Comparison

Light Meter LuMe vs Lume

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

Head to head
About

Light Meter LuMe

This app acts as a professional light meter and exposure calculator for film photographers. It offers various metering modes, reciprocity correction for different film stocks, and depth of field calculations. It aims to replace multiple handheld tools with a single, convenient app.

Highlights
  • Multiple metering modes (Matrix, Center-weighted, Spot, Zone System)
  • Multi-point spot metering with contrast evaluation
  • Reciprocity correction for various film stocks
  • Depth of field and hyperfocal distance calculator
  • Flash guide number calculator
  • Live exposure tools including histogram and clipping warnings
Features
Read full description

LuMe is a pro-grade light meter and exposure calculator built for film photographers. Whether you're shooting medium format on a Mamiya, large format on a 4×5, or 35mm on a Leica, LuMe gives you the exposure intelligence your film camera doesn't have. METERING MODES FOR EVERY SITUATION • Matrix — averages the whole scene for balanced exposures • Center-weighted — emphasizes the middle, like a classic SLR meter • Spot — measures a small area you tap, just like a 1° spot meter • Zone System — Ansel Adams' tonal mapping (Zones I–IX) right in your viewfinder MULTI-POINT SPOT METERING Place up to four spot markers anywhere on your scene. Read each EV at a glance, evaluate contrast range, and place tones with intention. LIDAR SPOT DISTANCE (on Pro devices) See the physical distance to any metered spot — useful for hyperfocal setup and verifying focus on rangefinders and manual-focus lenses. RECIPROCITY CORRECTION FOR EVERY FILM STOCK Long exposures don't behave linearly on film. LuMe applies the Schwarzschild exponent for your stock — Tri-X, TMax, Portra, Ektar, Velvia, and more — so you don't need printed tables in your bag. DEPTH OF FIELD CALCULATOR Hyperfocal distance, near limit, far limit — for 35mm, APS-C, medium format (6×4.5, 6×6, 6×7), and large format (4×5). One tap. FLASH GUIDE NUMBER CALCULATOR GN, distance, power fraction → f-stop. Solved. LIVE EXPOSURE TOOLS • Histogram overlay • Highlight/shadow clipping warnings • ND filter compensation • Aperture priority & shutter priority • Exposure compensation dial • ISO and shutter range constraints (cap at your film speed) BUILT FOR THE WAY FILM PHOTOGRAPHERS ACTUALLY SHOOT • Spot meter a high-contrast scene; place highlights on Zone VII • Apply reciprocity for a 30-second exposure on Tri-X • Calculate hyperfocal for landscape work on Portra 400 • Verify a flash setup before burning a frame LuMe replaces your handheld meter, reciprocity card, DoF chart, and flash calculator with one tool that fits in your camera bag. Available in 16 languages: English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, Swedish, Polish, Turkish, Russian, Arabic, Japanese, Korean, Chinese (Simplified & Traditional). LUME PRO • $6.99 USD for lifetime access Privacy policy: https://lume.contraststudio.app/privacy.html Terms of Use: https://lume.contraststudio.app/terms.html

About

Lume

Features
Read full description

Lume is a professional light meter for film photography and cinema. Meter the light with a spot you drag across the scene, lock the reading, then compose the shutter-aperture pair on click-stop wheels, the way a real meter works. PHOTO MODE • Spot reading with a reticle you drag across the scene • Aperture or shutter priority, third-of-a-stop scales • Exposure compensation ±3 EV and ND filters up to ND1000 • 24 film stocks with reciprocity failure correction FLASH • Work out the exposure for a shot with flash: guide number, the power the flash is set to (1/1, 1/2, 1/4…) and the distance • Flash and ambient light are added together, the way they add on film • See how much of the exposure comes from the flash, with a warning past sync speed • On models with LiDAR the subject distance is measured where you aim the reticle CINE MODE • Frame rate and shutter angle • Aperture in tenths of a stop, as used on set LOGBOOK • Save every reading with a photo, the data burned in and the metered area marked • Find your shots in a grid or on a map • Share, or save to your camera roll Metering uses the camera's real metadata together with pixel analysis, continuously calibrated against the sensor. Interface in English and Italian.

Screenshots

Light Meter LuMe4 screens
Lume4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Lume at none against Light Meter LuMe's 2. Lume also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 5 days). Light Meter LuMe's advantage is iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.0). 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 LuMe sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Lume asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Light Meter LuMe ships an update every 5 days, Lume every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Light Meter LuMe versus Lume: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLight Meter LuMeLume
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (19 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews93.3% of reviews—
Number of ratings19 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 5 daysEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS16.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size16 MB3 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperContrast StudioMilo Zoppini

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Light Meter LuMe

One-time1
  • LuMe Pro Lifetime2 variants$6.99
None

Lume

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Light Meter LuMe free?
Light Meter LuMe is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Lume free?
Lume is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Light Meter LuMe or Lume have ads?
Neither Light Meter LuMe nor Lume shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Light Meter LuMe or Lume?
Light Meter LuMe ships an update every 5 days, and Lume every 2 days. Most recently, Light Meter LuMe was updated on October 26, 2026 and Lume on October 25, 2026.

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