# Halide Mark III vs Blackmagic Camera

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Blackmagic Camera at none against Halide Mark III's 3. Blackmagic Camera also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.4) and review sentiment (69% vs 41%). Halide Mark III's advantage is update cadence (every 11 days vs monthly). On price, ratings volume, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Halide Mark III sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Blackmagic Camera asks for nothing beyond the download.

Blackmagic Camera holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 13K and 23K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 41% of Halide Mark III's written reviews are positive against 69% of Blackmagic Camera's.

Halide Mark III ships an update every 11 days, Blackmagic Camera monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 30, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Halide Mark III | Blackmagic Camera |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (13K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/halide-mark-iii-pro-camera/id885697368/reviews) | **[4.8 (23K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/blackmagic-camera/id6449580241/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 13K | **23K** |
| Positive reviews | 41.1% of reviews | **69.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 11 days** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | #133 | **#30** |
| Size | 84 MB | 203 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Lux Optics Incorporated](https://appshunter.io/developer/885697371) | [Blackmagic Design Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/419527253) |

## What reviewers say

### Halide Mark III

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/halide-mark-iii-pro-camera/id885697368)

**Currently charting:** #133 Top Grossing · Photo & Video (US App Store)

This professional camera app offers advanced manual controls and powerful tools for deliberate photography. Capture stunning RAW images, utilize Neural Macro for close-ups on any iPhone, and access features like focus peaking and histograms. Learn photography with included lessons and customize your shooting experience.

**Highlights:** Manual exposure and focus controls, Neural Macro for close-up shots, 14-bit RAW and ProRAW capture, Exposure tools: histograms, waveform, zebras, Focus peaking and loupe, Gesture-based interface, Included photography lessons

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro Camera, Editor, and Lessons | $9.99 | per month |
| Pro Camera, Editor, and Lessons | $19.99 | per year |
| One Time Purchase | $69.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Powerful manual controls
- 👍 Intuitive and clean interface
- 🔍 Excellent RAW capture and editing
- 📷 Macro and depth features
- 🎨 Great image quality and color

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and bugs
- 🔍 Depth/portrait mode limitations
- 🕰️ Slow performance on older devices
- 💰 Expensive subscription model
- 🔒 Lack of free trial or demo

**Reported bugs**

- Photos not saving properly
- Zoom functionality issues
- Landscape mode UI problems

**Requested features**

- Shutter speed adjustment
- Live depth/bokeh preview
- Custom white balance
- Time-lapse and video recording
- Ability to save settings/presets


### Blackmagic Camera

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/blackmagic-camera/id6449580241)

**Currently charting:** #30 Top Free · Photo & Video (US App Store)

Transform your iPhone or iPad into a professional digital film camera. Achieve a cinematic look with Hollywood-grade controls, including frame rate, shutter angle, and ISO adjustments. Record in industry-standard formats directly to cloud storage for seamless global collaboration.

**Highlights:** Digital film camera controls, Cinematic 'look' for Hollywood films, Adjust frame rate, shutter angle, white balance, ISO, Record to Blackmagic Cloud, Industry standard 10-bit Apple ProRes files up to 4K, Interactive Heads Up Display (HUD), Professional audio options

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Powerful camera controls
- 👍 Intuitive and well-designed UI
- 🎥 Cinematic video quality
- 💰 Free app with professional features
- 🔗 Integration with Blackmagic ecosystem

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Stability issues and crashes
- 🔍 Inaccurate storage indicator
- 🔀 Orientation issues when switching cameras
- 🔊 Audio input issues
- 🔒 Lack of remote control/monitoring options

**Reported bugs**

- Stabilization issues in certain recording modes
- Exposure and focus settings not staying locked
- Timelapse mode not clearly indicated
- HDMI output not working reliably
- Audio source randomly switching to 'None'

**Requested features**

- Add log/flat color profiles
- Implement waveform and vectorscope monitors
- Allow locking shutter speed with auto ISO
- Provide preset options for common settings
- Add support for external accessories (e.g., gimbals)


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Halide Mark III free?

Halide Mark III is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Blackmagic Camera free?

Blackmagic Camera is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Halide Mark III or Blackmagic Camera?

Blackmagic Camera is rated higher. Halide Mark III averages 4.4 out of 5 from 13K ratings, while Blackmagic Camera averages 4.8 from 23K ratings.

### Do Halide Mark III or Blackmagic Camera have ads?

Neither Halide Mark III nor Blackmagic Camera shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Halide Mark III or Blackmagic Camera?

Halide Mark III ships an update every 11 days, and Blackmagic Camera monthly. Most recently, Halide Mark III was updated on September 30, 2026 and Blackmagic Camera on October 1, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Halide Mark III or Blackmagic Camera?

Halide Mark III currently peaks at #133 in the App Store charts, and Blackmagic Camera at #30. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*