Comparison

Lumina vs PaperDeveloper

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

PaperDeveloper

Features
Read full description

PaperDeveloper is a precise darkroom timer for the full wet process of photographic paper. Set your paper, chemistry, dilution, temperature and volumes. The app sets accurate times based on manufacturer data. The built-in timer guides you through every step — developer, stop bath, fixer, wash, and optional toning. Track multiple papers and test strips at once, and save quick presets. KEY FEATURES • Timing for the full B&W paper wet process • Papers, chemistry, dilutions and temperatures • Multiple runs at once (paper + test strip) • Presets for quick setup • Chemical capacity / yield tracking • Red UI for darkroom use • Works offline — no account, no cloud Currently the app includes manufacturer materials from FOMA. In a future version we will add materials from manufacturers such as Ilford and ADOX. Important: the red interface helps in the darkroom, but PaperDeveloper is not a certified safelight. Please keep that in mind. Enlarge — don’t scan!

Screenshots

Lumina4 screens
PaperDeveloper4 screens

Verdict

The call

Lumina and PaperDeveloper are too close to call on the numbers: across 5 compared parameters — price, ads, in-app purchases and device support among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

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.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
Lumina versus PaperDeveloper: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLuminaPaperDeveloper
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (93 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews89.3% of reviews—
Number of ratings93 — better—
Update frequencyFortnightly—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaid—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS17.017.0
Further details — not scored
Size14 MB2 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSalvatore PolitoJan Kalina

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

PaperDeveloper

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Lumina

No in-app purchases

None

PaperDeveloper

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Lumina free?
Lumina is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is PaperDeveloper free?
PaperDeveloper is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Lumina or PaperDeveloper have ads?
Neither Lumina nor PaperDeveloper shows ads.

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