element vs Filmic Legacy
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
element
Control your color grading software remotely from your iPad. This app offers a virtual version of physical control panels, ideal for on-set work, training, or expanding your existing setup. It communicates with your software via WiFi and supports multi-touch gestures.
- Remote color grading control
- Virtual Element control panels
- On-set grading ideal
- Portable grading solution
- Multi-touch support
- WiFi communication
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Control your colour grading software from your iPad with the element-Vs app. - Ideal for on-set grading. - Ideal as a portable grading panel. - Ideal for training. - Ideal for expanding your real Element panels. The element-Vs is a virtual version of the four panels that make up the Element control panel series by Tangent Wave Ltd. Every panel is presented in exactly the same layout as the real Element panels. All the controls are mapped on the element-Vs in exactly the same way as the real Element panels. What the controls do depends on the grading software you are using the panel with. You should refer to the control mappings for the Element panels provided by your software manufacturer. The element-Vs is fully multi-touch, so you can use different controls simultaneously. You do not need to own the real Element panels in order to use the element-Vs. You can use the element-Vs at the same time as your real Element panels. When you do this the controls will reflect any changes and information that happen to either real or virtual panels. If you do not own all the Element panels you can use the element-Vs to provide virtual versions of the panels you do not own. Communication with your grading software is via WiFi. NOTE: you will need to download and install the Tangent Hub software on your computer in order for your grading software to talk to the element-Vs app. Please read the manual which is available to download on our website - see the element-Vs product page. After you have used the sample version for 1 hour you will be reminded that it is the sample version and you should consider buying the app. You can then continue to use the app again the following day.
Filmic Legacy
This app offers advanced manual controls for video recording, enabling filmmakers to achieve professional cinematic quality. It provides features like LOG gamma curves for enhanced post-production flexibility and real-time cinematic looks. Designed for experienced users, it allows for precise control over focus, exposure, and zoom.
- Dual arc slider controls for manual focus and exposure
- Live analytics suite (Zebras, False Color, Focus Peaking)
- Dolby Vision HDR support
- ProRes support
- Realtime film looks
- Frame.io Camera to Cloud integration
- Clean HDMI Out
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Filmic Legacy is available only to filmmakers who paid for Filmic Pro v6 before the 25th of August, 2022. It will continue to receive bug fixes but will not receive any new features. Filmic Legacy (previously FiLMiC Pro v6) features cutting-edge capabilities and a responsive manual filming experience. A multi-time iOS Video Camera App of the Year, Filmic Pro has been used in more high profile video projects by award winning directors than any other app: Unsane & High Flying Bird - Steven Soderbergh Tangerine - Sean Baker Lose You to Love Me - Selena Gomez Stupid Love - Lady Gaga Detour - Michel Gondry Snow Steam Iron - Zack Snyder Filmic Pro provides filmmakers, newscasters, teachers, vloggers, and artists with the capability to shoot in a true LOG gamma curve. LOG V2/V3/V3* allows for greater tonal range and flexibility in post production by expanding dynamic range and setting the iPhone’s capabilities on par with traditional camera systems costing thousands more. Filmic Pro also offers a range of cinematic film looks that can be applied in-camera at time of capture to deliver a truly cinematic aesthetic without the need for timely grading in post.* Note: Multicam support is not included in Filmic Pro but is available in our companion app: DoubleTake. v6 Banner Features: • Dual arc slider controls for manual focus and exposure • Live analytics suite of Zebras, False Color and Focus Peaking (limited to 30fps at 4k and 60fps at 1080p) • Dolby Vision HDR support (limited to 4K 30fps. Incompatible with CineKit) • ProRes support on 13/14 series • Realtime film looks (8-bit/DolbyVision)* • Frame.io Camera to Cloud integration on iPhone 11 & newer • 10-bit SDR support for 12 series & newer* • Clean HDMI Out for monitoring & webcam use • Ramped zoom rocker • Waveform monitor including tri-mode histogram • Manual white balance adjustment & custom presets • Content Management (CMS) for file naming • FiLMiC Sync account to store presets in the cloud and share between devices • Gamma curve controls for Natural, Dynamic, Flat and LOGv2/V3/V3+* • Shadow and highlight controls • RGB, saturation and vibrance controls Foundation Features: • Standard, manual and hybrid shooting modes. A shooting style for any skill level. • Apple Watch support for remote start/stop + video preview • Vertical and landscape support • Variable speed zoom • Sync audio frame rates of 24, 25, 30, 48, 50 and 60 fps • High speed frame rates of 60,120, 240 fps (hardware dependent) • Slow and fast motion FX • Time lapse capture • Tri-mode histogram, including waveform • Downsampling to lower resolutions • Saved shooting presets • Framing guide overlays • Image stabilization • Support for Filmic Remote. Remote allows you to control an iOS device running Filmic Pro with a second device running Filmic Remote. Full manual controls with pull capabilities for: • Exposure: ISO and shutter speed • Manual focus • Zoom 8 aspect ratios including: • Widescreen (16:9) • Super 35 (2.39:1) • Ultra Panavision (2.76:1) • Square (1:1) Share your video through any iOS share-capable apps like: Facebook, DropBox, FTP. 4 encoding options to balance quality and file size: • Filmic Extreme (~150Mbps encoding at 4K on latest gen devices) • Filmic Quality • Apple Standard • Economy 3rd Party Hardware Support: • 1.33x and 1.55x anamorphic desqueeze • 35mm lens adapters • Horizontal flip Supported Gimbals: • Zhiyun Smooth 4/5 • DJI OSMO Mobile 1/2/3/4/5 Advanced Audio Features: • Pro audio formats: PCM, AIFF, AAC • 44.1 & 48kHz • Headphone monitoring • Pro audio meter • Manual input gain • External microphone level control *Note: Not all features available on older devices and resolution and frame rate restrictions may apply.*
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: element at 2.9 against Filmic Legacy's 1.4. element also leads on review sentiment (50% vs 12%) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 14.1). Filmic Legacy's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 35 months) and ratings volume (475 vs 8). On price, 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
element holds the better App Store score, 2.9 against 1.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Filmic Legacy has 475 ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of element's written reviews are positive against 12% of Filmic Legacy's.
element ships an update every 35 months, Filmic Legacy every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 12, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | element | Filmic Legacy |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 2.9 (8 ratings) — better | 1.4 (475 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews — better | 11.9% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 8 | 475 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 35 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — better |
| Requires iOS | 8.0 — better | 14.1 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 2 MB | 190 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Tangent Wave Ltd. | Bending Spoons Apps ApS |
Customer experience
element
Filmic Legacy
Bugs and requests
element
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
Filmic Legacy
Reported bugs
3 issues- Legacy version won't launch
- Can't export videos in legacy
- Settings/presets not transferring
Requested features
3 requests- Refund for paid version
- Maintain legacy version with updates
- Offer one-time purchase option
In-app purchases
element
No in-app purchases
Filmic Legacy
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is element free?
Is Filmic Legacy free?
Which has better reviews, element or Filmic Legacy?
Do element or Filmic Legacy have ads?
Which is updated more often, element or Filmic Legacy?
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