Film Note vs vDarkroom
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side ā with what reviewers say about each.
Film Note
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Film Note is an app to help you annotate movie files with your own short videos called 'notes'. Load your movie file into the app through the Finder. Connect your device to your computer and select your device in the Finder window. Connect your device to your computer, open the device on your Finder window. Select the 'Files' tap. Import your movie file by dragging and dropping it into the 'File Note' section. This movie file will then be copied and transferred to the 'Film Note' app on your device. Tap the name of the movie file to watch it and make notes. Tap the play button to watch the film. Move the slider to go back and forth in the movie. You can have great control to finely tune the speed of the slider but moving up while you slide left or right. Tap the record button to open the front camera of your device to make a video note and attach it to the current point in the movie. Saved videos will be displayed at the bottom of the 'Movie View' screen with a thumbnail of both the screenshot of the original film to which you've attached your note and a thumbnail of your note. Tap the thumbnail of the original film to go to that point in the movie or tap on the thumbnail of the film note to see that full screen. If your original film has chapter markers embedded in, then you will see the 'Markers' button. Tap that to see a list of the chapters and tap on any of those to see them in the 'Movie View'. You can save your film notes in different 'Sessions'. For example, you might have a group of people all attaching film notes to the original movie and you save each of these into a different 'session' to keep them distinguished. Tap the 'Sessions' icon to see a list of sessions for this file. Initially there is default session called 'Notes'. Add sessions by pressing the '+' button and rename them by long pressing the name. Select the session to activate it view its film notes and record new notes in it. A tutorial is available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCeDNO89bag
vDarkroom
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vDarkroom moves the complete traditional darkroom workflow ā capture, exposure, development, enlargement ā to iPhone, in pursuit of a faithful silver-halide experience. Ā· Capture: record RAW (Bayer RAW 14-bit / Apple ProRAW) to retain the sensor's fullest tonal data for reuse downstream. Supports physical aperture stops on the iPhone 18 Pro / Pro Max main lens (f/1.48 Ā· 1.8 Ā· 2.8 Ā· 4.0). Ā· Exposure: meter the captured data with zone, centre-weighted or spot metering, then expose the selected film; a graduated ND filter and black-and-white contrast filters are also available. Ā· Development: six developers (D-76, Rodinal, HC-110, Microphen, DD-X and more) with fine adjustment of temperature, time and agitation. Ā· Enlargement: ten papers and processes (silver-gelatin RC/FB, cyanotype, platinum, vandyke, salt, multi-coat gum, digital), with multigrade contrast, enlarger aperture and exposure time, and a round black card for local burn and dodge. Ā· More: 25 classic films, bracketed HDR, neutral-grey marker, 8K and lossless PNG export, silver-halide grain model. Free features: HEIF capture, 1080P/2K export, JPG, three metering modes, six developers, four films, silver-gelatin papers and cyanotype. Pro (one-time unlock): RAW capture, 4K/8K export, lossless PNG export, bracketed HDR, black-and-white filters, graduated ND, round black card, all films and alternative-process papers.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Film Note at none against vDarkroom's 1. Film Note also leads on device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 17.0). vDarkroom's advantage is update cadence (every 5 days vs every 40 months). On price and ads there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price Ā· Rating Ā· Positive reviews Ā· Number of ratings Ā· Update frequency Ā· Ads Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Monetization Ā· Best chart rank Ā· Devices Ā· Requires iOS
Both are free to download. vDarkroom sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Film Note asks for nothing beyond the download.
Film Note ships an update every 40 months, vDarkroom every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Film Note | vDarkroom |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | Every 40 months | Every 5 days ā better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No ā better | Yes |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod ā better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 9.0 ā better | 17.0 |
| Further details ā not scored | ||
| Size | 18 MB | 2 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | ROBERT B TURNBULL | é·å å |
In-app purchases
Film Note
No in-app purchases
vDarkroom
- vDarkroom Pro$9.99








