myLightMeter PRO vs tcCalc
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
myLightMeter PRO
This app provides precise exposure metering for photographers, supporting both digital and analog workflows. It offers a comprehensive set of manual controls and advanced tools like a hyperfocal distance calculator.
- Extended low-light sensitivity
- Incident and reflected metering
- Manual exposure control
- Hyperfocal distance calculator
- Save and review exposure data
- Extract exposure data from photos
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Designed by a photographer, for photographers. Built for reliable, precise exposure measurement across film and digital workflows. myLightMeter PRO gives you full control over exposure through a clean, professional set of tools. Key Features • Incident and reflected-light metering • Classic and Pro interface styles • Full manual control over aperture, shutter speed, ISO, and exposure compensation in 1/3- or 1/2-stop increments • Exposure range from 4 hours in Long Exposure mode to 1/8000 s, f/1.0 to f/512, and ISO 0.8 to 409,600 • Aperture-priority (Av) and shutter-priority (Tv) modes • Automatic ISO adjustment or ISO lock • Reciprocity correction for long film exposures • Sensitivity down to −2.5 EV, ideal for low-light scenes • Average multiple readings • Import shutter speed, aperture, and ISO from photos in your library • Organize readings into Sessions with photos, exposure data, camera and lens details, and notes • Keep your Sessions synced through iCloud, so they remain available when you switch phones or use another device • Export Sessions as PDFs or print them Advanced Tools • Hyperfocal-distance calculator • Five configurable presets, each storing camera, lens, ISO, filter, and film settings • EV display with an analog scale or numerical reading • mySPOTMETER and f/Tools integration About This app is built and maintained by an independent photographer and developer. It is the tool I personally use and continuously refine. If you have suggestions or need support, contact me at: davidquiles@me.com
tcCalc
This calculator specializes in timecode and frame-based calculations, offering a familiar interface for quick conversions and duration calculations. It supports multiple frame rates and allows for easy copying and pasting of results.
- Timecode and frame calculations
- Convert between timecode and frames
- Supports multiple frame rates
- Automatic value adjustment
- Copy and paste functionality
- Memory function
- Calculation history
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tcCalc is a calculator built for one job: timecode math for video production. Add and subtract timecode, let it handle drop frame for you, and switch to a frame count with a single tap, all with the feel of an ordinary calculator. Time bases 23.98 / 24 / 25 / 29.97 / 30 / 50 / 59.94 / 60 fps, plus hh:mm:ss for working without frames. Drop frame is applied automatically at 29.97 and 59.94 fps. Features - Add and subtract timecode - One-tap switching between timecode and frame count (seconds in hh:mm:ss mode) - Automatic drop frame handling (29.97 / 59.94 fps) - Constant calculation: press = again to repeat the last operation - Memory: add, subtract, recall, and clear - Calculation history: up to 20 entries with frame rate and date; tap to restore, swipe to delete - Open history with the clock button or by swiping up on the display - Copy and paste from the ••• menu or by touching and holding the result - Built-in How to Use guide Easy to read - Large keys, color-coded by role - Dark mode - iPhone and iPad, in all four orientations - Dynamic Type and VoiceOver support Simple by design - No ads - No in-app purchases - No account or sign-in - The app itself makes no network connections and works offline - No analytics and no tracking Whether you are timing a shoot, finding an edit point, or adding up the length of your footage, tcCalc keeps the math out of your way.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: myLightMeter PRO at every 5 days against tcCalc's every 3 months. myLightMeter PRO also leads on review sentiment (90% vs 63%) and ratings volume (1.1K vs 76). tcCalc's advantage is price ($1.99 vs $4.99). On rating, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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
myLightMeter PRO costs $4.99 and tcCalc $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for myLightMeter PRO against 4.7 for tcCalc. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: myLightMeter PRO has 1.1K ratings behind it against 76, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 90% of myLightMeter PRO's written reviews are positive against 63% of tcCalc's.
myLightMeter PRO ships an update every 5 days, tcCalc every 3 months. Both last shipped on October 14, 2026.
| Parameter | myLightMeter PRO | tcCalc |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4.99 | $1.99 — better |
| Rating | 4.8 (1.1K ratings) — better | 4.7 (76 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 90.3% of reviews — better | 63.2% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 1.1K — better | 76 |
| Update frequency | Every 5 days — better | Every 3 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Best chart rank | #15 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPad — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 — better | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 53 MB | 1 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | David Quiles | RYUICHIROU SHIMONO |
Customer experience
myLightMeter PRO
tcCalc
Bugs and requests
myLightMeter PRO
Reported bugs
3 issues- Crashes on startup
- Inconsistent behavior between free and pro versions
- Incorrect shutter speed and aperture options for some cameras
Requested features
4 requests- Ability to lock shutter speed and aperture
- Smaller spot metering area
- Support for more film/sensor formats
- Improved incident metering with diffuser
tcCalc
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
myLightMeter PRO
No in-app purchases
tcCalc
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is myLightMeter PRO free?
Is tcCalc free?
Which has better reviews, myLightMeter PRO or tcCalc?
Do myLightMeter PRO or tcCalc have ads?
Which is updated more often, myLightMeter PRO or tcCalc?
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