Comparison

Sun Scout vs Mavis Camera

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

Mavis Camera

This app offers advanced video recording and live streaming capabilities for creators and professionals. It provides manual camera controls, professional monitoring tools, and various output options for seamless integration into modern workflows.

Highlights
  • ProRes, HEVC 10-bit, Open Gate recording
  • Custom and Filter LUTs for filmic looks
  • Advanced monitoring tools (focus peaking, zebras)
  • Manual camera controls (focus, exposure, ISO)
  • NDI® HX3 Certified
  • Camera to Cloud integrations (Frame.io, MediaSilo)
  • Live streaming to YouTube, Twitch, Instagram, Facebook
Features
Read full description

Whether you're a streamer building a channel, an industry veteran looking for new ways of working or a creator with a passion for filmmaking, Mavis Camera has something for you. -- MAIN FEATURES -- • Record in a range of resolutions, frame rates, and codecs including Open Gate, HEVC 10-bit, ProRes and ProRes RAW • Record and preview using custom LUTs, and achieve a filmic look with built-in Filter LUTs • Monitor tools including focus peaking, zebras, false color, expanded focus, guides, flip • Manual camera controls including focus, exposure, shutter and color • Hardware Remote Controllers - Teradek RT, CyanView RCP, Tilta Nucleus (USB dongle only) • NDI® Send and Receive HX3 Certified • Pro HDMI output • HDMI input via Atomos Ninja Phone support • HDMI / SDI input via Accsoon SeeMo series support • Adobe Frame.io Camera to Cloud • Streaming including YouTube, Twitch, Instagram and Facebook • Custom audio inputs • Audio mixer including gain, pan and solo controls for individual channels • Real-time audio passthrough for monitoring in headphones • HDR video pipeline • Custom RTMP destination & SRT (TX Caller) streaming • Mavis C2C including Framelight X, MediaSilo, Sony Ci & Amazon S3 • Mavis Cloud Hub remote configuration for Mavis C2C and streaming settings • Timecode including Time-of-Day, Offset and UltraSync BLUE • Vertical and landscape recording and streaming • API -- AUDIO TOOLS -- • Integrated audio mixer with stereo output • Gain & pan control per input channel • External mic inputs • Internal mic selection • Multi-track ISO recording • Bluetooth monitoring -- CONNECTED WORKFLOWS -- NDI • Send or Receive with NDI • NDI HX3 Certified • Automatically find all NDI sources on local network • Set NDI Groups, Discovery Server, UDP/TCP Mode Camera to Cloud • Mavis C2C integrations with Framelight X, MediaSilo, Sony Ci & Amazon S3 • Direct integration with Adobe Frame.io • Direct integration with Atomos ATOMOSphere • Progressive uploads while you record • Manage Mavis C2C devices from hub.mavis.cloud Live Streaming • Vertical and landscape streaming • Simultaneously record and stream • Custom RTMP and SRT Caller destinations • Manage Streaming devices from hub.mavis.cloud -- CAMERA CONTROLS -- Manual controls including • Focus • Exposure • ISO • Shutter • Color temperature • Shutter lock • Custom frame rates • Range of resolutions • Range of bitrates • Codecs including ProRes -- MONITOR TOOLS -- What they do • Mavis LUTs let you record or preview your footage with a filmic grade, helping you visualise the final look while you shoot • Focus peaking and expanded focus features help you achieve consistently sharp and precise shots • Zebras help ensure your shots are never overexposed • Guides help you frame your shot • Aspect Ratio overlay lets you preview your image in a different width/height • Waveform monitor helps you shoot with the optimal dynamic range • Vectorscope helps maintain consistent colors and ensures accurate white balance Notable settings • Record and preview LUTs • Focus peaking color and sensitivity • Guides including thirds, portrait safe and square • Zebras, color and sensitivity range • Aspect Ratio overlay cross hairs, safe area and transparency -- API -- • Control the internal camera from an API • Discover and learn the API with a built in API Playground web server • Develop your own control interfaces with a WebSocket based interface • Full RCP based control including color shading • Secure your connections with API keys Device restrictions apply. Some features require In-App Purchase or App Subscription. Check out the support pages for full details - support.mavis.cloud EULA - https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Mavis Camera was developed by people who love what they do. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do! :-)

Screenshots

Sun Scout2 screens
Mavis Camera4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Mavis Camera at Free against Sun Scout's $9.99. Mavis Camera also leads on rating (4.4 vs 2.7) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 16 months). Sun Scout's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 15) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 18.0). On ads 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

Mavis Camera is free to download; Sun Scout costs $9.99 up front. Mavis Camera sells 15 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per 7 days. Sun Scout asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Mavis Camera holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 2.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Mavis Camera has 743 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 59% of Mavis Camera's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Sun Scout ships an update every 16 months, Mavis Camera fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 30, 2026 and September 29, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
Sun Scout versus Mavis Camera: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSun ScoutMavis Camera
Price$9.99Free — better
Rating2.7 (22 ratings)4.4 (743 ratings) — better
Positive reviews47.9% of reviews58.8% of reviews — better
Number of ratings22743 — better
Update frequencyEvery 16 monthsFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS8.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size5 MB253 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBenjohn BarnesMavis Broadcast

Customer experience

Sun Scout

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

Mavis Camera

All ratings743 ratings
Positive85.2%
Neutral4.4%
Negative10.4%
Written reviews199 reviews
Positive58.8%
Neutral10.1%
Negative31.2%

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

Mavis Camera

From 743 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Clean and intuitive interface
  • 🎥 Excellent video quality and features
  • 🔧 Comprehensive manual controls
  • 🎨 Useful tools like focus peaking and waveform monitor
  • 🔒 Stable and reliable performance

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional crashes and bugs
  • 🚫 Removal of useful features like OpenGate
  • 💰 Paywall for essential features like LUT support
  • 🤔 Confusing layout and settings navigation
  • 🔇 Issues with audio codec and sync

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

Mavis Camera

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Inconsistent video metadata and resolution
  • Upside-down video playback after switching cameras
  • Inability to lock manual shutter speed and ISO
  • Unreliable Bluetooth connectivity with external devices
  • Saving videos taking an unusually long time

Requested features

6 requests
  • Dolby Vision HDR support
  • Log color profile and flat picture settings
  • Smooth zoom functionality
  • Remote monitoring and control capabilities
  • Improved gimbal integration and support
Show 1 more
  • Portrait mode and Instagram Reels support

In-app purchases

None

Sun Scout

No in-app purchases

15 purchases

Mavis Camera

Subscriptions3
  • Mavis C2C$14.997 Days
  • Annual Pass$29.991 Year
  • Mavis C2C$29.991 Month
One-time12
  • Timecode UltraSync BLUEFree
  • Timecode$2.99
  • Gimbals$2.99
Show 9 more
  • Buy us a coffee$4.99
  • Viewfinder$5.99
  • Formats$5.99
  • Pro Tools$5.99
  • Film Kit$14.99
  • Pro Pack$14.99
  • Big Bundle$17.99
  • API$19.99
  • NDI®$29.99

Questions

Is Sun Scout free?
Sun Scout costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Mavis Camera free?
Mavis Camera is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Sun Scout or Mavis Camera?
Mavis Camera is rated higher. Sun Scout averages 2.7 out of 5 from 22 ratings, while Mavis Camera averages 4.4 from 743 ratings.
Do Sun Scout or Mavis Camera have ads?
Neither Sun Scout nor Mavis Camera shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Sun Scout or Mavis Camera?
Sun Scout ships an update every 16 months, and Mavis Camera fortnightly. Most recently, Sun Scout was updated on September 30, 2026 and Mavis Camera on September 29, 2026.

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