Comparison

Lumina vs Cloud Filter

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

Head to head
About

Lumina

Take full creative control of your iPhone photography with advanced manual settings for exposure, focus, and more. Capture stunning RAW images at full 48MP resolution and utilize features like bracketing and intelligent selfie selection for professional-quality results.

Highlights
  • Manual exposure controls (Shutter Speed, ISO)
  • Manual focus with focus peaking
  • Full 48MP RAW capture
  • Bracketing Mode
  • Intelligent Selfie Mode
  • RGB and Luma Histograms
  • Integrated Gallery with EXIF reader
Read full description

Take control of your iPhone camera, without getting in its way. Lumina puts exposure, focus, white balance and image processing in your hands. Its interface is built around the frame, keeping the image at the center of the shooting experience. Shoot RAW, ProRAW and 48MP photos with the controls you need, without unnecessary complexity. MANUAL CONTROLS Set ISO and shutter speed yourself, focus by hand and adjust white balance when automatic settings are not what you want. RAW, ProRAW AND 48MP Choose the format that fits the shot. Capture RAW or ProRAW when you want more room for editing, or shoot at 48MP on supported iPhones when resolution matters. CONTROL THE PROCESSING iPhone cameras normally make a lot of decisions after you press the shutter. Lumina lets you reduce some of that automatic processing when you want a more natural image and more control over the final result. FOCUS YOUR WAY Switch to manual focus whenever autofocus is not enough. Focus peaking helps you see which areas are in focus while composing the shot, making precise adjustments easier. BRACKETING Capture a sequence of exposures around your chosen settings. Useful for difficult lighting, exposure blending and HDR workflows, without giving up manual control over the shot. HISTOGRAM Check luminance and RGB information while composing. The live histogram gives you another way to judge exposure before pressing the shutter. MACRO On supported iPhones, Lumina gives you direct access to macro shooting while keeping the same camera controls available. Lumina is designed to stay out of the way while you shoot. Use automatic settings when they work, take manual control when they don't, and keep your attention on the frame. Professional controls. Made simple.

About

Cloud Filter

Features
Read full description

Cloud Filter is where technical precision meets artistic melancholy. Inspired by the atmospheric soundscapes of Zaha Zagic, this app is a dual-purpose studio designed for those who value both aesthetic expression and digital solitude. ### Artistic Vision Give your photos a nostalgic, "artistically oblivious" aesthetic that mirrors the depth of memory. Apply curated filter collections that mirror the "Programmer Romance" themes of the Cloud Chaser, Idolatry & Free Will, Temp Sins, and Unspoken music projects. From dreamy, low-exposure looks to retro textures, Cloud Filter gives your images a cinematic, melancholy depth before they are tucked away. ### The Art of Hiding Beyond the surface, Cloud Filter features a sophisticated Secret Mode. Utilizing on-device steganography and encryption, you can embed private text or entire images inside a "cover" PNG file. Share hidden messages with friends through the art of the cover image, keeping your data invisible to the naked eye. ### Key Features: Cinematic Presets: Artist-curated filters including Dreamy, Retro, and Melancholy styles. Live Comparison: Seamless before/after toggles to refine your visual narrative. Steganographic Hiding: Switch to Secret Mode to hide data within the pixels of your photos. Dual Encryption Modes: Choose "Easy Mode" for quick access or "Precise Mode" for high-capacity secure hiding. Local-First Privacy: All processing, filtering, and encryption happen strictly on-device. No accounts, no cloud, no tracking.

Screenshots

Lumina4 screens
Cloud Filter4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Cloud Filter at weekly against Lumina's fortnightly. On price, ads, 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

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Lumina ships an update fortnightly, Cloud Filter weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Lumina versus Cloud Filter: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLuminaCloud Filter
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (96 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews89.3% of reviews—
Number of ratings96 — better—
Update frequencyFortnightlyWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaid—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS17.016.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size14 MB12 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSalvatore Politozhaohang zhang

Bugs and requests

Lumina

Reported bugs

7 issues
  • Manual settings not working on iOS 26.2 (auto mode taken)
  • BTK button flashes when choosing EV
  • Photos become brighter in camera roll after a few seconds
  • Viewfinder is black, cannot take pictures
  • Zoom not working like normal camera (only lens change)
Show 2 more
  • ProRaw files have no filename (.dng only)
  • UI text does not rotate in landscape mode

Requested features

12 requests
  • Allow adjustment of aperture
  • Add LUT capabilities (import and burn)
  • Add contrast and saturation sliders
  • Add a slider for white balance (Kelvin)
  • Add widget or Lock Screen button functionality
Show 7 more
  • Add a simple Timelapse function
  • Allow use of volume buttons to snap a picture
  • Add more zoom levels
  • Allow leaving the flashlight on
  • Add video recording functionality
  • Add more exposure bracket options
  • Make it the default camera app

Cloud Filter

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Lumina

No in-app purchases

None

Cloud Filter

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Lumina free?
Lumina is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Cloud Filter free?
Cloud Filter is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Lumina or Cloud Filter have ads?
Neither Lumina nor Cloud Filter shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Lumina or Cloud Filter?
Lumina ships an update fortnightly, and Cloud Filter weekly. Most recently, Lumina was updated on October 24, 2026 and Cloud Filter on October 12, 2026.

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