BTZS ExpoDev vs Darkroom Assistant
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
BTZS ExpoDev
This app helps traditional film photographers accurately expose black and white film using custom film test data. It calculates precise exposures and development times in the field for consistent results and easier darkroom printing.
- Exposure record keeping
- Film Profile, lens, and filter management
- Incident and Zone System metering support
- Depth of Field calculator
- Reciprocity failure adjustments
- Integrated exposure timer
Read full descriptionHide full description
BTZS ExpoDev is the companion app for BTZS Plotter for Windows that allows you to more accurately expose traditional B&W films using film test data from BTZS film tests. "BTZS meets the iPhone. It's the perfect match of Phil Davis' BTZS with the same device that the rest of my life is on." - Robert Levittan "It has liberated me from having to worry about my negatives, so that I can direct my attention to the important process of making a photograph." - Laura Campbell "Liberation for the traditional film photographer." - Bill Waldron *** Note: This app cannot be used without having your own BTZS Film Profiles that have been analyzed and exported by the BTZS Plotter for Windows application. *** BTZS ExpoDev is the newest generation of ExpoDev for Apple iOS devices. ExpoDev allows you to use your BTZS test Film Profiles to accurately calculate B&W film exposures in the field for consistently exposed negatives that are easier to print in the darkroom. ExpoDev was designed for Large Format film photographers working in any traditional or alternative process (including hybrid processes such as film scanning). Among the many features in BTZS ExpoDev are: ◆ An exposure record keeping system to keep track of all of your film exposures, allowing you to view the exposure details and the development time to use when back from the field ◆ Manages your lists of Film Profiles, lenses, and filters for fast & easy selection when making exposures ◆ Support for both BZTS Incident and traditional Zone System metering methods ◆ Interactively calculates the SBR, Average Gradient, and the EFS for each scene while metering ◆ Support for user-specified filter factors and Large Format bellows extension compensation ◆ A powerful Depth of Field calculator with selectable Circle of Confusion that supports 3 DOF calculation modes (Aperture/Distance, Near/Far Distances, and Focus Rail Spread) ◆ DOF calculator supports both metric and imperial measurement modes ◆ Calculates exposure by either selecting the Aperture or Shutter speed to use ◆ Supports Apertures down to f/2048 (perfect for pinhole work) and Shutter speeds up to 6 hours ◆ An integrated exposure timer than can handle exposure times up to 12 hours ◆ Sophisticated reciprocity failure adjustments for both exposure and development time that are based on lab-produced data for over 90 film and developer combinations ◆ and more... Note: Sample Film Profiles are available for experimentation but they are not a substitute for personal film testing.
Darkroom Assistant
Read full descriptionHide full description
Make better darkroom prints—and preserve every decision that got you there. Darkroom Assistant is a purpose-built workflow app for black-and-white darkroom printers. It connects what you see in the print to the exposure, dodging, burning, and sequencing needed to make the next one. Map adjustments on the image, work in stops, and let Darkroom Assistant calculate the actual exposure times. You don’t need an expensive programmable f-stop timer to use an advanced f-stop printing workflow. Whether your timer counts in stops or only in seconds, the calculations, visual map, and printing sequence stay connected to the image. If you have ever made a great print and struggled to recreate it, searched through scattered notes, or wasted paper rebuilding a previous result, Darkroom Assistant brings the complete printing process together. It does not automate printing or replace your judgment. Your eye decides what the print needs. Darkroom Assistant translates that decision into the next exposure—and preserves the path when the session ends. VISUAL DODGING AND BURNING Map local adjustments on the print image instead of trying to connect handwritten times to remembered areas. Set the desired change in stops, and Darkroom Assistant calculates the corresponding dodge or burn times and organizes them into a clear printing sequence. A programmable f-stop timer can count exposure in stops. Darkroom Assistant goes further by connecting each adjustment to the image, calculating the time for that operation, and preserving the reasoning behind the print. PRINT PROJECTS AND PRINT LOGS Organize each image as a project and preserve the path from test strip to final print. Keep multiple interpretations together, compare them over time, and return later without reconstructing the session from memory. Record paper, developer, filtration, exposure, contrast, notes, and the decisions made along the way. A short version note on the physical print can lead you back to the complete plan in Darkroom Assistant. TEST STRIPS AND SPLIT-GRADE PRINTING Build and document test-strip and split-grade workflows inside the app. Compare results, refine exposure and contrast, and carry your decisions forward without starting over. SCALE PRINTS WITHOUT STARTING OVER When you change print dimensions, Darkroom Assistant can scale the exposure steps in the complete Print Log—not just the base exposure. Carry a successful plan into the new size and begin with a calculated starting point instead of rebuilding every exposure, dodge, and burn from scratch. Additional calculators help with changes in exposure, aperture, filtration, neutral density, and print size. DARKROOM TIMERS Use focused, distraction-free timers designed for printing and film-development sessions. FILM DEVELOPMENT Create and run film-development workflows with organized formulas, timing, and session records alongside your printing tools. BACKUP AND RESTORE Protect your darkroom library with manual backup and restore. LEARN AND GET SUPPORT Use the video guide and subscriber community for help. DARKROOM ASSISTANT HELPS YOU: • Translate visual decisions into precise exposure steps • Use an advanced f-stop workflow without an expensive programmable timer • Plan dodging and burning without calculating every time in your head • Scale complete printing plans when changing print size • Reduce avoidable paper and chemistry waste • Preserve successful prints and multiple interpretations • Spend less time reconstructing old sessions • Build a consistent, repeatable darkroom process BUILT BY A DARKROOM PRINTER Darkroom Assistant was created by a working darkroom printer with decades of hands-on experience. Its tools come from real workflows developed at the enlarger—not from an attempt to replace analog craft with automation. Practical tools for photographers who care deeply about the craft. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Darkroom Assistant at Free against BTZS ExpoDev's $24.99. Darkroom Assistant also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs every 12 months). BTZS ExpoDev's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and iOS requirement (13.7 vs 15.1). On ads 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
Darkroom Assistant is free to download; BTZS ExpoDev costs $24.99 up front. Darkroom Assistant sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $39.99 per year. BTZS ExpoDev asks for nothing beyond the download.
BTZS ExpoDev ships an update every 12 months, Darkroom Assistant every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and September 27, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | BTZS ExpoDev | Darkroom Assistant |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $24.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 4.8 (5 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 83.3% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 5 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 12 months | Every 4 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 13.7 — better | 15.1 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 16 MB | 54 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | TinyOctopus, LLC | Distinction Photo LLC |
In-app purchases
BTZS ExpoDev
No in-app purchases
Darkroom Assistant
- Darkroom Assistant Standard$39.991 Year
Questions
Is BTZS ExpoDev free?
Is Darkroom Assistant free?
Do BTZS ExpoDev or Darkroom Assistant have ads?
Which is updated more often, BTZS ExpoDev or Darkroom Assistant?
Other comparisons















