Sun Scout vs Datacolor LightColor Meter
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Sun Scout
This app transforms your iPhone into a tool to visualize the sun's position and path in the sky. It helps users understand where and when sunlight will be available, ideal for outdoor activities or work.
- Sun position visualization
- Sun path tracking
- Real-time sun data
- Compass-based functionality
- Usability and simplicity
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If your work or play requires sunlight, Sun Scout is built for you. Turn your iPhone in to a magic lens. Point it to the sky and understand where the sun will be and when it will be there. * romano01, US App Store – "This app has come in handy more then once this week alone. While working on a feature film called "fairhaven" the gaffer and I (key Grip) needed to find out where and when the sun would be for a scene… well after i pulled out my Sun Scout App. everyone started downloading it!!! It is well worth it." * WPSHM, US App Store – "This should win a gajillion awards for usability and simplicity. I love it!!!!" Please Note – Sun Scout uses your device's compass. Like all compasses, Sun Scout is adversely influenced by metal in buildings or vehicles. Sun Scout is only as good as the iPhone's compass and is prone to a variable margin of accuracy even under fair conditions. Please do not base high-value production decisions solely on Sun Scout. Confirming them using sun charts and a technical mission during the time of day of a future shoot. We'd be delighted to hear what you're getting up to with Sun Scout. Give us a shout by email: shout@sunscoutapp.com
Datacolor LightColor Meter
This pocket-sized device streams real-time light and color data to your smartphone, offering precise control over exposure and color consistency for photos, videos, and cinema. It measures various light types and color parameters, and includes gel filter libraries for creative adjustments.
- Real-time light and color data streaming
- Exposure and lighting ratio control
- Color consistency across setups
- Measures Lux, Chromaticity, CCT, DUV
- Includes gel filter libraries
- Simultaneous measurements from multiple meters
- Hands-free functionality
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· The Datacolor LightColor Meter is a Bluetooth-enabled, multifunctional tool that fits in your pocket, continuously streaming both light and color data in real-time, to your smartphone. · Perfect for photos, videos, cinema and hybrid photo/video shoots, the LightColor Meter takes the guesswork out of exposure settings, giving you better control of lighting ratios as well as color consistency across varied lighting conditions and multiple camera setups. · The Datacolor LightColor Meter accurately measures all types of lighting, from fluctuating outdoor light, mixed natural/artificial location lighting, plus any type of studio lighting, including continuous lighting and strobe/flash. · It goes beyond a regular light meter to also measure color temperature, Lux, Chromaticity, CCT and DUV. Additionally, the device comes with filter libraries from Profoto®, LEE® and Rosco® to help you choose the right color gels for functional or creative color adjustments. · The rugged, travel-friendly device goes anywhere you’re shooting, providing you with a wireless versatility that lets you easily fine-tune your lighting and exposure without having to leave your camera. · You can attach the device to a light stand or tripod, use the through-hole for lanyards to hang the meter where needed, use the alligator clip that’s included to attach the LightColor Meter to clothing or other fabrics or use the rare earth magnet on the back of the device for easy magnetic attachment. · You can seamlessly sync multiple Datacolor LightColor Meters to get light and color temperature measurements from several locations simultaneously. The device accurately measures light and color temperature from a distance of up to 80 feet, allowing you to cover wide areas and is perfect for ensuring uniform lighting for green screens for easy and effective chroma keying in post-production. Key Feature Highlights o Incident Metering for Ambient & Flash o Mobile App/Wireless Bluetooth 4.0 LE o Photo, Video, Cine Exposure Modes o Measures Lux, Chromaticity, CCT, and +/- Green (Duv) o Measures Any Kind of Light Source o Color Temperature Range: 1,600K - 20,000K o Luminance Range: 1.0 - 1,000,000 lux o Cine Settings: Frame Rate, Shutter Angle/Speed & ND Filter Compensation o HSS Flash & Flash Duration Measurements o Included: Gel Filter Libraries from Profoto®, LEE® and Rosco® o Simultaneous Measurements from Multiple Meters Up to 80 ft Away o Hands-Free Functionality - incl. Magnet, ¼”-20 Mount o Cord-in (PC Sync) o Custom Exposure Profiles
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Datacolor LightColor Meter at Free against Sun Scout's $9.99. Datacolor LightColor Meter also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 16 months). Sun Scout's advantage is rating (2.7 vs 1.7) and review sentiment (48% vs 17%). On 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
Datacolor LightColor Meter is free to download; Sun Scout costs $9.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Sun Scout holds the better App Store score, 2.7 against 1.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 22 and 7 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 48% of Sun Scout's written reviews are positive against 17% of Datacolor LightColor Meter's.
Sun Scout ships an update every 16 months, Datacolor LightColor Meter fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Sun Scout | Datacolor LightColor Meter |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $9.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 2.7 (22 ratings) — better | 1.7 (7 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 47.9% of reviews — better | 16.7% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 22 — better | 7 |
| Update frequency | Every 16 months | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Free with in-app purchases — better |
| Best chart rank | #96 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 8.0 — better | 12.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 5 MB | 30 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Benjohn Barnes | Datacolor Inc. |
Customer experience
Sun Scout
Datacolor LightColor Meter
Bugs and requests
Sun Scout
Reported bugs
29 issues- Stopped working correctly
- Not accurate since
- Sun detection way off
- App does not work
- Sun's path isn't showing
Show 24 moreShow fewer
- App just opens camera, no sun
- Sun position does not quite align
- Does not work with iOS 13
- No sun appears in AR tracker
- App not working anymore
- Will not show any sun direction
- No longer shows in camera settings
- AR never shows up
- Doesn't work
- Position of the sun just moves around
- Funktioniert immer noch nicht
- Sun keeps moving on screen
- Sun alignment is fixed
- App crashes
- App freezes
- App locks up
- Phone has to be restarted
- Always says it has interference
- Crashes my phone
- App will not work
- Sun just spin and never stop
- Time line seems to be about 1:30 earlier
- Sun positions on screen do not coincide
- Consistently about 1:30 earlier than actual time
Requested features
21 requests- Calibration setting
- Ability to choose locations
- Ability to choose specific dates
- Calibration tool
- See with clouds
Show 16 moreShow fewer
- See shiny day or raining
- See at which time is it cloudy
- Add moon position
- Take a photo including sun path and times
- Set elevation at horizon
- Select exact geographical region via Google Maps
- Select exact date
- Numerical information (angle, compass direction)
- Favourites log
- Alert/alarm for ideal times
- Show azimuth and elevation value onscreen
- Add capture button
- Ability to enter a date manually
- Indicate Golden Hour
- See all days in the future, present and past
- Take snapshots with notes
Datacolor LightColor Meter
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Sun Scout
No in-app purchases
Datacolor LightColor Meter
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Sun Scout free?
Is Datacolor LightColor Meter free?
Which has better reviews, Sun Scout or Datacolor LightColor Meter?
Do Sun Scout or Datacolor LightColor Meter have ads?
Which is updated more often, Sun Scout or Datacolor LightColor Meter?
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