Anything Goes : iHave a Question by Ellecina Eck

Okay, I don't really shoot with my iPhone or iPad, but I do have and use apps for reference and function. So, though this post may not add to iPhone and iPad shooters, they are useful for digital camera shooters. The most common apps that I use are: 1. pCAM - Though this app has a lot of functions, the one I use the most is the Focal Length Match feature. This feature takes one format's (camera) sensor and lens ratios and matches it to another. This is great for those of us that use mixed lenses (e.g., Nikon, Canon, Tokina, etc.) on interchangeable lens video cameras. This is not a cheap app by any means at $29.99. 2. Sun Scout - This app uses the camera lens of your smartphone and lays a visual representation of the sun's current path and position by time (24-hr.). Furthermore, it also sets a horizon line and has a limited select a date feature, by today, next week, next month, Summer and Winter Solstices, Spring and Autumn Equinoxes and middle of months. This is somewhat effective when location scouting. The biggest con for me is the limited select a date feature, however you can make a pretty good guess by using the Middle of Months section. This app costs: $9.99 3. Toland ASC Digital Assistant - This is the only app endorsed by the ASC (American Society of Cinematographers) and can be intimidating to use at first glance (unless you are an experienced or trained cinematographer/camera operator). It would take at least a page to fully explain the basic features of this app, so I'll just give you the brief, since a user's guide is built into it. The app basically breaks down cinematography into three categories, Camera, Lens and Logging. These function allow you to select camera (including film and film stock) and lens types and allows you log your settings. The con... and it's a big one. This app costs $39.99. So unless you are absolutely intending to use this app or have the spare scratch laying around, then I would think long and hard before purchasing it. Then again, if your business is within the realm of cinematography/videography, you can always write it off, since it is a true and legit tool for cinematography. 4. Easy Release - This is another great app for professional photographers and videographers. I use this app all the time, whether as a main release or a back-up (when I forget to bring enough or the right release forms or anything that happens on the fly; it occasionally happens). Now, though I have this listed as number 4, it's only because I wanted to keep the cinematography related apps together. As a usefulness ranking, I use this app as much if not more than the other apps, since I also use this for photography. Let's get to price point, since it will have an affect. This app goes for $9.99. Not bad for a legal and binding release right? Well... that price is for set and generic release form. This won't work for professionals, who will require the Advanced Customization Pro Pack, which goes for an additional $3.99. So, now you're looking at a cost of $13.98, which is still not bad for someone who intends to put it to work. The Advanced Customization Pro Pack does exactly what you think it does. It allows you to customize (by adding, customizing or removing) specific fields of the releases. This also includes rewording the release contracts to suit your needs. You can also import/export custom templates with other users via email. After filling out all of the fields and having your client pose for a photo and sign, it sends a PDF version of the signed release to their chosen email account. Oh! By the way, this app also includes a location release form. 5. Shot Designer - This is one of the best free apps that I own for short film filmmaking. It is a shot blocking and lighting diagram app that can only be used on a single scene by scene basis (one scene at a time). This allows you to test it out and see how you like it. IF you do, then you can purchase the Pro Version, which will allow you to use it on your Mac or PC, gives you File Management capabilities as well as Sharing and Exporting functions. Pro Version: $19.99 6. Pocket Light Meter - Now this is by no means a replacement for an actual light meter, but it is valuable to have in a pinch. In my experience with this meter it has performed decently. I say decent, because it isn't exact, but it is close enough to get you near the mark. It's roughly around 1 stop off from my light meters (Sekonic L-308DC & L-608) in most conditions, which is pretty damn good for a camera phone app in my opinion. Note: This app only measures reflected light. Cost: Free 7. Unit Converter - Though it probably doesn't matter which brand you get, I think it's important (for a cinematographer) to have one that at least has a conversions for light, power and length. I actually have two unit converter apps on my iPhone. One was Free and the other $0.99. 8. Adobe Reader - Yes, I convert everything to PDF, so it's nice to have an easy reader app at my fingertips. Cost: Free 9. Dropbox - For those that use cloud storage services, this is one of the most affordable and user-friendly services on the market. I know people will have different opinions for what they prefer, so I'm not going to say that this is the best, because preference is the only thing that can determine that sort of thing. I prefer Dropbox because its price to capacity ratio fits my budget. App: Free Dropbox: Free = 2 to 5 GB, Dropbox Pro: $9.99/mo = 100 GB, $19.99/mo = 200 GB, $49.99/mo = 500 GB (Two Enhanced Security feature add-ons available at $3.99 each), Dropbox Business: $75/mo ($15/mo per user with minimum of 5 users) = Unlimited storage + Enhanced Security 10. PANASCOUT - This Panavision app is basically an aspect ratio device for Panavision cameras. I chose this for number 10, because its the app that I hate the most of all of my film related apps. It only has two real uses, as an aspect ratio and a metadata companion tool. It doesn't allow you to record video or anything else. Supposedly, they were supposed to be updating it to allow camera focal lengths at some future time. For a company as big as Panavision is and with a high price point, I expected a lot more. I suspect that this app was nothing more than a promotional gimmick, since it doesn't work with iOS7 and hasn't been updated since June 2013. This app fails to deliver and isn't worth the purchase price or any other price for that matter. Its iTunes rating is 1.5 stars, which is more than it deserves. Cost: $9.99 Well, these are the apps that I use the most and one that I absolutely hate (at the moment) as it relates to film/video production. I use color palette apps, which you'd only really use for cinematography preproduction in communication with art, wardrobe and set design departments, so I left those out, since there are so many different ones out there and I don't really use them a lot, since the art departments usually have their own way of doing things. I hope this is helpful. Cheers!

Thanks, Quddus, for your comprehensive response! Great info to have; thanks again!

I'm a filmmaker and work as a director for public broadcasting stations in Germany since seven years. A few months ago I developed a social filmmaking App called Vooxly. Our startup wants to build up an Instagram like social voiceover video network. Visit our Webiste www.vooxly.com and check out our V 1.01 on the App Store https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/vooxly-voiceover-video-camera/id67497414... Thx! Martin