Comparison

Lightme vs Manual Flash Calculator

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • Multiple exposure settings display
  • One-handed operation
  • Spot metering with zoom
  • Reciprocity failure compensation
  • Pinhole mode
  • Incident light metering
  • Film database
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!

About

Manual Flash Calculator

This app assists photographers by calculating camera and flash settings for manual flash photography. It allows users to create gear lists and kits, and then use this information to determine the fourth parameter (like flash power) when any three of the four relevant settings are known.

Highlights
  • Manual flash photography calculator
  • Configure camera and flash settings
  • Calculate missing parameter from three inputs
  • Create and manage gear lists
  • Organize gear into custom kits
  • Persistent local data storage
Features
Read full description

Get the Manual Flash Calculator to help configure your camera and flash setting when doing manual flash photography. Based on the flash and camera you use, setting any 3 of the 4 relevant parameters the fourth can be calculated. E.g. calculate the required flash power based on your ISO, F-Stop, subject distance and used flash specifications. The app support creating a list of the gear you use and combine them in a kit. You can add as much gear as you like and create as many kits to your use cases. Further to that you can add a flash calculator to a kit. And you can add as many calculators as you want. All data is saved persistently and remains available between sessions. What is included: * Gear List. Make an inventory of your gear. This gear list will provide you with a structured overview of the equipment you have in use. * Kit List. A kit can be seen as a collection of gear you target to use in specific cases. I.e. like for a kit dedicated to street photography, a kit dedicated to nature photography etc. Just create what suits you and add the relevant gear. * Flash Calculator. Based from your kit a calculator can be added that will use the gear part of the equipment to feed the relevant parameters input to the flash calculator. * Data is maintained in local database and will persist over several sessions. Add data once and just use it as you see fit. * Can be used on iPhone, iPad and Mac. It optimizes the use of the available canvas for each * A detailed release note, with what is new, changed, updated etc., is included in the app

Screenshots

Lightme4 screens
Manual Flash Calculator4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Lightme at 91% against Manual Flash Calculator's 0%. Lightme also leads on price (Free vs $2.99) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 18.1). Manual Flash Calculator's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 6). On update cadence, 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

Lightme is free to download; Manual Flash Calculator costs $2.99 up front. Lightme sells 6 one-off in-app purchases. Manual Flash Calculator asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Lightme ships an update every 3 weeks, Manual Flash Calculator every 11 days. Both last shipped on October 25, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Lightme versus Manual Flash Calculator: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLightmeManual Flash Calculator
PriceFree — better$2.99
Rating4.8 (942 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews90.7% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings942 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 11 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.6 — better18.1
Further details — not scored
Size9 MB2 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGiuseppe BertoliniWinterink

Customer experience

Lightme

All ratings925 ratings
Positive96.5%
Neutral1.3%
Negative2.2%
Written reviews214 reviews
Positive90.7%
Neutral1.9%
Negative7.5%

Manual Flash Calculator

Written reviews2 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

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)

Manual Flash Calculator

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

6 purchases

Lightme

One-time6
  • Espresso ristretto$1.99
  • Pecorino Romano$4.99
  • Guanciale$9.99
Show 3 more
  • Parmigiano$16.99
  • Pizza for two$29.99
  • Do this full-time$59.99
None

Manual Flash Calculator

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Lightme free?
Lightme is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Manual Flash Calculator free?
Manual Flash Calculator costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do Lightme or Manual Flash Calculator have ads?
Neither Lightme nor Manual Flash Calculator shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Lightme or Manual Flash Calculator?
Lightme ships an update every 3 weeks, and Manual Flash Calculator every 11 days. Most recently, Lightme was updated on October 25, 2026 and Manual Flash Calculator on October 25, 2026.

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