myLightMeter PRO vs Zone Tool
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
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.
- Zone system exposure calculation
- Shadow and highlight measurement
- Film ISO input
- Shutter speed adjustment
- Development time calculation
- Aperture determination
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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
Verdict
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
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.
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.
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.
| Parameter | myLightMeter PRO | Zone Tool |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4.99 | $0.99 — better |
| Rating | 4.8 (1.1K ratings) — better | 2.8 (6 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 90.3% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 1.1K — better | 6 |
| Update frequency | Every 5 days — better | Every 38 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Best chart rank | #13 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 12.2 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 53 MB | 0 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | David Quiles | Jouni Erola |
Customer experience
myLightMeter PRO
Zone Tool
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
myLightMeter PRO
No in-app purchases
Zone Tool
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is myLightMeter PRO free?
Is Zone Tool free?
Which has better reviews, myLightMeter PRO or Zone Tool?
Do myLightMeter PRO or Zone Tool have ads?
Which is updated more often, myLightMeter PRO or Zone Tool?
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