Blackmagic Camera Control vs Magic Cinema ViewFinder
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Blackmagic Camera Control
Remotely manage Blackmagic Design cameras with Bluetooth from your iPad. Adjust settings, control lenses, update metadata, and start/stop recording from up to 30 feet away. Ideal for hard-to-reach camera placements or for assistants needing quick data updates.
- Remote camera control via Bluetooth
- Adjust camera settings
- Control camera lens
- Update metadata (shot, scene, take)
- Trigger recording
- Remote power on/off (URSA Mini Pro)
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The Blackmagic Camera Control app allows you to control any Blackmagic Design camera that features Bluetooth control capability, right from your iPad! Get full control of your camera from up to 30 feet away, so you can remotely change camera settings, control the lens, adjust metadata and trigger recording. On URSA Mini Pro cameras you can also remotely power the camera on or off. Blackmagic Camera Control is ideal when you need to control cameras in hard to reach places such as on cranes, drones, gimbals and more! It’s also a great solution for camera assistants who need to quickly update metadata such as shot, scene and take numbers. Blackmagic Camera Control requires a Bluetooth enabled camera such as Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera, Blackmagic URSA Mini Pro or URSA Broadcast camera. Please ensure your camera has been updated to the latest Blackmagic Cameras software.
Magic Cinema ViewFinder
This tool simulates the field of view for specific camera and lens combinations, aiding filmmakers in preproduction. It offers precise framing previews and allows saving shots with detailed information. Users can adjust focus, white balance, and apply color presets.
- Precise framing preview
- Simulates camera/lens field of view
- Save shots with metadata
- Adjust focus and white balance
- Apply color presets (LUTs)
- Supports various Blackmagic cameras
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Magic Cinema ViewFinder presents you a precise framing preview for the real Blackmagic camera/lens combination you'll be shooting with, right where you stand with your iPhone / iPad. It simulates the field of view of any Blackmagic camera or lens and can help thousands of professionals in filmmaking 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: - Blackmagic URSA 4.6K / URSA Mini - Blackmagic URSA - Blackmagic URSA Mini Pro - Blackmagic URSA Broadcast - Blackmagic BMCC, BMPC 4K - Blackmagic Micro Cinema / Pocket / 4K 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 also lets you apply some commonly used color presets (also known as LUTs) to the live picture, which brings you even closer to the final shot. When you have found the right view, you may save it for future reference, with additional data like the focal length, date and time and camera / lens information. While taking a photo, you may lock exposure and turn on and off the auto focus to better control the captured picture. You can set camera to work in constant auto-focus mode, or lock the focus temporarily. You can also tap the live screen to focus on particular objects (which turns on the focus-locked mode). 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 first amongst other viewfinder apps. Please note that position of your iPhone/iPad should correspond to the 'nodal point' of your real lens, which is somewhere in the middle of the lens. Ad policy: The ads are designed to appear non-intrusively, and help me to develop. 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 - 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 Privacy Policy: http://dev.kadru.net/privacy_policy/Privacy_Policy_Magic_Cinema_ViewFinder.html
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Magic Cinema ViewFinder at 4.6 against Blackmagic Camera Control's 2.5. Magic Cinema ViewFinder also leads on review sentiment (65% vs 26%) and update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 12 months). Blackmagic Camera Control's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and ads (none vs shown). On price 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
Both are free to download. Magic Cinema ViewFinder sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per month. Blackmagic Camera Control asks for nothing beyond the download.
Magic Cinema ViewFinder holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 2.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 24 and 81 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 26% of Blackmagic Camera Control's written reviews are positive against 65% of Magic Cinema ViewFinder's.
Blackmagic Camera Control ships an update every 12 months, Magic Cinema ViewFinder every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Blackmagic Camera Control | Magic Cinema ViewFinder |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 2.5 (24 ratings) | 4.6 (81 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 26.3% of reviews | 65.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 24 | 81 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 12 months | Every 5 weeks — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 13.1 | 12.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 5 MB | 18 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Blackmagic Design Inc | Roman Medvid |
Customer experience
Blackmagic Camera Control
Magic Cinema ViewFinder
In-app purchases
Blackmagic Camera Control
No in-app purchases
Magic Cinema ViewFinder
- Premium features: subscription1 Month trial$1.491 Month
- Premium features: purchase$4.99
Questions
Is Blackmagic Camera Control free?
Is Magic Cinema ViewFinder free?
Which has better reviews, Blackmagic Camera Control or Magic Cinema ViewFinder?
Do Blackmagic Camera Control or Magic Cinema ViewFinder have ads?
Which is updated more often, Blackmagic Camera Control or Magic Cinema ViewFinder?
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