Comparison

Slow Shutter Cam vs Ephemis

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

Head to head
About

Slow Shutter Cam

Capture stunning long exposure photographs with three distinct modes: Motion Blur for dynamic effects, Light Trail for light painting, and Low Light for enhanced detail. Achieve DSLR-quality results with manual controls and real-time previews.

Highlights
  • Motion Blur capture mode
  • Light Trail capture mode
  • Low Light capture mode
  • Unlimited shutter speed
  • Manual ISO control
  • Real-time live preview
  • Multiple exposure photos
Features
Read full description

Slow Shutter Cam brings new life into your device's photo toolbox by letting you capture a variety of amazing slow shutter speed effects that you only thought you could get with a DSLR. Continue reading to learn more about this unique app! ----------------------- • Featured numerous times by Apple: - App Store Essentials: Camera & Photography - Photography for Professionals - Total Control - Extraordinary Photo Apps - Best New App ----------------------- "It’s one of those rare photography apps that creates effects that few others are capable of, and it does it easily and with better results." — Marty Yawnick, Life In LoFi ----------------------- How many times have you tried to capture artful images with your iPhone camera but were left wishing you had more features to work with? Slow Shutter Cam puts an end to mere snapshots and gives you some of the most powerful features of a DSLR camera. All this, in a package that fits in your pocket. Slow Shutter Cam offers three capture modes to capture unique images: MOTION BLUR: Equivalent to the shutter priority mode on a DSLR, the Motion Blur mode is perfect for creating ghost images, waterfall effects or suggesting movement in your photographs by adding a blur. LIGHT TRAIL: The Light Trail mode allows you to 'paint' with light, show car light trails and fireworks or capture any other moving light in a unique way. Unlike shooting with a DSLR and being tied to specific rigid settings to obtain good results, the Light Trail mode takes care of the essentials, letting your creativity soar! LOW LIGHT: In low light conditions, this capture mode allows the camera to accumulate every photon of light hitting the sensor. The longer the shutter speed, the more light it will accumulate. You can even fine-tune the result using the exposure compensation slider to achieve the exact effect you want! Highlights: • Unlimited Shutter Speed and manual ISO • Option to resume capture and create multiple exposure photos • Real time live preview - See the result in real time • Innovative 'Freeze' and ‘Blur Strength’ controls • Tap to adjust focus/exposure • Time-lapse Intervalometer • Apple Watch support and handy Self-Timer • Full resolution support on every devices • Camera Control support (iPhone 16) With Slow Shutter Cam on your iPhone you get the features of a DSLR camera with the convenience of a device that you can drop in your pocket and take with you wherever you go. Download it now and put an end to mere snapshots! Search #slowshuttercam on Instagram or visit the "Slow Shutter Cam - iPhone" group on flickr for amazing samples!

About

Ephemis

Read full description

Ephemis ranks the best deep-sky targets to photograph tonight — matched to your gear, your sky, and the Moon. It does the planning math so you can spend clear nights imaging instead of guessing. Point it at a date and location, tell it about your telescope and camera, and Ephemis scores thousands of galaxies, nebulae, and clusters by how well they fit your field of view and how long they stay high in a dark sky. WHAT IT DOES • Ranks 16,000+ deep-sky objects for any night, at any site • Scores each target on framing, altitude, available dark hours, Moon interference, and feasibility for your setup • Models real darkness — astronomical, nautical, or civil twilight — not just sunset to sunrise • Full Moon avoidance with broadband and narrowband profiles, plus per-night Moon tracks • Field-of-view fit for your exact optic and sensor, including multi-panel mosaics • Altitude charts with transit time, meridian flip, and your local horizon limits • Save targets to a project list, set hour goals, and log your imaging sessions • Best Nights view to find when a target peaks over the coming weeks BUILT FOR THE FIELD • Fully offline — every catalog is bundled, so it works with no signal under a dark sky • Messier, NGC/IC, Sharpless, Barnard, van den Bergh, LBN and LDN catalogs included • Native on iPhone, iPad, and Mac, with iCloud sync of your rigs, sites, and targets • Deep links to AstroBin references and Clear Outside forecasts Set up your rig and observing site once, and every night Ephemis tells you exactly where to point.

Screenshots

Slow Shutter Cam4 screens
Ephemis4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Ephemis at Free against Slow Shutter Cam's $2.99. Ephemis also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs every 3 weeks). Slow Shutter Cam's advantage is chart position (#9 vs unranked). 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

Ephemis is free to download; Slow Shutter Cam costs $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Slow Shutter Cam ships an update every 3 weeks, Ephemis every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 8 level
Slow Shutter Cam versus Ephemis: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSlow Shutter CamEphemis
Price$2.99Free — better
Rating4.6 (2.8K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews71.5% of reviews—
Number of ratings2.8K — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaid—
Best chart rank#9 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad, Mac
Requires iOS16.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size5 MB5 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCogitap SoftwareDavid Roka

Bugs and requests

Slow Shutter Cam

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Lens flare or distortion issues on some devices
  • Inconsistent performance on iPhone 11 Pro Max
  • Saved photos not showing up in camera roll

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add support for RAW image format
  • Implement a hands-free bulb mode with remote activation
  • Include a countdown timer for stabilizing the camera
  • Integrate with Apple Watch for easier shutter control
  • Provide more detailed tutorials and guidance for beginners

Ephemis

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Slow Shutter Cam

No in-app purchases

None

Ephemis

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Slow Shutter Cam free?
Slow Shutter Cam costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Ephemis free?
Ephemis is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Slow Shutter Cam or Ephemis have ads?
Neither Slow Shutter Cam nor Ephemis shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Slow Shutter Cam or Ephemis?
Slow Shutter Cam ships an update every 3 weeks, and Ephemis every 3 days. Most recently, Slow Shutter Cam was updated on October 20, 2026 and Ephemis on September 30, 2026.

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