Lightme vs LightCompass

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!

Know where the light will be - before you get there. LightCompass shows you exactly where the sun, the moon, and the Milky Way will be for any place, any date, any time. Drop a pin, scrub the timeline, and plan the shot before you leave home. No manual to study: open the map and you are planning within minutes. PLAN ON THE MAP - Sun and moon paths drawn over the exact spot you are going to shoot, for any date and time - Sunrise, sunset, moonrise, moonset, twilight, golden hour, and blue hour at a glance - Moon phase and illumination, plus Milky Way arch and Galactic Center visibility - A time slider to scrub through the day and watch the light move SEE IT IN AR - Point your iPhone at the scene and preview the sun and moon paths over the live camera image - Compass calibration flow for reliable on-location alignment TRUST THE TERRAIN (Terrain 3D pack) - Real elevation data builds the actual horizon around you - Sunrise and sunset corrected for the ridgeline, so you know when the light clears the mountain - not the flat horizon - A 3D terrain map with sunrise and sunset direction lines from where you stand FIND THE ALIGNMENT (Alignment pack) - Reverse search: choose where you want the sun or moon to appear, and LightCompass finds the dates and times it will be exactly there CATCH THE EVENTS (Celestial pack) - Solar and lunar eclipse details - Meteor shower calendar - Star trail planning CALCULATE THE SHOT - Depth of field, hyperfocal distance, and field of view calculators - Camera settings guidance for the scene you are planning - Meters or feet, your choice SAVE AND REMEMBER - Save locations and shooting plans - Add a plan to your calendar with a reminder, so you are on location before the light is SIMPLE, HONEST PRICING - The core app is a single one-time purchase - Three optional expansion packs - Alignment, Celestial, and Terrain 3D - are one-time purchases too, with a complete bundle available - No subscription. Ever. PRIVATE BY DESIGN - No account, no sign-up, no analytics, no ads - Every astronomical calculation runs on your device - The only network requests fetch public map and elevation data, which is cached for offline use Whether you are chasing golden hour in the city, waiting for moonrise behind a peak, or lining up the Galactic Center over a lighthouse, LightCompass tells you where the light will be - so you can be there first.