tapping on manual (in the settings) The app is free in all its many functionalities, but it offers In-App-Purchases in order to support the project. The only minor perk you can enable only via certain IAPs is the replacement of the Ad button with a label containing the name of your current preset, check under settings -> coffee for more info. Don't panic though, even if there's an Ad button it doesn't mean I'm going to show you ads. In fact unless you decide to tap on that button I'm never going to show you any. But if you have a few minutes to spare, watching a few of them sure helps keeping this project alive :) Try it, and, if you like it, share it with your friends and consider writing a (mini) review ;) Have a nice day, and good light!

Screenshots

LF Companion4 screens
Lightme4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: LF Companion at none against Lightme's 4. LF Companion also leads on iOS requirement (12.4 vs 15.6). Lightme's advantage is ratings volume (944 vs 18) and review sentiment (91% vs 75%). On price, rating, 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. Lightme sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. LF Companion asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for LF Companion against 4.8 for Lightme. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Lightme has 944 ratings behind it against 18, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 75% of LF Companion's written reviews are positive against 91% of Lightme's.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
LF Companion versus Lightme: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLF CompanionLightme
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (18 ratings)4.8 (944 ratings) — better
Positive reviews75.0% of reviews90.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings18944 — better
Update frequency—Every 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS12.4 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size1 MB10 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAnthony ForsytheGiuseppe Bertolini

Customer experience

LF Companion

All ratings18 ratings
Positive94.4%
Neutral0.0%
Negative5.6%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%

Lightme

All ratings944 ratings
Positive96.6%
Neutral1.3%
Negative2.1%
Written reviews215 reviews
Positive90.7%
Neutral1.9%
Negative7.4%

Bugs and requests

LF Companion

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Lightme

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Crashes on iOS 16
  • Metering issues with certain camera/lens combinations

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add shutter angle adjustment for cinematography
  • Implement ISO lock feature
  • Add more film stock profiles
  • Improve film selection process (e.g. search, categories)
  • Provide more customization options (e.g. interface themes)

In-app purchases

None

LF Companion

No in-app purchases

4 purchases

Lightme

One-time4
  • Guanciale$9.99
  • Parmigiano$16.99
  • Pizza for two$29.99
Show 1 more
  • Do this full-time$59.99

Questions

Is LF Companion free?
LF Companion is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Lightme free?
Lightme is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, LF Companion or Lightme?
Lightme is rated higher. LF Companion averages 4.7 out of 5 from 18 ratings, while Lightme averages 4.8 from 944 ratings.
Do LF Companion or Lightme have ads?
Neither LF Companion nor Lightme shows ads.

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