Comparison

Astro Max Calculator vs Light Stack Camera

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

Head to head
About

Astro Max Calculator

Features
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Astrophotographers often use the "500 Rule" as a way to estimate the maximum shutter speed that can be used to capture the night sky before star trailing becomes noticeable. Here is a simple calculator, in night vision friendly red (or daytime color mode), to find recommended maximum shutter speeds based on your lens focal length and digital camera sensor's crop ratio. The 500 Rule is just a starting point for night sky astrophotography. You can try selecting a more conservative rule in the app (400, 300, etc.) for better focused shots. As always, experiment and find out what works best with your setup! Developer Note: This is my first App Store release. Please let me know how this app works for you, how it doesn't, or what you would like to see in further updates. Thanks!

About

Light Stack Camera

Capture incredibly sharp long exposure photos without a tripod. Advanced AI stabilization allows for handheld shots up to 30 seconds, providing natural-looking results. Unique features like true-to-motion preview and customizable failure responses ensure control and prevent ruined shots.

Highlights
  • AI-stabilized long exposures
  • Handheld shooting up to 30 seconds
  • True-to-motion live preview
  • Customizable failure response options
  • Full-resolution image pipeline
Features
Read full description

Capture sharp long exposures — no tripod required. With advanced AI stabilization, Light Stack lets you shoot handheld for up to 30 seconds — with consistently sharp, natural-looking results. To help you stay steady and in control, Light Stack offers some unique features: • True-to-Motion Preview: The live preview moves naturally with your hands, giving you intuitive feedback that helps you stay steady. No more fighting to keep a crosshair centered. • Failure Response: If motion tracking is lost, you choose what happens: temporarily pause the exposure, end it cleanly, or keep going without stabilization. No surprises, and no ruined shots when things don’t go as planned. • Full-Resolution Pipeline: Light Stack maintains full resolution from capture to final image. No cropping, and no upscaling to cover it up. Try it free and experience the convenience of Light Stack. --- Terms of Service: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Astro Max Calculator4 screens
Light Stack Camera3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Astro Max Calculator at none against Light Stack Camera's 3. Astro Max Calculator also leads on device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (14.1 vs 16.0). On price, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Light Stack Camera sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Astro Max Calculator asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 27, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Astro Max Calculator versus Light Stack Camera: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAstro Max CalculatorLight Stack Camera
PriceFreeFree
Rating—4.7 (28 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—73.1% of reviews
Number of ratings—28 — better
Update frequencyWeeklyWeekly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
Monetization—Free with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS14.1 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size0 MB1 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGregory WuCogitap Software

In-app purchases

None

Astro Max Calculator

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

Light Stack Camera

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly Subscription$4.991 Month
  • Yearly Subscription7 Days trial$19.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Access$34.99

Questions

Is Astro Max Calculator free?
Astro Max Calculator is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Light Stack Camera free?
Light Stack Camera is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Astro Max Calculator or Light Stack Camera have ads?
Neither Astro Max Calculator nor Light Stack Camera shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Astro Max Calculator or Light Stack Camera?
Astro Max Calculator ships an update weekly, and Light Stack Camera weekly. Most recently, Astro Max Calculator was updated on September 27, 2026 and Light Stack Camera on October 6, 2026.

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