There are a lot of photography apps out there, and it can quickly turn into a jungle. Over the years, I’ve tried quite a few, but in this post, I want to focus on the apps I actually use and why.
I’m using an Android phone, currently a Google Pixel 7a. Most of these apps are also available on iOS, but I haven’t personally tested them on an iPhone.
At the end there’s a quick overview of the apps I use.
Click here to jump to the summary List
Film Photography Apps
I shoot a fair bit of film, including large format, and this is where my phone becomes an essential tool rather than a distraction.
Film Photography Viewfinder (Paid)
Film Photography Viewfinder does exactly what the name suggests, it’s a viewfinder app. It’s made by a fellow large-format photographer and is especially useful if you shoot large format, though it works well for other formats too.
I mainly use it for pre-visualisation. Being able to try different focal lengths before setting up the camera is incredibly helpful when scouting locations. The app allows you to either overlay grids for all focal lengths added to a format or zoom in on a single focal length. I really appreciate having both options available.
Over time, the app has grown far beyond being just a viewfinder. It now includes tools such as bellows extension, depth of field calculations, format conversion, reciprocity calculations, push and pull calculations, and reciprocity failure.
My two favourite features are the Light Meter and the Log Book, which both have their own tabs. The light meter integrates nicely with other tools in the app, such as reciprocity failure and logging. The log book itself is simple but very effective. If I’m out shooting my Hasselblad, I can preload a film, add details, and then log notes for each frame as I shoot.
I still often carry a small notebook because I enjoy keeping things analog. But I can be absent-minded and forget it, and when that happens, this app is a great backup. As a digital solution, I really like it.
Light Meter – Free
This is the light meter app I used before getting Film Photography Viewfinder, and I still use it regularly. The main reason is speed. It offers a live readout, which can be very useful when working quickly. In Film Photography Viewfinder you need to tap to take a reading each time, which is more deliberate and arguably better, but sometimes speed matters.
This app also includes some additional tools, such as reciprocity failure calculations, with a few more entries than Film Photography Viewfinder.
Digital Truth – Massive Dev Chart
Digital Truth, also known as Massive Dev Chart, is a great resource for finding film development times. I’ve simply saved the webpage as a home-screen icon.
It’s worth remembering that this is a user-submitted database, so I always take the times with a bit of caution and common sense.
Darkroom Solutions – Film Development Chart
Darkroom Solutions serves a similar purpose but works differently. It pulls development times directly from manufacturer datasheets and provides sources.
This is always my starting point when I’m looking for development times. If I can’t find what I need here, I’ll then check Massive Dev Chart.
Film Developer Pro (Paid)
Film Developer Pro is the Darkroom Solutions app, and it’s excellent. It gives you access to the database, a clean and reliable development timer, and tools for adjusting times and calculating push and pull development.
The only things I really miss are the ability to add custom films and notes. But overall, it’s a very solid and well-designed tool.
ND Filter Apps
These are simple apps that calculate adjusted exposure times when using ND filters.
NiSi Filters
This is the simplest of the two and the one I use most often. It’s quick and does exactly what I need.
Exposive Calculator
I use Exposive Calculator when I need a bit more control or flexibility than the NiSi app provides.
Photo Editing Apps
Google Photos
I mainly use Google Photos as a way of getting images from my computer onto my phone for sharing, especially on Instagram.
I’ll often do small tweaks directly in Google Photos. Images can look slightly different on a phone screen compared to a calibrated monitor, so minor adjustments are often needed.
Snapseed
Snapseed is an excellent photo editing app with a lot of powerful features. Whenever I want to make more substantial edits on my phone, this is the app I use.
Maps & Planning
PhotoPills (Paid)
PhotoPills is a well-known app with a lot of features. Personally, I mainly use it for planning. Being able to see where the sun, moon, and stars will be at different times is incredibly useful, and for me that alone makes the app worth the price.
Google Maps
An obvious choice. I use Google Maps to find locations, check Street View, browse uploaded photos, and navigate to shooting spots.
TopoGPS (Paid)
TopoGPS is primarily a hiking app. It allows you to download maps for offline use, which is essential if you’re heading into areas with poor reception.
You can track your route, find your way back to the car, and see basic statistics like distance walked. You can also drop pins, which is useful if you want to return to a specific location later.
Naturkartan (Free)
Naturkartan is another hiking app that I mainly use to discover new hiking routes and nature reserves. This one is specific to Sweden.
AllTrails (Free / Paid)
I don’t use AllTrails very often, but it’s international and useful for finding hiking paths, especially when traveling.
Weather Apps
As a landscape photographer, weather plays a huge role in what I do. As a result, I use more weather apps than I probably should.
Standard Weather Apps
The main ones I use are DMI (Denmark), SMHI (Sweden), and YR (Norway). These are all national meteorological institutes. They’re free and generally very reliable.
I usually start with SMHI for a quick overview, but I always double-check with the others, as forecasts can differ. I also like that YR offers up to 22 days of predictions, even if that long-range forecast is fairly basic.
Weather Radar & Maps
Klart
A commercial weather app, but I mainly use it for its radar view, which offers up to seven days of predictions.
I also use the Klart website, which provides a more classic weather map, similar to what you used to see in newspapers. It’s great for getting a quick overview when planning trips.
Vackert Väder
Another commercial app with a decent radar view.
Weather & Radar
An international app. I like the radar view, but I don’t use it very often.
Specialist Weather Apps
Windy
Essential for predicting wind direction and strength, especially for landscape and coastal photography.
Light Pollution Map
Does exactly what the name suggests and is invaluable when looking for dark skies.
Clear Outside
One of my favourite weather apps. It provides predictions for visibility, fog, and cloud coverage, including cloud types. This makes it extremely useful when trying to judge whether conditions are worth heading out for. I use the free version, but there’s also a paid option that removes ads.
Summary list
Below is a quick-reference list of the apps I use, grouped by purpose. This is useful if you just want an overview without reading the full explanations above.
Film Photography
- Film Photography Viewfinder (Paid)
Viewfinder & focal length preview
Pre-visualisation & scouting memos
Light meter, log book, reciprocity & DOF tools - Light Meter – Free
Fast live light readings
Reciprocity failure calculations - Digital Truth – Massive Dev Chart
User-submitted film development times - Darkroom Solutions – Film Development Chart
Manufacturer-sourced development data
Always my first reference - Film Developer Pro (Paid)
Development timer
Push/pull calculations
ND Filter Tools
- NiSi Filters
Quick ND exposure calculations - Exposive Calculator
More advanced ND exposure control
Photo Editing
- Google Photos
Transfer images to phone
Small tweaks for mobile viewing - Snapseed
Advanced mobile photo editing
Maps & Planning
- PhotoPills (Paid)
Sun, moon, and star planning - Google Maps
Location scouting & navigation - TopoGPS (Paid)
Offline hiking maps
Route tracking & pins - Naturkartan (Free)
Nature reserves & hiking routes (Sweden) - AllTrails (Free / Paid)
International hiking paths
Weather Apps
Standard Forecasts
- DMI (Denmark)
- SMHI (Sweden)
- YR (Norway)
Reliable national forecast apps.
Radar & Weather Maps
- Klart (App)
Radar view (up to 7 days) - Klart (Website)
Classic large-scale weather overview - Vackert Väder
Radar view - Weather & Radar
International radar maps
Specialist Weather Tools
- Windy
Wind direction & strength - Light Pollution Map
Dark-sky planning - Clear Outside (Free / Paid)
Visibility & fog prediction
Cloud cover and cloud types
Final Thoughts
You don’t need all of these apps. These are the ones I have on my phone. Try them out if you like or don’t, but hopefully this might help someone out there in cyberspace 🙂