Comparison

LidarAC vs Tech Scout Camera

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

Head to head
About

LidarAC

Features
Read full description

LidarAC – RX is the handheld control and monitoring interface for the LidarAC system, built to extend Tilta Nucleus M and N setups for modern focus workflows. The idea is simple: bring tools normally found on high-end hand units to the Nano by using an iPhone. The system consists of two Modes. RX acts as the handheld interface and connects to the Nucleus Nano II via Bluetooth. TX runs on a second iPhone mounted on the camera (iPhone 12 Pro or newer) and provides LiDAR-based distance data. RX already enhances the Nucleus on its own with custom lens profiles, focus scaling, and marker tools. The full potential unlocks when paired with TX, adding real-time distance data directly into the focus workflow. Instead of relying on raw motor values, the system translates focus into usable distance context. Depth of field is calculated and visualized in real time, helping focus pullers make faster and more confident decisions, especially in dynamic scenes. Lens profiles allow precise mapping between LiDAR data and lens behavior, including aperture-based depth of field. Camera profiles handle CoC and sensor offset, ensuring accurate results in real-world setups. The focus scale is fully interactive and can switch between a flat mode and a focus wheel inspired mode. Values can either be mapped visually like on the lens for intuitive pulling, or displayed linearly to better understand spatial relationships within the scene. Marker and tracking tools make it easy to set, follow, and recall focus points. Features like spot measurement, 2D and 3D tracking, and a top-down LiDAR view provide clear spatial awareness on set. Haptic feedback increases as you approach a marker, giving intuitive confirmation without looking away. Key features: • Real-time LiDAR distance data for people, faces, and eyes • Spot distance measurement • 2D and 3D tracking points • Top-down LiDAR scene view • Custom lens profiles with depth of field visualization • Multiple focus scale modes (linear, lens matched, logarithmic) • Marker-based focus assistance with haptic feedback

About

Tech Scout Camera

This app offers professional-grade photography tools by bypassing standard phone processing. It emulates various cinema cameras and color science, providing advanced exposure controls and film emulation for creative professionals.

Highlights
  • Cinema camera emulation
  • Advanced exposure tools
  • Director's viewfinder
  • Sun position visualization
  • Film emulation effects
  • RAW capture support
Features
Read full description

Tech Scout bypasses iOS’s computational photography pipeline by leveraging film industry post production color workflows and advanced film emulation tools, bringing an entirely new type of photography to your iPhone. A still camera with a motion picture camera under the hood. Accurately emulate all major motion picture cameras. Any look, any camera, right in your pocket. At Tech Scout’s core is its camera system. Motion picture image science and film emulation tools have been fully ported to run locally on device, without cloud compute or AI-assisted image processing. Apple's computational photography image pipeline is replaced by wide color gamut, ACES-derived log workflows, standardizing to the same image pipeline film industry professionals work with every day. Tech Scout has fully native image science support for the Arri Alexa and Alexa 35, the Sony Venice family of cameras, all modern RED Digital Cinema cameras, Fujifilm Eterna, DJI, Canon Log 3, and BlackMagic version 5 color science, as well as both Apple Log and Apple Log 2. All of these gammas/color spaces are available on all supported iPhone models, and can be accurately previewed live with the LUT of your choice using our unique Scout Viewfinder. Also included are Scout custom looks, pulled from Brook Willard's personal LUT library and tuned to the capabilities of the iPhone camera system. Scout's Film Emulation engine is Brook's own design; Tech Scout is the first public release of a previously internal tool developed for use on some of the largest motion pictures in history. Director’s Viewfinder: Load your show LUT and scout like you shoot. With a library of dozens of cameras, hundreds of record modes, thousands of lenses, and cinema camera image science, Tech Scout is a major step forward for phone-based directors viewfinders. And sharing projects is easier than ever. You can AirDrop, iMessage, or email your Tech Scout projects instantly, including not only your project settings but your custom show LUT as well. Sun Position: Every director’s viewfinder capture features a sun position visualizer, showing relative sun position, sunrise, sunset, and other critical metadata. Whether you’re a cinematographer, director, or locations, your viewfinder captures will carry enormously valuable information for your crew. Exposure Mode: Tech Scout’s exposure mode allows you to accurately measure scene exposure on your chosen camera system. With waveform monitors, false color, EL Zone, and both LUT and log preview of your project’s look, exposure mode is a quick and accurate way to judge scene dynamic range and light levels. Film Emulation Scout’s Film Emulation engine features motion picture quality film grain, halation, edge softening, glow, and dye layer light scattering. Camera Mode Tech Scout includes a fully-featured camera mode, with support for Bayer RAW capture, Apple ProRAW Capture, and Scout Pro mode on supported phones. Fully manual controls, LUT and film emulation support, burst mode, flash support, and every other feature that you would anticipate in a dedicated professional camera app. Love your favorite cinema camera’s look? Have a preferred LUT? Wish you had a film camera in your pocket? Tired of AI-assisted photography? Tech Scout’s camera mode is the tool you’ve been waiting for. Scout Viewfinder In order to accurately display Scout’s image science live onscreen, the Scout Viewfinder bypasses iOS’s camera preview altogether. Instead, Tech Scout captures and processes full-resolution RAW images in realtime and displays them live. This novel approach brings accurate look preview to the full range of supported iPhone models. Tech Scout is designed and engineered by cinematographer and former digital imaging technician Brook Willard. Tech Scout is a $19.99/year auto‑renewing subscription with a 7‑day free trial.

Screenshots

LidarAC4 screens
Tech Scout Camera4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: LidarAC at none against Tech Scout Camera's 1. On price, update cadence, 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

Both are free to download. Tech Scout Camera sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $19.99 per year. LidarAC asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

LidarAC ships an update every 11 days, Tech Scout Camera fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
LidarAC versus Tech Scout Camera: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLidarACTech Scout Camera
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (10 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—10 — better
Update frequencyEvery 11 days — betterFortnightly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
Monetization—Free with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS17.617.2 — better
Further details — not scored
Size16 MB315 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLuis ArndtBrook Willard

In-app purchases

None

LidarAC

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Tech Scout Camera

Subscriptions1
  • Tech Scout7 Days trial$19.991 Year

Questions

Is LidarAC free?
LidarAC is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Tech Scout Camera free?
Tech Scout Camera is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do LidarAC or Tech Scout Camera have ads?
Neither LidarAC nor Tech Scout Camera shows ads.
Which is updated more often, LidarAC or Tech Scout Camera?
LidarAC ships an update every 11 days, and Tech Scout Camera fortnightly. Most recently, LidarAC was updated on October 2, 2026 and Tech Scout Camera on October 11, 2026.

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