Comparison

myLightMeter PRO vs Zone Tool

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • Extended low-light sensitivity
  • Incident and reflected metering
  • Manual exposure control
  • Hyperfocal distance calculator
  • Save and review exposure data
  • Extract exposure data from photos
Features
Read full description

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

About

Zone Tool

Calculate photographic exposure and development adjustments using zone system theory. Measure shadows and highlights, input film ISO and desired shutter speed to determine aperture and development time modifications.

Highlights
  • Zone system exposure calculation
  • Shadow and highlight measurement
  • Film ISO input
  • Shutter speed adjustment
  • Development time calculation
  • Aperture determination
Features
Read full description

With this tool you can calculate your exposure and needed adjustment for development. It uses zone system theory originally invented by Ansel Adams and Fred Archer. First decide zone of your shadows and measure the shadows. Then device highlight zone and measure the highlights. Measure these with the film ISO you are going to use. You also need to decide shutter speed in beforehand. The app calculates exposure aperture for you and also tells if you need to shorten (N+..) or expand (N-..) your development time. You will get best results with a spot light meter but mobile apps will probably do fine.

Screenshots

myLightMeter PRO4 screens
Zone Tool1 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: myLightMeter PRO at 4.8 against Zone Tool's 2.8. myLightMeter PRO also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs every 38 months) and ratings volume (1.1K vs 6). Zone Tool's advantage is price ($0.99 vs $4.99) and review sentiment (100% vs 90%). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model 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

myLightMeter PRO costs $4.99 and Zone Tool $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

myLightMeter PRO holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 2.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: myLightMeter PRO has 1.1K ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 90% of myLightMeter PRO's written reviews are positive against 100% of Zone Tool's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

myLightMeter PRO ships an update every 5 days, Zone Tool every 38 months. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
myLightMeter PRO versus Zone Tool: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParametermyLightMeter PROZone Tool
Price$4.99$0.99 — better
Rating4.8 (1.1K ratings) — better2.8 (6 ratings)
Positive reviews90.3% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1.1K — better6
Update frequencyEvery 5 days — betterEvery 38 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
Best chart rank#13 — better—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.012.2 — better
Further details — not scored
Size53 MB0 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDavid QuilesJouni Erola

Customer experience

myLightMeter PRO

All ratings1,125 ratings
Positive95.9%
Neutral1.4%
Negative2.7%
Written reviews659 reviews
Positive90.3%
Neutral2.4%
Negative7.3%

Zone Tool

All ratings6 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

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

Zone Tool

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

myLightMeter PRO

No in-app purchases

None

Zone Tool

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is myLightMeter PRO free?
myLightMeter PRO costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Zone Tool free?
Zone Tool costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, myLightMeter PRO or Zone Tool?
myLightMeter PRO is rated higher. myLightMeter PRO averages 4.8 out of 5 from 1.1K ratings, while Zone Tool averages 2.8 from 6 ratings.
Do myLightMeter PRO or Zone Tool have ads?
Neither myLightMeter PRO nor Zone Tool shows ads.
Which is updated more often, myLightMeter PRO or Zone Tool?
myLightMeter PRO ships an update every 5 days, and Zone Tool every 38 months. Most recently, myLightMeter PRO was updated on October 12, 2026 and Zone Tool on September 21, 2026.

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