Comparison

LightScope vs BackPanel

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

Head to head
About

LightScope

This app uses your device's camera to measure and analyze various light properties, including illuminance, luminous intensity, and color temperature. It offers real-time histograms, contrast ratio, and noise measurements, with options for image capture and history tracking.

Highlights
  • Illuminance (lux) measurement
  • Luminous intensity (candela) calculation
  • Color temperature (K) analysis
  • Real-time histogram
  • Contrast ratio measurement
  • Image capture and storage
  • Measurement history and trends
Features
Read full description

LightScope is a comprehensive solution providing professional light measurement and analysis using your iOS device's camera sensor. 【Key Measurement Features】 • Illuminance (lux) Measurement: Calculates accurate illuminance by analyzing EXIF data from the camera sensor. Illuminance is derived using the formula: (F-number² / (Exposure Time × ISO)) × Calibration Factor. • Exposure (EV) Calculator: Converts measured illuminance to EV and suggests proper exposure combinations in standard stops for your ISO and aperture (or shutter) settings. • Luminous Intensity (candela) Calculation: Automatically calculates the luminous intensity of a light source based on the set distance. Uses the formula: Illuminance (lux) × Distance². • Color Temperature (K) & Tint Analysis: Precisely measures the light source's color temperature (1500K~15000K) and tint (green-magenta bias) by analyzing the camera's white balance sensor data — useful for identifying fluorescent and LED lighting. • Real-time Histogram: Visualizes the balance of shadows, midtones, and highlights through 16-level brightness distribution analysis. • Contrast Ratio Measurement: Evaluates the brightness ratio between bright and dark areas of a scene (based on 10th/90th percentiles) according to WCAG accessibility standards. • Noise Measurement (SNR): Calculates the signal-to-noise ratio in dB to evaluate image quality in the shooting environment. 【Advanced Features】 • Image Capture and Storage: Captures camera images at the time of measurement and stores them with measurement data. • Full-screen Image View: Zoom, pan, and rotate captured images for detailed inspection. • Gallery Saving: Save captured images to your device's photo library. • Measurement History and Trends: Save all measurements chronologically and chart trends for lux, EV, color temperature, contrast, and SNR. • Continuous Logging: Automatically record measurements at a set interval (1-60s) — great for lighting design and site surveys. • Full-Resolution Image Storage: Keep captured images at original quality for detailed inspection and gallery saving. • Export All History: Export every measurement as a CSV file or a PDF report. • Notes & Location Tags: Attach notes to measurements and optionally save the measurement location. • Home Screen Widget: See your last measurement (lux, color temperature, contrast, SNR) right on the home screen. • Camera Full-screen Mode: Hide panels to focus on the camera view while checking key measurements via a mini info panel. • Measurement Lock: Freeze exposure and white balance for stable, steady readings. • Spot Metering: In full-screen mode, tap anywhere to meter around that point. • Perfect Dark/Light Mode Support: All UI elements automatically adapt to the system theme. 【User Settings】 • Calibration Wizard: Enter a reading from a reference lux meter and the calibration factor is calculated automatically. Manual slider adjustment is also available. • Distance Setting: Set the distance to the light source for precise luminous intensity (cd) calculations. • Front/Rear Camera Selection: Choose the appropriate camera for your measurement situation. 【Technical Features】 • Support for measuring various light source types: natural light, LED, fluorescent, incandescent, etc. • Color temperature and tint sourced directly from the camera ISP's white balance estimation for reliable readings • 10-frame moving average filter for measurement stabilization • Center-weighted or spot (tap-to-meter) analysis for accurate evaluation of the main subject • Automatic exposure quality assessment based on histogram analysis Perfect tool for photographers, videographers, lighting designers, UI/UX developers, and anyone who needs accurate light measurements.

About

BackPanel

Features
Read full description

Background panels often seen at press conferences. This is an application for creating an image that looks like the background panel. If you do not have a suitable place for your company's publicity photo shoot, please use it. Changes made to the back panel are instantly saved in the app. The pasted person photo will not be saved in the app. Please use it when creating newspapers, magazines, radio, television, movies, the Internet, WEB, mass media, advertising agencies, eventers, promoters, broadcasting departments, theater departments, artists, models, talents, and publicity photos.

Screenshots

LightScope4 screens
BackPanel4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: BackPanel at Free against LightScope's $9.99. BackPanel also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs every 2 weeks) and iOS requirement (14.0 vs 16.6). LightScope's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On in-app purchases 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

BackPanel is free to download; LightScope costs $9.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

LightScope ships an update every 2 weeks, BackPanel every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 4 level
LightScope versus BackPanel: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLightScopeBackPanel
Price$9.99Free — better
Positive reviews41.7% of reviews—
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksEvery 5 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaid—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS16.614.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size2 MB4 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperByungil ParkYukio Oishi

In-app purchases

None

LightScope

No in-app purchases

None

BackPanel

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is LightScope free?
LightScope costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is BackPanel free?
BackPanel is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do LightScope or BackPanel have ads?
BackPanel shows ads; LightScope does not.
Which is updated more often, LightScope or BackPanel?
LightScope ships an update every 2 weeks, and BackPanel every 5 days. Most recently, LightScope was updated on October 13, 2026 and BackPanel on October 8, 2026.

Other comparisons