PrimeLapse vs Microprism
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side ā with what reviewers say about each.
PrimeLapse
Read full descriptionHide full description
PrimeLapse is a pro-focused timelapse camera for iPhone. Capture individual frames for full control, or record Direct Video timelapses straight to HEVC up to 4K. Built for photographers and filmmakers who want real manual control, not a one-tap novelty timelapse. TWO WAYS TO SHOOT ⢠Individual Frames: Every shot saved as HEIF, JPEG, ProRAW, or RAW for grading and flexible export. ⢠Direct Video Timelapse: Frames written straight into an MP4 video file while you shoot, with no separate photo files. ⢠In-App Rotation: Rotate individual frames directly in the album after capture. MANUAL PRO CAMERA ⢠Complete manual control: ISO, shutter speed, manual/auto focus (AF/MF), white balance (presets or Kelvin + tint), and exposure compensation. ⢠Switch lenses and optical zoom (Ultra Wide, Wide, Tele, Front depending on your iPhone model). ⢠High resolution: 12 MP or 48 MP where supported. ⢠Optional GPS location in photo and video metadata. DIRECT VIDEO TIMELAPSE OPTIONS ⢠1080p or 4K resolution. ⢠16:9 or 4:3 (portrait-friendly) aspect ratios. ⢠24, 25, or 30 fps. ⢠SDR, HDR, or Apple Log (on supported devices). NEW: SMART AUDIO & MOTION BLUR ⢠Background Audio: Keep listening to your music uninterrupted during capture and playback. ⢠Motion Blur on Export: Add cinematic motion blur when exporting (Pixel Motion Blur on iOS 26+, frame blending on earlier versions). PRO EXPORT ⢠Render photo-frame projects to HEVC up to 4K in-app. ⢠High-quality bit rates up to 100 Mbps. ⢠Frame rates including 12 fps stop-motion, 24, 25, and 30 fps. ⢠Save directly to Photos or export via Files. PROJECTS & PREVIEW ⢠Every timelapse is organized as a dedicated project. ⢠Advanced Player: Pinch-to-Zoom and pan (playing or paused), live timeline scrubbing, and playback speeds (0.5Ć / 1Ć / 2Ć). ⢠Correct Portrait Rendering: Portrait frame projects now automatically render and display upright. ⢠Quick Preview folder for single test shots. ⢠Multi-select, export, or delete individual frames easily. ⢠On-device storage overview. TRIAL & PRIMELAPSE PRO ⢠Free Trial: Up to 50 frames per project and 10 preview photos. ⢠PrimeLapse Pro: Unlocks up to 3,600 individual frames per recording, unlimited Direct Video timelapses, and unlimited preview shots. *Note: Feature availability such as 48 MP, ProRAW, and Apple Log depends on your iPhone hardware model.
Microprism
Read full descriptionHide full description
Your photos, honest. Microprism captures pure, unfiltered RAW: the scene as your lens actually saw it, with the heavy computational processing turned all the way down. No smoothing, no watercolor skies, no invisible "fixes." Just your shot. THE LOOK OF EARLY PHONE PHOTOS, DONE RIGHT Remember when phone pictures had character, with warm tones, real grain, a little glow and a soft vignette? Microprism brings back that early-smartphone, filtered-feed feeling with retro looks you apply on your terms: ⢠Warm, faded color and moody high-contrast fades ⢠True black & white, from crunchy and neutral to soft and cool ⢠Cinematic and classic emulsion grades with real grain, bloom and halation Every look is drawn by hand, not borrowed. The retro looks soften detail on purpose, the way early phone photos did. The cinematic looks keep every pixel. A COACH THAT CATCHES IT BEFORE YOU SHOOT Turn on the coach and it watches the frame with you: closed eyes, a backlit face, a tilted horizon, a cut-off hand, a cluttered background, a shaky grip, even a smudged lens. It tells you what you can do right now (move, reframe, wipe the lens, wait for the light), and after the shot it can offer a quick note on what worked. It never edits your photo for you, and it only speaks up when you ask. SHOOT MORE, OVERTHINK LESS Not sure what to point at? Microprism sends you gentle creative prompts, little photo challenges like "shoot in black & white" or "find something green," to get you out and shooting. Tap one and the camera opens ready in a matching look. A REAL CAMERA UNDER THE HOOD ⢠Full manual control over focus, exposure, ISO, shutter and zoom, plus aperture on iPhone 18 Pro ⢠RAW capture, with optional Apple ProRAW ⢠Full manual control over focus, exposure, ISO, shutter and zoom ⢠Tap a face to lock focus and exposure on it ⢠Live histogram, focus peaking and zebra stripes ⢠Software long exposure for light trails and silky water ⢠Video that records with your chosen look applied, live ⢠Works with Camera Control, Shortcuts, widgets and Control Center STUDIO: YOUR SHOT, REDEVELOPED Come back to any RAW shot, or import one from Photos, and give it a new look anytime. Crop freely or to a classic ratio, straighten and fine-tune, or turn it into a screen-print halftone or a two-ink riso duotone on textured paper. Your original is never touched. Save to Photos or export to iCloud Drive when you're done. FREE TO START, YOURS TO UNLOCK Download free and start shooting: honest RAW capture, a set of sample looks, and the exposure coach are on the house. One simple, one-time unlock, never a subscription, opens the full look catalog, Studio, video, long exposure, and the full coach. YOURS, AND ONLY YOURS Microprism runs entirely on your device, coach included. No account, no sign-up, no tracking, nothing is collected. Your photos never leave your phone unless you choose to share them. Shoot honest. Finish with feeling.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is iOS requirement: PrimeLapse at 17.6 against Microprism's 26.0. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price Ā· Rating Ā· Positive reviews Ā· Number of ratings Ā· Update frequency Ā· Ads Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Monetization Ā· Best chart rank Ā· Devices Ā· Requires iOS
Both are free to download. PrimeLapse sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Microprism sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
PrimeLapse ships an update every 4 weeks, Microprism every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | PrimeLapse | Microprism |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | Every 4 weeks | Every 3 weeks ā better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 ā better | 26.0 |
| Further details ā not scored | ||
| Size | 21 MB | 15 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | JAN DREBES | Ryan McGee |
In-app purchases
PrimeLapse
- PrimeLapse Pro$5.99
Microprism
- Unlock Microprism$9.99









