Comparison

Light Meter vs ShadowShot

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

Head to head
About

Light Meter

This app helps film photographers precisely measure light, distance, and depth of field before taking a shot. It offers tools for exposure evaluation, flash calculation, and reciprocity failure compensation, with advanced features available via a one-time purchase.

Highlights
  • Light metering
  • Zone metering
  • Flash calculator
  • Reciprocity failure compensation
  • Distance meter (LiDAR)
  • Depth of field calculator
  • Gear library
Features
Read full description

FilmBox Toolkit Shoot film with greater confidence. From exposure decisions and manual focusing to long-exposure compensation and photo notes, FilmBox Toolkit brings essential film photography tools together on your iPhone. Make informed choices before you press the shutter. ZONE SYSTEM METERING Visualize readings from different areas of your scene using Zone System principles. Compare highlights and shadows, decide which details to preserve, and adjust your exposure. Built for situations where careful exposure control matters. FREE TOOLS • Light Meter (basic mode): Evaluate ambient light and get exposure settings to work from. • LiDAR Rangefinder (up to 1 meter): Estimate subject distance to assist manual focusing and flash calculations. Requires compatible hardware. • Flash Calculator (GN): Calculate settings from the guide number for shooting without TTL. • Depth of Field Calculator: Estimate your focus range and hyperfocal distance. • Reciprocity Failure Compensation: Calculate long-exposure adjustments based on your selected film. • Shutter Speed Test: Help check your camera's shutter speed and assess its performance. • Negative Viewer: Use the camera to preview negatives as positive images and inspect their contents. For previewing only; not a replacement for professional scanning or post-processing. • Gear Library & Photo Log: Organize film stocks, flashes, and preferred settings, and keep shooting notes for later reference. FREE & PRO FilmBox Toolkit is free to download. All features are free except the three Pro features below. Free features include manual input for Zone System metering, basic light metering, rangefinding up to 1 meter, the Shutter Speed Test, and the Negative Viewer. FilmBox Pro unlocks: • Zone System metering: real-time light readings. • Light Meter: 1-degree spot metering mode. • Rangefinder: distance measurements beyond 1 meter. Choose either: • A one-time lifetime purchase. • An annual subscription with access during the subscription period. See the in-app purchase screen for current pricing and purchase terms. DEVICE COMPATIBILITY • Standard SDR metering: Compatible iPhones running iOS 17 or later. • Apple Log metering: Uses 10-bit Apple Log data. Supported on iPhone 15 Pro/Pro Max, 16 Pro/Pro Max, and 17 Pro/Pro Max. The app selects the appropriate mode for your device. • LiDAR rangefinding: Requires a LiDAR-equipped iPhone: Pro and Pro Max models in the iPhone 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17 families. Devices without Apple Log or LiDAR can still use other compatible features. Hardware support and Pro access are separate requirements. PRIVACY Metering, depth of field, and other calculations run locally on your device. We do not collect or upload your personal data. Privacy Policy: https://www.filmboxtoolkit.com/privacy.html TERMS OF USE This app is licensed under Apple's standard End User License Agreement (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

ShadowShot

This camera app allows you to precisely replicate photo compositions by overlaying a reference image onto your live camera preview. Align angles and subject placement with adjustable transparency for consistent shots. Ideal for recreating specific scenes or practicing photography composition.

Highlights
  • Overlay reference images with adjustable transparency
  • Support for multiple aspect ratios
  • Smooth zoom and pinch-to-zoom
  • Tap to focus and exposure
  • Fast compare, retake, and save workflow
Features
Read full description

ShadowShot is a camera app that helps you precisely recreate photo composition. After importing a reference image, you can overlay it semi-transparently on the camera preview, so you can align angles and subject placement while shooting. Key features: Overlay template shooting with adjustable transparency Support for multiple aspect ratios (16:9, 4:3, 1:1) Smooth zoom and pinch-to-zoom gestures Tap to focus and exposure adjustment Fast compare, retake, and save workflow Whether you’re recreating a specific shot, filming consistent content, or practicing composition in daily photography, ShadowShot makes shooting more stable and efficient. Easily take the photo your partner actually wants!

Screenshots

Light Meter4 screens
ShadowShot4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Light Meter at 3.6 against ShadowShot's 1.0. Light Meter also leads on ratings volume (5 vs 1). ShadowShot's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.6). On price, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Light Meter sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per year. ShadowShot asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Light Meter holds the better App Store score, 3.6 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Light Meter has 5 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Light Meter versus ShadowShot: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLight MeterShadowShot
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.6 (5 ratings) — better1.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews85.2% of reviews—
Number of ratings5 — better1
Update frequencyWeekly—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemiumFree — better
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.613.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size33 MB23 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer卓 朱正华 孟

Customer experience

Light Meter

All ratings5 ratings
Positive60.0%
Neutral20.0%
Negative20.0%
Written reviews27 reviews
Positive85.2%
Neutral7.4%
Negative7.4%

ShadowShot

All ratings1 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Light Meter

Subscriptions1
  • FilmBox Toolkit Pro Subscription$7.991 Year
One-time1
  • FilmBox Toolkit Pro$17.99
None

ShadowShot

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Light Meter free?
Light Meter is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is ShadowShot free?
ShadowShot is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Light Meter or ShadowShot?
Light Meter is rated higher. Light Meter averages 3.6 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while ShadowShot averages 1.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Light Meter or ShadowShot have ads?
Neither Light Meter nor ShadowShot shows ads.

Other comparisons