Comparison

Magic Nikonian ViewFinder vs Samatic

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

Head to head
About

Magic Nikonian ViewFinder

Simulates the field of view for specific camera and lens combinations, aiding photographers in pre-production. Capture shots with embedded metadata and control focus and white balance.

Highlights
  • Simulates camera and lens field of view
  • Supports various Nikon camera models
  • Adjustable focal length and aspect ratio
  • Apply color presets (LUTs)
  • Capture images with metadata
  • Control exposure, focus, and white balance
Features
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Magic Nikonian ViewFinder presents you a precise framing preview for the real camera/lens combination you'll be shooting with, right where you stand with your iPhone / iPad. It simulates the field of view of Nikon digital cameras or lens and can help thousands of professionals in photography 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: - Nikon D4s, D5, Z7, Z6 - Nikon D750, D810, etc (marked as DXX0 in the app) - Nikon D500 - Nikon D5600, D3400, D7500, etc (marked as DXX00 in the app) 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 lets you apply color presets (aka LUTs) to the live picture, which brings you even closer to the final shot. You may capture the image for future reference, with additional data like the focal length, date/time and camera / lens information. While capturing, you may lock exposure and turn on/off AF to better control the captured picture. You can turn on the AF mode, or lock the focus temporarily. You can also tap the live screen to focus on particular objects. 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. Please note that position of your iPhone or iPad should correspond to the 'nodal point' of your real lens, which is somewhere in the middle of the lens. This point is, so to speak, the weighted center of the optics. Ad policy: The ads are designed to appear non-intrusively. Ads can be turned off (see below). 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 - Price: $1.49 - 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 - Price: $4.99 Privacy Policy: http://dev.kadru.net/privacy_policy/Privacy_Policy_Magic_CaNiLu_ViewFinder.html

About

Samatic

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A slide projector, for the photographs already on your phone. Samatic is two halves of one machine. Your iPhone is the clicker — the corded remote, with the switch, the counter, the focus and the tray of slides. Your Apple TV is the projector and the screen. Load an album. Slide the switch across to LAMP. Press FOR, and the first picture comes up on the television. HOW IT WORKS 1. Open Samatic on the Apple TV and leave it showing. 2. The phone finds the television by itself. The cord at the bottom of the clicker shows when the two are joined. 3. Tap the label slot near the top of the machine and choose an album. That album is your tray of slides. 4. Push the switch across to LAMP — push it with your thumb, it doesn't answer a tap. 5. FOR for the next picture. REV to go back one. 6. Hold FOCUS to send the picture soft, and the other end to bring it sharp, the way a real lens does. 7. Press AUTO and the pictures change by themselves. The timer decides how long each one stays up. 8. Switch back to OFF when the show is over. THE MACHINE The lamp takes a moment to come up to temperature. The fan runs while it's warm. The tray clunks as it turns. You can switch the sound and the vibration off if you'd rather it ran quietly. There's a service record inside the leaflet, counting the shows you've given, the slides you've projected and the hours on the lamp. Nothing here can be broken and no photograph can be lost, so press whatever you like and see what it does. YOUR PHOTOGRAPHS STAY YOURS There is no account. There is no sign-in. There is no Samatic server, because there is no Samatic company — just one person who wanted this to exist. Your photographs go from your phone to your own television, directly, over your own Wi-Fi. They are never uploaded anywhere. Nothing is collected, nothing is tracked, nothing is sold, and there is no analytics, no advertising and no crash reporting of any kind. FREE, AND ALL OF IT No subscription. No in-app purchases. WHAT YOU NEED An iPhone and an Apple TV on the same Wi-Fi network. Samatic is an original design, made in homage to the rotary-tray slide projectors of the 1960s and 70s. It is not made by, endorsed by, or associated with Eastman Kodak Company, and no manufacturer's trademark or letterform is reproduced.

Screenshots

Magic Nikonian ViewFinder4 screens
Samatic4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Samatic at none against Magic Nikonian ViewFinder's 2. Samatic also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 3 days vs every 6 weeks). Magic Nikonian ViewFinder's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 26.0). On price and 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Magic Nikonian ViewFinder sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per month. Samatic asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Magic Nikonian ViewFinder ships an update every 6 weeks, Samatic every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Magic Nikonian ViewFinder versus Samatic: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMagic Nikonian ViewFinderSamatic
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (39 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews80.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings39 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksEvery 3 days — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, Apple TV
Requires iOS12.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size23 MB8 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperRoman MedvidMAXWELL PHOENIX COMMER

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Magic Nikonian ViewFinder

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

Samatic

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Magic Nikonian ViewFinder free?
Magic Nikonian ViewFinder is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Samatic free?
Samatic is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Magic Nikonian ViewFinder or Samatic have ads?
Magic Nikonian ViewFinder shows ads; Samatic does not.
Which is updated more often, Magic Nikonian ViewFinder or Samatic?
Magic Nikonian ViewFinder ships an update every 6 weeks, and Samatic every 3 days. Most recently, Magic Nikonian ViewFinder was updated on October 12, 2026 and Samatic on October 3, 2026.

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