Cinematographer Apps

iamlance

iamlance

Well-known member
I've heard a lot about 2 different Android/iPhone apps useful for cinematographers: Artemis Viewfinder App and pCAM

Artemis is quite expensive for an app, and pCAM is only available for iPhones.

Has anyone had experience with Pocket AC and/or Cadrage Director's Viewfinder? They are supposed to be the equivalent/alternative version for Android.

Pocket AC ( https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.eximlabs.pocketAC&hl=en )
It seems like a great tool, but is way over my head. Is this something that a student should know/use?

Cadrage Director's Viewfinder: ( https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.distantblue.cadrage&hl=en )
Cheaper and, from what I've heard, better than Artemis Viewfinder. Can anyone add their opinion to this? Again, not completely useful to me, as I only use a DSLR, but still handy to have for scouting.




Some other apps I've been looking into/using are GripApp, Thats A Wrap, Light Meter Pro, Shot Designer, Photo Tools, and DSLR Controller (love this app!). Some have repeating stuff, and lots of components I have no clue what they are/ don't need.
 
I use Hollywood Camerawork's Shot Designer on an iPad and my laptop, which is fantastic. They have Android too. You layout shots and actions and it makes the list. It's very useful.

I have Simple DoF which is good for just about any format, and Sun Seeker which is invaluable on location scouts to tell you where the sun will be at what time of day. I have these on the iPhone so I'm not sure they are available on Android.

I also have a cool app called CineMeter that you set and ISO and fstop and it displays a waveform monitor or false color. I scout with an analog light meter anyway but it's a pretty cool thing. I don't use it all that much because I don't shoot all that much in "no light" and by the time I need a waveform, the camera is up.
 
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My regularly used apps at work are pCam, Artemis, Helios (more accurate than Sun Seeker, as I've found out the hard way), and occasionally Shot Designer (usually prefer to use it on the desktop).

On the G/E end I use Swatch and MyGobo to select gels and gobos for Lekos, respectively.
 
Do you guys know how they compare to the Android apps I mentioned? Particularly the Cadrage Viewfinder? It's a third the cost of Artemis.

I'll take a look into the other mentioned apps!
 
iamlance said:
Do you guys know how they compare to the Android apps I mentioned? Particularly the Cadrage Viewfinder? It's a third the cost of Artemis.

I'll take a look into the other mentioned apps!
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, while there appears to be a Cadrage iPhone version, I don't have the money to buy/review... I have Artemis, so, I'd recommend it. As to what could be different to justify 3x cost... well, when I bought it, there wasn't anything really in the category.

The AC widget doesn't seem to be as well supported, from the website info, as pCam.
 
The iPhone versions are not accessible to me, so I'm working with what I have available. I understand that those versions are probably better supported and polished.

So you think the only justification for Artemis being 3x the price is its brand establishment from being first? Both apps seem to do the same thing, so for my basic needs, either would do fine, right?
 
I saw that link to Cinematography.com already. Not much of a review; but the closest thing I was able to find, which shows my disappointment. I'll probably just buy it and hope it suits me well. If problems arise, Artemis it is.
My Sun-position app is a plug-in for Photo Tools called Azimuth. When I tried using it, nothing happened, so I'll have to email the developer or download a different program.
Wish these all-in-one apps actually had good stuff. It seems separate apps almost always have better features.
 
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