Apps for Cinematographers

[Alexandros Angelopoulos Apostolos]

Several days ago, I asked Satsuki about how they knew the Sun will appear at a particular spot in one of the scenes in Satsuki’s reel.

 

I was aiming to find out if Satsuki was using any of the Sun-tracking apps.

 

There are a few which seem to be really popular, especially with photographers.

 

One of them is PhotoPills, currently available only for iOS, but there is an Android version in the works (if I remember correctly, by the end of the year it will hit Play Store). The app is $9.99 in the App Store:

 

http://www.photopills.com/

 

It looks gorgeous.

 

Its competitor is the Sun Surveyor app, available both for Android and iOS. It’s $7.99 in the Play Store:

 

http://www.sunsurveyor.com/

 

Looks great, too.

 

Another similar one, available on both platforms is The Photographer’s Ephemeris, which also has a free Web app:

 

http://photoephemeris.com/

 

Satsuki mentioned Sun Seeker.

 

http://www.ozpda.com/

 

Then there's the Set Lighting Technician, $5.99, which provides specifications for most frequently used lights on set. Available for both platforms, though one commentator in the Play Store says that the iPhone version has more information.

 

So I was wondering are there any other apps, of any other type, which you use and which are useful in your job?

[Miguel Angel]

I use Sun Seeker just because it happens to be the one that I keep using all the times and because it works great.

 

https://itunes.apple.com/ie/app/sun-seeker-3d-augmented-reality/id330247123?mt=8

 

I also use Artemis, which is a director's viewfinder app so I can line up everything first without having to move the camera.

 

https://itunes.apple.com/ie/app/artemis-directors-viewfinder/id324917457?mt=8

 

Have a good day.

[Adrian Sierkowski]

Sunseeker for me on Android. I also have Artemis; but I don't normally like it. I'll use it on scouts, but not really on the day when i'd much rather a director's finder, if even needed.

[Alexandros Angelopoulos Apostolos]

Then there’s weather – tons of apps, tons of them useless.

 

The one I saw a lot of people praise is Dark Sky, now available on Android, too. Google Play is even advertising it on its front page:

 

http://darksky.net

Edited May 16, 2016 by Alexandros Angelopoulos Apostolos

[John E Clark]

I use the following (iPhone, some of them have Android versions):

 

Artemis

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/artemis-directors-viewfinder/id324917457?mt=8

 

pCam

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/pcam-film-+-digital-pro/id295456485?mt=8

 

Sun Surveyor

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sun-surveyor/id525176875?mt=8

 

ARRI App (Not that I use ARRI... but it tells me what I should be using...)

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/photometrics/id733009338?mt=8

 

----

INRIX -- freeway and city street congestion indications... especially in LA...

https://itunes.apple.com/app/inrix-xd-traffic-maps-routes/id324384027

Edited May 16, 2016 by John E Clark

[timHealy]

I've been using sun seeker for a few years now. I like it when it works. I can take a picture of the sun path on a scout and save it so I know when it'll come between two buildings or what time we will get sun or lose it a few months later. Since I work in NY, it comes in handy because of working around skyscrapers. But sometimes it gets confused or malfunctions. When it malfuctions it seems like it is not aligned right. I have used it on an iPhone 4s and 5s. I have never been sure if it was a app problem or iPhone OS problem. I will try some of the others.

 

Best

 

Tim