Shutter vs Polar Scope Align
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Shutter
Test the shutter speeds of your analog cameras using your iPhone. For precise measurements, use with the PhotoPlug accessory. Without it, the app analyzes shutter sound for speeds below 1/30sec.
- Test analog camera shutter speeds
- Use with PhotoPlug accessory for light measurement
- Analyze shutter sound for speeds below 1/30sec
- Store measurement values in a table
- Manage multiple cameras and lenses
- Calculate correction factors for faulty shutters
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With Shutter-Speed you can test the shutter speeds of your analog cameras just with your iPhone. Please note that the full potential of this App is only reached if you use it in combination with the PhotoPlug. The PhotoPlug is an optical sensor which connects to the headphone-jack of your iPhone and enables you to measure the actual amount of light passing through the camera shutter. Please visit www.filmomat.eu for detailed information and for ordering the PhotoPlug. How-To: Point the camera towards a bright light source. Place the PhotoPlug closely behind the camera shutter. Start the measurement and release the shutter. The App automatically analyzes the signal and calculates the shutter speed. All measurement values can be stored into a handy table. Multiple different cameras/lenses can be stored. A correction factor is calculated, which you can use to compensate a faulty shutter speed. For example, if you measure the 1/60s and it turns out to be 1/50s, the App will tell you that the shutter-speed is 1/3 stops too long. This gives rise to a correction factor of -1, indicating that you have to close your aperture by 1/3 f-stop to get a correct exposure. Without PhotoPlug, the App will record the sound of the camera shutter and calculate the shutter speed from that. Please note that this procedure will only give useable results for speeds below 1/30sec. With the PhotoPlug, shutter speeds up to 1/500sec can be measured.
Polar Scope Align
This app calculates the precise position of celestial poles in your telescope's polar scope reticle for accurate alignment. It supports a wide range of reticles and corrects for atmospheric refraction, offering precision even at lower latitudes. Features include night mode, moon phase, and astronomical databases.
- Polaris/Sigma Octantis position calculation
- Atmospheric refraction correction
- Reticle centering error correction
- Supports numerous reticle types
- Red-color night mode
- Moon phase and astronomical databases
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Polar Scope Align is a free, ad-supported polar alignment app for iPhone and iPad. It calculates the position of Polaris or σ Octantis in your polar scope reticle for your location, date and time, helping you get a quick and accurate polar alignment with an equatorial mount. POLAR SCOPE ALIGNMENT • Accurate Polaris and Sigma Octantis position for your date and location • Atmospheric refraction correction for better accuracy, especially at lower latitudes - readings may differ slightly from simpler apps that skip this correction, but will agree with precise sources (USNO, scientific software) • Automatic time and location • Manual location support • Reticle centering-error measurement and correction • Zero-position help for common Celestron / Sky-Watcher / Orion style reticles • Full red night-mode interface SUPPORTED RETICLES Polar Scope Align supports 35+ polar scope and finder reticle types, including: iOptron, Astro-Physics RAPAS & PASILL, Takahashi (EM-10/11/200/400/500, NJP, PM-1, P2-Z), Sky-Watcher / Orion (including EQ6/AZ-EQ and Star Adventurer), Celestron, Meade, EXOS2, Bresser, Vixen (Atlux/SX/SXD/SXP/AXD/GP/GP-DX, Polarie), Astrotrac, Losmandy, Kenko, Avalon, Konus, Telrad, Rigel QuikFinder, and several older polar finders (Tuthill, Explore Scientific, Meade 9x60, Vixen Polaris, Celestron 7x50, Carton Optical). OBSERVING TOOLS The free version also includes: • Moon phase • Messier, Caldwell and bright-star database • DSS image downloads for included database objects • Saved, editable and printable DSO lists • 8 astronomy calculators for observing and imaging • Sample Pro tools available from Settings, including aurora forecast • iOptron WiFi Connect - report mount status, set mount Time/Date/Location LOOKING FOR ALIGNMENT WITHOUT A POLAR SCOPE? Polar Scope Align Pro adds the advanced tools many users search for: • Daytime / No Polar Scope Alignment • Camera Azimuth Calibration using the Sun, Moon, planets or bright stars • Laser / Hop Align for night alignment when Polaris is blocked • Push To / manual GoTo for non-GoTo telescopes • Live sky maps for Daytime Alignment, Laser / Hop Align, Push To and Hop To • Full 22,000+ object DSO database • Xasteria astro weather, aurora, satellite passes and widgets • 30+ calculators • Bubble level, compass and iOptron WiFi mount control • Apple Watch companion app • No ads If you only need accurate polar-scope alignment, this free version is a capable tool. If you want alignment without a polar scope, observing planning, weather and field tools, Pro is the complete version.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Polar Scope Align at 4.7 against Shutter's 3.5. Polar Scope Align also leads on review sentiment (91% vs 58%) and ratings volume (171 vs 22). Shutter's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and ads (none vs shown). On price, 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
Both are free to download. Polar Scope Align sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Shutter asks for nothing beyond the download.
Polar Scope Align holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Polar Scope Align has 171 ratings behind it against 22, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 58% of Shutter's written reviews are positive against 91% of Polar Scope Align's.
Shutter ships an update monthly, Polar Scope Align every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Shutter | Polar Scope Align |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.5 (22 ratings) | 4.7 (171 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 58.0% of reviews | 91.3% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 22 | 171 — better |
| Update frequency | Monthly — better | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 13.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 6 MB | 23 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Filmomat GmbH | Dimitrios Kechagias |
Customer experience
Shutter
Polar Scope Align
Bugs and requests
Shutter
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
Polar Scope Align
Reported bugs
6 issues- Date and time dial do not match correctly
- GMT and LST times appear to be switched
- App crashes or fails to initialize for some users
- Alignment accuracy varies inconsistently between sessions
- Location detection issues with cell tower vs GPS
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- Reticle display not rendering properly in some cases
Requested features
7 requests- Online video tutorials demonstrating all features
- Remove or reduce center dot size in reticle
- Larger, bolder font options for better readability
- Brighter star options for southern hemisphere alignment
- Smaller ad button or ad customization
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- Better beginner onboarding and instructions
- More robust alternative alignment methods for southern hemisphere
In-app purchases
Shutter
No in-app purchases
Polar Scope Align
- Tip 1x$0.99
- Tip 4x$3.99
- Tip 10x$9.99
Questions
Is Shutter free?
Is Polar Scope Align free?
Which has better reviews, Shutter or Polar Scope Align?
Do Shutter or Polar Scope Align have ads?
Which is updated more often, Shutter or Polar Scope Align?
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