Kessler kOS vs pCAM Pro
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Kessler kOS
This advanced software provides precise wireless control for professional camera motion systems. It enables users to create complex, repeatable camera movements for various video and photography applications through an intuitive interface.
- Ultra-refined keyframe control
- Wireless iPad control
- Timelapse and stop motion modes
- Complex keyframe movement
- Editable keyframes
- Repeatable camera moves
- Event mode for live scenarios
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kOS is an advanced camera motion control software that unlocks the highest level of control and features for Kessler’s industry-leading motion control systems including Second Shooter Plus, Second Shooter Pro, and the newest motion control system CineShooter. This app allows for ultra-refined keyframe based control in a powerful and easy-to-use interface for applications such as timelapse, stop motion, live video/cinematography, event video, and advanced photography controlled wirelessly via iPad. CONTROL ANY MOTION Live, looping, stop motion, timelapse, GigaPixel* and Event Mode camera moves at your fingertips. DIGITAL KEYRAMING Simply move each axis into position and hit record. kOS saves your exact positioning for 100% repeatable moves. WIFI CONNECTIVITY Your CineShooter, Second Shooter Pro, or Second Shooter Plus device creates its own WiFi network that you can connect your device to instantly. COMPLEX KEYFRAME MOVEMENT Create up to 20 keyframes at once for ultra complex movement. EASY KEYFRAME SMOOTHING Add and manipulate curves to your moves for ease-in and ease-out motion. Also, link each side of the keyframe to match. EDITABLE KEYFRAMES No need to re-record the move if it's not exactly what you want. Edit one or all axes and keyframes into the perfect position. Featuring incremental, exact motor position plus tap and move keyframe adjustments. REPEATABILITY Repeat the exact same move over and over again at the same speed or variable speeds depending on the application. DELAY BY DATE/TIME Not going to be around when your move needs to start? No problem. Easily set a date/time or fixed amount of time to have your move begin. kOS takes care of the rest. FLASH MARK/BLOOP Sync up your moves easily via the built-in flash marks with adjustable delay. PRE & POST-PHOTOS (TIMELAPSE MODE) Easily add a series of head or tail photos to your timelapse move. GO TO POSITION Set minimum and maximum ranges on each axis (ie. slider 0" to 32") and go to any position by entering a value. LOAD & GO This feature allows for pre-loading a move so that you are able to start instantly whenever you are ready. CAMERA PRE and POST ROLL Trigger your camera to start recording any amount of time before the move begins and when to stop after the move ends. ANALOG CONTROL PANEL Manually control several axes live with the built in analog controller. EVENT MODE Event mode is mainly intended for live events or scenarios where exact position recalling on-the-fly is needed. For example, if you are filming a live concert, you can have different positions on stage saved. You can move easily from the drummer, to the guitarist, to the lead singer and so forth. This mode is also great for repeatedly hitting actor marks on set. GIGAPIXEL GigaPixel is traditionally used for 360 degree virtual tours, panoramic photographs or GigaPixel images which are extremely high resolution photographs that are compiled of many lower resolution photographs. GRAPH EXPANSION Expand the graph with one touch when precise key framing is needed. SCRUB THROUGH MOVE Need to edit a key frame or see when the camera will be in a certain position? Use the scrub feature to instantly move to a desired position. LOOPING Looping is made easy with kOS. Simply select one-time or continuous looping. CAMERA CONTROL Set CineShooter, Second Shooter Pro, Second Shooter Plus device to trigger or control your camera’s exposure time within kOS. AUTO TIMELAPSE CALCULATION Enter your desired clip length and frame rate, then kOS will calculate the run time needed. BUMP BUTTONS Move in very small increments to ensure a precise camera position. DROPBOX INTEGRATION Upload saved moves directly to your Dropbox account within kOS app. MOTOR CONFIGURATION Each axis is able to be customized with individual features such as run speed, dampening, smoothness of curves, bump button, and axis naming.
pCAM Pro
This app provides 27 essential tools for cinematography and photography professionals and students. It offers instant calculations for depth of field, field of view, exposure, and more, with a user-friendly interface designed for on-the-go use.
- Depth of Field calculations
- Field of View preview
- Focal Length matching
- Exposure calculations
- HMI Flicker-free settings
- Speed Booster adapter calculations
- VFX tracking markers
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Plan shots, choose lenses, calculate exposure, and pre-visualize the frame in seconds. 27 pro tools. Every result illustrated. 2,000+ camera formats plus unlimited user-defined formats. I've deliberately kept pCAM Pro a one-time purchase, with none of the subscriptions that have crept into so many apps. • Universal app for iPhone, iPad, Apple Silicon Mac, and Apple Vision Pro • Depth of Field (hyperfocal, total depth, near and far, image circle) • Field of View (and angle of view) • Field of View Preview in both Portrait & Landscape camera positions (8 images to pre-visualize & size shots by distance & focal length) • Focal Length (lens) Matching — match to horizontal, vertical, or diagonal dimensions • Relative Size (compares sensors) • Exposure calculations • HMI Flicker-free (safe shutters & safe camera speeds) • Reference (technical charts, lists & tables. Cine film stocks with film can labels, cine lens specs, false color/exposure change, diopter distance table, miniature shooting, safe panning speeds, zone system) • Insert Slate (4 font colors plus white or black backgrounds) • Splits — Aperture Finder calculation • Speed Booster® Adapter — calculate reduced Focal Length & Boosted Aperture with various adapters. Also create camera format profiles with attached adapters for use in other tools • Eye Light (soft-edged light shapes — Full Screen, Oval, Ring, and Strip) • Chroma Key & VFX Tracking (green and blue screen and VFX tracking markers) • Light Effects for handheld light or via Apple AirPlay to HDTV. Includes templates for: fire, television, siren, neon, strobe, flashbulb, lightning. Create unlimited custom animations • Mired Shift — Gel Selector • Conversion calculator • 4 Test Charts (incl. Siemens Star) • Triangulate calculation (calculate distances, image circle, etc.) • Film Running Time to Length • Shooting to Screen Time • Color Correction (chooses color correction filters) • Time Lapse (shooting interval, event duration, screen time) • Scene Illumination (beam intensity) • Light Coverage (width/distance) • Underwater Distance • Diopter (lens focus, diopter power) • Macro (object distance, magnification, corrected stop, DoF, object size, image size, fill percentage) • Built-in user guides on each screen • Calculates instantly & automatically as each entry is entered • 2,000+ camera formats plus unlimited customizable, user-defined camera formats, CoC & filters • Designed by a working camera technician who understands that calculations must be done simply and on-the-run AND ONE THING THAT ISN'T A CALCULATOR Crew Wheel — spin to settle who's buying the coffee. Not a tool, just a small gift for the standing-around time. Every long day needs one. TRUSTED WORLDWIDE BY DPs, Photographers, Camera Assistants, Camera Operators, Production Designers, VFX, Videographers, Gaffers, plus Film, Television, and Digital Media students. INDUSTRY RECOGNITION • Membership in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (Production and Technology Branch). • 75th Primetime Emmy Awards — Emmy® for "Outstanding Achievement in Engineering, Science & Technology" from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. • 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards — Engineering Plaque for "Outstanding Achievement in Engineering Development" from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. • Technical Achievement Award from Society of Camera Operators — "For outstanding contributions to cinematography through the design and development of the pCAM Film+Digital Calculator."
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: pCAM Pro at 97% against Kessler kOS's 0%. pCAM Pro also leads on rating (4.9 vs 3.0) and update cadence (every 8 days vs every 3 months). Kessler kOS's advantage is price (Free vs $34.99) and in-app purchases (none vs 3). On ads, device support and iOS requirement 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
Kessler kOS is free to download; pCAM Pro costs $34.99 up front. pCAM Pro sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Kessler kOS asks for nothing beyond the download.
pCAM Pro holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: pCAM Pro has 221 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of Kessler kOS's written reviews are positive against 97% of pCAM Pro's.
Kessler kOS ships an update every 3 months, pCAM Pro every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on July 18, 2026 and September 29, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Kessler kOS | pCAM Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $34.99 |
| Rating | 3.0 (3 ratings) | 4.9 (221 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | 97.4% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 3 | 221 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 8 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | #160 — better |
| Devices | iPad | iPhone, iPad — better |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 17.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 38 MB | 42 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Kessler Crane Inc. | David Eubank |
Customer experience
Kessler kOS
pCAM Pro
Bugs and requests
Kessler kOS
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
pCAM Pro
Reported bugs
1 issue- None explicitly mentioned, but feature requests imply areas for improvement.
Requested features
3 requests- Access iPhone camera for exact POV simulation
- Implement a night mode
- Relocate hyperfocal 'apply' button in Depth-of-Field calculator
In-app purchases
Kessler kOS
No in-app purchases
pCAM Pro
- Small Tip$1.99
- Medium Tip$4.99
- Large Tip$7.99









