Comparison

Reciprocity Timer vs phNotes Lite

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

Head to head
About

Reciprocity Timer

This app helps film photographers calculate exposure compensation for reciprocity failure. It offers a standard version for basic calculations and a pro version with advanced features like note-taking and custom film databases. It also includes an exposure timer and filter compensation tools.

Highlights
  • Reciprocity compensation calculations
  • Exposure timer
  • Filter compensation slider
  • Note-keeping feature
  • Custom film and camera databases
  • Film stock favorites
Features
Read full description

Manage your film photography from start to finish!  Reciprocity Timer has 2 Version - the "Standard" Version does NOT include advanced features but can be used to calculate reciprocity on a range of common films. The "Pro" Version is available for an additional $9.99 USD (via in-app-purchase) unlocks a range of advanced features. The initial purchase price allows you to calculate reciprocity for all the films included by selecting an observed exposure time. This $1.99 US non-pro version is suitable for people who just need to calculate an exposure that includes reciprocity adjustments for commonly used films. It will suit many users who don't require or need to upgrade to the pro version for features like note keeping or a camera database etc. It's most suitable if you are new to film. More advanced film users and photographers may want to pay to upgrade after their initial purchase to the pro version. If you use a pro-feature you'll be prompted to upgrade for an additional $9.99 US. This will unlock all the additional features including the Zone Editor, Note, Camera and Film Holder database as well as custom films and filters. There is no need to upgrade if you just want to calculate and time reciprocity for a particular film and you always use the same camera. The app includes in-app purchase to unlock pro features including a note-keeping feature, the ability to add custom films and the ability to select often used film stock as favorites. Once you upgrade then the one app does it all - notes, filters, exposure calculations, custom films, zone system editor, film holder management as well as the reciprocity math! A comprehensive film reciprocity calculator for photographers. Select a film type and metered exposure time - the calculator will provide a reciprocity compensated exposure time. The app includes an exposure timer so you can time your long exposures. You can also use a slider to adjust exposure when you have filters attached. The app supports a wide range of film stocks and allows the user to add various common exposure filters such as NDs and Polarizers. Keep detailed notes and share them. Share your adjusted exposure times with colleagues. This app makes film photography a breeze. You may need to setup Reciprocity Timer in Settings -> Notification Center to ensure the app's timer can notify you when exposures are ending and your device is asleep. Watch companion app now included. To install the app use the Apple Watch App on your phone. Ensure your watch and phone are paired an unlocked and scroll down the list of available apps to Reciprocity Timer. Select Install. You can also turn on "Automatically Install Apps".

About

phNotes Lite

Features
Read full description

*** If you like this app please take the time and leave a feedback, this will help me a lot in maintaining it and add additional features. Thank you! *** This simple but powerful app allows photographers who use manual lenses, technical/view cameras, adapted gears with digital or even analog film photography to take note of the most important parameters of each shot taken on the field. Additionally, with the Pro version all annotations can be easily exported through email or into your cloud storage. When back home/studio, the freely downloadable desktop companion application "PhotoAnnotator" can read the exported data and automatically write all annotations as EXIF/IPTC metadata into the corresponding image files (RAW, TIFF, JPEG, etc...). This is particularly useful in all cases where the shooting parameters are not automatically written by the camera into the image files. Your image and shooting annotations can then live together in one single file. FEATURES (LITE AND PRO VERSION): - Supported annotations: image counter, shoot date, camera make and model, lens make and model, filter, shutter speed, aperture value, focus distance, shift and tilt movements, film, GPS location, additional notes. - GPS location automatically read from the iPhone's GPS system. - Ability to swipe-clone an existing image for fast editing in the field. - Ability to swipe-delete single photos. - Ability to manage a list of cameras. - Ability to manage a list of lenses. - Ability to manage a list of filters. - Ability to manage a list of films. - Ability to clear the whole session after having exported it. - Contextual help available. ADDITIONAL FEATURES (PRO VERSION ONLY): - Ability to save unlimited image entries (LITE is limited to 12 max). - Ability to export all data via the standard iOS sharing machanism. - The companion desktop app PhotoAnnotator can be freely downloaded at https://www.marcoristuccia.com/it/photoannotator - The companion desktop app PhotoAnnotator supports all the major RAW and image types (see the application description at the indicated web page for more details).

Screenshots

Reciprocity Timer4 screens
phNotes Lite4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: phNotes Lite at Free against Reciprocity Timer's $1.99. phNotes Lite also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1). Reciprocity Timer's advantage is chart position (#85 vs unranked). On update cadence, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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

phNotes Lite is free to download; Reciprocity Timer costs $1.99 up front. Reciprocity Timer sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. phNotes Lite asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Reciprocity Timer ships an update every 2 months, phNotes Lite every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 17, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 8 level
Reciprocity Timer versus phNotes Lite: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterReciprocity TimerphNotes Lite
Price$1.99Free — better
Rating2.5 (4 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews33.3% of reviews—
Number of ratings4 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 6 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
Best chart rank#85 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPod, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS12.012.0
Further details — not scored
Size28 MB9 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPump InteractiveMarco Ristuccia

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Reciprocity Timer

One-time1
  • Reciprocity Timer Pro$9.99
None

phNotes Lite

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Reciprocity Timer free?
Reciprocity Timer costs $1.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is phNotes Lite free?
phNotes Lite is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Reciprocity Timer or phNotes Lite have ads?
Neither Reciprocity Timer nor phNotes Lite shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Reciprocity Timer or phNotes Lite?
Reciprocity Timer ships an update every 2 months, and phNotes Lite every 6 weeks. Most recently, Reciprocity Timer was updated on September 21, 2026 and phNotes Lite on September 17, 2026.

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