Filmic Firstlight - Photo App Reviews

I preordered FilmicFirstlight and loved the function but thought it was ridiculous to need a subscription to access the RAW photo options. I’m glad to see the Filmic team has reversed this and found a new profit model. I’m not against companies making a living, but that was a bit much

With that said, Firstlight has moved to my goto photo app replacing Halide. Firstlight is really simple to use, I can get shots setup quickly, and the peaking makes sure I’m focused where I want to be.

Nice addition but the interface really lacks. Not a fan of the rounded corners especially since the final photo does not have them nor does your video app. And just like the video app would be nice to have the shutter button top right when shooting landscape, a bit more convenient for one handed use. Also gets annoying that switching lenses takes two taps. So just to see my zoom lens and then go back takes 4 taps! After a while that gets ridiculous. Biggest annoyance is that my iPhone rotation setting reverts my options for exposure and focus gestures. Very bad. That setting should have no effect on a camera app. Settings area could also use a redesign. Independent focus tap would be handy as well since after setting my exposure I cannot refocus without resetting exposure. Can’t quit app without having to swipe up twice. Can’t even swipe to another app on iPhone X.

At first I missed the lack of pinch to zoom, but now I’m using firstlight more like a pro street cam. I’d rather not digitally zoom if it can be avoided... better to use the whole sensor and use your feet to zoom. You can always just crop after the fact if you need to and this is all digital zoom is doing anyway.

I like the ease of use and the organic looking film simulations. For color images my favs are Chrome Veloura and Koda. For b&w my go to is Bingham, but Salt is nice too. Then noir is also excellent for graphic looks.

My own taste doesn’t favor the faded instant film simulations, but I’ve found they are an excellent starting point to edit a nice pastel quality after the fact.

Really looking forward to how FilmicFirstlight evolves.

Highly Recommended!

I like the filmic pro video app but filmic pro firstlight is a stripped down version of the iphone camera app with “filters” and focus peaking. You cannot control white balance, iso and shutter simultaneously, can’t change f stop, etc. I think in their attempt to make a simple interface they made a overly simplistic camera app that is not better than the stock iphone camera app. You can apply film grain, vignettes in post and don’t need a “camera app” to apply them at the time of capture. That is the main feature of FilmicFirstlight. It seems harsh but this was a total waste of $8. Please do not make the same mistake.

I rarely leave reviews, but I have to express my appreciation for this thoughtfully crafted photo app. It feels like a tool designed specifically for those of us who appreciate the unique latitudes and limitations of shooting on film. It comes with plenty of options when flexibility in post is required, but there’s something special about committing to a shot without getting bogged down in editing that I can really appreciate. Firstlight will be a mainstay for me. Thanks, Filmic.

Subscriptions for one time coded features are very exploitive so thank you for... seeing the light 😁 Was an instant purchase for me and I'm very happy with the polish and great work you did with FilmicFirstlight . It does still crash on occasion (specifically when accessing the shortcut button) but I trust you to continue to support it. Thanks!

Apple introduced a feature where you could allow an app to just have access to a selected set of photos and not the entire photo library. Firstlight is one of the many apps that still requires access to the entire photo library. I value my privacy and don’t want to give access to the entire photo library, which means Firstlight doesn’t work at all.

FiLMic Team have done it again. I can now delete several other apps. This is a fully a professional camera system. My backpack just got lighter.

The premium subscription is inexpensive when you consider that others charge for new upgrades routinely.

This is a great app for what I need it for. Im using an external anamorphic lens and it had the option to de-squeeze the image which is perfect! However...

Ive noticed a thin diagonal line after taking the shots. Through the viewfinder I don't see this line but after it saves to my album I can see the same line in every photo. I tried other apps and even the stock camera app and this only happens with FilmicFirstlight. I hope the developers see this and come up with a quick fix!

All in all FilmicFirstlight gives you more control over your camera and the ability to take the perfect shot every time! Perfect for cinematographers looking to take still images!

(Developer please read bug)^^

I really like FilmicFirstlight in almost everything except for the fact that when I take photos in RAW (DNG) they look blurry when I review them in FilmicFirstlight , however, when I review the same photo in Photos, they look focused and sharp. Maybe it’s just a small bug but annoying to not be able to see the real thing right away while shooting. Everything else is fine.

Great app, workflow, etc. Two downsides/feature requests though: 1) ability to set a default filter that is enabled when FilmicFirstlight launches would be a huge time saver. 2) many filters feel a bit extreme, kinda longing for the less obtrusive but film-genuine filters from RNI here. But I love the grain effects, UI, and Leopold filter on this and it’s become my go-to shooting app.

I love Filmic Pro for video. Everything about their app makes sense to me, and I regretted only that I couldn’t use it to take stills. Unfortunately, FilmicFirstlight is not that. Their interface is unintuitive, and I some how got it locked in a weird high ISO mode where every picture I take is distorted and awful. I’m sure I just don’t know how to use FilmicFirstlight , but it doesn’t make sense to me.

Would love a filmic pro for stills, though, and would gladly pay $8 for that app.

Now locked into portrait mode, but image is rotated 90 to the right. View during picture taking is jerky and sluggish. I don’t think this is the fault of this developer, it is happening in another photo app from another developer too, almost the exact same problems. This on an iPad Mini 5, updated to IOS 15. Wouldn’t you think Apple would test their updates on their popular and pay for photo apps before they release them?

I bought this program based on FilMIC Pro, a great video camera for the 11 Pro Max. I use my phone and gimble for work all the time.
FilmicFirstlight leaves photos grainy. It also slows the “shutter” speed just enough that anything outside of “extremely steady” shows blur.
I checked my settings to make sure everything is how it should be.
With no avail I will be deleting FilmicFirstlight and just working with either the stock camera and it’s settings or another manual camera app. I would appreciate a refund.

When I saw that Filmic made a still photo app I stopped reading the article I was reading immediately and went to go buy it. The camera seems good and simple but I will never use apps that require a subscription unless I have to. I will gladly pay up to $60 for a lifetime purchase but the subscription kills it completely for me. Yea I know that’s “the way of the future” but it’s still disappointing.

The only thing that stopped me from giving FilmicFirstlight a great rating was that it was subscription based. Good on the devs for listening to the people!!

I don’t understand how an app provides less functionality and fewer intuitive features than the default Apple camera app on my iPhone 12 Pro. Filmic Pro offers a much better and user friendly video experience so I thought for sure FilmicFirstlight would up my photography game on my new phone. I paid $8 for something I literally never use. Huge disappointment.

I read the most critical reviews that mostly pointed out displeasure with the subscription. Now FilmicFirstlight is one-time pay. But it really doesn’t have anything that other free apps such as Google’s Snapseed or substantially lower priced Camera +2 doesn’t give. I expected better control over white balance, more film simulation (compare VSCO). Yes, the developer will come back with the usual “better experience “ line, but I’m sorry, they are just riding the success of their video app to pedal a poorly equipped mediocre camera app.

Lots of potential here but FilmicFirstlight has been mostly forgotten. I paid for the subscription a couple years ago and in that time First Light as become free, plus we’ve not had any major updates. Sad.

First Light could be so amazing - wireless tethering, custom looks, PRORAW, maybe even partnerships with flash manufacturers to control lights wirelessly like Prophoto C1.

I emailed support a year ago and was told some good stuff was coming. Maybe they need a few more years…

I will give 5 stars but FilmicFirstlight could be better as the filmic pro video app. One thing that I think is important is the ability to do zoom in and out on the camera. Where is that option?

FilmicFirstlight is crap. It only gives you a few options nothing special. I have better control over the camera with my phone without FilmicFirstlight . It only gives you 3 choices for Iso AE , 200 or 1500 nothing more and no control over shutter speed. Only gives you control of exposure thats all. Super disappointed I wasted my money. I rather use the phone camera than FilmicFirstlight . Wish I can get my money back