Review: Leme Camera

What Does It Do?

Leme Camera, the latest incarnation of an app previously known as LomoLomo and then LemeLeme HD, hit the App Store on April 27. It’s a toy camera simulator that allows you to mix and match different cameras, lenses and frames. It shouldn’t be confused with LemeLeme, a very similar, although less fully featured, app from the same developers.

Pros

Tons of lens and filter options (15 lenses & 11 frames).
Nine cameras, including: standard, action samplers, fisheye, light leak, HDR simulation & more.
Offers both random and manual modes, for quick spontaneous shots or fine control over the output.

Surprisingly fun “map diary” that tours you through your previous photos (requires you enable location services).
Supports virtually all the social sharing sites you may need (Flickr, Twitter, Tumblr, Facebook, Picasa & four popular Chinese sites).
Supports import from your Camera Roll to apply filters and frames to existing photos (except in action sampler and double exposure cameras).
Tap to focus and separate tap for exposure offer great control over your photos.
The current version offers everything for free.

Two resolution options: Standard (800x800 pixels) & High (full resolution).

Cons

The LemeLeme apps have gone through multiple name changes, feature revisions & price changes over the past five months. In some cases this has resulted in users having to pay more than once for the same lenses and cameras.
Photo processing is painfully slow compared to similar apps.
The app is so prone to crashing that it’s highly risky to use it as a camera, instead import your photos and apply your choice of filter and frame.
No matter how many times you select a lens and frame, or toggle the resolution to High, Leme Camera will randomly revert to Random mode and Normal resolution, sometimes ruining your photo if you don’t notice in time.
Action sampler cameras don’t allow you to select a lens, meaning you end up with a different filter effect in each panel of the finished image.

Do You Need It?

Truthfully I’m on the fence about whether to recommend Leme Camera. If you like Lomo-style effects you’ll love the lens effects, they’re deeply saturated and run the gamut from traditional & cross-processed Lomo effects to color tints to monochrome. But you need the patience of a saint to use Leme Camera regularly without giving in to the urge to throw your iPhone at a wall.

Because the current offering is the best so far in terms of number of camera options while being genuinely free I’m giving it a very tepid thumbs up. You certainly don’t need Leme Camera but you should snag it while it’s free and give it a shot. If nothing else it will make you appreciate your other, more stable photos apps.