Comparison

Analog Film Developer Timer vs PhotoWatch

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

Head to head
About

Analog Film Developer Timer

This app helps analog film photographers develop film with precision and consistency. It features a smart calculator for estimating development times and an integrated timer with agitation reminders, all based on manufacturer-sourced data.

Highlights
  • Development time calculator
  • Manufacturer-sourced data
  • Custom development entries
  • Push/pull, dilution, temperature, agitation adjustments
  • Integrated timer with agitation reminders
  • Reliable and repeatable results
Read full description

Develop analog film with confidence and consistency. FilmDeveloperPro is a precise darkroom tool built on authentic development times sourced directly from manufacturers. Use the smart development time calculator to estimate missing times based on push/pull, dilution, temperature, and agitation. The built-in timer with agitation reminders keeps every step on track — from presoak and development through stop bath and fixer. Key features: • Accurate calculator for missing development times • Manufacturer-sourced reference data • Cine film format support: Kodak Double-X, Foma Fomapan Cine, ORWO, and more • Custom development time entries • Fully adjustable push/pull, dilution, temperature, and agitation • Multi-step timer: presoak, developer, stop bath, and fixer • C-41 workflow for chromogenic black & white films like Ilford XP2 and Kodak BW400CN • Live Activity shows your timer on the lock screen Whether you develop black & white or chromogenic C-41 films, FilmDeveloperPro makes every step controlled, reliable, and repeatable.

About

PhotoWatch

Read full description

The best photo opportunities always seem to happen when you're not looking. Getting great light isn't an accident. It's just a case of doing the research. Chasing light at a coastal headland, a dark-sky ridge, a tidal rock platform you've been circling for months. It all takes time and effort. PhotoWatch watches those spots for you, around the clock. When the weather, the tides, and the night sky align, it finds you. HOW IT WORKS Tell PhotoWatch where you're going and what you're looking for. An amazing coastal sunrise. A clear Milky Way window. A low-tide rock platform at sunset. You can even tell it how far in advance you want to be notified. Choose the conditions you need and PhotoWatch sends you an alert when they are all met. With Pro you can fine-tune each one, for example "I want high cloud more than 40% and just a light breeze". Then relax and let PhotoWatch go to work for you. When conditions line up, PhotoWatch sends you a push notification showing every location where conditions have come together. All you need to do is choose where to go. It will be quiet by default. You only hear from PhotoWatch when it's worth heading out. WHAT PHOTOWATCH MONITORS • Cloud cover at low, mid, and high atmospheric levels, the way photographers actually think about clouds rather than just "partly cloudy" • Rain • Wind speeds and direction • Sunrise, sunset and moon timing • Galactic core visibility, including when the Milky Way clears the horizon and the sky is dark enough to shoot (Pro) • Tides and Swell including height, state and timing at your coastal spots (Pro) • The possibility of fog (Pro) To top it all, the app works anywhere in the world. Planning a trip? Plug in your locations and set up some alerts. That's a better way to bring back some great memories! By stacking the deck on your side. BUILT FOR THE FIELD The Tools tab has four free photography essentials that earn their place at 5am. A countdown timer for timing long exposures in bulb mode, with stopwatch mode if you prefer to count up. An ND filter calculator: enter your base exposure, pick your filter, and get the corrected time. You can also send it straight to the countdown timer with one tap. A time-lapse calculator for your interval and clip length, and a star exposure calculator (NPF and 500 rule) so your stars stay sharp. No more mental maths in the dark. Pro adds the Astro Planner, Tide Planner and the Colour Temp tool, which gives live readings in Kelvin to help you nail your white balance. FREE RIGHT NOW. PRO WHEN YOU'RE READY. Start free with 3 locations, unlimited alerts, and full push notifications. There's no account required. Try it. PhotoWatch Pro, a small yearly subscription, adds unlimited locations, tide and swell predictions and alerts, astro conditions and alerts, fog alerts, fine-tuning for every condition, the Astro Planner, Tide Planner and Colour Temp tools, and cloud backup so your setup survives a phone change. Set it. Forget it. Go get the shot! Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Analog Film Developer Timer4 screens
PhotoWatch4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: PhotoWatch at Free against Analog Film Developer Timer's $14.00. PhotoWatch also leads on update cadence (every 6 days vs every 5 weeks) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 18.0). Analog Film Developer Timer's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1). On ads 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

CostPrice Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Ads Ā· Monetization

PhotoWatch is free to download; Analog Film Developer Timer costs $14.00 up front. PhotoWatch sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $12.00 per year. Analog Film Developer Timer asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Analog Film Developer Timer ships an update every 5 weeks, PhotoWatch every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on November 11, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences Ā· 4 level
Analog Film Developer Timer versus PhotoWatch: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAnalog Film Developer TimerPhotoWatch
Price$14.00Free — better
Positive reviews32.3% of reviews—
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeksEvery 6 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaid—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS18.015.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size4 MB43 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMatthias EichnerBrian Smith

In-app purchases

None

Analog Film Developer Timer

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

PhotoWatch

Subscriptions1
  • PhotoWatch Pro$12.001 Year

Questions

Is Analog Film Developer Timer free?
Analog Film Developer Timer costs $14.00, with no in-app purchases.
Is PhotoWatch free?
PhotoWatch is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Analog Film Developer Timer or PhotoWatch have ads?
Neither Analog Film Developer Timer nor PhotoWatch shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Analog Film Developer Timer or PhotoWatch?
Analog Film Developer Timer ships an update every 5 weeks, and PhotoWatch every 6 days. Most recently, Analog Film Developer Timer was updated on November 11, 2026 and PhotoWatch on October 31, 2026.

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