Pocket Light Meter vs Massive Dev Chart Timer
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Pocket Light Meter
This app functions as a portable light meter, essential for film photographers using manual cameras. It accurately measures reflected light and provides reciprocity calculations for precise exposure control.
- Portable light meter
- Reflected light measurement
- Reciprocity calculations
- Indispensable for film photography
- Manual camera compatible
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A light meter that is always in your pocket. It is indispensable for film photography with all manual camera. Measures reflected light, and allows reciprocity calculations.
Massive Dev Chart Timer
This app provides an offline film development chart and a multi-step timer for photographers. It includes customizable agitation, darkroom themes, and support for various developing and fixing steps. It also offers automated compensation for development time and temperature.
- Offline film development chart
- Multi-step timer with sound notifications
- Customizable agitation schemes
- Darkroom themes
- Dilution mixer
- Automated time/temperature compensation
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The Massive Dev Chart is the world's largest film development chart with easy to use multi step timer and darkroom support for iPhone and iPad. Watch the instructional video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P915z6THiY8. *** Features *** • Offline copy of The Massive Dev Chart in your pocket • Multi Step Timer with sound notifications • Customizable agitation scheme • Darkroom themes • Dilution Mixer • Support for two-step development and two-step fixing • Support for optional hypoclear and photo flo steps • Automated development time/temperature compensation
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Pocket Light Meter at 4.5 against Massive Dev Chart Timer's 3.7. Pocket Light Meter also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 5 months) and review sentiment (87% vs 71%). Massive Dev Chart Timer's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.6). On price, ads, chart position 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
Pocket Light Meter costs $9.99 and Massive Dev Chart Timer $9.99 up front. Pocket Light Meter sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Massive Dev Chart Timer asks for nothing beyond the download.
Pocket Light Meter holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Pocket Light Meter has 1K ratings behind it against 54, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 87% of Pocket Light Meter's written reviews are positive against 71% of Massive Dev Chart Timer's.
Pocket Light Meter ships an update fortnightly, Massive Dev Chart Timer every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Pocket Light Meter | Massive Dev Chart Timer |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $9.99 | $9.99 |
| Rating | 4.5 (1K ratings) — better | 3.7 (54 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 87.1% of reviews — better | 70.8% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 1K — better | 54 |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly — better | Every 5 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases — better | Paid |
| Best chart rank | #47 | #25 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | 12.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 34 MB | 14 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Nuwaste studios | Freestyle Photo & Imaging |
Customer experience
Pocket Light Meter
Massive Dev Chart Timer
User reviews
Pocket Light Meter
From 1K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Accurate light metering
- 📷 Useful for film photography
- 🔍 Spot metering feature
- 🔧 Customizable settings
- 🔋 Always available on phone
Room to improve
- 🐛 Freezes or crashes in low light or with recent iOS updates
- 🔍 Unclear if spot or average metering
- 📊 Outdated user interface design
- 🔌 Ads can be distracting
Massive Dev Chart Timer
From 54 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 📚 Comprehensive film and developer database
- ⏱️ Reliable timer with agitation reminders
- 🎯 Easy-to-use interface for darkroom work
- 🌙 Darkroom mode with red/black display
- ✏️ Customizable development times and profiles
Room to improve
- 🚫 Black and white film only (no color film support)
- 🐛 Recent update broke HC110 dilution display
- 🐛 App crashes on certain devices/iOS versions
- 💰 Price point ($8.99-$11.99) for limited functionality
- 🔍 Poor search functionality for films
Bugs and requests
Pocket Light Meter
Reported bugs
3 issues- Crashes or freezes with recent iOS updates
- Inconsistent metering in low light conditions
- Issues with saving metering data to photos
Requested features
6 requests- Add histogram display
- Implement manual mode to lock aperture/shutter
- Support for flash metering
- Improve low-light performance
- Provide more metering mode options (spot, center-weighted, etc.)
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- Add option to save metering data to photo metadata
Massive Dev Chart Timer
Reported bugs
12 issues- HC110 dilution section displays only letters, not ratios
- Dilution ratios not calculating when solution amount adjusted
- App crashes after selecting film speed
- Crashes on iPad with new update
- Timer display shows three dots instead of seconds
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- UI elements overlap on older iPhone models
- Safelight mode white banner blocks display on iPad
- Crashes during development process
- Home screen line emits bright light in darkroom mode
- App incompatible with newer iOS versions on older devices
- Notes don't word wrap properly
- Inconsistent film/developer availability between iPhone and iPad
Requested features
15 requests- Color film support (C-41, E-6, ECN-2 processes)
- Search functionality by film brand/name
- Ability to add custom process steps (presoak, toning)
- Individual agitation control per development stage
- Continuous agitation option
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- Volume calculator for stop bath and fixer
- Background timer functionality
- Custom step name editing
- Pull/push development times
- Stand development support with hour-based timing
- Apple Watch app
- Syncing between iPhone and iPad
- Fahrenheit temperature option
- Additional common film stocks (Portra, Fuji 400H, Ektar)
- Ability to add films not in database to custom times
In-app purchases
Pocket Light Meter
- ads remover$1.99
- pint for the developer and get rid of the ads$5.99
- donation to the developer$5.99
Massive Dev Chart Timer
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Pocket Light Meter free?
Is Massive Dev Chart Timer free?
Which has better reviews, Pocket Light Meter or Massive Dev Chart Timer?
Do Pocket Light Meter or Massive Dev Chart Timer have ads?
Which is updated more often, Pocket Light Meter or Massive Dev Chart Timer?
Which is more popular, Pocket Light Meter or Massive Dev Chart Timer?
Other comparisons
