SmartLab35 vs Safelight Darkroom Timer
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
SmartLab35
Read full descriptionHide full description
With the innovative photo enlarger, you can create prints from your film negatives in a completely new way. This is possible for colour and black and white photos. In black and white mode, you can set an exposure time of up to 999 seconds. You can set the intensity of the enlarger to up to -4.0 f-stops. For multi-grade paper, you can select the gradation from 00.0 to 5.0. Use the function buttons to control the enlarger. Use the FOCUS light to adjust the sharpness of your image. Use the SAFE light to insert the paper. Start and pause the exposure with the centre button. In colour mode, you can set an exposure time of up to 999 seconds. You can control the colour gradation of your image by setting the intensity of the individual colour channels. In the options menu, you can choose between CMY and RGB colour systems. Control the enlarger with the function buttons. You can use the FOCUS light to adjust the sharpness of your image. Start and pause the exposure with the centre button.
Safelight Darkroom Timer
This app helps photographers time their darkroom processes and calculate exposure changes. It offers customizable timers for exposure, development, and other stages, with options to save and revisit print setups. Advanced features for unlimited sessions and planning are available via subscription.
- Exposure calculation
- Darkroom workflow timers
- Print setup saving
- F-stop table builder
- Test strip functionality
- Dodge & Burn planning (Pro)
Read full descriptionHide full description
Calculate exposure changes, time your darkroom workflow and keep the print setups you want to revisit. • Use Focus, Expose and Process timers with large controls, display themes, optional haptics and sound. • Build an f-stop table with 1/4 or 1/3 stop steps, send a result to the timer or run a test strip. • Save and revisit up to three print sessions for free, including paper, filter grade, developer and notes. Time the exposure, development, stop bath, fix and optional wash stages. • Optional Safelight Pro subscriptions unlock unlimited sessions, advanced stop steps, Dodge & Burn planning, memory banks, run plans and CSV/Text export and sharing. The app interface is available in English and Vietnamese. Important: A phone screen is not guaranteed safe for every photographic paper or film. Test your own materials and darkroom conditions. Privacy Policy: https://hearthmesa.com/apps/safelight/privacy Terms of Use (Apple Standard EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: SmartLab35 at none against Safelight Darkroom Timer's 2. SmartLab35 also leads on update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 3 months). On price, 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
Both are free to download. Safelight Darkroom Timer sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. SmartLab35 asks for nothing beyond the download.
SmartLab35 ships an update every 5 weeks, Safelight Darkroom Timer every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on November 12, 2026 and November 13, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | SmartLab35 | Safelight Darkroom Timer |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | 4.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Number of ratings | — | 1 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks — better | Every 3 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | — | Freemium |
| Devices | iPhone, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 15.1 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 23 MB | 48 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | SANTIAGO FRANCISCO RAMIREZ SONNTAG | Nhu Nam Vo |
In-app purchases
SmartLab35
No in-app purchases
Safelight Darkroom Timer
- Safelight Pro3 Days trial$2.997 Days
- Safelight Pro3 Days trial$19.991 Year
Questions
Is SmartLab35 free?
Is Safelight Darkroom Timer free?
Do SmartLab35 or Safelight Darkroom Timer have ads?
Which is updated more often, SmartLab35 or Safelight Darkroom Timer?
Other comparisons
