Free Light Meter App for Film Photography
A Free iOS Exposure Meter for Analog Shooters
Spot metering, zone system, filter compensation, live histogram, and shot logging — everything you need to nail the exposure on every roll. No ads, no subscriptions.
Download on the App StoreBuilt for Film
Precise Exposure Metering
- • Real-time reflected-light metering via the camera sensor
- • Aperture-priority and shutter-priority modes
- • Multi-point spot metering with tap-to-meter
- • EV compensation in 1/3-stop increments
Zone System Built In
- • Select your film type for accurate dynamic range mapping
- • Dynamic range bar shows shadow and highlight clipping
- • Zone deviation indicator from metered to target zone
- • Zone V lock for precise mid-tone placement
Full Exposure Control
- • Aperture range from f/1.0 to f/128
- • Shutter speeds from 1/8000s to 4 hours
- • ISO from 6 to 6400
- • 1/3, 1/2, and full stop granularity
Optical Filter Compensation
- • 10 built-in filter presets (UV, polarizer, ND, colour)
- • Custom filter support with user-defined factor
- • Filter stacking for combined compensation
- • Automatic exposure adjustment
Live Histogram
- • Real-time luminance histogram overlay
- • Monitor exposure distribution at a glance
- • Toggle on or off during metering
Composition Guides
- • Rule of thirds grid
- • Golden ratio overlay
- • Crosshair centre point
Digital Zoom
- • Pinch-to-zoom for spot metering precision
- • Double-tap to reset to 1x
- • Zoom level persists across readings
Portrait & Landscape
- • Fully adaptive UI rotates with your device
- • Compact landscape layout keeps controls within reach
Dark Interface
- • Always-dark interface reduces eye strain in any light
- • High-contrast monospaced type for readability
- • Orange accents for at-a-glance status
Accessibility
- • Full VoiceOver support for screen reader users
- • Haptic feedback confirms metering and control changes
- • Dynamic Type scales text to your preferred size
In-App Announcements
- • Receive feature updates and tips inside the app
- • Priority announcements for critical notices
- • Automatic update check on launch
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Light Meter really free?
Yes — Light Meter is completely free with no ads, no subscriptions, and no in-app purchases. We built it as a companion tool for the film photography community.
How accurate is the light meter?
Light Meter uses your iPhone's camera sensor for real-time reflected-light metering. While no phone-based meter replaces a dedicated incident meter, reflected readings are reliable for most shooting situations — especially with the built-in zone system for fine-tuning exposure placement.
Does the app work with film cameras?
Absolutely. Light Meter was built specifically for film photographers. It supports ISO values from 6 to 6400, includes push/pull-friendly EV compensation, and has a zone system calibrated for color negative, black & white, and slide film.
Does Light Meter capture or store my photos?
No. The camera feed is processed entirely on-device in real time for metering only. No images or video are ever captured, stored, or transmitted. Your privacy is fully protected.
What filters does the app support?
Light Meter includes 10 built-in optical filter presets covering UV, polarizer, ND (neutral density) from ND2 to ND1000, and colour correction filters. You can also create custom filters with your own compensation factor and stack multiple filters together.
Does the app work without an internet connection?
Yes. All metering, zone system calculations, and filter compensation work completely offline. The only features that require connectivity are in-app announcements and optional analytics.