f vs Chronodev
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
f
This app helps darkroom printers adjust exposure times by f-stop increments. It calculates precise exposure values for printing, offering easier test strip creation by working with equal exposure differences.
- Calculate exposure by f-stop increments
- Modify exposure times for printing
- Generate new exposure times
- Calculate f-stop increments for burning in
- Easier test strip creation
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The f-Stop Printing Calculator allows darkroom printers to modify times by stops when calculating exposure values. The calculator will establish 1/4 stop increments (+ or – up to 3/4) of the base time you have entered and, either generate a new time, or an increment of an f-stop if you are burning in. By working with f-stops rather than linear units of time, you can produce an easier to read test strip as the exposure differences are exactly equal. This app has been designed by Digitaltruth Photo Ltd and Bruce Tanner.
Chronodev
This app transforms your iPhone or iPad into a darkroom enlarger timer. It uses HomeKit-enabled devices to control your enlarger and safelights, offering features like manual control, metronome for dodging/burning, and automatic test strip creation.
- iPhone/iPad enlarger timer
- HomeKit device control
- Manual enlarger focusing
- Metronome for dodging/burning
- EV stop time adjustments
- Automatic test strip creation
- Voice control support
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Transform your iPhone into an enlarger timer using Chronodev. Chronodev uses HomeKit-enabled wall plugs and lightbulbs to control your enlarger and safelights. Secondhand enlarger timers can be expensive and hard to find. This one costs the price of a wi-fi wall plug. - Control your enlarger and safelight with your iPhone or iPad - Expose prints accurately using the HomeKit-enabled timer - Manual enlarger control for focusing - Use the metronome for dodging and burning - Adjust times using EV stops - Automatically create test strips with incremental exposures, and keep track of exposure times using a handy graph - Automatically turn your safelight off when exposing/focusing - Voice control support for hands-free development - Safe to use in black and white darkrooms when using iOS's built-in red color filter A HomeKit-enabled wall plug and/or lightbulb is required to use all features of this app. Some features (like a basic timer and EV stop calculations) are available without a HomeKit-enabled device.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Chronodev at 4.5 against f's 3.8. Chronodev also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 60%) and update cadence (monthly vs every 29 months). f's advantage is iOS requirement (9.0 vs 17.0). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Chronodev holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 5 and 2 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 60% of f's written reviews are positive against 100% of Chronodev's.
f ships an update every 29 months, Chronodev monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and June 7, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | f | Chronodev |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.8 (5 ratings) | 4.5 (2 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 60.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 5 — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Every 29 months | Monthly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 9.0 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 1 MB | 2 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Freestyle Photo & Imaging | Kevin Olmats |
Customer experience
f
Chronodev
In-app purchases
f
No in-app purchases
Chronodev
No in-app purchases









