Comparison

Darkplug vs DBW PinholeCalc

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

Head to head
About

Darkplug

This app acts as a darkroom timer and printing tool, allowing control of enlargers via a compatible smart plug. It offers precise timing, guided workflows, and a red-on-black interface for film photographers.

Highlights
  • Enlarger control via smart plug
  • Precise timing
  • Guided workflows
  • Red-on-black interface
  • F-Stop timing
  • Dodge and burn planning
  • Guided developing timer
Read full description

Darkplug is a darkroom timer and printing tool for iPhone. It lets you control your enlarger from your iPhone using a compatible Shelly smart plug on your local network. Built for film photographers and darkroom printers, Darkplug combines precise timing, guided workflows, and a red-on-black interface designed for darkroom use. The clean timer interface is designed to stay practical under safelight conditions, with large controls and minimal clutter. Darkplug+ unlocks advanced printing tools, including F-Stop timing, guided test strips, dodge and burn planning, split grade printing, guided paper developing, and reusable Dodge & Burn plan codes. The guided test strip workflow helps you build and run exposure tests in seconds or F-Stops, then apply your preferred result as the print time. The Dodge & Burn workflow helps you plan local exposure changes, review a generated print plan, and follow guided execution steps in the darkroom. Plans can be exported and restored later with reusable plan codes. Darkplug also includes a guided developing timer for developer, stop, fix, and wash, so printing and paper processing can stay in one focused app. To use Darkplug, connect your enlarger to a compatible smart plug, make sure the plug and your iPhone are on the same local network, enter the plug’s local IP address, and connect. No account login is required. No cloud backend or external web service is needed for core timer operation. Compatible smart plugs: Shelly Plus Plug S Gen2, Shelly Plus Plug UK Gen2, Shelly Plug S Gen3, Shelly Outdoor Plug S Gen3, Shelly Plug M Gen3, and Shelly Plug US Gen4.

About

DBW PinholeCalc

Read full description

DBW PinholeCalc is a simple exposure companion for pinhole photographers working with black and white film or photographic paper. Save your camera, enter the aperture and time your light meter gave, and get one big final exposure, then time it from your iPhone. • Cameras: save your pinhole camera by its f-number, or for a homemade camera enter the hole size and the pinhole-to-film distance and the app works out the f-number for you • Exposure: converts your meter reading to your pinhole's aperture, then applies reciprocity correction to the converted time, in the right order, with a big result and a START TIMER button • Film and paper: manufacturer-published reciprocity data for popular films, or add your own film or paper with your own reciprocity exponent, clearly labelled as your own figures • Timer: large full-screen timer that keeps accurate time and stays awake while running, with a soft chime and haptic at the end • Light, dark and red night modes, big touch targets, VoiceOver and Dynamic Type Supported films, each with its data source shown in the app: • Ilford HP5 Plus, FP4 Plus, Delta 100 Professional, Delta 400 Professional, Pan F Plus • Kodak Tri-X 400, T-Max 100, T-Max 400 • Kentmere Pan 100, Pan 400 • Fomapan 100 Classic, 200 Creative, 400 Action Photographic paper used as a negative is not in the built-in list because there is no published data for it, so add it as your own material and start with an exponent of 1.0. An external light meter is needed. The app does not use your camera. The chime and haptic play while the app is open, so keep it on screen during an exposure. No account, no ads, no tracking, no internet needed. The app collects no personal data. Made by Digital Black & White. Pinhole exposure is partly a matter of testing, and results depend on your film, developer and conditions, so treat the result as a starting point and bracket. Film names are trademarks of their respective owners. Not affiliated with or endorsed by them.

Screenshots

Darkplug4 screens
DBW PinholeCalc4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: DBW PinholeCalc at none against Darkplug's 1. 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Darkplug sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. DBW PinholeCalc asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard1 real difference · 7 level
Darkplug versus DBW PinholeCalc: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDarkplugDBW PinholeCalc
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings1 — better—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS18.617.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size9 MB1 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPETER DR SZENTKIRALYIIan Barber

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Darkplug

One-time1
  • Darkplug+$24.99
None

DBW PinholeCalc

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Darkplug free?
Darkplug is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is DBW PinholeCalc free?
DBW PinholeCalc is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Darkplug or DBW PinholeCalc have ads?
Neither Darkplug nor DBW PinholeCalc shows ads.

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