Lightme vs Manual Flash Calculator
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
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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!
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.
- 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
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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
Verdict
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
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.
Lightme ships an update every 3 weeks, Manual Flash Calculator every 11 days. Both last shipped on October 25, 2026.
| Parameter | Lightme | Manual Flash Calculator |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $2.99 |
| Rating | 4.8 (942 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 90.7% of reviews — better | 0.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 942 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 11 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases — better | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 — better | 18.1 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 9 MB | 2 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Giuseppe Bertolini | Winterink |
Customer experience
Lightme
Manual Flash Calculator
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
Lightme
- Espresso ristretto$1.99
- Pecorino Romano$4.99
- Guanciale$9.99
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- Parmigiano$16.99
- Pizza for two$29.99
- Do this full-time$59.99
Manual Flash Calculator
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Lightme free?
Is Manual Flash Calculator free?
Do Lightme or Manual Flash Calculator have ads?
Which is updated more often, Lightme or Manual Flash Calculator?
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