Comparison

Magic Cinema ViewFinder vs mono+

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

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

About

mono+

This camera app offers real-time analog film simulations, applying effects like grain and halation directly during capture. It provides extensive control over visual elements and allows users to save and recall custom looks for both photos and videos.

Highlights
  • Real-time analog film simulation
  • 27 film simulations (B&W, stock emulations, vintage processes)
  • Precision controls for tone, color, decay, borders, and overlays
  • Save and recall custom visual looks
  • Controllable decay and degradation effects (light leaks, dust, scratches)
  • Real-time video recording with film simulation
  • Built-in teleprompter for video recording
  • Heads-up display (HUD) with metadata baked into video
Features
Read full description

mono+ is a camera app built around analog film simulation. Every photo and video passes through a real-time render pipeline — grain, halation, tonal warmth, shadow lift — baked permanently into every capture. Not a filter applied after the fact. A look built into the image itself. 27 FILM SIMULATIONS Ten B&W modes, ten film stock emulations from Kodak Tri-X to CineStill 800T, and seven vintage processes including Super 8, VHS, and Daguerreotype. Each one built from the real characteristics of the film it references. THE PRO PANEL A floating glass overlay with six categories of precision controls. Tone, color grading, decay effects, borders, overlays, and settings — all accessible without leaving the viewfinder. Drag it anywhere on screen. Every slider updates the render pipeline in real time. SAVED LOOKS Build your signature look across filter, grain, tone, color, decay, and border. Save it with a name. Recall everything with a single tap. Your visual library, always at hand. DECAY AND DEGRADATION Light leaks, halation bloom, film burn, dust, scratches, gate weave, color bleed, and fade — each independently controllable. Zero by default. As much or as little as the image needs. VIDEO All film simulation renders in real time during video recording. Every frame processed at full resolution. What you see in the viewfinder is what gets saved. TELEPROMPTER Built-in scrolling script overlay for video recording. Your audience sees you. You see your words. Paste any script, set your speed, hit record. HUD A recording heads-up display with timecode, battery level, date, GPS coordinates, and your film ID — baked into video captures. SYSTEM PRESETS Four complete looks to start from — STREET, PAPARAZZI, POP, and FADE. Tap to apply, modify anything, save as your own. DESKTOP COMPANION Manage your preset library from your Mac or iPad. Build looks with the full lab editor, send custom borders, compose teleprompter scripts. Tap SHARE LOOKS on iPhone — your presets arrive in the Companion automatically via iCloud. Edit and send back with one click. Free with mono+.

Screenshots

Magic Cinema ViewFinder4 screens
mono+4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Magic Cinema ViewFinder at Free against mono+'s $3.99. Magic Cinema ViewFinder also leads on ratings volume (82 vs 2) and device support (3 vs 1). mono+'s advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 65%) and in-app purchases (none vs 2). On update cadence 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

Magic Cinema ViewFinder is free to download; mono+ costs $3.99 up front. Magic Cinema ViewFinder sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per month. mono+ asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

mono+ holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Magic Cinema ViewFinder has 82 ratings behind it against 2, 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 100% of mono+'s.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Magic Cinema ViewFinder ships an update every 5 weeks, mono+ every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and September 27, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard9 real differences · 1 level
Magic Cinema ViewFinder versus mono+: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMagic Cinema ViewFindermono+
PriceFree — better$3.99
Rating4.6 (82 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews65.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings82 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeksEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS12.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size18 MB11 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperRoman MedvidBrian Wittman

Customer experience

Magic Cinema ViewFinder

All ratings81 ratings
Positive90.1%
Neutral2.5%
Negative7.4%
Written reviews20 reviews
Positive65.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative35.0%

mono+

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Magic Cinema ViewFinder

Subscriptions1
  • Premium features: subscription1 Month trial$1.491 Month
One-time1
  • Premium features: purchase$4.99
None

mono+

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Magic Cinema ViewFinder free?
Magic Cinema ViewFinder is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is mono+ free?
mono+ costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Magic Cinema ViewFinder or mono+?
mono+ is rated higher. Magic Cinema ViewFinder averages 4.6 out of 5 from 82 ratings, while mono+ averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do Magic Cinema ViewFinder or mono+ have ads?
Magic Cinema ViewFinder shows ads; mono+ does not.
Which is updated more often, Magic Cinema ViewFinder or mono+?
Magic Cinema ViewFinder ships an update every 5 weeks, and mono+ every 3 weeks. Most recently, Magic Cinema ViewFinder was updated on October 22, 2026 and mono+ on September 27, 2026.

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