Lightme vs Scouter Cine Viewfinder
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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!
Scouter Cine Viewfinder
Plan film shoots with a director's viewfinder, comparing focal lengths and framing for your chosen camera. Save references, explore AI-generated lighting, and organize your scouting with project details. Core features are free, with optional upgrades for advanced planning.
- Director's viewfinder for iPhone and iPad
- Compare focal lengths and framing
- AI-generated lighting references
- Save and organize scouting references
- Preview camera and recording formats
- Capture reference photos and clips
Read full descriptionHide full description
Plan your next shoot with a director's viewfinder on iPhone and iPad. Scouter helps filmmakers compare focal lengths and framing for their chosen camera and recording format, then save scouting references to discuss with the crew. Core framing and photo capture are free, with one project and up to 20 references. Lumen helps you explore the light before the shoot. Choose a saved scout photo and time-of-day or weather options to generate an AI lighting reference, then compare it with the original. Lumen is optional and uses separate generation credits. Try Scouter Full free for 7 days. The trial ends automatically, with no automatic charge. Your projects and saved references are kept. Lumen credits are separate. FRAME THE PRODUCTION CAMERA - Preview real camera and recording-format combinations. - Compare lenses, focal lengths, sensor crops, and optical adapters. - Use multiple framelines, custom ratios, de-squeeze options, and looks or LUTs. - Keep focus, exposure, white balance, and technical shot choices with each reference. BUILD AN ORGANIZED SCOUT - Capture high-quality reference photos and short scout clips. - Group shots into projects with camera, lens, format, time, and optional location context. - Review original and generated versions without losing the source frame. - Export practical references and prelight material for the crew. PLAN LIGHT AND CONDITIONS - Use optional location, compass, motion, and sun-planning tools on the device. - Keep ordinary project work on the device by default. - Enable private iCloud project sync when you want your own Apple devices to stay aligned. FREE ACCESS, FULL AND LUMEN CREDITS The core viewfinder, capture, and project workflow is available without a subscription. Scouter Full is also available as a separate lifetime purchase, not an auto-renewing subscription. Neither Full nor its trial includes Lumen generation credits. Eligible users who sign in with Apple receive a one-time allowance of 20 complimentary Lumen credits plus 3 starter credits; no purchase is required. Each allowance can be claimed once per verified Apple identity. Deleting an account or reinstalling does not reset eligibility. Additional credits are available separately. Optional Pro and Studio subscriptions and Lumen-credit purchases are available separately. Prices are shown by the App Store before purchase. Subscription purchases renew automatically unless canceled through Apple; the seven-day Full trial does not. RELIGHT SELECTED FRAMES WITH LUMEN Lumen can create a visual relighting reference from a shot you explicitly select. Before the first generation, Scouter explains that the selected image and direction will be sent through Scouter's service to Alibaba Cloud Model Studio using Qwen or Wan image models. Working uploads and results follow the temporary-retention rules in Scouter's Privacy Policy. Lumen output is a creative planning reference, not a photometric simulation or a substitute for an experienced lighting crew. Scouter is intended for users aged 16 and older. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ratings volume: Lightme at 952 against Scouter Cine Viewfinder's 1. Lightme also leads on iOS requirement (15.6 vs 18.0). Scouter Cine Viewfinder's advantage is update cadence (every 8 days vs every 3 weeks) and review sentiment (100% vs 91%). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases 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
Both are free to download. Lightme sells 4 one-off in-app purchases and Scouter Cine Viewfinder sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Scouter Cine Viewfinder holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Lightme has 952 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 91% of Lightme's written reviews are positive against 100% of Scouter Cine Viewfinder's.
Lightme ships an update every 3 weeks, Scouter Cine Viewfinder every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Lightme | Scouter Cine Viewfinder |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (952 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 90.7% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 952 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 8 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 — better | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 10 MB | 114 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Giuseppe Bertolini | 轶凡 张 |
Customer experience
Lightme
Scouter Cine Viewfinder
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)
Scouter Cine Viewfinder
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Lightme
- Guanciale$9.99
- Parmigiano$16.99
- Pizza for two$29.99
Show 1 moreShow fewer
- Do this full-time$59.99
Scouter Cine Viewfinder
- Scouter Pro Monthly$7.991 Month
- Scouter Studio Monthly$19.991 Month
- Scouter Pro Yearly$79.991 Year
Show 1 moreShow fewer
- Scouter Studio Yearly$199.991 Year
- 7-day TrialFree
- 20 Lumen Credits$7.99
- 60 Lumen Credits$21.99
Show 2 moreShow fewer
- Scouter Full$29.99
- 150 Lumen Credits$49.99
Questions
Is Lightme free?
Is Scouter Cine Viewfinder free?
Which has better reviews, Lightme or Scouter Cine Viewfinder?
Do Lightme or Scouter Cine Viewfinder have ads?
Which is updated more often, Lightme or Scouter Cine Viewfinder?
Other comparisons















