# Artemis Director's Viewfinder vs Shadow Planner

The clearest difference is price: Artemis Director's Viewfinder at Free against Shadow Planner's $29.99. Artemis Director's Viewfinder also leads on review sentiment (63% vs 40%) and ratings volume (188 vs 3). Shadow Planner's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 5). On rating, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Artemis Director's Viewfinder is free to download; Shadow Planner costs $29.99 up front. Artemis Director's Viewfinder sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Shadow Planner asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.1 for Artemis Director's Viewfinder against 4.0 for Shadow Planner. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Artemis Director's Viewfinder has 188 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 63% of Artemis Director's Viewfinder's written reviews are positive against 40% of Shadow Planner's.

Artemis Director's Viewfinder ships an update every 3 days, Shadow Planner every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Artemis Director's Viewfinder | Shadow Planner |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $29.99 |
| Rating | **[4.1 (188 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/artemis-directors-viewfinder/id1164523253/reviews)** | [4.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shadow-planner/id6793171158/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **188** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | **63.0% of reviews** | 40.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 days** | Every 5 days |
| Monetization | **Free** | Paid |
| Size | 85 MB | 4 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **17.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Chemical Wedding](https://appshunter.io/developer/311648873) | [Christopher Fenner](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896490601) |

## What reviewers say

### Artemis Director's Viewfinder

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/artemis-directors-viewfinder/id1164523253)

This app provides a comprehensive database of professional cameras and lenses, allowing filmmakers to visualize shots with custom formats. It streamlines communication between directors and cinematographers, ensuring everyone is aligned on the exact frame.

**Highlights:** Professional camera and lens database, Custom camera format support, Accurate shot visualization, Streamlined crew communication, Location scouting tool, Blocking rehearsal recording

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $3.99 | per month |
| Annual | $16.99 | per year |
| External Camera Mode | $9.99 | one-time |
| Helios View | $9.99 | one-time |
| Core License | $29.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎬 Essential tool for cinematographers and filmmakers
- 👍 Intuitive viewfinder with accurate focal length simulation
- 📸 Comprehensive camera and lens database
- 🤝 Exceptional customer support and responsive developer
- 🎯 Useful for pre-production planning and location scouting

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and stability issues across iOS versions
- ⚠️ App closes immediately after opening on newer iPhones
- 📸 Missing or lost photos after updates
- 🔒 Requires full photo library access with privacy concerns
- ⏱️ Slow performance between shots and when taking photos

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on launch after iOS updates
- Photos disappear from library and app after taking them
- Focus issues in viewfinder - won't focus or loses focus during recording
- App freezes when viewing previously taken photos
- Performance degradation with photo albums exceeding 80 images

**Requested features**

- Add Nikon ZR camera support
- Update database with newer camera models (Canon RF mount, Fuji X-H2S, Lumix models)
- Widget for quick app launch
- Save multiple camera and lens profiles for quick switching
- Custom anamorphic squeeze ratios


### Shadow Planner

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shadow-planner/id6793171158)

Visualize sun and shadow placement on real-world maps before filming. Scout locations by dropping virtual objects, simulating light movement throughout the day, and measuring distances for precise rigging. Export scenes for planning and collaboration.

**Highlights:** Real sun and shadow simulation on maps, 3D terrain and buildings for accurate shadows, Place and manipulate virtual frames and objects, Simulate light movement from sunrise to sunset, Measure distances and gear ranges, Export scenes and share links

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Artemis Director's Viewfinder free?

Artemis Director's Viewfinder is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Shadow Planner free?

Shadow Planner costs $29.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Artemis Director's Viewfinder or Shadow Planner?

Artemis Director's Viewfinder is rated higher. Artemis Director's Viewfinder averages 4.1 out of 5 from 188 ratings, while Shadow Planner averages 4.0 from 3 ratings.

### Do Artemis Director's Viewfinder or Shadow Planner have ads?

Neither Artemis Director's Viewfinder nor Shadow Planner shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Artemis Director's Viewfinder or Shadow Planner?

Artemis Director's Viewfinder ships an update every 3 days, and Shadow Planner every 5 days. Most recently, Artemis Director's Viewfinder was updated on October 29, 2026 and Shadow Planner on October 31, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*