Lightme vs ShuttR
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!
ShuttR
This app uses your iPhone's camera to accurately measure the shutter speeds of analog film cameras. It provides a guided process to check if your camera's shutter has drifted over time, offering a clear verdict on its performance without requiring external hardware.
- Measures real shutter speeds
- Uses iPhone camera and light source
- Tests speeds from 8s to 1/500
- Guided step-by-step protocol
- Automatic calibration
- Deviation in stops and verdict
- History and camera collection
- Shareable 'shutter checked' certificate
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Is your analogue camera's shutter still accurate — or has it drifted after decades of use? ShuttR Check measures the real shutter speeds of your analog camera using nothing but your iPhone's camera and a light source. No hardware testers, no sensors to buy, no guesswork — reliably from 8s down to 1/500. HOW IT WORKS Open your camera's film back, remove the lens, and put a light source behind it. ShuttR Check uses your iPhone's high-speed camera to measure exactly how long each shutter release lets light through, then tells you how far that is from the speed you dialled in — in fractions of a stop. The app walks you through every step. There is nothing to configure, nothing to interpret: set up, release the shutter, read the result. RELIABLE FROM 8s TO 1/500 — ShuttR Check measures dependably from 8 seconds down to 1/500. An iPhone alone cannot resolve 1/1000 and up with an accuracy worth trusting, and we'd rather leave those speeds out than hand you numbers that look precise but aren't. That range also happens to cover where mechanical shutters drift the most and where a deviation actually shows up in your negatives. Timed speeds slower than 1s are there too, for the cameras that offer them. WHAT YOU GET A guided, step-by-step measurement protocol — no photography or technical background needed Automatic calibration (checks your room is dark enough and free of flickering light) Every speed compared against its nominal value, with the deviation in stops and a clear OK / deviation / defective verdict A history per camera, so you can track a shutter's condition over time A camera collection to track shutter's performance including import / export function of your camera list A shareable "shutter checked" certificate (image or PDF) — perfect for camera sellers on eBay, Etsy, or classifieds, showing buyers exactly what they're getting SHUTTER TYPES Horizontal and vertical focal-plane shutters are tested and validated — these are the shutters in most classic SLRs and rangefinders. Leaf (central) shutters should work just as well, since the app measures the light pulse itself and doesn't care how the shutter produces it, but they haven't been through the same validation, so treat those readings as unconfirmed. WHAT THIS APP IS NOT ShuttR Check gives you dependable, repeatable information about how far your shutter speeds have drifted. It does not replace a calibrated measuring instrument, and the results are not a laboratory reference — if you need certified figures, a service technician with proper equipment is still the right call. It also does not measure shutter capping. The app times how long light passes through, not how evenly the curtains expose across the frame. A shutter that tapers or caps at one edge can still show correct overall timing here. WHO IT'S FOR Film photographers who want to know if their gear is actually accurate Camera collectors curious about a new find Sellers who want to offer buyers real proof of a working shutter
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Lightme at Free against ShuttR's $6.99. Lightme also leads on ratings volume (936 vs 2) and rating (4.8 vs 4.5). ShuttR's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 6) and chart position (#185 vs unranked). On update cadence and ads 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; ShuttR costs $6.99 up front. Lightme sells 6 one-off in-app purchases. ShuttR asks for nothing beyond the download.
Lightme holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Lightme has 936 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.
Lightme ships an update every 3 weeks, ShuttR every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 18, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Lightme | ShuttR |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $6.99 |
| Rating | 4.8 (936 ratings) — better | 4.5 (2 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 90.7% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 936 — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 2 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases — better | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | #185 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 9 MB | 7 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Giuseppe Bertolini | Christian Haemmerle |
Customer experience
Lightme
ShuttR
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)
ShuttR
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
ShuttR
No in-app purchases









