Darkcloth vs ShutterMeter
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side ā with what reviewers say about each.
Darkcloth
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"A good photograph is knowing where to stand." ā Ansel Adams Darkcloth is a field viewfinder for technical and view cameras. Use the phone camera to preview the frame before you set up the camera. Choose a film format and focal length, add rise, fall or shift, compare lenses, and check level. It is meant for planning the photograph, not replacing the ground glass. Included tools: ⢠Framelines for 6Ć7, 4Ć5, 8Ć10 and custom formats ⢠Multiple focal lengths at once for lens comparison ⢠Rise/fall and shift preview over the live scene ⢠Reflected-light meter with average and spot readings ⢠Reciprocity correction for common film stocks, plus custom stocks ⢠Roll and pitch level ⢠Scheimpflug tilt visualiser with near/far depth-of-field readout Darkcloth was made alongside the Fysh FTC-1, but it is not locked to that camera. It works with other technical-camera and view-camera workflows. No account is required. No photos are uploaded.
ShutterMeter
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Has your old camera's shutter slowed down? ShutterMeter uses your iPhone's microphone to analyze the sounds of a mechanical shutter and estimate the interval between opening and closing. Compare it with the selected speed, check repeatability, and keep a test history for each camera. Repeat each speed three times Choose a camera and speed, then follow the measurement flow. Save three Clear signal results before moving to the next speed. Results with complex signals are marked separately and do not count toward the health map. Shutter health map See the median deviation and spread of the latest three clear results at each speed, along with how many speeds you have tested. Find gaps or speeds that need another check, then share a text report through the system share sheet. The report is a shooting and maintenance reference, not a calibration certificate. Archive backup and CSV export Export camera details and measurements as a JSON backup. On another iPhone, choose the file, preview new and duplicate items, then confirm the merge. Items with the same identifiers keep their local versions; existing records are not overwritten. Export CSV files to view raw timings, UTC timestamps and signal grades in a spreadsheet. Exported measurements are diagnostic references, not calibration certificates. For an offline export, choose On My iPhone > this app's folder > Exports in Files. The folder may be named ShutterMeter or åæ«éØęµé仪, depending on language. This app folder is part of the app's sandbox and is deleted when you delete the app. Save important backups to iCloud Drive or another location outside this app folder; those independent copies survive deletion of ShutterMeter. Camera log Search by camera name or notes, and edit details without losing measurements. Create a profile for each camera and browse measurements and deviation trends by speed. Save results without a camera to Unfiled and assign them later. Clear signal results include exposure compensation guidance. Your local records remain available to view. Supported speeds This version provides microphone measurement for 11 nominal speeds from 1 second to 1/60 second, including the vintage 1/5, 1/10, 1/25 and 1/50 settings. Camera mode is not enabled. Measurement at 1/100 and faster is not supported. ShutterMeter is an audio analysis aid. Its accuracy across all supported speeds has not been validated against a physical shutter tester. Clear signal describes how well the sound events can be distinguished in that recording; it is not an accuracy certification. Mirror slap, background noise and shutter design can affect the result. Repeat the test before using a result as a shooting reference. Not every mechanical shutter will produce a usable result. Designed for iPhone The colorful interface supports Dark Mode, Dynamic Type and VoiceOver, with clear controls to save, repeat, finish a test run and close sheets. Data and purchase Audio recording and analysis take place on your iPhone. The app does not automatically upload measurement data. When you share a report or export a file, the selected data goes to the app or file service you choose. System device backups may also include local records. Archive backups do not include audio, purchase receipts or free-measurement counts. Use Restore Purchases to recover an existing purchase on another phone. Purchases and restoring purchases require an App Store connection. Your first 10 measurements that produce a result are free. Attempts that do not detect usable shutter sounds do not use a free measurement. A one-time purchase unlocks unlimited measurements, with no subscription or ads.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: ShutterMeter at every 2 days against Darkcloth's every 10 days. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price Ā· Rating Ā· Positive reviews Ā· Number of ratings Ā· Update frequency Ā· Ads Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Monetization Ā· Best chart rank Ā· Devices Ā· Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Darkcloth ships an update every 10 days, ShutterMeter every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and October 4, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Darkcloth | ShutterMeter |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | Every 10 days | Every 2 days ā better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 ā better | 17.0 |
| Further details ā not scored | ||
| Size | 2 MB | 3 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | LACHLAN M FYSH | ę£å¹³ å |
In-app purchases
Darkcloth
No in-app purchases
ShutterMeter
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Darkcloth free?
Is ShutterMeter free?
Do Darkcloth or ShutterMeter have ads?
Which is updated more often, Darkcloth or ShutterMeter?
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