Comparison

Viewfinder Preview vs CropCamera

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

Head to head
About

Viewfinder Preview

Preview camera framing for any camera and lens combination. Select film/sensor size and focal length to visualize framing before setting up your main camera. Ideal for photographers and filmmakers for pre-visualization, location scouting, and storyboarding.

Highlights
  • Camera and lens framing preview
  • Customizable film/sensor formats
  • Configurable light meter
  • Photo capture with metadata
  • Photo gallery with data display
  • Album and PDF creation
  • Film stock emulation
Features
Read full description

Viewfinder Preview is an iPhone app for previewing camera framing for any combination of camera and lens. Instead of spending all that time setting up your big camera, just choose your desired film/sensor size and focal length in the app and point the iPhone camera at what you want to photo to verify framing. If you are happy with the framing then you can get the big camera out. The app has a large database of camera sensors details and film formats but if the format you desire isn’t there you can add your own custom format. The app is targeted at stills photographers or film makers working in either film or digital. If you don’t have your big camera with you, Viewfinder Preview is still great for photo sketching, location scouting or story boarding. The app includes - Customisable menus so you can include the film/sensor formats and focal lengths you care about. - A fully configurable light meter. - You can take photos with it, so you have a record of shots you were framing. - Photos taken with the app include additional data that describe the film format, focal length and lighting meter settings at the time the shot was taken - Add notes to your photos - A photo gallery for viewing photos taken with the app which also displays the additional data - Share images in emails, messages - Create albums of photos from the same project, trip etc - Create PDF documents of albums - Film stock emulation - Wide angle lens adapter support

About

CropCamera

Experience DSLR-like photography on your mobile device. Compose shots with a viewfinder, achieve natural bokeh with adjustable aperture, and fine-tune focus and framing after capture. Preview focal lengths and quickly launch the app to never miss a moment.

Highlights
  • Viewfinder shooting experience
  • Adjustable aperture for bokeh
  • Post-capture focus and framing adjustments
  • Multiple focal length previews
  • Quick app launch
  • Support for various aspect ratios
Read full description

Turn Everyday Moments into Timeless Memories Frame everyday scenes and travel memories with your favorite composition and color, and transform each moment into something unforgettable. This camera app lets you shoot exactly as you see through a camera viewfinder. Crop your composition in real time and capture it with your own custom look—so your photos are ready the moment you press the shutter. No editing required. Features * Choose from multiple focal lengths (35mm equivalent*) as if you’re switching between prime lenses on a camera. * Select from four beautifully crafted filters: Std, B&W, Warm, and Cool. * Fine-tune the contrast, saturation, highlights, and shadows of each filter to create your own signature look. * Record video instantly by simply pressing the red REC button—no need to switch camera modes. * Capture Live Photos. * Adjust the aperture (f-stop) to create beautiful background blur. * Record videos in 4K or Full HD at 30 fps or 24 fps. * Turn HDR (High Dynamic Range) capture on or off. * Take photos with a silent shutter. * Save both your customized photo and the original unedited image at the same time (optional in Settings). How to Use 1. Select a focal length (35mm equivalent*). 2. Check the semi-transparent framing guide. * Double-tap the screen to zoom into the selected frame for a closer preview. 3. Compose your shot. 4. Tap the subject to lock focus. 5. Adjust the exposure (EV). 6. Press the shutter button. Notes * Photos are saved to Apple’s built-in Photos app. * This app does not include an image preview gallery. Please use the Photos app to view your captured photos. * Videos are always recorded in a 16:9 aspect ratio, regardless of the selected photo aspect ratio. * Photos are saved after being cropped to the selected frame. As a result, image resolution may be reduced at certain focal lengths. Please keep this in mind if you plan to print your photos. * Focal lengths are approximate 35mm-equivalent values and are provided for reference only.

Screenshots

Viewfinder Preview3 screens
CropCamera3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Viewfinder Preview at 295 against CropCamera's 1. Viewfinder Preview also leads on chart position (#72 vs unranked) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 26.0). CropCamera's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.7) and price ($2.99 vs $4.99). On review sentiment, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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

Viewfinder Preview costs $4.99 and CropCamera $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

CropCamera holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Viewfinder Preview has 295 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 86% of Viewfinder Preview's written reviews are positive against 88% of CropCamera's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Viewfinder Preview ships an update every 3 months, CropCamera every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
Viewfinder Preview versus CropCamera: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterViewfinder PreviewCropCamera
Price$4.99$2.99 — better
Rating4.7 (295 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews86.4% of reviews87.5% of reviews — better
Number of ratings295 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
Best chart rank#72 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS12.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size18 MB12 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAdam FowlerShinji Nishijima

Customer experience

Viewfinder Preview

All ratings295 ratings
Positive94.2%
Neutral2.7%
Negative3.1%
Written reviews103 reviews
Positive86.4%
Neutral4.9%
Negative8.7%

CropCamera

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews8 reviews
Positive87.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative12.5%

Bugs and requests

Viewfinder Preview

Reported bugs

11 issues
  • White screen on startup
  • App crashes repeatedly
  • Exposure offset resets when app closes
  • Notes and shot data disappear after weeks
  • In-app purchase screen loops indefinitely
Show 6 more
  • Focal length inaccuracy on iPhone 14 Pro
  • Manual metering mode shows darker frame than preview
  • Tiny 1px border on cropped images
  • Battery drains excessively
  • App not loading on iOS 16
  • Glitches requiring app restart

Requested features

20 requests
  • Embed camera/lens metadata directly in saved images
  • Save custom film stock names
  • Persistent exposure offset settings
  • More film stock options (Kodak Gold 200, Fuji 400H, Catlabs 320 Pro, Ilford XP2, etc.)
  • Lower ISO settings (support for ISO 0.5 and below)
Show 15 more
  • Additional aspect ratios (6x17, 65x24)
  • Save images with exposure data as overlay or separate versions
  • Grid lines and level indicators
  • Focus distance display
  • Telephoto lens support (65mm-400mm)
  • Wider focal lengths (below 35mm)
  • Camera profile presets for quick switching
  • Custom aperture values (e.g., f/3.5)
  • Shift lens simulation for architectural photography
  • Watermark saved photos with camera data
  • Toggle HDR on/off for better film simulation
  • Video tutorial or in-app help guide
  • Ability to disable auto-display of config on images
  • Telephoto lens compatibility
  • Correct focal length rendering for newer iPhone models

CropCamera

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Viewfinder Preview

No in-app purchases

None

CropCamera

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Viewfinder Preview free?
Viewfinder Preview costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is CropCamera free?
CropCamera costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Viewfinder Preview or CropCamera?
CropCamera is rated higher. Viewfinder Preview averages 4.7 out of 5 from 295 ratings, while CropCamera averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Viewfinder Preview or CropCamera have ads?
Neither Viewfinder Preview nor CropCamera shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Viewfinder Preview or CropCamera?
Viewfinder Preview ships an update every 3 months, and CropCamera every 2 months. Most recently, Viewfinder Preview was updated on October 17, 2026 and CropCamera on October 8, 2026.

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