Pocket Light Meter vs PinholeMeter
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Pocket Light Meter
This app functions as a portable light meter, essential for film photographers using manual cameras. It accurately measures reflected light and provides reciprocity calculations for precise exposure control.
- Portable light meter
- Reflected light measurement
- Reciprocity calculations
- Indispensable for film photography
- Manual camera compatible
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A light meter that is always in your pocket. It is indispensable for film photography with all manual camera. Measures reflected light, and allows reciprocity calculations.
PinholeMeter
This app functions as a light meter specifically designed for pinhole photography. Users can set the F-number and ISO sensitivity, then tap the preview window to measure exposure. It includes a countdown timer for precise exposure timing.
- Pinhole photography light meter
- Set F-number and ISO sensitivity
- Tap to measure exposure
- Countdown timer for exposure
- Calculates focal length/pinhole diameter
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This app is a light meter that specializes in pinhole photography. First, please set the F number. Next, please set the ISO sensitivity of film to use. Finally, in the preview window, please tap where you want to measure the exposure. note: If you do not know the F-number of your pinhole camera, please calculate focal length / pinhole diameter. If you want to use photographic paper, please set to ISO6. Please note that in a dark place, you may not be measured accurate exposure. [Using the Countdown timer] 1. To start the countdown, tap the timer icon to the right of the exposure time. 2. Preview screen will be dark, and exposure time is displayed in white letters. It will decrease one second at a time. *To stop the timer, tap the Close(X) icon. caution: During the countdown, do not close this app, or do not navigate to another screen. Timer is stopped.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: PinholeMeter at Free against Pocket Light Meter's $9.99. PinholeMeter also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 3) and iOS requirement (7.0 vs 15.6). Pocket Light Meter's advantage is rating (4.5 vs 3.6) and review sentiment (87% vs 56%). On ads 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
PinholeMeter is free to download; Pocket Light Meter costs $9.99 up front. Pocket Light Meter sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. PinholeMeter asks for nothing beyond the download.
Pocket Light Meter holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Pocket Light Meter has 1K ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 87% of Pocket Light Meter's written reviews are positive against 56% of PinholeMeter's.
Pocket Light Meter ships an update fortnightly, PinholeMeter every 7 months. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Pocket Light Meter | PinholeMeter |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $9.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 4.5 (1K ratings) — better | 3.6 (7 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 87.1% of reviews — better | 55.6% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 1K — better | 7 |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly — better | Every 7 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Best chart rank | #81 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | 7.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 34 MB | 4 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Nuwaste studios | electrico elefante |
Customer experience
Pocket Light Meter
PinholeMeter
Bugs and requests
Pocket Light Meter
Reported bugs
3 issues- Crashes or freezes with recent iOS updates
- Inconsistent metering in low light conditions
- Issues with saving metering data to photos
Requested features
6 requests- Add histogram display
- Implement manual mode to lock aperture/shutter
- Support for flash metering
- Improve low-light performance
- Provide more metering mode options (spot, center-weighted, etc.)
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- Add option to save metering data to photo metadata
PinholeMeter
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Pocket Light Meter
- ads remover$1.99
- pint for the developer and get rid of the ads$5.99
- donation to the developer$5.99
PinholeMeter
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Pocket Light Meter free?
Is PinholeMeter free?
Which has better reviews, Pocket Light Meter or PinholeMeter?
Do Pocket Light Meter or PinholeMeter have ads?
Which is updated more often, Pocket Light Meter or PinholeMeter?
Other comparisons
