GUIDE

6 things to check when comparing film log apps

Film cameras don’t record the date, the aperture or the shutter speed. A shooting log app lets you keep this information yourself.

Here are six things worth checking when you compare apps. Each one also explains how it works in CONTACT, the app we make.

1. Can it write Exif to your photos?

Some apps only keep the log inside the app, while others can write it into your photo files as Exif (shooting data). Once it’s written, you can see the shooting data just by opening the photo’s details in your photos app.

In CONTACT: It writes Exif into your photo files.

2. Is your phone all you need?

Some apps need a computer for the writing step. If you receive your lab scans on your phone, this makes a big difference.

In CONTACT: From logging to writing, everything can be done on your phone.

3. Can you log without hesitating while you shoot?

You open a log app every time you press the shutter. If it takes too many steps, it interrupts your shooting and you’ll stop using it.

In CONTACT: The controls were crafted in every detail by a Japanese UI/UX designer who still shoots film, based on what they wanted in the field. Logging quickly without hesitation and never mis-tapping are what we care about most.

4. What happens to frames you forgot to log?

When you’re absorbed in shooting, you sometimes forget to log. How an app handles those gaps affects whether you’ll keep using it.

In CONTACT: Frames you didn’t log get the date, time and gear information filled in automatically, and are written too.

5. Can you edit the details later?

A large screen helps when you want to fix misaligned frames or change many photos at once.

In CONTACT: You can edit in detail with CONTACT LINK on a Mac.

6. Is it easy to start, and affordable to keep using?

In CONTACT: Just open it in your browser and add it to your home screen. All features are free until the end of February 2027. For what comes after, see Public beta.

Comparison checklist

The surest test is to log a whole roll and go as far as writing to your photos.

Try CONTACT

Try it free on your phone

Scan the QR code with your phone’s camera to open CONTACT.

app.contactfilmlog.com