BTZS ExpoDev vs DarkroomLog
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
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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.
DarkroomLog
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DarkroomLog is a session logger, film catalog, and chemistry tracker for analog darkroom photographers. Log every printing session with equipment details, exposure steps, and notes. Attach a photo of each print for your reference archive. Rate your best prints with up to three stars. SHARE YOUR WORK Generate a beautifully designed dark card for any print or film roll and share it directly to Instagram, Mastodon, or anywhere else. Print cards include the photo, name, rating, film roll, enlarger, lens, paper, developer, and exposure settings. Choose portrait or landscape layout before sharing. Film roll cards show the full development record: film stock, developer, camera, lens, notes, and print count. LIGHT TABLE Browse and catalog your film rolls in a dedicated tab. Record format (135 or 120), film stock, camera, lens, developer, and notes for every roll. Link rolls to individual prints to keep your workflow connected from film to paper. CHEMISTRY TRACKER Track every chemical batch you mix — developer, fixer, bleach, stabilizer, stop bath, or anything your process requires. Log the mixed date, capacity in rolls, and shelf life. Add a roll manually as you work, just like marking a tally on the bottle. A color-coded progress bar shows how exhausted or close to expiry each batch is at a glance. Search by name or notes. Works for any process — black-and-white, C-41, ECN-2, or alternative. DARKROOM TIMER The built-in timer counts seconds with an audible metronome tick. Shake, toss, or tap to restart. The screen dims automatically during exposure. Set multiple timed steps per print — each step signals with a bell when complete. FILM DEVELOPMENT TIMER A separate timer for outside the darkroom — white digits, normal brightness. Use it for development, stop bath, or fixing. Same shake and knock controls. A bell rings every minute as a reminder. WASH TIMER Start a background wash timer directly from a print. When the time is up, you receive a notification — even if the app is closed. Perfect for fiber-base paper that requires extended washing. EQUIPMENT LIBRARY Build a reference library of enlargers, lenses, papers, developers, cameras, and film stocks. Browse by category and select equipment quickly when logging a session or a roll. BACKUP & RESTORE Export all your sessions, prints, film rolls, equipment, and chemistry batches as a single JSON file. Restore on any device at any time. SETTINGS Toggle the metronome on or off. Switch to a dark interface regardless of system appearance. No account required. No ads. No tracking. All data stays on your device.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: DarkroomLog at Free against BTZS ExpoDev's $24.99. DarkroomLog also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 12 months). BTZS ExpoDev's advantage is iOS requirement (13.7 vs 18.6). 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
DarkroomLog is free to download; BTZS ExpoDev costs $24.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
BTZS ExpoDev ships an update every 12 months, DarkroomLog every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | BTZS ExpoDev | DarkroomLog |
|---|---|---|
| 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 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 13.7 — better | 18.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 16 MB | 14 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | TinyOctopus, LLC | Webitel |
In-app purchases
BTZS ExpoDev
No in-app purchases
DarkroomLog
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is BTZS ExpoDev free?
Is DarkroomLog free?
Do BTZS ExpoDev or DarkroomLog have ads?
Which is updated more often, BTZS ExpoDev or DarkroomLog?
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