Mark II Artist's Viewfinder vs Zone Tool
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Mark II Artist's Viewfinder
This app helps filmmakers and photographers plan shots by simulating various camera and lens combinations. It allows users to visualize compositions, explore angles, and even save high-resolution photos, acting as a powerful pre-production tool.
- Camera and lens simulation
- Composition visualization
- High-resolution photo saving
- Black & white mode for tonal exploration
- Location and metadata storage
- GPX track logging
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Artist's Viewfinder assists the filmmaker or still photographer in exploring different places and angles to find the optimal placement for the camera, and to second-guess compositions. By simulating real camera and lens combinations it allows you to visualize what you are going to shoot without actually setting up the camera. And it's also a great tool to train yourself to see. Handles Like Your Camera Exposure compensation. Auto-focus lock. AF confirmation beep. A Quick Control Screen for accessing frequently needed functions. Smart Function Keys. Shutter release via the Volume buttons. We designed the Mark II so that you could feel at home the moment you start working with it. And because it also saves high resolution photos, you can even use it as a regular camera. Visualize the Grand Landscape Paired with a 0.5x-class super-wide converter lens*, the Mark II becomes an indispensable tool for landscape and architecture photographers. The combination can simulate super-wide lenses up to around 16mm on the full-frame 35mm format. Or you can use it to compose super-wide stitched images. The Mark II even removes distortion present in the wide converter lens — in real time. * FOR THE LIST OF SUPPORTED CONVERTER/DEVICE COMBINATIONS PLEASE VISIT: https://www.artistsviewfinder.com/tech-specs/ When There's No Need for Color In black & white mode Artist's Viewfinder shows just the luminance information of the scene, making it easier to explore tonal structures and simulate what a black & white photograph will look like. Taking it a step further, the optional dark and neutral toolbar theme ensures that colors from the app doesn't interfere with your composition. Unprecedented Simulation Flexibility The Mark II leverages our extensive Viewfinder Camera Database, containing more than 800 still and motion picture cameras, 180 medium/large format backs and countless lenses — incorporating real lens data for ALPA, Hartblei, Hasselblad, Leica, Rodenstock, Schneider and Zeiss glass. And you can define your own cameras and lenses when you need something special for the job. Does What Optical Viewfinders Can't Even Dream Of Artist's Viewfinder stores location and simulation metadata with the pictures, allowing you to evaluate results of a location scout later on your computer. Or you can send the information off to the rest of the crew or to a rental house, right from the app. It also records a standard GPX format track log, alleviating the need for a separate logging device. Want to Learn More? To explore the complete list of features, please visit: https://www.artistsviewfinder.com/features/ Written by the author of the app, The Viewfinder Handbook is the ultimate source of information about the Mark II. Way more than a user manual, this free eBook not only walks you through the ins and outs of the app, but also provides conceptual background, insights and useful hands-on advice. Available in iPad optimized PDF format at: https://www.artistsviewfinder.com/handbook/
Zone Tool
Calculate photographic exposure and development adjustments using zone system theory. Measure shadows and highlights, input film ISO and desired shutter speed to determine aperture and development time modifications.
- Zone system exposure calculation
- Shadow and highlight measurement
- Film ISO input
- Shutter speed adjustment
- Development time calculation
- Aperture determination
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With this tool you can calculate your exposure and needed adjustment for development. It uses zone system theory originally invented by Ansel Adams and Fred Archer. First decide zone of your shadows and measure the shadows. Then device highlight zone and measure the highlights. Measure these with the film ISO you are going to use. You also need to decide shutter speed in beforehand. The app calculates exposure aperture for you and also tells if you need to shorten (N+..) or expand (N-..) your development time. You will get best results with a spot light meter but mobile apps will probably do fine.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Zone Tool at $0.99 against Mark II Artist's Viewfinder's $39.99. Zone Tool also leads on iOS requirement (12.2 vs 15.6). Mark II Artist's Viewfinder's advantage is rating (4.8 vs 2.8) and update cadence (every 4 months vs every 38 months). On review sentiment, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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
Mark II Artist's Viewfinder costs $39.99 and Zone Tool $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Mark II Artist's Viewfinder holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 2.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Mark II Artist's Viewfinder has 104 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 96% of Mark II Artist's Viewfinder's written reviews are positive against 100% of Zone Tool's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Mark II Artist's Viewfinder ships an update every 4 months, Zone Tool every 38 months. Both last shipped on October 29, 2026.
| Parameter | Mark II Artist's Viewfinder | Zone Tool |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $39.99 | $0.99 — better |
| Rating | 4.8 (104 ratings) — better | 2.8 (6 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 96.3% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 104 — better | 6 |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months — better | Every 38 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Best chart rank | #183 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | 12.2 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 5 MB | 0 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | DIRE Studio | Jouni Erola |
Customer experience
Mark II Artist's Viewfinder
Zone Tool
Bugs and requests
Mark II Artist's Viewfinder
Reported bugs
5 issues- Battery drain on iPhone 6s Plus
- Shift functionality requires selecting Alpa camera for Arca cameras
- Limited iPhone 6+ support for wide-angle photography
- Inaccurate coverage for Toyo View 4A II
- Still no iPhone 6 support (as of late 2014)
Requested features
9 requests- Color filter simulation for B&W view
- B&W film simulations or custom color sensitivity settings
- Map enhancement with direction indicator
- Easier access to time/date data
- Ability to write notes to a frame
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- Custom aspect ratios or custom overlay for client crop requirements
- Flip view horizontally and upside down
- Video framing support
- Japanese language option
Zone Tool
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Mark II Artist's Viewfinder
No in-app purchases
Zone Tool
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Mark II Artist's Viewfinder free?
Is Zone Tool free?
Which has better reviews, Mark II Artist's Viewfinder or Zone Tool?
Do Mark II Artist's Viewfinder or Zone Tool have ads?
Which is updated more often, Mark II Artist's Viewfinder or Zone Tool?
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