Comparison

Zone Meter vs ReciproMeter

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

Head to head
About

Zone Meter

Features
Read full description

Zone Meter is a professional light meter for photographers who shoot manual - on film, with legacy lenses, or in the studio. Point your iPhone at a scene and Zone Meter instantly reads the light from the camera sensor, calculating exposure values in real time. Scroll the drum wheels to set your aperture, shutter speed, or ISO, and Zone Meter works out the third value for you. LIGHT METER - Live EV reading from the iPhone camera sensor - Four metering modes: Aperture Priority (Av), Shutter Priority (Tv), ISO Priority, and Manual (M) - Classic drum-roller wheel pickers for aperture, shutter speed, and ISO - Tap anywhere on the live preview to spot-meter a specific area of the scene - Switch between lenses (0.5x, 1x, 2x, 5x) to meter a distant subject with the telephoto - Live colour temperature reading with descriptive label (Tungsten, Daylight, Cloudy, Shade) - EV condition display from Very Dark to Very Bright HISTOGRAM - Live luminance histogram overlaid on the camera preview - tap the chart icon to show or hide - Shadows on the left, highlights on the right - just like every other histogram you know - Colour-coded bars: blue for shadows, white for midtones, amber for highlights - Clip indicators warn when shadows or highlights are being lost - In Manual mode, the histogram shifts left or right to predict how your chosen settings will affect the tonal distribution MANUAL MODE - Set aperture, shutter speed, and ISO independently - nothing is computed or locked - Exposure delta bar shows how far your settings deviate from the metered value - Bar shifts left for underexposure, right for overexposure - consistent with the histogram - Contextual label: Correct exposure, Overexposed by 1.3 stops, Underexposed by 2 stops - Use with the histogram to dial in exposure before you shoot ND FILTER CALCULATOR - Calculates long-exposure shutter speed for any ND filter - Presets for all standard filters: ND2 through ND32000, Little Stopper, Big Stopper, Super Stopper - Custom stop input - Uses the live meter reading or a manually chosen base shutter speed - Warns when exposure exceeds 30 seconds (Bulb mode required) DEPTH OF FIELD CALCULATOR - Hyperfocal distance calculator for any lens and sensor format - 8 sensor formats: Full Frame, APS-C (Canon and Nikon/Sony), Micro 4/3, 1-inch, Medium Format, 4x5, 8x10 - 18 focal length presets from 14mm to 600mm - Shows near focus limit, far focus limit, and total depth of field - Visual range bar showing subject position relative to hyperfocal distance - Contextual advice: tells you exactly how far to refocus to bring infinity sharp STROBE CALCULATOR - Guide number calculator for flash and studio strobes - Presets for speedlights and studio heads from 100Ws to 1200Ws - 8 power settings from Full to 1/128 - Solve for aperture (given distance) or distance (given aperture) - ISO-aware: guide numbers automatically adjust for any ISO - Fill light ratio calculator: instantly shows the aperture difference for 1:1 through 16:1 ratios READING HISTORY - Save and name any meter or strobe reading - Add notes to any saved reading - Share individual readings or export the full history - Organised by name, date, light condition, and exposure values DESIGNED FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS - Clean dark interface designed for use in any light - Metric or imperial measurements (set in Help) - Available in English, Japanese, German, French, Spanish, Italian, and Korean - Full help documentation built in: explains EV, hyperfocal distance, guide numbers, and more - No ads. No subscription. No account required. Zone Meter is the meter you always have with you.

About

ReciproMeter

This app assists film photographers with accurate long-exposure calculations. It uses your device's camera to read exposure data, then provides shutter speed recommendations with reciprocity correction based on film stock and aperture. It offers official manufacturer data, community guidance, and experimental estimates.

Highlights
  • Live camera metering
  • Reciprocity correction
  • Built-in film library
  • Community-sourced data
  • Bulb timer
  • Exposure lock
Features
Read full description

ReciproMeter is a free light meter for film photographers who need dependable long-exposure calculations. Use your iPhone camera to read exposure metadata, select your film stock and aperture, and get an immediate shutter recommendation. When exposure times run long, ReciproMeter applies reciprocity correction using official manufacturer data whenever available. For films where official datasheets stop short, ReciproMeter keeps the distinction clear: • Official manufacturer reciprocity data • Optional community-sourced long-exposure guidance • Optional experimental estimates, clearly labeled as lower confidence Features: • Live camera preview, visible by default, with an optional full-screen exposure view • Camera calibration, steadier readings, and low-light guidance • Manual EV and external meter input with reference aperture and ISO • Exposure lock for holding a reading while composing • Neutral-density compensation, then reciprocity on the longer time • One-stop exposure bracket that follows the film's reciprocity curve • Favorite films and a built-in library with correction charts and source links • Saved film, aperture, ND, and EI presets • Exposure notes with frame numbers and development results • Community and experimental long-exposure tiers as separate opt-ins • Metering ISO / EI override for push-pull workflows • Bulb timer with preparation delays, optional audible cues, and a Lock Screen countdown • Dark mode, light mode, or system appearance Privacy: ReciproMeter does not take or store photos. It only reads camera exposure metadata needed to estimate ambient light. An App Open ad may appear over the loading screen at launch, or on a return to Films, Notes, or Settings after you have been away for at least a minute, at most three times a day. Active metering, timers, note editing, and purchases are protected. The first launch is ad-free. The loading screen shows the Remove Ads Forever price when available. Remove Ads Forever is an optional one-time in-app purchase. It removes all advertising with no subscription or expiration. Purchase or restore it in Settings. Advertising privacy choices remain available from Settings where required.

Screenshots

Zone Meter4 screens
ReciproMeter4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: ReciproMeter at every 2 weeks against Zone Meter's every 2 months. Zone Meter's advantage is iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Zone Meter ships an update every 2 months, ReciproMeter every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Zone Meter versus ReciproMeter: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterZone MeterReciproMeter
PriceFreeFree
Rating—3.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
Monetization—Free with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS16.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size2 MB12 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGreg AndersonPaul Frederiksen

In-app purchases

None

Zone Meter

No in-app purchases

None

ReciproMeter

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Zone Meter free?
Zone Meter is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is ReciproMeter free?
ReciproMeter is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Zone Meter or ReciproMeter have ads?
Neither Zone Meter nor ReciproMeter shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Zone Meter or ReciproMeter?
Zone Meter ships an update every 2 months, and ReciproMeter every 2 weeks. Most recently, Zone Meter was updated on October 6, 2026 and ReciproMeter on October 12, 2026.

Other comparisons