Comparison

Light Meter vs Optaxis

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

Optaxis

Features
Read full description

Optaxis - Master the Axis, Connect the Like-minded This is not another filter camera app. Optaxis is a pro toolbox and community for 35mm full-frame, medium & large format, Leica, Sony, Fuji, Canon, Nikon, Panasonic, Hasselblad, Phase One, ALPA technical cameras, and film. 23 engineer-grade toolsets (40+ sub-tools), a 1500+ lens spec database, a global community, and an AI assistant - all in one app. 23 PROFESSIONAL TOOLSETS [PRE - PLANNING] - Weather & Light - live weather, golden / blue hour, moonrise & set, clouds - Aurora - regional visibility, cloud + moon factors, 3-day forecast - Burn Sky - multi-day burning-cloud index, probability model, share poster - Tide - tide forecast, photo / surf / fishing presets, multi-day charts - Specialty Weather - sea-of-clouds / rime / alpenglow probability, 28 locations - Field of View & Focal - 7 bodies x 19 backs, 35mm equiv, shift-stitch, image circle, DOF / hyperfocal - Scout - map sun / moon / Milky Way planner, azimuth, rise / set, spot check-in - Plan - pre-shoot planning, gear checklist, WeatherKit, linked log, cloud sync [SHOOT - IN THE FIELD] - Compose - multi-focal overlay, 9 grids, 6 live B&W filters, RGB histogram - AR Viewfinder - live overlay, level, light meter, sun / moon / Milky Way AR, AI Vision - Exposure - exposure triangle, EV, ND, bellows, film reciprocity - Scheimpflug Tilt / Swing - tilt / swing angle, focus distance (to f/64), linked DOF - Live Shift - real-time architectural shift, multi-back image circle, WYSIWYG - Exposure Session - reciprocity, bellows, filter & manual compensation on one screen - Timer - long-exposure countdown, safe shutter speed, cable release - Compass - true / magnetic north, declination, precise bearing [POST - DARKROOM] - Film Dev - 5-step wizard, +/-0.5C control, batch decay compensation, 11 verified recipes - Darkroom - dodge / burn notes, 4 safelights, F-stop test strips, MG filters - EI Calibration - reversal Zone VIII algorithm, community distribution, one-tap share - Reciprocity - reciprocity-failure curves, push / pull, multi-brand reference - Print Size - DPI rating, stitched megapixels, museum-grade, wall-mount preview [LOG - RECORD & SKY] - Diary - gear / params / notes, 12-field film mode, 2 clips, auto EXIF, cloud sync - Astro - star trails (500 / NPF), Milky Way, sun & moon paths, eclipse catalog 2026-2035, meteor showers, 53 stars + 5 planets AR EQUIPMENT ARCHIVE Manage bodies, backs, lenses, filters, kits, and film. Spec library: Leica M/SL/S, Hasselblad XCD/HC, Fuji GF, ALPA HR, Schneider / Rodenstock LF. Side-by-side comparison plus cloud sync. UNCOMPROMISED QUALITY Native HEIC, 10-bit Display P3, up to 80MB originals. Full dynamic range and color for medium and large format. GLOBAL PHOTOGRAPHER COMMUNITY - Multi-image posts - main + 100% detail crops, 9-image upload - Global map - discover nearby, spot check-in, meetups, community studios & dev labs - Hashtags, collections, Daily Inspiration, themed contests - Direct & group chat - text, image, file, equipment cards, params, group events - Voice & video calls - in-call photo + EXIF, equipment cards - Verification badges - ALPA, Cinema Lens, Leica, Hasselblad, Fuji, Large Format - Safety - report, block, moderation, AI pre-upload screening AI PHOTO ASSISTANT XiaoGuang AI - photo critique, captions, bio, log analysis, voice-to-text. Knowledge base across Leica, Hasselblad, Fuji GFX, ALPA, large format. Mention in group chats; CN/EN auto-translate. ARTICLES & NEWS In-depth Tips, industry News, community submissions, auto CN/EN translation. SUBSCRIPTION Free to use all calculators and community features. Pro unlocks the AI photo assistant and more. Monthly and yearly; pricing in-app. Billed through Apple ID, auto-renews, cancel anytime in Settings > Apple ID > Subscriptions. Terms of Use: https://optaxis.app/terms.html Privacy Policy: https://optaxis.app/privacy-policy.html Support: https://optaxis.app/support.html

Screenshots

Light Meter4 screens
Optaxis4 screens

Verdict

The call

Light Meter and Optaxis are too close to call on the numbers: across 6 compared parameters — price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

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 and Optaxis sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Light Meter ships an update weekly, Optaxis every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 16, 2026 respectively.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
Light Meter versus Optaxis: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLight MeterOptaxis
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.6 (5 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews85.2% of reviews—
Number of ratings5 — better—
Update frequencyWeeklyEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemium—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS16.6 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size33 MB123 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer卓 朱XIAO MIN NI

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Light Meter

Subscriptions1
  • FilmBox Toolkit Pro Subscription$7.991 Year
One-time1
  • FilmBox Toolkit Pro$17.99
2 purchases

Optaxis

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly14 Days trial$5.991 Month
  • Yearly14 Days trial$49.991 Year

Questions

Is Light Meter free?
Light Meter is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Optaxis free?
Optaxis is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Light Meter or Optaxis have ads?
Neither Light Meter nor Optaxis shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Light Meter or Optaxis?
Light Meter ships an update weekly, and Optaxis every 4 days. Most recently, Light Meter was updated on September 23, 2026 and Optaxis on September 16, 2026.

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