Comparison

Lightme vs ColorDev Timer

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Lightme

This app helps analog photographers meticulously track their film rolls, shots, and development processes. It allows for detailed logging of gear and consumables, with features for data visualization and export. Users can also manage film holders and add post-development notes with photos of final results.

Highlights
  • Log film rolls, shots, and development
  • Track gear and consumables
  • Data visualization with graphs/histograms
  • Data export in JSON/CSV formats
  • Manage large format film holders
  • Post-development notes with photos
Features
Read full description

Lightme - Logbook is a clean and powerful tool to record and keep track of your rolls, shots, developments, and all the gear that revolves around shooting film — from 35mm to medium and large format. The idea behind it is simple: logging a shot should take seconds, not steal time from actually shooting. Lightme pairs a beautiful, immediate interface with enough depth and flexibility to fit any workflow, whether you shoot a couple of rolls a year or fill several large format holders in an afternoon. LOGGING, EFFORTLESSLY • Log a shot in seconds: aperture, shutter speed, focal length, filters, bellows correction, measured EV, notes and more • Log straight from your wrist with the companion Apple Watch app, with Siri and Shortcuts, or from the home screen and lock screen widgets • Together with the Lightme Lightmeter app, your meter readings can prefill a new shot automatically • Every shot can carry a location and address, a preview photo, and later its final scan, plus a star rating ROLLS, SHEETS AND DEVELOPMENTS • Track rolls from loading to unloading, with film stocks from a growing database and a processing pipeline: waiting for development, off to the lab, back from the lab, to be scanned, scanned • Keep detailed development notes — developer, dilution, time, temperature, agitation — for rolls and single sheets alike, including push/pull (N+ / N-) development • Add post-development notes and a photo of the final result to rolls, sheets and individual shots YOUR GEAR, ORGANIZED • Cameras and lenses with nicknames, formats (including custom formats you define), pinhole and bellows flags, custom shutter speeds and selectable shutter step sizes • Roll film backs and lens filters with their exposure compensation • Film holders and backs can be marked as compatible with specific cameras, and everything is searchable from a single bar LARGE FORMAT, COVERED • Keep track of your film holders with three states — unloaded, loaded and exposed — always knowing which film is inside each one • Group holders together and follow every sheet from exposure through development INSIGHTS FROM YOUR DATA • Build and save custom queries, filtering by date (fixed or rolling windows), camera, lens, film stock, format, ISO, aperture, shutter speed, focal length and notes • Visualize results with histograms — by camera, lens, film stock, shutter speed, aperture, focal length, ISO, format, rating or hour of the day — alongside aggregate stats like mean aperture and average exposure • Save the queries you use most and re-run them anytime YOUR DATA, YOURS • Everything syncs privately through iCloud across your iPhone and iPad • Export any selection of data as CSV or JSON, or as a beautifully formatted PDF with customizable columns and a contact-sheet mode, bundled with your images in a single ZIP • Batch-write shooting metadata (EXIF) onto your scans — for a whole roll at once, or by matching files from the Files app • Viewing and exporting your data is free, forever; adding and editing is unlocked with a one-time purchase or a subscription AND MORE • Full-text search, favourites and an archive to keep things tidy • Available in English, Italian, Spanish, Japanese and Simplified Chinese • A roadmap of what's coming next lives right in the app — new very cool features are on the way :) If you have any suggestion or issue, write me at lightme.apps@gmail.com Terms of use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

ColorDev Timer

Features
Read full description

ColorDev Timer is designed for analog photographers developing color film (C-41) who want a clear, reliable, and distraction-free workflow. Choose your development kit, enter the total chemistry volume, how many rolls have already been processed, and whether you’re pushing or pulling film. The app calculates the timings and guides you through each development phase with a clear, lab-friendly timer. All development phases are listed with their individual durations, and the current phase is clearly highlighted. You can start any phase with a single tap and reset the entire process whenever needed. ColorDev Timer also tracks chemical usage, helping you know when your chemistry is approaching its recommended limits. Key features: • Phase-based development timer • Push / pull support • Development kit and volume selection • Roll usage tracking • Clean interface suitable for darkroom use • Designed for real analog workflows • App for Apple Watch No ads. No accounts. No clutter. Just analog photography.

Screenshots

Lightme4 screens
ColorDev Timer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Lightme at every 2 weeks against ColorDev Timer's every 4 months. Lightme also leads on iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.6). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Lightme sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and ColorDev Timer sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Lightme ships an update every 2 weeks, ColorDev Timer every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Lightme versus ColorDev Timer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLightmeColorDev Timer
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (102 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews75.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings102 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterEvery 4 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad, Apple Watch
Requires iOS15.6 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size13 MB6 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGiuseppe BertoliniAngel David Rodriguez

In-app purchases

8 purchases

Lightme

Subscriptions4
  • 1 Cappuccino7 Days trial$2.991 Month
  • Focaccia Barese7 Days trial$12.991 Year
  • Spaghetti Carbonara7 Days trial$29.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Homemade Pizza party7 Days trial$49.991 Year
One-time4
  • A smile :)Free
  • Box of Prosecco$59.99
  • Fuel for my '90s camper$119.99
Show 1 more
  • Terme for two$239.99
1 purchases

ColorDev Timer

One-time1
  • Buy me a coffee$2.99

Questions

Is Lightme free?
Lightme is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is ColorDev Timer free?
ColorDev Timer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Lightme or ColorDev Timer have ads?
Neither Lightme nor ColorDev Timer shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Lightme or ColorDev Timer?
Lightme ships an update every 2 weeks, and ColorDev Timer every 4 months. Most recently, Lightme was updated on October 13, 2026 and ColorDev Timer on October 9, 2026.

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