Reciprocity Timer vs PhotoWatch
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- Reciprocity compensation calculations
- Exposure timer
- Filter compensation slider
- Note-keeping feature
- Custom film and camera databases
- Film stock favorites
Read full descriptionHide 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".
PhotoWatch
Read full descriptionHide full description
The best photo opportunities always seem to happen when you're not looking. Getting great light isn't an accident. It's just a case of doing the research. Chasing light at a coastal headland, a dark-sky ridge, a tidal rock platform you've been circling for months. It all takes time and effort. PhotoWatch watches those spots for you, around the clock. When the weather, the tides, and the night sky align, it finds you. HOW IT WORKS Tell PhotoWatch where you're going and what you're looking for. An amazing coastal sunrise. A clear Milky Way window. A low-tide rock platform at sunset. You can even tell it how far in advance you want to be notified. Choose the conditions you need and PhotoWatch sends you an alert when they are all met. With Pro you can fine-tune each one, for example "I want high cloud more than 40% and just a light breeze". Then relax and let PhotoWatch go to work for you. When conditions line up, PhotoWatch sends you a push notification showing every location where conditions have come together. All you need to do is choose where to go. It will be quiet by default. You only hear from PhotoWatch when it's worth heading out. WHAT PHOTOWATCH MONITORS • Cloud cover at low, mid, and high atmospheric levels, the way photographers actually think about clouds rather than just "partly cloudy" • Rain • Wind speeds and direction • Sunrise, sunset and moon timing • Galactic core visibility, including when the Milky Way clears the horizon and the sky is dark enough to shoot (Pro) • Tides and Swell including height, state and timing at your coastal spots (Pro) • The possibility of fog (Pro) To top it all, the app works anywhere in the world. Planning a trip? Plug in your locations and set up some alerts. That's a better way to bring back some great memories! By stacking the deck on your side. BUILT FOR THE FIELD The Tools tab has four free photography essentials that earn their place at 5am. A countdown timer for timing long exposures in bulb mode, with stopwatch mode if you prefer to count up. An ND filter calculator: enter your base exposure, pick your filter, and get the corrected time. You can also send it straight to the countdown timer with one tap. A time-lapse calculator for your interval and clip length, and a star exposure calculator (NPF and 500 rule) so your stars stay sharp. No more mental maths in the dark. Pro adds the Astro Planner, Tide Planner and the Colour Temp tool, which gives live readings in Kelvin to help you nail your white balance. FREE RIGHT NOW. PRO WHEN YOU'RE READY. Start free with 3 locations, unlimited alerts, and full push notifications. There's no account required. Try it. PhotoWatch Pro, a small yearly subscription, adds unlimited locations, tide and swell predictions and alerts, astro conditions and alerts, fog alerts, fine-tuning for every condition, the Astro Planner, Tide Planner and Colour Temp tools, and cloud backup so your setup survives a phone change. Set it. Forget it. Go get the shot! Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: PhotoWatch at Free against Reciprocity Timer's $1.99. PhotoWatch also leads on update cadence (every 6 days vs every 2 months). Reciprocity Timer's advantage is chart position (#86 vs unranked) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.1). On 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
PhotoWatch is free to download; Reciprocity Timer costs $1.99 up front. Reciprocity Timer sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and PhotoWatch sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $12.00 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Reciprocity Timer ships an update every 2 months, PhotoWatch every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Reciprocity Timer | PhotoWatch |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 2.5 (4 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 33.3% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 4 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 6 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Best chart rank | #86 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod, Apple Watch — better | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 15.1 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 28 MB | 43 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Pump Interactive | Brian Smith |
In-app purchases
Reciprocity Timer
- Reciprocity Timer Pro$9.99
PhotoWatch
- PhotoWatch Pro$12.001 Year
Questions
Is Reciprocity Timer free?
Is PhotoWatch free?
Do Reciprocity Timer or PhotoWatch have ads?
Which is updated more often, Reciprocity Timer or PhotoWatch?
Other comparisons















