LightMeter Express vs Luminis Light Meter Pro
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
LightMeter Express
This tool transforms your iPhone into a professional light meter for photography. It offers accurate exposure readings with real-time calculations for aperture, shutter speed, and ISO, supporting various camera settings and providing exposure compensation.
- Real-time light metering
- Precise exposure calculations
- Support for standard camera settings
- Exposure value (EV) display
- Spot metering (Pro feature)
- Live histogram (Pro feature)
Read full descriptionHide full description
LightMeter Express - Professional Camera Tool Transform your iPhone into a precision light meter for film and digital photography. Get accurate exposure readings with an intuitive interface designed for photographers who demand professional-grade metering capabilities. CORE FEATURES (FREE): • Real-time light metering using your device's camera • Precise aperture, shutter speed, and ISO calculations • Support for all standard camera settings • Clean, professional interface optimized for quick readings • Exposure value (EV) display with compensation controls • Camera settings reference for popular film and digital cameras • Works in any lighting condition your camera can see • Intuitive haptic feedback with "full-stop" detents for exposure drag gestures PERFECT FOR: • Film photographers seeking accurate meter readings • Digital photographers wanting precise exposure control • Studio and outdoor photography • Learning proper exposure techniques • Backup metering when your camera's meter fails PRO FEATURES (One-time $0.99 purchase): • **Spot Metering** - Professional spot metering with zoomed preview for precise exposure readings from specific areas of your scene. Drag to reposition, tap to meter. Works best on iPhones with telephoto lenses for maximum precision • Custom Step Increments - Choose between 1/3, 1/2, or full stop increments for all exposure parameters to match your camera and shooting style • Live Histogram - Real-time histogram display with RGB channel analysis for precise exposure evaluation and highlight/shadow monitoring • Preview Compensation - See exposure compensation effects directly in the camera preview to visualize over/under exposure before shooting • Custom Limits - Set personalized aperture, shutter speed, ISO, and exposure compensation limits to match your specific camera gear and preferences • Black & White Preview - Turn the camera preview into a grayscale image for helping with B&W photography The free version provides full light metering functionality suitable for most photography needs. Pro features add advanced customization and analysis tools for professional and enthusiast photographers. TECHNICAL NOTES: • Requires camera access to function as a light meter • All processing happens locally on your device • No internet connection required • Compatible with iPhone • Spot metering optimized for devices with multiple camera lenses PRIVACY: Light Meter respects your privacy. Camera data is processed locally and never stored or transmitted. No personal information is collected.
Luminis Light Meter Pro
Read full descriptionHide full description
Light Meter is an app that helps you calculate the right exposure using your main phone camera. You just need to set the ISO speed of the film you're using and set the desired aperture value and the app will recalculate the shutter speed for you, simple as that. Features: • Calculate exposure with the main camera sensor • Tap the aperture or shutter speed value to lock it and change priority mode • Use the zoom menu or simple pinch to zoom function and use zoomed part as the area metering mode • Use the Snap function to easily set the desired camera parameters • Add and save your entire shooting process to notes quickly • Back up your notes using the backup feature • Use B&W mode to see how your photos will turn out in real time • Use the Film Stock feature to choose the type of film you're shooting with • Pro version comes with no ads or tracking We constantly update the app to provide more features that users are looking for, so expect even more with future updates. Thank you for using the Light Meter Pro app.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: LightMeter Express at Free against Luminis Light Meter Pro's $5.99. LightMeter Express also leads on update cadence (daily vs every 4 months). Luminis Light Meter Pro's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.6). On ads 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
LightMeter Express is free to download; Luminis Light Meter Pro costs $5.99 up front. LightMeter Express sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Luminis Light Meter Pro asks for nothing beyond the download.
LightMeter Express ships an update daily, Luminis Light Meter Pro every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on July 4, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | LightMeter Express | Luminis Light Meter Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $5.99 |
| Rating | 5.0 (8 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 87.5% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 8 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Daily — better | Every 4 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 4 MB | 23 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 9+ |
| Developer | Digitaino LLC | Dejan Boras |
In-app purchases
LightMeter Express
- Light Meter Pro$2.99
Luminis Light Meter Pro
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is LightMeter Express free?
Is Luminis Light Meter Pro free?
Do LightMeter Express or Luminis Light Meter Pro have ads?
Which is updated more often, LightMeter Express or Luminis Light Meter Pro?
Other comparisons















