Comparison

Lumera Camera vs Sidecam

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

Head to head
About

Lumera Camera

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Lumera is a focused, lightweight iPhone camera app built for photographers who want direct control over the capture process. It keeps the essential camera tools close at hand and removes unnecessary clutter, so you can start shooting quickly while still making precise adjustments when the scene calls for it. Key features: - Manual control for ISO, shutter speed, focus, white balance, and exposure compensation - HEIF, RAW, and Apple ProRAW capture, depending on device hardware support - Ultra-wide, main, and telephoto lens switching - Tap-to-focus and tap-to-expose - Face detection with face-assisted autofocus and selectable face tracking - Press-and-hold burst capture - Flash off, auto, and force-on modes - Grid, haptic feedback, safety shutter, and default capture settings - Optional location metadata embedded into photo EXIF - Photos saved to the system Photos library in a Lumera album - Built-in tutorial to help new users learn each control - Localized in English and Simplified Chinese Privacy: - Lumera requires no account, includes no ads, uses no analytics SDKs, performs no cloud sync, and does not upload your photos or personal data. Camera, Photos, and Location permissions are used only for local capture, saving photos, and optionally embedding location metadata when you enable it.

About

Sidecam

This app provides a dedicated camera for professional use, keeping work-related photos and videos separate from your personal library. It offers advanced camera features, organized storage, and cloud backup options for enhanced privacy and control.

Highlights
  • Dedicated work camera
  • Separated photo library
  • Advanced camera controls (MP, 4K video, grid)
  • Organized sessions and folders
  • Cloud backup to iCloud Drive
  • Privacy-focused, no data collection
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Sidecam is your separate camera for work: professional photos and videos kept apart from your personal photo library. Sidecam never touches the Photos app and cannot read your camera roll. What you capture at work stays in the app, organized and under your control. A FULL CAMERA • True 24 or 48 MP, with every iPhone lens and zoom that behaves just like the native camera • 4K video with flash, lens selection and a digital-crop warning • Level, grid and exposure lock for consistent shots ORGANIZED ON ITS OWN • Every work session groups itself — no albums to create by hand • Folders per client, site, case or project, plus reusable tags • Import the work photos you already have in Photos or Files and keep everything together in one app. YOUR BACKUP, IN YOUR CLOUD • Your entire work library mirrored to iCloud Drive (or any folder you choose): browsable folders and dates on any device • Optimize storage: originals stay in the cloud to free up space on your iPhone • Nothing is ever deleted from the cloud: removed items go to a trash folder in iCloud REAL PRIVACY • No accounts, no servers, no data collection • Optional Face ID lock for your library Built for healthcare, inspections, construction, real estate, workshops and any professional who takes photos on the job and wants to keep their personal library clean.

Screenshots

Lumera Camera3 screens
Sidecam4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Sidecam at none against Lumera Camera's 2. Sidecam also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 5 days). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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. Lumera Camera sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Sidecam asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Lumera Camera ships an update every 5 days, Sidecam every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 17, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
Lumera Camera versus Sidecam: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLumera CameraSidecam
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—2 — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 daysEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS18.017.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size9 MB7 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer博 张Francisco Nunes de Abreu

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Lumera Camera

One-time2
  • Advanced Controls$1.99
  • Filter Styles$4.99
None

Sidecam

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Lumera Camera free?
Lumera Camera is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Sidecam free?
Sidecam is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Lumera Camera or Sidecam have ads?
Neither Lumera Camera nor Sidecam shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Lumera Camera or Sidecam?
Lumera Camera ships an update every 5 days, and Sidecam every 2 days. Most recently, Lumera Camera was updated on September 23, 2026 and Sidecam on September 17, 2026.

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