Lux Optics
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
Lux Optics firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Lux Optics
- Legal name
- Lux Optics
- Website
- https://lux.camera
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Lux Optics industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Mobile Photography Software
- SIC
- Photographic Equipment & Supplies (3861)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Fixed-Lens Cameras (Compact, Bridge & 360 Cameras) (CRACAPAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Action Cameras & Rugged Cameras (CRACAPAC)
Keywords
Where Lux Optics is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Lux Optics business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Halide Pro Camera App: Halide Mark III generates revenue through annual subscription ($19.99/year) or one-time purchase ($59.99). Mark II owners receive a free upgrade to Mark III. Historical pricing included limited-time launch pricing and older version pricing at $3.
- Spectre Long Exposure App: Spectre, an AI-powered long exposure camera app, launched at $1.99 (limited-time launch pricing with future price increase expected). Also available as Spectre Pro.
- Kino Pro Video App: Kino launched to the number one spot on App Store charts. Pricing model not explicitly disclosed in available sources.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Halide Mark III — Annual Subscription |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Halide Mark III — One-time Purchase |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Spectre — Long Exposure Camera |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
Lux Optics product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Lux Optics develops and sells a portfolio of professional-grade iOS camera applications: Halide (a flagship manual camera app with RAW capture), Kino (a cinematic pro video camera), Spectre (an AI-powered long exposure app), and Orion (an iPad HDMI monitor utility). The apps are sold directly to individual consumers worldwide through the Apple App Store, emphasizing manual creative control, RAW capture, and computational photography features that go beyond Apple's default Camera app.
Product overview
Lux Optics is a small independent studio offering a suite of four distinct iOS camera applications: Halide (flagship pro photography app), Kino (pro video camera), Spectre (AI-powered long exposure), and Orion (HDMI monitor). The portfolio spans both photography and videography use cases, from professional manual controls to automated AI-powered features. Halide and Kino are premium paid products, Spectre is free with optional features, and Orion is free. The apps are marketed as alternatives to Apple's built-in camera that prioritize user control and creative flexibility over computational automation.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Halide: Professional camera app for iPhone and iPad with manual controls and RAW capture
- Kino
- Spectre
- Orion
Quantifiable outcome
- Kino reached #1 on App Store charts immediately upon launch (2024)
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Lux Optics
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Lux Optics technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
AI capability11 records
Feature6 records
Lux Optics partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- ApplecoreApple engaged in acquisition discussions with Lux Optics during summer 2025 to bring professional-grade camera features to iPhone 18 Pro. The discussions, described as a 'top priority' for Apple, ended without a deal in September 2025. Subsequently, Apple hired Lux co-founder Sebastiaan de With in January 2026. Lux Optics subsequently filed a lawsuit against de With claiming he misused company funds and improperly provided confidential material to Apple. Apple was not named as a defendant.
- Sebastiaan de With, Adam Lisagor, Tyler Stalman, Evan Schneider, Kevin Ong, Jelmar Geertsma (Individual Contributors)minorKino development received contributions from video professionals: Stu Maschwitz, Adam Lisagor, Tyler Stalman, Evan Schneider, and Kevin Ong contributed advice, time, effort, and Instant Grade presets. Jelmar Geertsma served as creative collaborator. The founders also received support from Sandwich (video production company).
- Cullen Kelly (Hollywood Colorist)minorHollywood colorist Cullen Kelly collaborated with Lux Optics to develop 'Looks' — curated film-inspired color profiles featured in Halide Mark III. This is a creative collaboration to bring professional film aesthetic to mobile photography.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Lux Optics competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Obscura Camera: Obscura is a premium iOS camera app with a focus on minimalist design and manual controls. It targets the same design-conscious iPhone photographer as Halide and competes in the App Store's top pro camera category.
- ProCamera: ProCamera is a long-established professional iOS camera app offering manual controls, RAW capture, and video features. It is the closest direct competitor to Halide, targeting the same prosumer iPhone photographer segment.
- Darkroom: Darkroom is a popular iOS photo editor with strong RAW processing and a subscription model, and is already integrated with Halide. It competes directly with Halide Mark III's new Photo Lab editing features for the iPhone photographer's editing workflow.
- ProCam: ProCam is an iOS camera app offering manual controls, RAW, and 4K video recording, targeting prosumers. It is a direct competitor to Halide in the paid pro camera app segment on the App Store.
- Filmic Pro: Filmic Pro is the leading professional iOS video capture app, used by mobile filmmakers for log recording and pro color controls. It is the most direct competitor to Lux's Kino app in the cinematic mobile videography segment.
- Manual Camera: Manual Camera is an iOS pro camera app focused on DSLR-style manual controls and RAW capture. It is a direct competitor to Halide for iPhone photographers seeking full manual exposure control.
Emerging players
- VSCO: VSCO offers photo and video editing tools plus a creator community, with a subscription model on iOS. While broader than Halide, VSCO competes for the same prosumer photographer wallet share and overlaps in the editing workflow Lux is entering with Mark III's Photo Lab.
- LumaFusion: LumaFusion is a professional iOS video editing app, popular with mobile filmmakers. It is a complementary/competing tool to Kino — both serve mobile videographers, with LumaFusion focused on editing and Kino on capture.
Broad incumbents
- Adobe Lightroom Mobile: Adobe Lightroom Mobile is the dominant pro mobile photo editing app, offering RAW processing, presets, and cloud sync. It is the broad incumbent Lux competes with for the editing portion of the mobile photographer workflow.
- Snapseed: Snapseed is Google's free professional-grade mobile photo editor with advanced RAW support and selective adjustments. It is a broad incumbent in mobile photo editing and a free alternative to Halide's editing tools.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Lux Optics social profiles
Digital presenceLux Optics financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Lux Optics leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Lux Optics funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Lux Optics M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Lux Optics
What does Lux Optics do?
Lux Optics develops and sells a portfolio of professional-grade iOS camera applications: Halide (a flagship manual camera app with RAW capture), Kino (a cinematic pro video camera), Spectre (an AI-powered long exposure app), and Orion (an iPad HDMI monitor utility). The apps are sold directly to individual consumers worldwide through the Apple App Store, emphasizing manual creative control, RAW capture, and computational photography features that go beyond Apple's default Camera app.
Is Lux Optics a public or private company?
Lux Optics is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Lux Optics founded?
Lux Optics was founded in 2017. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Lux Optics based?
Lux Optics is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does Lux Optics make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Halide Pro Camera App is the primary driver. The others are spectre Long Exposure App and kino Pro Video App.
Who are Lux Optics's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Obscura Camera, ProCamera, Darkroom, ProCam, Filmic Pro and Manual Camera. Emerging players are VSCO and LumaFusion. Broad incumbents are Adobe Lightroom Mobile and Snapseed.
Does Lux Optics have an API?
No public API is recorded for Lux Optics.
What industry is Lux Optics in?
Lux Optics's product category is Mobile Photography Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRACAPAB, Fixed-Lens Cameras (Compact, Bridge & 360 Cameras), with a secondary code of CRACAPAC, Action Cameras & Rugged Cameras. Its SIC code is 3861.