Honest comparison · Updated 2026-09-18
Actinic vs myLightMeter PRO
myLightMeter PRO is a well-regarded, established light meter app in the film photography community — a real $4.99 paid app with over 1,100 ratings. Actinic takes a narrower angle: it's not a light meter, it's an exposure-math and reciprocity-failure calculator for people who already know their reading and need the numbers worked out. Here's the honest comparison.
Dimension-by-dimension
| Dimension | Actinic | myLightMeter PRO | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core function | Exposure-stop wheel and reciprocity failure calculator — you provide the reading. | Uses your phone's camera as an actual light meter to take a reading. | |
| Reciprocity failure | Built-in reciprocity failure calculator for 12 specific film stocks. | General light metering; not stock-specific reciprocity correction. | |
| Exposure presets | Sunny 16 quick-set lighting presets plus a full-stop/third-stop wheel. | Incident and reflected light metering modes. | |
| Offline use | Fully offline. | Fully offline, camera-based. | |
| Price | Free core tool. | $4.99 one-time. | |
| Track record | New, unproven. | Over 1,100 ratings and years of use in the film photography community — a trusted, established tool. |
Actinic advantage · myLightMeter PRO advantage · roughly equal
Where Actinic wins
- Reciprocity failure math for 12 named film stocks — a specific, real problem for long-exposure film shooters that a general light meter doesn't solve.
- Free, focused purely on the exposure-math side of the workflow.
- Sunny 16 presets for quick field estimates without a meter at all.
Where myLightMeter PRO wins
- It's an actual light meter — uses your camera to take a real reading, which Actinic doesn't do; you still need a reading from somewhere.
- Established and trusted by the film photography community with a real paid track record.
Pick Actinic if…
You already have a light reading (from a meter, an app, or Sunny 16) and need accurate reciprocity-corrected exposure math for long film exposures.
See ActinicPick myLightMeter PRO if…
You need the phone itself to act as your light meter and take the initial reading.
Visit myLightMeter PRO siteThey solve adjacent, not identical, problems: myLightMeter PRO gets you the reading; Actinic does the reciprocity math once you have one.
Frequently asked questions
What's the main difference between Actinic and myLightMeter PRO?+
myLightMeter PRO is a well-regarded, established light meter app in the film photography community — a real $4.99 paid app with over 1,100 ratings. Actinic takes a narrower angle: it's not a light meter, it's an exposure-math and reciprocity-failure calculator for people who already know their reading and need the numb
Should I choose Actinic or myLightMeter PRO?+
Pick Actinic if: You already have a light reading (from a meter, an app, or Sunny 16) and need accurate reciprocity-corrected exposure math for long film exposures. Pick myLightMeter PRO if: You need the phone itself to act as your light meter and take the initial reading.
What can Actinic do that myLightMeter PRO can't?+
Reciprocity failure math for 12 named film stocks — a specific, real problem for long-exposure film shooters that a general light meter doesn't solve. Free, focused purely on the exposure-math side of the workflow. Sunny 16 presets for quick field estimates without a meter at all.
Where does myLightMeter PRO win over Actinic?+
It's an actual light meter — uses your camera to take a real reading, which Actinic doesn't do; you still need a reading from somewhere. Established and trusted by the film photography community with a real paid track record.
How much does Actinic cost compared to myLightMeter PRO?+
Actinic: Free core tool. myLightMeter PRO: $4.99 one-time.