Comparison

Lens vs Lightme

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

Head to head
About

Lens

This app simulates camera lens behavior, visually demonstrating depth of field and field of view. It allows photographers of all levels to explore how aperture, focal length, and distance affect focus in real-time.

Highlights
  • Real-time depth of field visualization
  • Interactive background scaling
  • Adjustable aperture, focal length, and focal distance
  • Configurable information overlays
  • Multiple sensor size options
  • Metric/imperial unit support
Features
Read full description

Lens•Lab is a virtual lens simulation tool for photographers of all skill levels. It graphically illustrates how depth of field and field of view relate to your SLR camera and lenses. Professionals will like how quick and easy it is to get depth of field calculations. Semi-pro photographers will enjoy configuring "what-if?" scenarios for various lenses. Photography beginners will find it to be a great learning tool by exploring the interplay of aperture, focal length, and focal distance in real time. Lens•Lab is more than a great depth of field calculator, it's a lens simulator that can help you explore, see, and intuitively understand how depth of field works with your camera and lenses. Lens•Lab Features: Advanced visual depiction of depth of field with real-time controls: • The background scales from 10 centimeters to 100 meters interactively • Out-of-focus areas are represented as blurred in real-time • Distance labels, angle of view, and other information updates as you touch Easily control aperture, focal length, and focal distance with sliders or touch: • Aperture (from ƒ/0.95 to ƒ/64 in continuous increments) • Focal Length (configurable from 1mm to "very large number") • Focal Distance (from 10cm to 100m) Information overlays are independently configurable: • Hyperfocal Distance • Far Depth of Field • Focal Distance • Near Depth of Field • Total Depth of Field • Vertical Angle of View • Distance Scale • Simulated Blur Sensor size is configurable for: • Full Frame (35mm) • APS-H (1.3x crop factor) • DX (1.5x crop factor) • APS-C (1.6x crop factor) • Four Thirds (2.0x crop factor) Additionally, there are controls for distance units (metric or imperial) and display of Full Frame Equivalent focal length (for cameras with sensors smaller than full frame.) Included is a usage guide that explains all features of the application as well as depth of field in photography. Lens•Lab works with all iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad models running iOS 8 or newer.

About

Lightme

This powerful light meter app offers a clean, intuitive interface optimized for one-handed use. It displays multiple aperture and shutter speed combinations simultaneously, aiding quick setting selection. Suitable for beginners and experienced photographers alike, it includes advanced features like spot metering, reciprocity failure compensation, and pinhole mode.

Highlights
  • Multiple exposure settings display
  • One-handed operation
  • Spot metering with zoom
  • Reciprocity failure compensation
  • Pinhole mode
  • Incident light metering
  • Film database
Features
Read full description

Lightme - Lightmeter is a clean, simple to use yet very powerful lightmeter. It is optimised for an easy one-handed use, both for left-handed and right-handed users, with the main controls within your thumb's reach, without the fatiguing juggling of your precious smartphone. A core distinguishing feature of Lightme - Lightmeter is that - differently from most of the other apps - it can show multiple combinations of valid settings for aperture and shutterspeed at the same time by working like a - stretched out - old needle and wheel lightmeter. This allows the user to quickly pick the desired settings without having to scroll on a tiny wheel picker. The app is designed to be welcoming to people who are just starting out, with a simple one-button use. But it offers many useful and advanced features for the more experienced shooters/users: Continuous metering (by pressing and holding or double tapping the measure button) Spot metering with a variable zoom (for more precision) which also supports average metering, and a very intuitive implementation of the zone system Automatic reciprocity failure compensation (for 25+ films, if you see exposure times in red, they are being compensated) A dedicated pinhole mode with precise exposure times for user defined apertures (multiple apertures at a time), with the possibility of setting a timer (through a shortcut) Incident light metering with calibration when using the front facing camera And more ... It also includes some other features that are enjoyable by any kind of user: Black and white preview The ability to use any of the cameras on your smartphone (swipe left/right on the preview) Multiple presets for your different camera/film/lens setups Framelines for previewing your shot, before setting up your tripod etc. A searchable list of useful tips to make better use of the application's potential A searchable list of more than 70 films to choose from with the possibility of selecting a few favourites Dark mode support and a useful level of customisation You can find even more info in the tips inside the app or you can have a look at full user manual by tapping on manual (in the settings) The app is free in all its many functionalities, but it offers In-App-Purchases in order to support the project. The only minor perk you can enable only via certain IAPs is the replacement of the Ad button with a label containing the name of your current preset, check under settings -> coffee for more info. Don't panic though, even if there's an Ad button it doesn't mean I'm going to show you ads. In fact unless you decide to tap on that button I'm never going to show you any. But if you have a few minutes to spare, watching a few of them sure helps keeping this project alive :) Try it, and, if you like it, share it with your friends and consider writing a (mini) review ;) Have a nice day, and good light!

Screenshots

Lens3 screens
Lightme4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Lightme at Free against Lens's $2.99. Lightme also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 18 months) and ratings volume (918 vs 8). Lens's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 6) and chart position (#187 vs unranked). 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Lightme is free to download; Lens costs $2.99 up front. Lightme sells 6 one-off in-app purchases. Lens asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Lightme holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Lightme has 918 ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 69% of Lens's written reviews are positive against 91% of Lightme's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Lens ships an update every 18 months, Lightme every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 19, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard9 real differences · 2 level
Lens versus Lightme: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLensLightme
Price$2.99Free — better
Rating4.6 (8 ratings)4.8 (918 ratings) — better
Positive reviews69.0% of reviews90.5% of reviews — better
Number of ratings8918 — better
Update frequencyEvery 18 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
Best chart rank#187 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS9.0 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size2 MB9 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJeff MenterGiuseppe Bertolini

Customer experience

Lens

All ratings8 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews42 reviews
Positive69.0%
Neutral16.7%
Negative14.3%

Lightme

All ratings918 ratings
Positive96.5%
Neutral1.3%
Negative2.2%
Written reviews211 reviews
Positive90.5%
Neutral1.9%
Negative7.6%

Bugs and requests

Lens

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Lightme

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Crashes on iOS 16
  • Metering issues with certain camera/lens combinations

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add shutter angle adjustment for cinematography
  • Implement ISO lock feature
  • Add more film stock profiles
  • Improve film selection process (e.g. search, categories)
  • Provide more customization options (e.g. interface themes)

In-app purchases

None

Lens

No in-app purchases

6 purchases

Lightme

One-time6
  • Espresso ristretto$1.99
  • Pecorino Romano$4.99
  • Guanciale$9.99
Show 3 more
  • Parmigiano$16.99
  • Pizza for two$29.99
  • Do this full-time$59.99

Questions

Is Lens free?
Lens costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Lightme free?
Lightme is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Lens or Lightme?
Lightme is rated higher. Lens averages 4.6 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while Lightme averages 4.8 from 918 ratings.
Do Lens or Lightme have ads?
Neither Lens nor Lightme shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Lens or Lightme?
Lens ships an update every 18 months, and Lightme every 3 weeks. Most recently, Lens was updated on September 19, 2026 and Lightme on September 26, 2026.

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