Comparison

Iris vs Lumen Camera

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

Head to head
About

Iris

This app offers photographers extensive manual control over their shots, including RAW capture and film-inspired effects. It provides professional tools like histograms and focus peaking for precise image creation, with an optional AI workflow for natural rendering.

Highlights
  • Zero AI Capture
  • Full Manual Camera Controls
  • RAW & ProRAW Capture
  • Film Simulations & Creative Effects
  • Professional Exposure Tools
  • HDR Bracketing
  • Fast RAW Workflow
Features
Read full description

# Iris Pro: Zero AI Manual Camera Capture photos with complete creative control. Iris Pro is a professional manual camera app for iPhone built for photographers who want manual settings, RAW capture, film-inspired rendering, and full control over the image-making process. Unlike standard camera apps that heavily process photos, Iris Pro gives you the option to capture images with a dedicated Zero AI workflow designed to preserve natural texture, authentic light, and the character of the original scene. Whether you're shooting street photography, landscapes, portraits, long exposures, or everyday moments, Iris Pro puts professional camera tools directly in your pocket. ## Why Photographers Choose Iris Pro ### Zero AI Capture Capture photos with minimal computational processing. Iris Pro's Zero AI mode is designed for photographers who prefer natural detail, organic grain, realistic contrast, and images that stay true to the scene. ### Full Manual Camera Controls Take complete control of every exposure. • Manual ISO • Manual Shutter Speed • Manual Focus • Manual White Balance • Exposure Compensation • Focus Peaking • 1:1 Focus Loupe Designed for one-handed operation with responsive tactile controls. ### RAW & ProRAW Capture Choose the workflow that fits your editing style. Supported formats include: • Bayer RAW (DNG) • Apple ProRAW • RAW + HEIC • ProRAW + HEIC • HEIC • JPEG Perfect for Lightroom, Capture One, Darkroom, and other professional editing tools. ### Film Simulations & Creative Effects Create distinctive images directly in camera. Features include: • Film Simulations • Natural Film Grain • Halation • Bloom • Prism Effects • Vignette Controls Preview your creative look before you press the shutter. ### Professional Exposure Tools Make confident exposure decisions with advanced monitoring tools. • Histogram • Luma Waveform • Zebra Stripes • Electronic Level • Composition Grid Built for photographers who care about precision. ### HDR Bracketing Capture additional dynamic range for challenging lighting situations. Bracket exposures at: • ±1 EV • ±2 EV • ±3 EV ### Fast RAW Workflow Export original RAW files instantly from the built-in gallery. No unnecessary steps. No complicated workflow. Your digital negatives remain accessible whenever you need them. ## Additional Features • Ultra Wide, Wide, and Telephoto Lens Support • Self Timer • Haptic Feedback Controls • Real-Time Viewfinder Preview • Professional Photography Tools • Optimized for iPhone ## Built For Photographers Iris Pro is designed for creators who want more than automatic photography. Whether you're shooting RAW, exploring film-inspired looks, using manual focus, or working with professional exposure tools, Iris Pro helps you create photographs with intention. Capture the scene. Control the process. Iris Pro. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://www.bytenpixels.com/privacy

About

Lumen Camera

This app transforms your iPhone into a professional camera with advanced manual controls for both photos and videos. It offers features like rack focus, adjustable depth-of-field, and RAW image capture, mimicking the capabilities of high-end mirrorless cameras.

Highlights
  • Manual ISO, shutter speed, focus, and white balance
  • Cinematic video with rack focus and subject tracking
  • Adjustable depth-of-field and background blur
  • RAW and HEIC image formats with minimal processing
  • Focus peaking and loupe for precise focusing
  • Live histograms and zebra stripes for exposure
  • Private, Face ID-locked gallery
Read full description

Lumen Camera turns your iPhone into a serious photography and cinematography tool — with the polish of Apple Camera and the depth of a pro mirrorless. Built natively for iOS 26, with Apple's Cinematic Video Capture API for rack focus, tracking focus and adjustable depth of field. NEW — PURE MODE A new way to shoot — your photo, developed like film, right inside the app. Phone cameras fuse frames, lift shadows and smooth away grain — it's why everyday photos look so good, and it's all still here. Pure is for when you want the other thing: a single frame, developed in the app the way a darkroom develops a negative — classical tools, the same fixed recipe every shot. No AI. No computational processing. Honest grain. Highlights that roll off. Shadows that stay dark. • Live Pure Preview in the viewfinder • One untouched frame, straight off the sensor • 10-bit HEIC with real HDR, or JPEG • Keep the RAW negative alongside the finished photo • Works with manual controls and brackets • Semi-Manual and Manual, optical lenses, 12 MP THREE WAYS TO SHOOT • Auto — point and shoot, now at 24 MP • Semi-Manual — pick the variable that matters, the camera balances the rest • Manual — direct control of ISO, shutter, focus, white balance, exposure FORMATS • HEIC / JPEG — Apple Camera quality with Deep Fusion, Smart HDR and Photographic Styles, up to 48 MP • Apple ProRAW — up to 48 MP, 12-bit DNG with full editing latitude • Pure — a single sensor frame, developed in the app • Save a ready-to-share HEIF or JPEG with any RAW capture CREATIVE FILTERS • See the look live before you shoot • Keep the untouched RAW alongside the filtered photo EXPOSURE & FOCUS BRACKETING • Exposure bracketing — stack EV steps into one true-HDR photo • Focus bracketing — shift focus through the scene, stack for detail front to back • Macro focus stacking — now works up close, for tiny subjects • Smart Mode picks the range and frame count, or set near and far focus yourself • On-device stacking across lenses and formats MANUAL & FOCUS TOOLS • ISO, shutter, exposure compensation, white balance and focus, with numeric readouts • Focus peaking, plus a pinpoint manual-focus loupe • Live luminance and RGB histograms, and zebra stripes with an adjustable threshold • Tap to focus, drag to set exposure, long-press to lock AE/AF CINEMATIC VIDEO • Tap a face, object or point to rack focus like a film camera • Adjustable simulated aperture (f/2.0–f/16) • Automatic subject tracking, on-device • ProRes or H.265, with cinematic stabilization PORTRAIT MODE • Live preview of the background blur • Adjustable aperture before AND after capture • A depth overlay showing what's in focus PRO VIDEO • 4K up to 60 fps, 1080p up to 240 fps • ProRes 422 / 422 HQ / 422 LT, and Apple Log • Codec, frame rate, stabilization, audio and color are yours to set • Spatial Audio capture SAVE WHERE YOU WANT • Your Photos library, a connected USB-C drive, or a Face ID–locked private gallery in the app LIQUID GLASS UI • Controls that stay close without covering the shot • Full Camera Control on iPhone 16 and later — slide to zoom, press to capture MULTILINGUAL English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese (Brazil), Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese and Simplified Chinese. Lumen Pro unlocks all features by subscription. Cancel anytime in Settings. Privacy: Lumen Camera does not track you. No analytics tied to your identity, and nothing leaves your device unless you share it. REQUIREMENTS Cinematic Video requires iPhone 13 or later. Apple Log and ProRes require iPhone 15 Pro or later. Camera Control requires iPhone 16 or later. Pure Mode runs in Semi-Manual and Manual on physical lenses. Some formats and frame rates vary by model. Terms of Use (EULA) : https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy : https://www.lumenmatics.com/privacy-policy

Screenshots

Iris4 screens
Lumen Camera4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Iris at 17.0 against Lumen Camera's 26.0. On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence 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. Iris sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per year and Lumen Camera sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Iris against 5.0 for Lumen Camera. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 5 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Iris ships an update weekly, Lumen Camera every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 5, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Iris versus Lumen Camera: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterIrisLumen Camera
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (3 ratings)5.0 (5 ratings)
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings35 — better
Update frequencyWeeklyEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS17.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size44 MB53 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJiten SiddhpuraLumenmatics LLC

Customer experience

Iris

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Lumen Camera

All ratings5 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Iris

Subscriptions1
  • Iris Pro — Annual$7.991 Year
One-time1
  • Iris Pro — Lifetime$14.99
3 purchases

Lumen Camera

Subscriptions2
  • Lumen Camera Pro (Monthly)3 Days trial$2.991 Month
  • Lumen Camera Pro (Yearly)7 Days trial$14.991 Year
One-time1
  • LumenCamera Pro (Lifetime)$24.99

Questions

Is Iris free?
Iris is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Lumen Camera free?
Lumen Camera is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Iris or Lumen Camera?
Iris and Lumen Camera are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 3 and 5 ratings respectively.
Do Iris or Lumen Camera have ads?
Neither Iris nor Lumen Camera shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Iris or Lumen Camera?
Iris ships an update weekly, and Lumen Camera every 5 days. Most recently, Iris was updated on October 5, 2026 and Lumen Camera on October 1, 2026.

Other comparisons