Lightme vs Exposure Equivalence
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Lightme
This powerful light meter app offers a clean, intuitive interface optimized for one-handed use. It displays multiple aperture and shutter speed combinations simultaneously, aiding quick setting selection. Suitable for beginners and experienced photographers alike, it includes advanced features like spot metering, reciprocity failure compensation, and pinhole mode.
- Multiple exposure settings display
- One-handed operation
- Spot metering with zoom
- Reciprocity failure compensation
- Pinhole mode
- Incident light metering
- Film database
Read full descriptionHide 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!
Exposure Equivalence
Read full descriptionHide full description
The Sunny 16 rule is a handy rule of thumb in outdoor daylight photography; the rule estimates the required daylight Exposure Value without using a light meter. This rule evolves around three concepts: 1) Incident light (as opposed to reflected light); an advantage for ‘difficult’ subjects. 2) The different lighting conditions in outdoor photography (sunny, slight overcast, overcast, heavy overcast, and open shade/sunset). 3) The relatively fixed exposure value for daylight under these conditions. What the rule does NOT prescribe are the actual camera settings (aperture, ISO and shutter speed) that you can use, as long as the combination of manual camera settings lead to an equivalent exposure value as specified by the rule. And this is exactly where the Exposure Calculator app comes in: it lets you a) change settings for aperture, ISO and shutter speed, and b) use ND-filters for which the filter density (the filter exposure compensation value) can be taken into account, c) balance out all these settings to achieve a correct exposure in accordance with the entered lighting condition (either a Sunny 16 preset or a measured EV100 ). The calculator supports the balancing process by indicating the resulting overall exposure value in stops RELATIVE to the selected lighting condition, taking into account a selected filter density. The calculator can also be used as a ‘training device’, where you first guess the required combination of settings for balance, and subsequently check these with the calculator. Explanation for the calculator screen, from top to bottom: A) In the ‘lighting condition panel’, select a lighting condition. In the new version of this app, you can select a lighting condition from either the “Sunny 16” presets-scale, or from a more extended scale of Exposure Values (assumed to be measured at ISO 100). On the right side of this panel, you can switch between the two scales (“Sunny 16” or “EV100”). B) The number display indicates whether the selected settings are in balance (indicated by 0), or whether a correction in the settings is necessary (indicated by a negative number for under exposure, of a positive number for over exposure) C) If you want to change settings for aperture, ISO, shutter speed or filter density, you can select this in the switch just below the number display. Of course changing settings will lead to the number display increasing or decreasing; this exposure offset needs to be balanced out by using (a combination of) the other settings, until the displayed number becomes 0 again. The switch itself continuously displays the selected values for aperture, ISO, shutter speed and filter density. D) The circular controls for aperture, ISO, shutter speed or filter density are displayed below (when the screen is in ‘portrait mode’) or to the right (in ‘landscape mode’). You can change the settings for the circular control either by tapping on the control or by moving the pointer. Further characteristics: - No in-app purchases - No account, no login - No advertisements
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Lightme at Free against Exposure Equivalence's $0.99. Lightme also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 3 months) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.0). Exposure Equivalence's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 6) and chart position (#192 vs unranked). On 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
Lightme is free to download; Exposure Equivalence costs $0.99 up front. Lightme sells 6 one-off in-app purchases. Exposure Equivalence asks for nothing beyond the download.
Lightme ships an update every 3 weeks, Exposure Equivalence every 3 months. Both last shipped on October 27, 2026.
| Parameter | Lightme | Exposure Equivalence |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $0.99 |
| Rating | 4.8 (942 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 90.7% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 942 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks — better | Every 3 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Best chart rank | — | #192 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 9 MB | 2 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Giuseppe Bertolini | Rob Duell PhD |
Bugs and 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)
Exposure Equivalence
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Lightme
- Espresso ristretto$1.99
- Pecorino Romano$4.99
- Guanciale$9.99
Show 3 moreShow fewer
- Parmigiano$16.99
- Pizza for two$29.99
- Do this full-time$59.99
Exposure Equivalence
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Lightme free?
Is Exposure Equivalence free?
Do Lightme or Exposure Equivalence have ads?
Which is updated more often, Lightme or Exposure Equivalence?
Other comparisons















