Magic Cinema ViewFinder vs Blackmagic BlueConnect
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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
Blackmagic BlueConnect
Control your Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera remotely from your iPhone or iPad. Adjust settings like color, exposure, focus, and frame rate, and trigger recording or stills.
- Remote camera control
- Color correction tools
- Exposure and frame rate adjustment
- Focus control
- Start/stop recording
- Monitor overlays
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BlueConnect is simple yet powerful app to control Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K, 6K or 6K Pro from iPhone or iPad. BlueConnect allows you to control all the features of camera that Blackmagic offers, including : - Colour Corrector : • Built-in colour correction tools that reflects in camera and HDMI Output • Davinci Resolve-like control • RGB Bars for Lift, Gamma, Gain and Offset • Pulling sliders for Contrast, Pivot, Saturation and Hue • Ability to reset to default camera colour correction settings • Similar settings that can be controlled from Atem Mini Pro switchers - Other devices support : • Control from Tilta Nucleus-N handwheel - Start / Stop recording • Control from Tilta Nucleus-M FIZ Unit - Start / Stop recording - General controls : • Trigger Start/Stop recording ( Ability to use Volume buttons ) • Trigger stills • Battery indicator • Active card indicator • Remaining recording time • Timecode • Settings indicators • Lock-while-recording mode - Playback control : • Switch from recording mode into playback and back ( displayed are only clips with same resolution ) • Play / Pause, navigate forward, navigate backward through clips - White Balance controls : • White Balance • Tint • WB Presets - Exposure and Frame rate controls : • Project frame rate • Frame rate • Off-speed frame rate toggle • Iris • Shutter speed / angle • ISO • Auto Exposure modes - Focus control • Slide-to-adjust control • Multiple focus points (Rack focus using focus sensitivity and duration) • Multiple focus points (Rack focus using focus-movement teaching) • Auto-focus toggle - Monitor overlays • Zebra Level • Frame guides • Safe Area • Grids • Exposure and focus tools (zebra, focus assist and false color toggles) - Codecs and Quality • Codec option • Bitrate option • Resolution - Audio controls • Channel 1 / 2 gain • Headphones volume • Speaker volume We continue to work on another exciting features to be released in the near future including but not limited to : - MultiCam mode with an option to trigger recording on multiple cameras - Control of TILTA products Requirements: - Minimum Camera Firmware version 6.2 - Bluetooth Enabled on your Camera - Bluetooth Enabled on your Phone - Location Enabled on your Phone Tested on: – BMPCC 4K – BMPCC 6K - BMPCC 6K Pro Getting started : https://bmblueconnect.com/getting-started Issues we know about : https://bmblueconnect.com/known-issues Troubleshooting : https://bmblueconnect.com/troubleshooting
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Magic Cinema ViewFinder at Free against Blackmagic BlueConnect's $5.99. Magic Cinema ViewFinder also leads on rating (4.6 vs 3.7) and review sentiment (65% vs 50%). Blackmagic BlueConnect's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and ads (none vs shown). On 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
Magic Cinema ViewFinder is free to download; Blackmagic BlueConnect costs $5.99 up front. Magic Cinema ViewFinder sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per month. Blackmagic BlueConnect asks for nothing beyond the download.
Magic Cinema ViewFinder holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Magic Cinema ViewFinder has 83 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 65% of Magic Cinema ViewFinder's written reviews are positive against 50% of Blackmagic BlueConnect's.
Magic Cinema ViewFinder ships an update every 5 weeks, Blackmagic BlueConnect every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 10, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Magic Cinema ViewFinder | Blackmagic BlueConnect |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $5.99 |
| Rating | 4.6 (83 ratings) — better | 3.7 (6 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 65.0% of reviews — better | 50.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 83 — better | 6 |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | Every 2 weeks — better |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases — better | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | #197 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 | 9.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 18 MB | 63 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Roman Medvid | Dean Lusk |
Customer experience
Magic Cinema ViewFinder
Blackmagic BlueConnect
In-app purchases
Magic Cinema ViewFinder
- Premium features: subscription1 Month trial$1.491 Month
- Premium features: purchase$4.99
Blackmagic BlueConnect
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Magic Cinema ViewFinder free?
Is Blackmagic BlueConnect free?
Which has better reviews, Magic Cinema ViewFinder or Blackmagic BlueConnect?
Do Magic Cinema ViewFinder or Blackmagic BlueConnect have ads?
Which is updated more often, Magic Cinema ViewFinder or Blackmagic BlueConnect?
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