This App is a Light Meter is a utility for analog photographers that calculates exposure times and inverts pinhole negatives on iOS.
The App DNA
What makes this app unique?
The app removes the cognitive friction of manual exposure math for users of the ‘This Book is a Camera’ kit, serving as a bridge between physical analog tools and digital processing.
For Analog photography enthusiasts and users of the 'This Book is a Camera' pinhole kit.
What does it look like?
Key features
Counts down seconds for pinhole camera exposures.
Displays the positive version of a pinhole negative photo.
Manual selection of f-stop and film speed settings for varied pinhole setups.
How much does it cost?
The app operates as a free utility to support the developer's physical book product.
Velocity
Dormant developmentnew contentShow more...
This App is a Light Meter has seen no development activity for 1,319 days. The project appears to be abandoned, as there have been no feature updates, bug fixes, or maintenance releases in over three years. The development trend is non-existent, and the app remains in a zombie state.
Who built it?
Oak Studios
4 apps tracked · Photo & Video
Dropmark
Pizza Compass
Blue - weather forecastUser Sentiment
What do users think recently?
Review voice lately leans excited. Users appreciate the inverter feature provides a helpful tool for photographers to process negatives instantly without extra equipment and simple and clean interface design makes pinhole photography accessible for beginners and students in classrooms.
How are ratings & reviews evolving?
What users say, by theme
- The inverter feature provides a helpful tool for photographers to process negatives instantly without extra equipment
- Simple and clean interface design makes pinhole photography accessible for beginners and students in classrooms
- The app refuses to calculate exposure times for darker lighting scenarios, labeling them as too dark
6 of 6 recent reviews analyzed · limited sample · Excited overall
Read the full review analysisUnlock 1 user request, each backed by review evidence.
Access the full report for freeCompetition
Competitive landscape for This App is a Light Meter
How's the Photo & Video market?
This App is a Light Meter occupies a niche utility space within the Photo & Video category, maintaining a 4.07 rating across a small sample of 13 total ratings. The lack of updates since early 2023 suggests a maintenance-mode posture rather than active market expansion.
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Access the full report for freeThe Analyst's Read
Key takeaways for This App is a Light Meter
Where is it heading?
The analog photography utility market is shifting toward more flexible, frequently updated tools. This App is a Light Meter remains static, which risks losing its niche audience to more responsive competitors as mobile OS requirements evolve.
- The 43-month update gap suggests the app is in maintenance mode, which leaves it vulnerable to OS-level compatibility issues.
- User requests for manual ISO and aperture controls remain unaddressed, which signals a widening gap between user needs and app capability.
The SWOT
- Image inverter provides immediate workflow value
- Manual ISO and aperture overrides
Next best moves
Ship manual ISO and aperture overrides because users request these for diverse film types → increase utility for advanced analog users.
+ 1 more prioritized moveThe counter-intuitive read
The app's lack of updates is not just a technical failure…
Read the full takeSince the last report: The outlook for the app has shifted from stable to declining, as the multi-year development freeze is now viewed as a strategic failure rather than a finished product state.
Bottom line
This App is a Light Meter provides a clear value-add for pinhole camera users, but the lack of updates since 2023 creates a technical barrier. Adding manual overrides would unlock the app for advanced users and reduce the current frustration driving negative sentiment.
Unlock 2 critical frictions, 1 market threat, 1 more prioritized move and the analyst’s take.
Access the full report for freeFAQ
Is This App is a Light Meter good for beginners?
Does This App is a Light Meter work in low light?
What is the difference between this and a standard light meter app?
Sources
Report last updated