![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/main_interface-ZoneLab-800x514.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
A new analog photography app allows film shooters to determine the effective speed of any given film roll, as the number on the box can sometimes be inaccurate. <\/p>\n
Built as a passion project, Evan Mathis announced ZoneLab on Reddit<\/a> and explains that he wanted to chart and catalog the effective ISO of various combinations of film, developer, camera, and lens in the Mamiya RB system that he uses. <\/p>\n \u201cAs I shared early screenshots and testing results with some of my other photo nerd friends, I was asked quite often if I would ever consider making this into a desktop app that others could use,\u201d Mathis explains on the ZoneLab website<\/a>. <\/p>\n \u201cI set out to make this an app to help film photographers log and chart the effective ISO of their specific film and development processes through Zone System<\/a> testing methodology.\u201d <\/p>\n Mathis acknowledges that while ZoneLab won\u2019t make the user a better photographer, it does enable them to \u201cestablish a consistent, repeatable process\u201d that eliminates as many variables as possible. ZoneLab can also calculate the setup\u2019s contrast index, gamma, tonal range, and exposure latitude.<\/p>\n How Does it Work? <\/p>\n After registering the film stock, the processing method, the camera and lens, and the gray card they\u2019re using in ZoneLab, the photographer must then shoot 10 photos of the gray card with consistent lighting. <\/p>\n \u201cMeter the grey card at the film\u2019s box speed ISO to determine your base exposure,\u201d Mathis explains. \u201cThen shoot 10 frames with one-stop increments\u201d. <\/p>\n The photographer starts at Zone I, which is -4 stops, and shoots all the way through to Zone X, which is +5 stops. It\u2019s important to keep the lighting the same all the way through. <\/p>\n Then it\u2019s time to develop the film. Mathis urges the photographer to maintain \u201cconsistent temperature, time, and agitation\u201d, as these are all critical variables. <\/p>\n Once the film is dry, each zone is measured with a densitometer. Mathis says that if the photographer doesn\u2019t have a calibrated device that can measure degrees of darkness, then any \u201cquality photo lab\u201d will have one. <\/p>\n Once the photographer has those densitometer values, they can be entered into ZoneLab, where there is a \u201cCalculate ISO\u201d button.<\/p>\n ZoneLab is not for the casual photographer. It\u2019s aimed at film shooters who deeply care about how all the variables of the analog process can affect their overall picture aesthetic. <\/p>\n The Phoblographer notes<\/a> that ZoneLab also allows photographers to compare different photo sessions and track developer changes. <\/p>\n ZoneLab is in beta and is available via TestFlight on macOS (requires Sonoma). To install it, head to the website<\/a>. <\/p>\n