Comparison

ManualExposure vs Light Planner

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

Head to head
About

ManualExposure

This app provides essential calculators for landscape photographers to determine exposure settings. It includes tools for ND filters, handheld shots, multiple exposures, star photography, and nightscapes, with features like a built-in timer and equipment organization.

Highlights
  • 8 landscape photography calculators
  • Built-in timer and notifications
  • Home screen widget and Apple Watch app
  • Equipment and item info organization
  • Teleconverter support
  • Advanced filter and stabilization settings
  • Dark theme support
Features
Read full description

Manual exposure is a must-have for any landscape digital photographer. Forget about digging into reference tables and cheat sheets. With this set of the most important calculators, simply select your shooting parameters, and the app will do the rest for you! FEATURES: • 8 calculators for any landscape photo you want to take. • Built-in timer and notifications. Don't be afraid to close the app when the exposure time is long - you will be notified when the timer expires. You can always check how much time is left with our Home screen widget or Apple Watch app. • Sets and equipment list. Organise all your equipment, and usage of the calculators will become even faster and easier. • Items info cards. Forgot the filter thread size of your lens? Don't worry, you can always check it in your sets details. • Teleconverters. Using teleconverter with your telephoto lens? No need in extra calculations, simply add it to your current set. * Advanced settings such as extra filter adjustment or lens stabilisation • Dark theme support CALCULATORS: • ND filters: get exposure time when using one or more Neutral Density filters (also known as long exposure calculator). • Minimum shutter speed for your handheld shots - simple but handy. • Multiple exposures: easily calculate exposure compensation. • Stars: will help you to capture beautiful start trails or avoid them if you are shooting still stars. • Nightscapes: tools for those who want to shoot in the moonlight or take photos of the moon itself. SUPPORT: Please don't hesitate to contact us if you found a bug, have a suggestion or can't add an item. TERMS AND CONDITIONS https://handsmade.info/manualexposure/terms.html

About

Light Planner

Read full description

Do you want to calculate an exposure time based on the shutter speed and ND filters you have on your camera? LightPlanner will do it for you and you won't have any more headaches in the middle of a photo shoot! It is an exposure value configurator that influences how light enters your camera. This app will help you calculate equivalent values based on the law of reciprocity, with which you can configure different settings to get the right exposure. It helps you to organize your next photo escapades and take pictures with different settings. 1. Select the step scale you need. 2. Set the shutter speed. 3. Select from 1 to 3 ND filters. 4. Get the final exposure time directly calculated. 5. Time it!

Screenshots

ManualExposure4 screens
Light Planner4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Light Planner at none against ManualExposure's 3. Light Planner also leads on update cadence (daily vs every 2 months). 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. ManualExposure sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Light Planner asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ManualExposure ships an update every 2 months, Light Planner daily. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
ManualExposure versus Light Planner: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterManualExposureLight Planner
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.1 (12 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews42.3% of reviews—
Number of ratings12 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsDaily — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, Apple Watch — betteriPhone
Requires iOS17.017.0
Further details — not scored
Size57 MB5 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGeorge KoultouridisCarlos Morgado Alarcon

In-app purchases

3 purchases

ManualExposure

Subscriptions2
  • monthly14 Days trial$0.991 Month
  • yearly1 Month trial$8.991 Year
One-time1
  • Full version$5.99
None

Light Planner

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is ManualExposure free?
ManualExposure is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Light Planner free?
Light Planner is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do ManualExposure or Light Planner have ads?
Neither ManualExposure nor Light Planner shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ManualExposure or Light Planner?
ManualExposure ships an update every 2 months, and Light Planner daily. Most recently, ManualExposure was updated on September 29, 2026 and Light Planner on September 23, 2026.

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