Death Lens vs VHS cam
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Death Lens
Capture video with a classic camcorder aesthetic. Offers multiple aspect ratios, frame rates, and manual controls for focus and exposure. Includes features for easy social media sharing and efficient video management.
- Classic mini DV camcorder styling
- Multiple aspect ratios (1:1, 4:3, 16:9)
- Adjustable frame rates (24-240fps)
- Manual focus and exposure control
- Save videos to square frame for Instagram
- Batch import/export and delete functions
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In a classic mini dv camcorder styling, Death Lens captures the widest field of view in 3 modes: Square Frame 1:1 (perfect for Instagram), Classic 4:3 & HD 16:9. Essential functions have been created to help simplify & enhance your experience more. These include: • The ability to shoot smooth footage & remove the shaky vignette when recording with a attachment lens • Multiple frame rates(24, 30, 60, 120 & 240fps) and multiple frame sizes for HD video including 4K • Manual control over focus & exposure with the ability to lock for multi take shots • A save videos to square frame feature which saves un-cropped Classic & HD recordings into a square frame for Instagram, including imported videos also. • A function to mark clips as favorites • Batch import/export for multiple recordings • A batch delete function to remove all unwanted recordings in one action
VHS cam
Capture videos and photos with a realistic retro VHS filter. This app simulates the principles of old VHS cameras, allowing you to change date stamps and apply the effect to existing media. Relive nostalgic moments or create new memories with an authentic vintage aesthetic.
- Realistic VHS filter
- Customizable date stamp
- Apply to photos and videos
- Unlimited recording time
- Simulates real VHS principles
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E240 turns your iPhone into a camcorder from the 90s. Not a filter slapped on top of a clean video. The real thing: tracking noise, colour bleed, tape wobble, a timestamp in the corner, and audio that sounds like it came off a cassette. You pick a tape, you hit record, and what comes out looks like it's been sitting in a shoebox since 1996. THE TAPES Seven cassettes, from a worn-out family tape to a crisp fresh-from-the-shop one, plus a night vision mode for dark rooms. Two of them run on a real NTSC signal simulation, so the noise behaves like actual analog video instead of a static overlay. Swipe across the viewfinder to switch. HOLD TO EAT THE TAPE Press and hold the screen while recording and the VCR starts chewing the tape. The picture tears, rolls, and loses colour. The sound warps with it. Let go and it snaps back. Every hold plays out differently. THE TV There's an old TV and a VCR built into the app. Press NEXT and it digs through your photo library, cuts a short memory tape from your own clips, and plays it on the tube with the dates you actually shot them burned in. Rewind, fast-forward with proper tearing, or hit NEXT again for a fresh one. It's oddly emotional the first time. Like one? Eject it onto the shelf, give it a name, come back to it whenever. Not quite right? Open the edit bench, cut and reorder the clips, swap the cassette, then export the whole thing to your Photos. THE SMALL STUFF Timestamp with the real date and time, in the proper camcorder font. Or set your own date, if you're feeling nostalgic. Sound gets the same treatment as the picture: hiss, hum, muffled highs. Shoot portrait or turn the phone sideways for the old 4:3 frame. Photos too, not just video. Already have footage? Import it and run it through any tape. Everything you shoot saves straight to your Photos and to the in-app library. E240 PRO PRO unlocks unlimited recording and full editing and export for imported videos and photos. Subscriptions renew automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period, and you can manage or cancel them in your App Store account settings. Privacy Policy: https://e240.app/privacy-policy Terms of Use: https://e240.app/terms-of-use
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: VHS cam at Free against Death Lens's $1.99. VHS cam also leads on rating (4.6 vs 3.8) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 3 months). Death Lens's advantage is chart position (#66 vs unranked) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 16.0). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model 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
VHS cam is free to download; Death Lens costs $1.99 up front. Death Lens sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and VHS cam sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
VHS cam holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: VHS cam has 745 ratings behind it against 109, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 53% of Death Lens's written reviews are positive against 73% of VHS cam's.
Death Lens ships an update every 3 months, VHS cam every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Death Lens | VHS cam |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 3.8 (109 ratings) | 4.6 (745 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 52.9% of reviews | 72.7% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 109 | 745 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | #66 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 11.0 — better | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 5 MB | 43 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | PHOKUS PTY. LTD. | Maxim Kartuzov |
Customer experience
Death Lens
VHS cam
User reviews
Death Lens
From 109 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🎥 Excellent video quality for skateboarding and fisheye filming
- 👍 Easy to use interface and straightforward controls
- 🎬 4:3 aspect ratio mimics VX1000 aesthetic
- 🔧 Customizable settings (white balance, exposure, focus, frame rates)
- 📱 Works seamlessly with Death Lens fisheye attachment
Room to improve
- 💰 $2 price point not clearly communicated before purchase
- 🐛 Frequent app crashes and freezes
- 🐛 Videos fail to save or disappear after recording
- 🐛 Black screen issues when viewing footage
- 🐛 Recording button shows active but doesn't actually record
VHS cam
From 745 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Fixed payment error
- 🚀 Looks like a real VHS camera
- 🚀 Simple yet effective
- 🚀 Nostalgia VHS
- 🚀 Great app and support
Room to improve
- 🐛 Camera flips and upside down videos
- 🐛 Removed fizzy VHS screen
- 🔒 Paid subscription required for more features
- 🐛 Restored purchase doesn't work
- 🐛 Crashes when trying to restore purchase
Bugs and requests
Death Lens
Reported bugs
16 issues- App crashes when viewing or playing back footage
- Videos don't save to camera roll despite recording indicator
- Black screen appears instead of video clips
- Recording continues after pressing stop button
- Audio cuts out during recording or doesn't sync properly
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- Exposure and focus locks unlock randomly or won't stay locked
- Blurry footage on iPhone 16 and some newer models
- App freezes when attempting to zoom or record
- Long lens has choppy/jumpy zoom with visible gaps
- Record button glitches and is difficult to press accurately
- Settings reset when exiting the app
- Slow app performance and delayed recording start
- Incompatibility with iPhone 7 and other specific models
- Steady cam feature unavailable on some devices
- Video playback in slow motion unintentionally
- Screen stays black on launch
Requested features
17 requests- 60fps capability for 4:3 classic mode
- Zoom functionality while recording
- Volume button control for start/stop recording
- Larger record button
- Built-in video editing capabilities
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- Ability to play videos within the app
- Ability to delete multiple clips at once
- Video light on/off toggle for night filming
- Smooth zoom panning like VX1000
- 0.5x wide angle camera support
- Vignette effect option
- Cloud storage for clips
- Output video format selection (H.264 vs HEVC)
- Interlaced 60fps option
- Warm hue filter for authentic VX look
- Selfie stick/remote button support
- Pinch-to-zoom gesture control
VHS cam
Reported bugs
10 issues- Camera flips and upside down videos
- Restored purchase doesn't work
- Crashes when trying to restore purchase
- Reversed dates
- Videos not saved to library
Show 5 moreShow fewer
- Timestamp is reversed
- Crashes on opening
- Imported videos are upside down and reversed
- Flipping and reversing videos
- Keeps crashing
Requested features
10 requests- More VHS effects and customization
- Ability to edit out date and time
- Landscape mode
- 4:3 aspect ratio
- More grain and noise
Show 5 moreShow fewer
- Glitch controls and header labels
- Ability to save videos to library
- Ability to change date and time for free
- Horizontal orientation
- Additional effects and filters
In-app purchases
Death Lens
- Unlimited RecordingFree
VHS cam
- E240 - Weekly$4.997 Days
- E240 PRO - Monthly$4.991 Month
- E240 PRO - Yearly$29.991 Year
- E240 PRO$14.99
- E240 - Lifetime$29.99
Questions
Is Death Lens free?
Is VHS cam free?
Which has better reviews, Death Lens or VHS cam?
Do Death Lens or VHS cam have ads?
Which is updated more often, Death Lens or VHS cam?
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