CineTemp vs Datacolor LightColor Meter
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
CineTemp
This tool helps filmmakers and cinematographers measure color temperature and ND values using their iPhone camera. It offers real-time readings, a luminance histogram, and a library for saving shot notes and metadata to ensure color consistency.
- Color temperature readings via iPhone camera
- ND calculation via iPhone camera
- Real-time measurements with multiple lenses
- Luminance histogram
- Location-aware shot library
- Scene comparison tools
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KEY FEATURES: • Approximate color temperature readings through your iPhone camera • Approximate ND calculation through your iPhone camera • Real-time values using wide, telephoto, and front-facing lenses • Luminance histogram • Location-aware shot library with custom notes and metadata • Scene comparison tools to assist with color consistency Perfect for: • Location scouting • Pre-production planning • On-set color adjustments • White balance optimization • Multi-camera coordination Created by filmmakers for filmmakers, CineTemp is designed to simplify your workflow and support your creative vision. While it’s not total replacement for dedicated hardware, CineTemp offers an intuitive way to make informed color decisions. The app seamlessly integrates with most iPhone cameras, and the customizable interface keeps essential tools at your fingertips. Save and organize your readings with automatic time, date, and location tagging to streamline your pre-production process. Join the creators using CineTemp to elevate their craft. Download now and explore an innovative approach to color temperature measurement.
Datacolor LightColor Meter
This pocket-sized device streams real-time light and color data to your smartphone, offering precise control over exposure and color consistency for photos, videos, and cinema. It measures various light types and color parameters, and includes gel filter libraries for creative adjustments.
- Real-time light and color data streaming
- Exposure and lighting ratio control
- Color consistency across setups
- Measures Lux, Chromaticity, CCT, DUV
- Includes gel filter libraries
- Simultaneous measurements from multiple meters
- Hands-free functionality
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· The Datacolor LightColor Meter is a Bluetooth-enabled, multifunctional tool that fits in your pocket, continuously streaming both light and color data in real-time, to your smartphone. · Perfect for photos, videos, cinema and hybrid photo/video shoots, the LightColor Meter takes the guesswork out of exposure settings, giving you better control of lighting ratios as well as color consistency across varied lighting conditions and multiple camera setups. · The Datacolor LightColor Meter accurately measures all types of lighting, from fluctuating outdoor light, mixed natural/artificial location lighting, plus any type of studio lighting, including continuous lighting and strobe/flash. · It goes beyond a regular light meter to also measure color temperature, Lux, Chromaticity, CCT and DUV. Additionally, the device comes with filter libraries from Profoto®, LEE® and Rosco® to help you choose the right color gels for functional or creative color adjustments. · The rugged, travel-friendly device goes anywhere you’re shooting, providing you with a wireless versatility that lets you easily fine-tune your lighting and exposure without having to leave your camera. · You can attach the device to a light stand or tripod, use the through-hole for lanyards to hang the meter where needed, use the alligator clip that’s included to attach the LightColor Meter to clothing or other fabrics or use the rare earth magnet on the back of the device for easy magnetic attachment. · You can seamlessly sync multiple Datacolor LightColor Meters to get light and color temperature measurements from several locations simultaneously. The device accurately measures light and color temperature from a distance of up to 80 feet, allowing you to cover wide areas and is perfect for ensuring uniform lighting for green screens for easy and effective chroma keying in post-production. Key Feature Highlights o Incident Metering for Ambient & Flash o Mobile App/Wireless Bluetooth 4.0 LE o Photo, Video, Cine Exposure Modes o Measures Lux, Chromaticity, CCT, and +/- Green (Duv) o Measures Any Kind of Light Source o Color Temperature Range: 1,600K - 20,000K o Luminance Range: 1.0 - 1,000,000 lux o Cine Settings: Frame Rate, Shutter Angle/Speed & ND Filter Compensation o HSS Flash & Flash Duration Measurements o Included: Gel Filter Libraries from Profoto®, LEE® and Rosco® o Simultaneous Measurements from Multiple Meters Up to 80 ft Away o Hands-Free Functionality - incl. Magnet, ¼”-20 Mount o Cord-in (PC Sync) o Custom Exposure Profiles
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: CineTemp at 94% against Datacolor LightColor Meter's 17%. CineTemp also leads on rating (4.9 vs 1.7) and chart position (#24 vs unranked). Datacolor LightColor Meter's advantage is price (Free vs $19.99) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 18.6). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases 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
Datacolor LightColor Meter is free to download; CineTemp costs $19.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
CineTemp holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 1.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 29 and 7 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 94% of CineTemp's written reviews are positive against 17% of Datacolor LightColor Meter's.
CineTemp ships an update every 3 weeks, Datacolor LightColor Meter fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 10, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | CineTemp | Datacolor LightColor Meter |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $19.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 4.9 (29 ratings) — better | 1.7 (7 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 93.8% of reviews — better | 16.7% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 29 — better | 7 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Free with in-app purchases — better |
| Best chart rank | #24 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 18.6 | 12.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 19 MB | 30 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | TKNYE | Datacolor Inc. |
Customer experience
CineTemp
Datacolor LightColor Meter
In-app purchases
CineTemp
No in-app purchases
Datacolor LightColor Meter
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is CineTemp free?
Is Datacolor LightColor Meter free?
Which has better reviews, CineTemp or Datacolor LightColor Meter?
Do CineTemp or Datacolor LightColor Meter have ads?
Which is updated more often, CineTemp or Datacolor LightColor Meter?
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