Comparison

Luma Calc vs LightMate

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

Head to head
About

Luma Calc

Features
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LumaCalc is an exposure calculator for photographers and videographers. Change your aperture, ISO, ND filter, or EV compensation โ€” LumaCalc instantly tells you the exact shutter speed needed to maintain a correct exposure. No more mental math on set. โ—† Perfect for - Photographers who attach ND filters and need to recalculate shutter speed every time - Long exposure shooters who want to know the exact duration before pressing the shutter - Anyone who adjusts aperture or ISO and needs a quick exposure correction on the fly - Studio, outdoor, and video shooters who need fast, reliable settings โ—† Features [Exposure Triangle Calculator] Enter your current camera settings (aperture ยท ISO ยท shutter speed), then set your new values. The correct shutter speed is calculated in real time โ€” no confirm button needed, results update instantly as you scroll. [ND Filter Calculator] Supports 23 ND filter densities from ND0 (no filter) to ND512K (512,000ร— light reduction). Instantly see the required shutter speed for any filter you attach. [EV Compensation] Apply exposure compensation from -3.0 to +3.0 EV in 1/3-stop increments to fine-tune your results. [Long Exposure Display] Results beyond 30 seconds are automatically formatted so you always know exactly how long to hold the shutter open. - 1/8000s โ€“ 30s : Standard shutter value (e.g. 1/250) - 30s โ€“ 60s : Seconds (e.g. 45s) - 1 min โ€“ 1 hour : MM:SS format (e.g. 02:30) - Over 1 hour : HH:MM:SS format (e.g. 01:30:00) [Wide Setting Range] - Aperture: f/1.0 โ€“ f/32 (1/3-stop steps, 31 values) - ISO: 50 โ€“ 80,000 (1/3-stop steps, 33 values) - Shutter speed: 1/8000s โ€“ 30s (56 values) โ—† Designed for the Field - Dark theme: easy on the eyes in low-light shooting environments - Wheel picker: drum-roll style selector for fast, precise input - Haptic feedback: feel every click as you scroll through values - Out-of-range alerts: clear Too Fast / Too Slow warnings when results exceed camera limits Stop doing exposure math in your head. Set up your shot faster and more accurately with LumaCalc.

About

LightMate

Features
Read full description

LightMate - ExpoCalc: Your Long Exposure Photography Companion Transform your long exposure photography with precision and ease. Whether capturing silk-smooth waterfalls, ethereal cloud movements, or mesmerizing light trails, LightMate delivers the exact calculations you need in seconds. PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY TOOLS: Calculate perfect exposure times based on your ND filters Find the ideal ND filter combination for your desired exposure length Adjust aperture, shutter speed, and ISO with intuitive controls View multiple equivalent exposure combinations instantly DESIGNED FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS BY PHOTOGRAPHERS: Clean, distraction-free interface optimized for field use Precise calculations based on professional photography principles Support for all standard ND filter densities (ND2-ND100000) Save favorite settings for quick access Dark mode for night shooting sessions PERFECT FOR: Landscape photographers capturing flowing water and clouds Architectural photographers removing crowds from busy scenes Urban photographers creating dramatic light trails Any photographer wanting to master long exposure techniques Skip the guesswork and complex mental calculations. LightMate - ExpoCalc handles the technical details so you can focus on creativity and composition.

Screenshots

Luma Calc2 screens
LightMate3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Luma Calc at Free against LightMate's $0.99. Luma Calc also leads on device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 18.0). LightMate's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 7 months). On ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price ยท Rating ยท Positive reviews ยท Number of ratings ยท Update frequency ยท Ads ยท In-app purchases ยท Monetization ยท Best chart rank ยท Devices ยท Requires iOS

CostPrice ยท In-app purchases ยท Ads ยท Monetization

Luma Calc is free to download; LightMate costs $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Luma Calc ships an update every 7 months, LightMate every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on October 7, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences ยท 2 level
Luma Calc versus LightMate: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLuma CalcLightMate
PriceFree โ€” better$0.99
Update frequencyEvery 7 monthsEvery 2 weeks โ€” better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod โ€” betteriPhone
Requires iOS13.0 โ€” better18.0
Further details โ€” not scored
Size19 MB1 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developeryeongsu sonQiao Hu

In-app purchases

None

Luma Calc

No in-app purchases

None

LightMate

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Luma Calc free?
Luma Calc is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is LightMate free?
LightMate costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do Luma Calc or LightMate have ads?
Neither Luma Calc nor LightMate shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Luma Calc or LightMate?
Luma Calc ships an update every 7 months, and LightMate every 2 weeks. Most recently, Luma Calc was updated on October 7, 2026 and LightMate on October 7, 2026.

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