# Focalware

> Calculates and visualizes sun and moon positions for photography and filmmaking planning. (iPhone/iPad app by Warner Photography, Inc..)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/focalware/id299490222 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Warner Photography, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/979000159)
- Category: Photo & Video, Utilities
- Price: Free (on sale, was $1.99)
- Rating: 5.00/5 from 6 App Store ratings · 49 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 12.0 · 6 MB
- Languages: English
- Released: 2008-12-11
- Data updated: 2026-06-10
- Monetization: paid
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/focalware/id299490222/reviews.md

## What is Focalware?

Focalware calculates sun and moon position for a given location and date. Use the interactive compass to determine the path and height of the sun or moon. Photographers and filmmakers who are always asked by their clients for the sun, moon and stars, can now deliver.

Features

- Support for compass on devices that have one
- Integrated map for custom locations
- Sun/Moon rise and set times
- Sun/Moon azimuth and elevation
- Moon phase
- Magnetic declination
- Results shown graphically or on a list
- Location list of major world cities
- Manually create and save a list of custom locations
- GPS support
- Calculate sun/moon position for today or any date in the future
- Works with current location or anywhere in the world

"Focalware offers unrivaled accuracy and ease of use to photographers shooting outdoors. To say I use it a couple of times a day is an understatement!"
--Moose Peterson, Wildlife Photographer

"A very slick little app, and a landscape photographer's new best friend."
--Scott Kelby, Editor of Photoshop User Magazine

"As a nature photographer who spends much of my time photographing locations with no cell or wifi coverage, Focalware is essential to my ability to plot and plan for the sun and moon’s arrival and departure, no matter where I am."
--Gary Hart, EloquentImages.com

Rated one of the 10 most useful iPhone Apps for Photographers by Pop Photo.

## Key features

- Sun/Moon position calculation
- Interactive compass and map
- Rise and set times
- Azimuth and elevation data
- Moon phase tracking
- Custom location saving

## Recent user reviews (10 of 49)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/focalware/id299490222/reviews.md

### 1/5 — Once worked perfectly... not any more: broken app

*2017-01-24, version 2.5*

In ios8, the app cannot read the iPhone time. Always position itself on the sunrise time. So in the evening you cannot navigate through the night because the app think you are in daytime. For the same reason you cannot get the current coordinates by shaking the iPhone because the app always position itself at sunrise time. Too bad because it was the better app of its kind a few years ago. Now there are better apps and this one doesn't even work anymore.

### 5/5 — Essential

*2017-01-17, version 2.4*

Great app that gives me sun/moon rise/set info I need wherever I am, even in locations without cell or wifi connectivity. I've relied on this app for many years to plan virtually all of my photography shoots.

### 1/5 — Doesn't work.....:(

*2016-04-27, version 2.3*

Sorry, but can't find ANY location on my iPhone 6 with latest system upgrade. Really disappointed. Hopefully they can get this corrected.

### 1/5 — Can't find my location, so semi-worthless

*2016-04-25, version 2.3*

I was excited to see this app, but it cannot find my location. I don't want to constantly have to type in my gps coordinates manually to get this to work. Very disappointing.

### 1/5 — Ok. But

*2016-04-24, version 2.3*

Appears to work well, but why does it need to know my location when I am not using it?

### 5/5 — Beautiful, incredible, worth every penny!

*2016-04-24, version 2.3*

You can tell an artistic person designed the GUi for this app because it's just absolutely beautiful.
Reminds me of some of the cutting edge App design during the renaissance of the Macintosh desktop publishing era prior to OSX. It Seems like Most current day GUI design in iOS looks like something out of a Fisher-Price design studio, But not this app!
At only 4.5 MB,the coding for this app also is incredible; heck, you'll even be able to fit this baby on a 16 MB iPhone!!
Great job!
Keep up the good work! Your creativity glorifies the designer/coder,The Branch of Jesse, of your DNA, big time!🏁🌌🎆🌅

### 3/5 — Compass does not point north

*2016-04-24, version 2.3*

- nice interface, but the compass does not point north (just up)

### 4/5 — Used for years

*2015-09-19, version 2.3*

I have used this app for many years and it works very well for the information about where the sun and moon will be for photography just about anywhere in the world.  You don't need to be on line so that's great for remote locations.  Has just about all the major cities preloaded and is easy to add new cities or locations by using you phone service to locate you.  Or by you adding the Lat and Lon and creating a custom name and location.

### 2/5 — Updated design?

*2013-09-15, version 2.3*

:-/

It is just letterboxed differently now.  It looks VERY MUCH like an iOS 6 or previous app.  Plus it has me as in New York, and it’s not easy to find how to have it choose where I am.

I’m unsure why this was JUST updated to something that runs on iOS 5 and later.  6 could easily be the minimum bar in this day and age.

### 4/5 — Good tool for photographers and astronomers

*2013-03-22, version 2.2*

This works really well, and allows sun and moon predictions with ease. Two suggestions for improvement though:

1. It would be nice to see the sun and moon together in a different mode, to gauge how close they are in the sky.

2. I'd also like to be able to see the sun and moon together on the screen when they are below the horizon. Basically I want the thing to work more like a full orrery :)

This app is nicely complemented by Sun Seeker, which shows a map view with sun beam direction overlaid. I recommend getting both of them.

## Frequently asked questions about Focalware

### What does Focalware do?

Focalware calculates and displays the position of the sun and moon for any given location and date. It helps users visualize the path and height of celestial bodies, providing essential data for planning outdoor photography and filmmaking.

### What are the key features of Focalware?

Key features include sun/moon rise and set times, azimuth and elevation data, moon phase tracking, an interactive compass, an integrated map for custom locations, and the ability to calculate positions for current or future dates.

### Is Focalware free to use?

Based on the provided information, Focalware is a paid application. It does not appear to have in-app purchases or advertisements, indicating a one-time purchase model.

### What devices is Focalware compatible with?

The app description mentions support for compass on devices that have one and GPS support, suggesting compatibility with smartphones and tablets that have these sensors. It is rated as an iPhone app.

### How can photographers and filmmakers use Focalware?

Photographers and filmmakers can use Focalware to precisely plan their shots by knowing exactly where the sun or moon will be at a specific time and location. This is crucial for capturing desired lighting conditions, golden hour shots, or celestial events.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 2.6 — 2026-04-29

Updated for latest iOS, modernized UI for current iPhones, refreshed magnetic declination data.

### 2.5 — 2017-01-24

Retains current settings when restoring from background.

### 2.4 — 2016-11-26

- iOS 10 compatibility changes
- Fixed bug with enabling/disabling compass

### 2.3 — 2013-09-15

- Updated design
- This version requires iOS 5 or higher

### 2.2 — 2011-03-23

Retina display support
Updated magnetic declination model
Minor UI updates
Fixed bug that caused 2.1 to crash on iOS 3.x devices

## Apps similar to Focalware

| App | Rating | Price | Category |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [VideoMaster Pro: EQ For Videos](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/videomaster-pro-eq-for-videos/id1447753716) | 4.6 (122) | $99.99 | Photo & Video |
| [DragonLight Mobile](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dragonlight-mobile/id6462937071) | 5.0 (1) | $9.99 | Photo & Video |
| [Beeble Camera](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/beeble-camera/id6739796149) | — | Free | Photo & Video |
| [DragonFly Companion](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dragonfly-companion/id1406560036) | 5.0 (6) | Free | Photo & Video |
| [Good Light! Magazine](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/good-light-magazine/id534820054) | 4.3 (64) | Free | Photo & Video |
| [ONNOA - SmartTimer](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/onnoa-smarttimer/id6470661710) | 4.5 (2) | Free | Photo & Video |

## More apps by Warner Photography, Inc.

- [Focalware Lite](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/focalware-lite/id702060947)

All apps by Warner Photography, Inc.: https://appshunter.io/developer/979000159

## Related topics

[focalware](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/focalware) · [focalware lite](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/focalware-lite)

---

*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-10.*