Comparison

Reciprocity Plus vs ZoneCalc

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

Head to head
About

Reciprocity Plus

This app simplifies long exposure photography calculations for both digital and analog cameras. It includes a vast library of filter effects and reciprocity charts, allowing users to design or modify their own. A built-in timer ensures accurate exposure timing even when the app is not in use.

Highlights
  • Long exposure calculation
  • 29 filter effects (CTO, CTB, ND, etc.)
  • 110+ reciprocity charts
  • Customizable chart design
  • Built-in timer
  • Support for digital and analog photography
Features
Read full description

Reciprocity+ : photo tool, for calculating long exposure, for digital and analog photography. Are you tired of mentally multiplying exposure time with yor ND3+ND8 filters, and then adding reciprocity failure rate ? Reciprocity + is for you : • 29 Filters : CTO, CTB, Green series, ND serie and more • 110 Reciprocity charts included. • Design your own chart or modify an existing one • Share your charts with PInhole Assit App, • Share by email •Available charts : • A chart adapted from Jim Shull's The Hole Thing • Two charts for RC photo paper , • 400TX,TMX,TMY,HP5+,100 Delta (source APUG forums) • max 400, T max 100,TRiX & Plus 125, Ilford films (Without Lenses website ) • Official Ilford films. • Ektachrome, Fujichrome, Agfachrome and + from "Using the View Camera". • Arista films (courtesy of David Aimone) • Ilford Pan F, Fuji FP100, Fuji Neopan 100 ACROS, Ektar 100 • Fuji FP 3000B • and more (119 films). • A timer, of You can quit the app, no matter what you do, the timer will notify you when the exposure is over. From the makers of Pinhole Assist.

About

ZoneCalc

This app assists photographers in precisely calculating exposure and tonal placement using Ansel Adams' Zone System. It offers features for metering, reciprocity correction, and development adjustments, with options for multi-point measurements and data export.

Highlights
  • Zone System exposure calculation
  • Multi-point metering
  • Reciprocity correction
  • Development adjustment recommendations
  • Film-specific development times
  • Calculation history and export
Features
Read full description

ZONECALC · ZONE SYSTEM CALCULATOR ZoneCalc is a precision tool for large format, medium format and 35 mm photography following Ansel Adams' Zone System. Built for photographers who work with a spot meter, develop their own negatives, and want full control over exposure and tonal placement. METERING In Classic mode, enter the shutter speed for the deepest shadow with detail (Zone II) and the brightest highlight with detail (Zone VIII). ZoneCalc returns the shutter speed for Zone V, 18 % middle gray: the exposure you set on the camera. Multi mode accepts any number of measurement points across the scene. The app auto-assigns each point to a zone; drag pins on the zone strip to express your placement intent. For pinhole cameras, you can enter your own apertures beyond f/32. NEW: METERING WITH THE IPHONE CAMERA Capture the scene with the iPhone and tap up to five measuring points into the image. The reading is taken from the camera's RAW image, not from the displayed photo. ZoneCalc pre-assigns the darkest area to Zone II and the brightest to Zone VIII; every zone can be changed. One tap transfers the reading to the calculator: two points go to Classic, more points go to Multi. Zone spacing and dynamic range are reliable right away. For the absolute value, calibrate the iPhone once with a grey card against your spot meter. Camera readings are saved to the history with image and measuring points. Camera metering requires an iPhone that captures RAW. RECIPROCITY For exposures above one second, the Schwarzschild effect is corrected automatically: t_corr = t_nom ^ p, using the film-specific exponent. The corrected camera time appears directly in the result card. The shutter speed list extends to 30 minutes. Films with reciprocity data: Ilford HP5+, FP4+, Delta 100/400, Pan F+ 50, Ortho+ 80, Kodak Tri-X, T-Max 100/400, Kodak Portra 160/400/800, Fujifilm Acros 100 II, Fomapan 100/200/400, Leica Monopan. N-RATING & DEVELOPMENT ZoneCalc compares the scene's dynamic range against the film's usable latitude and proposes a development adjustment, from N−2 to N+2. For each film, concrete times are shown for common developers: D-76, Rodinal, HC-110, XTOL, ID-11 and T-Max Dev, with dilutions per Massive Dev Chart and manufacturer recommendations. Add your own tested times per film and developer. HISTORY & EXPORT Every calculation can be saved with a note and the chosen developer; two entries can be compared side by side. The complete result with shutter speed, reciprocity, N-rating and development times exports as an image for the darkroom or for sharing via AirDrop, message or mail. DESIGN The interface follows the visual language of classic Leica instruments: monospaced typography, warm amber accent, hard edges instead of rounded corners. Fully localized in English and German, all-dark throughout, optimized for darkroom and field use. ZONECALC PRO Classic two-point metering with Zone V calculation and the zone strip are free. The one-time Pro upgrade unlocks: • Metering with the iPhone camera and grey card calibration • Multi-point metering with interactive zone assignment • Reciprocity correction and N-rating • Development recommendations with times per developer, plus your own development times • Save, compare and image export One app, no subscriptions, no data collection. All calculations run locally on device, including camera metering. ZoneCalc uploads nothing.

Screenshots

Reciprocity Plus4 screens
ZoneCalc4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: ZoneCalc at Free against Reciprocity Plus's $1.99. ZoneCalc also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.1) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 4 months). Reciprocity Plus's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.6). On ratings volume, ads and device support 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

ZoneCalc is free to download; Reciprocity Plus costs $1.99 up front. ZoneCalc sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Reciprocity Plus asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

ZoneCalc holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 7 and 3 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Reciprocity Plus ships an update every 4 months, ZoneCalc every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Reciprocity Plus versus ZoneCalc: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterReciprocity PlusZoneCalc
Price$1.99Free — better
Rating4.1 (7 ratings)5.0 (3 ratings) — better
Positive reviews72.7% of reviews—
Number of ratings7 — better3
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFreemium — better
DevicesiPhone, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.6 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size8 MB3 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLe bord de la piscineJuergen Suk

Customer experience

Reciprocity Plus

All ratings7 ratings
Positive71.4%
Neutral14.3%
Negative14.3%
Written reviews11 reviews
Positive72.7%
Neutral18.2%
Negative9.1%

ZoneCalc

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Reciprocity Plus

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

ZoneCalc

One-time1
  • ZoneCalc Pro$3.99

Questions

Is Reciprocity Plus free?
Reciprocity Plus costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is ZoneCalc free?
ZoneCalc is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Reciprocity Plus or ZoneCalc?
ZoneCalc is rated higher. Reciprocity Plus averages 4.1 out of 5 from 7 ratings, while ZoneCalc averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.
Do Reciprocity Plus or ZoneCalc have ads?
Neither Reciprocity Plus nor ZoneCalc shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Reciprocity Plus or ZoneCalc?
Reciprocity Plus ships an update every 4 months, and ZoneCalc every 3 weeks. Most recently, Reciprocity Plus was updated on October 26, 2026 and ZoneCalc on October 31, 2026.

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