Massive Dev Chart Timer vs Zone Tool
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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
Zone Tool
Calculate photographic exposure and development adjustments using zone system theory. Measure shadows and highlights, input film ISO and desired shutter speed to determine aperture and development time modifications.
- Zone system exposure calculation
- Shadow and highlight measurement
- Film ISO input
- Shutter speed adjustment
- Development time calculation
- Aperture determination
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With this tool you can calculate your exposure and needed adjustment for development. It uses zone system theory originally invented by Ansel Adams and Fred Archer. First decide zone of your shadows and measure the shadows. Then device highlight zone and measure the highlights. Measure these with the film ISO you are going to use. You also need to decide shutter speed in beforehand. The app calculates exposure aperture for you and also tells if you need to shorten (N+..) or expand (N-..) your development time. You will get best results with a spot light meter but mobile apps will probably do fine.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Massive Dev Chart Timer at 3.7 against Zone Tool's 2.8. Massive Dev Chart Timer also leads on update cadence (every 5 months vs every 38 months) and chart position (#56 vs unranked). Zone Tool's advantage is price ($0.99 vs $9.99) and review sentiment (100% vs 71%). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model 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
Massive Dev Chart Timer costs $9.99 and Zone Tool $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Massive Dev Chart Timer holds the better App Store score, 3.7 against 2.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Massive Dev Chart Timer has 54 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 71% of Massive Dev Chart Timer's written reviews are positive against 100% of Zone Tool's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Massive Dev Chart Timer ships an update every 5 months, Zone Tool every 38 months. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Massive Dev Chart Timer | Zone Tool |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $9.99 | $0.99 — better |
| Rating | 3.7 (54 ratings) — better | 2.8 (6 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 70.8% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 54 — better | 6 |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months — better | Every 38 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Best chart rank | #56 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 12.2 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 14 MB | 0 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Freestyle Photo & Imaging | Jouni Erola |
Customer experience
Massive Dev Chart Timer
Zone Tool
Bugs and requests
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
Zone Tool
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Massive Dev Chart Timer
No in-app purchases
Zone Tool
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Massive Dev Chart Timer free?
Is Zone Tool free?
Which has better reviews, Massive Dev Chart Timer or Zone Tool?
Do Massive Dev Chart Timer or Zone Tool have ads?
Which is updated more often, Massive Dev Chart Timer or Zone Tool?
Other comparisons
