Comparison

Sun Scout vs Digital DoF

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

Head to head
About

Sun Scout

This app transforms your iPhone into a tool to visualize the sun's position and path in the sky. It helps users understand where and when sunlight will be available, ideal for outdoor activities or work.

Highlights
  • Sun position visualization
  • Sun path tracking
  • Real-time sun data
  • Compass-based functionality
  • Usability and simplicity
Features
Read full description

If your work or play requires sunlight, Sun Scout is built for you. Turn your iPhone in to a magic lens. Point it to the sky and understand where the sun will be and when it will be there. * romano01, US App Store – "This app has come in handy more then once this week alone. While working on a feature film called "fairhaven" the gaffer and I (key Grip) needed to find out where and when the sun would be for a scene… well after i pulled out my Sun Scout App. everyone started downloading it!!! It is well worth it." * WPSHM, US App Store – "This should win a gajillion awards for usability and simplicity. I love it!!!!" Please Note – Sun Scout uses your device's compass. Like all compasses, Sun Scout is adversely influenced by metal in buildings or vehicles. Sun Scout is only as good as the iPhone's compass and is prone to a variable margin of accuracy even under fair conditions. Please do not base high-value production decisions solely on Sun Scout. Confirming them using sun charts and a technical mission during the time of day of a future shoot. We'd be delighted to hear what you're getting up to with Sun Scout. Give us a shout by email: shout@sunscoutapp.com

About

Digital DoF

Calculate depth of field with this customizable tool designed for cinematographers and photographers. Choose from a wide range of cameras and save your custom settings for quick access. Explore in-app purchases for enhanced functionality.

Highlights
  • Depth of field calculation
  • Customizable settings
  • Extensive camera library
  • Save camera settings
  • In-app purchase viewing
Features
Read full description

Know what will be in focus before you shoot. Digital DoF helps photographers and filmmakers plan depth of field for digital cameras, cinema cameras, and film formats. Choose your camera, enter focal length, aperture, and subject distance, and see your results in a clear, practical layout. PLAN YOUR FOCUS • Calculate depth of field, near and far focus limits, and hyperfocal distance. • See how much of the focus range falls in front of and behind your subject. • Use the visual focus map to understand the calculated range at a glance. • Switch between feet and inches or metres and centimetres. • Adjust circle of confusion when your workflow calls for it. FIND YOUR CAMERA Browse and search camera-specific data across digital photography, cinema, and film formats. The catalog includes major camera brands, with additional camera models available as optional in-app purchases. You can also request a camera from within the app. COMPARE YOUR SETUPS The optional Comparison Calculator lets you compare two camera and lens setups side by side, so you can explore how camera choice, focal length, aperture, and distance affect your results. SAVE YOUR SETTINGS Create a free account to save and sync camera configurations across devices, then reopen a saved setup when you need it. The main calculator works without an account. MADE FOR IPHONE AND IPAD Version 6.0 brings a redesigned interface, clearer controls, refreshed camera images, and a new app icon. Digital DoF is free to download. Optional in-app purchases unlock additional camera data, the Comparison Calculator, and ad removal. Previous purchases can be restored through the Store.

Screenshots

Sun Scout2 screens
Digital DoF4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Digital DoF at Free against Sun Scout's $9.99. Digital DoF also leads on rating (4.6 vs 2.7) and update cadence (monthly vs every 16 months). Sun Scout's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10) 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Digital DoF is free to download; Sun Scout costs $9.99 up front. Digital DoF sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Sun Scout asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Digital DoF holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 2.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Digital DoF has 274 ratings behind it against 22, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 48% of Sun Scout's written reviews are positive against 70% of Digital DoF's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Sun Scout ships an update every 16 months, Digital DoF monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 10, 2026 and November 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard9 real differences · 1 level
Sun Scout versus Digital DoF: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSun ScoutDigital DoF
Price$9.99Free — better
Rating2.7 (22 ratings)4.6 (274 ratings) — better
Positive reviews47.9% of reviews69.6% of reviews — better
Number of ratings22274 — better
Update frequencyEvery 16 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS8.0 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size5 MB29 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBenjohn BarnesIndie Film Gear LLC

Customer experience

Sun Scout

All ratings22 ratings
Positive40.9%
Neutral4.5%
Negative54.5%
Written reviews94 reviews
Positive47.9%
Neutral7.4%
Negative44.7%

Digital DoF

All ratings274 ratings
Positive92.7%
Neutral2.9%
Negative4.4%
Written reviews217 reviews
Positive69.6%
Neutral6.9%
Negative23.5%

User reviews

Sun Scout

From 22 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Useful for photography
  • 👍 Useful for real estate
  • 👍 Useful for film planning
  • 👍 Useful for landscape business
  • 👍 Simple and easy to use

Room to improve

  • 🐛 No longer works
  • 🐛 Not accurate
  • 🐛 Abandoned by developer
  • 🐛 Way off
  • 🐛 Ballpark estimate

Digital DoF

From 274 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Instant depth of field information
  • 👍 Comprehensive camera selection
  • 🔍 Helpful for planning photography
  • 💡 Great teaching tool for photography lessons

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Crashes on launch for some users
  • 🐛 Compatibility issues with certain devices and iOS versions
  • 📢 Intrusive ads in some versions
  • 🔍 Inaccurate hyperfocal distance calculations for some cameras/lenses

Bugs and requests

Sun Scout

Reported bugs

29 issues
  • Stopped working correctly
  • Not accurate since
  • Sun detection way off
  • App does not work
  • Sun's path isn't showing
Show 24 more
  • App just opens camera, no sun
  • Sun position does not quite align
  • Does not work with iOS 13
  • No sun appears in AR tracker
  • App not working anymore
  • Will not show any sun direction
  • No longer shows in camera settings
  • AR never shows up
  • Doesn't work
  • Position of the sun just moves around
  • Funktioniert immer noch nicht
  • Sun keeps moving on screen
  • Sun alignment is fixed
  • App crashes
  • App freezes
  • App locks up
  • Phone has to be restarted
  • Always says it has interference
  • Crashes my phone
  • App will not work
  • Sun just spin and never stop
  • Time line seems to be about 1:30 earlier
  • Sun positions on screen do not coincide
  • Consistently about 1:30 earlier than actual time

Requested features

21 requests
  • Calibration setting
  • Ability to choose locations
  • Ability to choose specific dates
  • Calibration tool
  • See with clouds
Show 16 more
  • See shiny day or raining
  • See at which time is it cloudy
  • Add moon position
  • Take a photo including sun path and times
  • Set elevation at horizon
  • Select exact geographical region via Google Maps
  • Select exact date
  • Numerical information (angle, compass direction)
  • Favourites log
  • Alert/alarm for ideal times
  • Show azimuth and elevation value onscreen
  • Add capture button
  • Ability to enter a date manually
  • Indicate Golden Hour
  • See all days in the future, present and past
  • Take snapshots with notes

Digital DoF

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Crashes on launch after recent update
  • Camera selection menu not working on some devices
  • Distance input field not functioning properly
  • Ads covering up important information

Requested features

4 requests
  • Option to save preferred camera settings
  • Support for more camera models, including Olympus and Nikon D500
  • Ability to enter t-stops instead of f-stops
  • Metric units for smaller distances (cm, mm)

In-app purchases

None

Sun Scout

No in-app purchases

10 purchases

Digital DoF

One-time10
  • Canon 5D Mark IV$2.99
  • Sony A7R III$2.99
  • Nikon D750$2.99
Show 7 more
  • Nikon D850$2.99
  • Sony A7 III$2.99
  • Nikon Z6$2.99
  • Canon EOS R$2.99
  • Canon EOS R5$2.99
  • Remove All Ads$6.99
  • Remove Ads and Get Comparison Calculator$9.99

Questions

Is Sun Scout free?
Sun Scout costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Digital DoF free?
Digital DoF is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Sun Scout or Digital DoF?
Digital DoF is rated higher. Sun Scout averages 2.7 out of 5 from 22 ratings, while Digital DoF averages 4.6 from 274 ratings.
Do Sun Scout or Digital DoF have ads?
Digital DoF shows ads; Sun Scout does not.
Which is updated more often, Sun Scout or Digital DoF?
Sun Scout ships an update every 16 months, and Digital DoF monthly. Most recently, Sun Scout was updated on November 10, 2026 and Digital DoF on November 1, 2026.

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