Minimal Light Meter vs SlowLightMeter
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Minimal Light Meter
This app provides film photographers with precise exposure readings using their iPhone camera. It allows for locking aperture or shutter speed and supports custom ISO settings for various film types. The interface is designed for clarity and ease of use in any lighting condition.
- Reflective light metering
- Aperture or shutter priority
- Custom ISO settings
- Dimmed camera preview
- High-contrast text
- Offline functionality
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A focused light meter for film photographers who want exposure details without the clutter. Point your iPhone at the scene, lock aperture or shutter, and get a clear reading you can trust on set or in the field. Dim the live preview when you need the numbers, not the viewfinder, and set any ISO, including odd ratings for old or expired stock. Features • Reflective light metering with your iPhone camera • Aperture or shutter priority. Lock one, meter for the other • Dim the camera preview to keep attention on exposure • Fully custom ISO, including non-standard film ratings • Add or hide shutter speeds and f-stops to match your kit • High-contrast text for bright outdoor shooting • Fast, minimal interface with no accounts or ads • Works offline, on device Built for analog shooters, Instant film, and anyone who still dials exposure by hand.
SlowLightMeter
This app provides a simple and accurate light meter for film photographers. It continuously measures light with minimal interaction and includes an ISO lock to prevent accidental changes. EV values are a core feature for ease of use.
- Reflective and incident light metering
- Continuous light measurement
- ISO lock
- EV value display
- Simple interface
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As a film photographer, I wanted an accurate yet simple reflective and incident light meter. After trying several, I decided to build my own. This light meter continuously measures light, so it requires minimal interaction during a shoot. To avoid accidentally changing film ISO, I added an ISO lock. And since I shoot often with my Hasselblad, I made EV values a core feature of the app.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: SlowLightMeter at Free against Minimal Light Meter's $0.99. SlowLightMeter also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs every 14 months) and ratings volume (6 vs 2). On rating, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases 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
SlowLightMeter is free to download; Minimal Light Meter costs $0.99 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 — 5.0 for Minimal Light Meter against 5.0 for SlowLightMeter. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 6 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.
Minimal Light Meter ships an update every 14 months, SlowLightMeter every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on November 4, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Minimal Light Meter | SlowLightMeter |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $0.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 5.0 (2 ratings) | 5.0 (6 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 2 | 6 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 14 months | Every 5 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 15.6 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 6 MB | 2 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Jack Kroll | Ari Jaaksi |
Customer experience
Minimal Light Meter
SlowLightMeter
In-app purchases
Minimal Light Meter
No in-app purchases
SlowLightMeter
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Minimal Light Meter free?
Is SlowLightMeter free?
Which has better reviews, Minimal Light Meter or SlowLightMeter?
Do Minimal Light Meter or SlowLightMeter have ads?
Which is updated more often, Minimal Light Meter or SlowLightMeter?
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