# Simply B&W vs Lucent Camera

The clearest difference is price: Lucent Camera at Free against Simply B&W's $3.99. Lucent Camera also leads on rating (4.6 vs 3.8) and review sentiment (100% vs 78%). Simply B&W's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 2 months) and ratings volume (28 vs 7). On ads, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Lucent Camera is free to download; Simply B&W costs $3.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Lucent Camera holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 28 and 7 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 78% of Simply B&W's written reviews are positive against 100% of Lucent Camera's.

Simply B&W ships an update monthly, Lucent Camera every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Simply B&W | Lucent Camera |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $3.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [3.8 (28 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simply-b-and-w/id601916620/reviews) | **[4.6 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lucent-camera/id6449982385/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **28** | 7 |
| Positive reviews | 78.5% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free** |
| Size | 5 MB | 5 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **16.4** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [James Moore](https://appshunter.io/developer/428240071) | [Benjamin Lucas](https://appshunter.io/developer/1518913655) |

## What reviewers say

### Simply B&W

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simply-b-and-w/id601916620)

Explore monochrome photography with a focused set of tools for tone, contrast, and creative effects. Adjust color translations, add film-like grain, and apply unique optical effects to give your photos character. Save in high resolution while preserving image data.

**Highlights:** Monochrome color translation, Photographic filters, Adjustable grain simulation, Optical effects (Toy, Prism, Bokeh), Selective focus, Tone, brightness, and contrast controls, RAW file support

**Features:** iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and easy to use
- 🎨 Great for B&W conversions
- ✨ Produces spectacular results
- 💡 Effective color filters
- 🚀 Fast and efficient

**What reviewers complain about**

- 👎 Interface changes disliked
- 🎛️ Controls too complicated
- 📸 No longer has camera function
- ❓ Redundant adjustments
- 🚫 No option for 'no filter'

**Reported bugs**

- Blank screen on iPhone 14 Pro Max
- App jams/frozen
- Adobe CC login broken
- App pauses frequently
- No 'cancel' option on a pic

**Requested features**

- Add camera function back
- Option to choose 'no filter'
- Clarify shutter speed vs. exposure adjustment
- Add sepia or cyan tones
- More filters and tweaking abilities


### Lucent Camera

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lucent-camera/id6449982385)

This app offers a classic black and white photography experience with granular control over lighting and composition. Manually adjust focus, ISO, exposure, contrast, and brightness to master your shots. Its simple interface provides gentle haptic feedback and optional grid lines for precise framing.

**Highlights:** Manual focus control, Adjustable ISO and exposure, Contrast and brightness settings, Tap to auto focus, Pinch to zoom, Simple interface with haptic feedback, Optional grid lines

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Simply B&W free?

Simply B&W costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Lucent Camera free?

Lucent Camera is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Simply B&W or Lucent Camera?

Lucent Camera is rated higher. Simply B&W averages 3.8 out of 5 from 28 ratings, while Lucent Camera averages 4.6 from 7 ratings.

### Do Simply B&W or Lucent Camera have ads?

Neither Simply B&W nor Lucent Camera shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Simply B&W or Lucent Camera?

Simply B&W ships an update monthly, and Lucent Camera every 2 months. Most recently, Simply B&W was updated on November 1, 2026 and Lucent Camera on November 3, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*