Comparison

FoCadre vs Lighting Recipe

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

Head to head
About

FoCadre

This app helps photographers and enthusiasts plan their shots by simulating focal lengths and camera views. It allows users to select camera models and visualize how different focal lengths will affect the frame, aiding in pre-production and gear selection.

Highlights
  • Select from over 500 camera models
  • Display frames for preferred focal lengths
  • Simulate focal length zoom effects
  • Show/hide camera and date overlays
  • Prepare shooting sessions remotely
Read full description

FoCadre is a viewfinder application dedicated to photo director, photo shooter or photo enthusiast. With your camera left at home, prepare your shooting session by identifying the focal length you will need. With your camera and lenses still in the bag, identify what you need to use. Main capabilities: Select your camera model among more that 500 models Display frame of your preferred focal lengths Decide if changing focale length will zoom the image or resize the focale frame Show/hide camera and date overlay

About

Lighting Recipe

Record, recreate, and share lighting setups with detailed 3D diagrams. Organize your gear, import photo data, and export shareable images. Works offline and supports custom equipment.

Highlights
  • 3D lighting setup editor
  • Intuitive diagram recording
  • Automatic EXIF data import
  • Customizable gear vault
  • Visual rig builder
  • Image export with shooting data
Features
Read full description

■ Sound familiar? "How did I light that shot again...?" "The client wants the exact same setup as last time..." "I want to share how this was lit on social media..." Lighting Recipe is an app for photographers to record, recreate and share lighting setups as diagrams. You can register and place your own unique or DIY gear and props — so it works for photographers of every genre. ■ Features - 3D editing mode: build your lighting setup in 3D, check how subject, backdrop and lights look, and see it mirrored in the diagram - Lighting diagram editor: record light positions, height, power, color and beam intuitively - EXIF reading: just pick a photo — camera, lens, aperture, shutter speed, ISO and focal length are filled in automatically - Gear vault: organize your lighting equipment by category, with photos and prices - Builder: assemble lights, modifiers and stands into a visual rig - Dry cabinet: manage cameras and lenses as assets (serial number support — a record that helps if gear is ever stolen) - My Sets: recall your favorite gear combinations with one tap - Image export: combine your diagram and shooting data into a single shareable image - Available in 8 languages ■ Your data All data is stored on your device. No account required — works offline. Premium members can optionally use Cloud Backup. ■ Lighting Recipe Premium (monthly subscription) - Unlimited recipe saves (free: 30) - 10 lights A–J (free: 5) - 10 My Set slots (free: 5) - Expanded dry cabinet: 30 cameras / 50 lenses (free: 3 / 5) - Cloud Backup: sign in with Apple to back up and restore your data Payment is charged to your Apple ID account. The subscription renews automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the period. Manage or cancel anytime in Settings > Apple ID > Subscriptions. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://mafmafgs-source.github.io/lighting-recipe/privacy.html

Screenshots

FoCadre1 screens
Lighting Recipe4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Lighting Recipe at Free against FoCadre's $1.99. Lighting Recipe also leads on update cadence (daily vs every 11 months). On ads, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement 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

Lighting Recipe is free to download; FoCadre costs $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

FoCadre ships an update every 11 months, Lighting Recipe daily. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
FoCadre versus Lighting Recipe: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFoCadreLighting Recipe
Price$1.99Free — better
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyEvery 11 monthsDaily — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidFreemium — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size1 MB28 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJean-Christoph KAISERhiroyuki nakai

Customer experience

FoCadre

Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Lighting Recipe

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

FoCadre

No in-app purchases

None

Lighting Recipe

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is FoCadre free?
FoCadre costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Lighting Recipe free?
Lighting Recipe is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do FoCadre or Lighting Recipe have ads?
Neither FoCadre nor Lighting Recipe shows ads.
Which is updated more often, FoCadre or Lighting Recipe?
FoCadre ships an update every 11 months, and Lighting Recipe daily. Most recently, FoCadre was updated on October 11, 2026 and Lighting Recipe on October 8, 2026.

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