Comparison

Pulse Camera Control vs Magic Nikonian ViewFinder

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Pulse Camera Control

Control your Canon or Nikon DSLR wirelessly from your smartphone or tablet. Take photos, videos, and time-lapses with instant feedback and creative control from up to 100 feet away.

Highlights
  • Wireless DSLR control
  • Remote photo/video capture
  • Time-lapse with exposure ramping
  • ISO, shutter speed, aperture control
  • Instant image thumbnails & histograms
  • Control up to 3 devices
Features
Read full description

This is the smartphone control app for Pulse. Pulse is a device that attaches to your Canon or Nikon DSLR and allows you to wirelessly take photos, videos and time-lapses from your phone or tablet and get instant feedback. With Pulse you get complete creative control all while staying free to use your phone or tablet. From the mountains to the studio Pulse handles everything from your biggest projects to impromptu street photography. With its small size and intuitive features, you'll never want to leave it behind. Pulse Features : -Wirelessly control ISO, shutter speed and aperture from up to 100 feet -Receive image thumbnails and histograms within seconds -Take 'Holy Grail' timelapses with exposure ramping -Control up to 3 Pulses at once -Free up WiFi and Internet as Pulse uses Bluetooth and BLE -Extend your session with 24 hours of battery (USB rechargeable)

About

Magic Nikonian ViewFinder

Simulates the field of view for specific camera and lens combinations, aiding photographers in pre-production. Capture shots with embedded metadata and control focus and white balance.

Highlights
  • Simulates camera and lens field of view
  • Supports various Nikon camera models
  • Adjustable focal length and aspect ratio
  • Apply color presets (LUTs)
  • Capture images with metadata
  • Control exposure, focus, and white balance
Features
Read full description

Magic Nikonian ViewFinder presents you a precise framing preview for the real camera/lens combination you'll be shooting with, right where you stand with your iPhone / iPad. It simulates the field of view of Nikon digital cameras or lens and can help thousands of professionals in photography at the preproduction. PLEASE READ: this app does not turn your Apple device into an external monitor, but operates as a stand-alone director's viewfinder. The app contains ad banners, which can be turned off with additional in-app purchase (in 'About the App' menu). The app is a digital directors viewfinder - it helps you see the exact field of view for your future shot. Select the camera from the menu and rotate the wheel to select the focal length of the lens. Supported cameras: - Nikon D4s, D5, Z7, Z6 - Nikon D750, D810, etc (marked as DXX0 in the app) - Nikon D500 - Nikon D5600, D3400, D7500, etc (marked as DXX00 in the app) Magic ViewFinder simulates using tele adapters or anamorphic optics on your camera (see menu). From the menu you can also select the aspect ratio of the frame guide overlaying your image. Magic ViewFinder lets you apply color presets (aka LUTs) to the live picture, which brings you even closer to the final shot. You may capture the image for future reference, with additional data like the focal length, date/time and camera / lens information. While capturing, you may lock exposure and turn on/off AF to better control the captured picture. You can turn on the AF mode, or lock the focus temporarily. You can also tap the live screen to focus on particular objects. White balance may work in Auto, Locked or Manual mode. If the field of view of your real camera is wider than your in-device camera, the app adds 'padding' around the image, since the device cannot 'see' what is beyond. It is the best solution that we developed. Please note that position of your iPhone or iPad should correspond to the 'nodal point' of your real lens, which is somewhere in the middle of the lens. This point is, so to speak, the weighted center of the optics. Ad policy: The ads are designed to appear non-intrusively. Ads can be turned off (see below). Additional info about the app may be read at: http://dev.kadru.net/index.php/magic-viewfinder/ If you have any issues please email us for a quick support: dev@kadru.net To activate additional settings (i.e. to use all available optical adapters and frame guides) and to turn off advertising, please subscribe to (Option #1) or purchase Premium Features (Option #2) in 'About the App' menu. In-App Purchase Option #1: - Title of service: Premium features: subscription - Length of subscription: a month (auto-renewable) - Contents of service: Turned off ads and additional options for frame guides, optical adapters, anamorphic indices, more LUTs - Price: $1.49 - Payment will be charged to iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase - Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period - Account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period, and identify the cost of the renewal - Subscriptions may be managed by the user and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the user’s Account Settings after purchase - Any unused portion of a free trial period will be forfeited when the user purchases a subscription to that publication, where applicable. Terms of Use: http://dev.kadru.net/tos.html In-App Purchase Option #2: - Title of service: Premium features: purchase - Length of subscription: once and forever - Contents of service: Turned off ads and additional options for frame guides, optical adapters, anamorphic indices, more LUTs - Price: $4.99 Privacy Policy: http://dev.kadru.net/privacy_policy/Privacy_Policy_Magic_CaNiLu_ViewFinder.html

Screenshots

Pulse Camera Control4 screens
Magic Nikonian ViewFinder4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Magic Nikonian ViewFinder at 4.6 against Pulse Camera Control's 3.0. Magic Nikonian ViewFinder also leads on review sentiment (80% vs 45%) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 17.0). Pulse Camera Control's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and ads (none vs shown). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Magic Nikonian ViewFinder sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per month. Pulse Camera Control asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Magic Nikonian ViewFinder holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 23 and 39 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 45% of Pulse Camera Control's written reviews are positive against 80% of Magic Nikonian ViewFinder's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Pulse Camera Control ships an update every 2 months, Magic Nikonian ViewFinder every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Pulse Camera Control versus Magic Nikonian ViewFinder: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPulse Camera ControlMagic Nikonian ViewFinder
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.0 (23 ratings)4.6 (39 ratings) — better
Positive reviews44.6% of reviews80.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings2339 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 6 weeks — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.012.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size34 MB23 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTangy Laboratories IncRoman Medvid

Customer experience

Pulse Camera Control

All ratings23 ratings
Positive39.1%
Neutral21.7%
Negative39.1%
Written reviews56 reviews
Positive44.6%
Neutral7.1%
Negative48.2%

Magic Nikonian ViewFinder

All ratings39 ratings
Positive89.7%
Neutral5.1%
Negative5.1%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive80.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative20.0%

Bugs and requests

Pulse Camera Control

Reported bugs

58 issues
  • Endless bugs
  • Bluetooth connectivity issues
  • Disconnects frequently
  • App can't find device
  • Occasional clipping with onscreen text
Show 53 more
  • Connection unreliable depending on camera settings
  • Unit needs to be disconnected and reconnected
  • Bluetooth connection reset and deleted
  • Bluetooth keeps cutting out
  • Incorrect camera mode detection
  • HDR option not working
  • Bug report submission failure
  • Firmware update issues
  • Camera lockups
  • App unable to update firmware
  • GUI outdated
  • Bluetooth dropping out
  • Live view not available
  • No preview on D800E
  • Inability to connect to D3s
  • Special cable needed for some Canon models
  • Awkward app navigation
  • Missing camera settings information
  • Disconnection between app and pulse
  • Disconnection between pulse and camera
  • Camera stuck in busy mode
  • Camera error messages
  • Device not found by app
  • Thumbnails not displaying correctly
  • USB cable port compatibility issues
  • Firmware update bricked device
  • Firmware update makes device useless
  • Device will not stay connected via Bluetooth
  • Intermittent disconnects
  • Vibration when tripping shutter
  • Playback on camera's LCD issue
  • Inability to see image output
  • App not working on iPhone 7+
  • Training video not accessible
  • Inability to control shutter speed, aperture, and ISO
  • Thumbnail feature not working
  • Video to photo transition issues
  • App is broken
  • Disconnects after trying to load thumbnail
  • Bluetooth connection issues
  • App does not connect to Pulse
  • Number scrollers unresponsive
  • Dialogue box annoyance with thumbnails
  • Menu options missing on iPhone 4
  • Camera settings not always propagating
  • App not connecting to device
  • Device not recognized by app
  • HDR exposure sequencing incorrect
  • Thumbnails not working
  • Company unresponsive to problems
  • Does not work with Canon 5D Mark IV
  • App does not connect to Pulse Controller
  • Shows up in Bluetooth list but app says not connected

Requested features

18 requests
  • Apple Watch support
  • Image preview
  • Histogram
  • Ability to disable vibration when tripping shutter
  • Retainment of playback on camera's LCD (Nikon) while Pulse is plugged in
Show 13 more
  • Directly download images to phone from app
  • See lens output
  • Live view
  • Focus point control
  • Ability to see ISO, f, and t of the pic just taken
  • Dark mode option
  • Advanced analytics dashboard
  • Full image display for thumbnails
  • Ability to turn off LED
  • Fix bugs and improve reliability
  • Improve app navigation
  • Add shutter speed, aperture, and ISO settings control
  • Make training video accessible again

Magic Nikonian ViewFinder

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Pulse Camera Control

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Magic Nikonian ViewFinder

Subscriptions1
  • Premium features: subscription$1.491 Month
One-time1
  • Premium features: purchase$4.99

Questions

Is Pulse Camera Control free?
Pulse Camera Control is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Magic Nikonian ViewFinder free?
Magic Nikonian ViewFinder is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Pulse Camera Control or Magic Nikonian ViewFinder?
Magic Nikonian ViewFinder is rated higher. Pulse Camera Control averages 3.0 out of 5 from 23 ratings, while Magic Nikonian ViewFinder averages 4.6 from 39 ratings.
Do Pulse Camera Control or Magic Nikonian ViewFinder have ads?
Magic Nikonian ViewFinder shows ads; Pulse Camera Control does not.
Which is updated more often, Pulse Camera Control or Magic Nikonian ViewFinder?
Pulse Camera Control ships an update every 2 months, and Magic Nikonian ViewFinder every 6 weeks. Most recently, Pulse Camera Control was updated on October 13, 2026 and Magic Nikonian ViewFinder on October 12, 2026.

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