Comparison

CameraKit vs starCTRL

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

Head to head
About

CameraKit

This app provides comprehensive technical specifications and calculations for a wide range of cameras and video formats. It helps filmmakers and videographers estimate storage needs, battery life, transfer times, and compare camera performance.

Highlights
  • Detailed camera specifications
  • Storage space calculation
  • Battery life estimation
  • File transfer time prediction
  • Sensor size comparison
  • Format compatibility checks
  • Notes and favorites
Features
Read full description

Everything you need to know about every camera worth using. "How much drive space will I need for this Alexa 35 shoot?” "What's the dynamic range of the Venice 2?” “How long will these batteries last me on a Komodo?” "How big is this file going to be when I export?” If you've ever asked these questions, this is the app for you. Whether you’re making decisions on set, troubleshooting in an edit bay, or figuring out which camera to buy, CameraKit has you covered. Search over 200 cameras with a list that includes Arri, Canon, Red, Sony, Blackmagic, Panasonic and more. All specs and data sourced by hand: no AI means no hallucinations. SPECS Includes dynamic range, sensor size, native ISO, lens mounts, resolutions, video outputs, maximum FPS and a link to the manufacturer's website for firmware & manuals. STORAGE Determine how much footage you can fit on your camera card or hard drive-- or how much storage space you'll need for a given recording time.  TRANSFER Predict just how long it will take to move your files, whether you’re transferring to a drive or over the internet.  POWER Estimate how long your batteries will last, or how many you'll need for a shoot, with the option to factor in accessories like your monitor or wireless transmitter. SENSOR See the sensor size for the current resolution and compare sensors between cameras. COMPATIBILITY See how well each camera and format performs with the latest versions of Final Cut Pro, Premiere Pro, Avid Media Composer, Assimilate Scratch and DaVinci Resolve. Also see if it's been approved by Netflix for original programming. AND MORE Jot down observations and anything you want to remember about a camera with Notes. Compare specs or any other tool like Storage or Compatibility. Calculate film footage for 8mm, 16mm, 35mm and 65mm cameras. Save your calculations and return to them later with a tap. Mark any camera as a favorite for quick access. "CameraKit is easily the de-facto standard and is utilized by many of our productions to demystify complex technical nuances of filmmaking." -Andy Johnson, Netflix "With the abundance of camera formats now out there, it’s easy to get lost with which system can do what. With the CameraKit app this information is now at your fingertips." -Richard Lackey, CineD "This is one of my favorites. It has every single piece of information for nearly every single camera on the market today. Comparing recording formats between cameras has never been easier." -Shane Hurlbut, ASC • Support • For support, send me an email at zak@grayhourmedia.com or message me on Instagram @_zakray. To see all supported cameras and formats, just install the app (it's free to download!) and open the main dropdown menu. Current countries for manufacturer phone support are the US, UK, Canada, France, Germany, and China. No internet connection required: all data is hard-coded into the app, so there’s no syncing process, and you’ll be able to access it even without a cell signal. • Disclaimer • The "price" feature uses affiliate links from B&H Photo Video. I receive a commission if you make a purchase from one of these links. • About • CameraKit is developed by Zak Ray and the team at Gray Hour Media in NYC & LA. Gray Hour produces fresh and original content for film, episodic and the web. Head to www.grayhourmedia.com to check out our work!

About

starCTRL

Design custom lighting setups with this app. Connect and control compatible fixtures, adjusting color, intensity, and effects. Save presets and group lights for complex designs.

Highlights
  • Auto-discovery of compatible fixtures
  • Control lamp color and intensity
  • Adjust color temperature and green offset
  • Access built-in lighting effects
  • Group lights for larger designs
  • Save favorite colors and effects
  • Set smooth transitions with fade times
Features
Read full description

Designed for Litepanels Astra IP and Quasar Science Rainbow 2 and Double Rainbow, starCTRL is a simple-to-use app that allows users to connect wirelessly, create custom lighting designs and quickly adjust standard parameters. Unlock fast and creative lighting designs with the starCTRL app. 1. Connect instantly The starCTRL app is compatible with the following fixtures: - Quasar Science Rainbow 2 and Double Rainbow 
 - Litepanels Astra IP series Supported fixtures are automatically discovered by starCTRL for fast easy setup. Simply set your lights to starCTRL mode in the fixture menu and open the starCTRL app — it’s that simple! 2. Control simply Take full control of your lights from your fingertips. Quasar Science control parameters: Intensity, CCT (1750-10000K), ±Green, Hue, Saturation, Output Mode, and FX Litepanels Astra IP control parameters: DIM and CCT (2700-6500K) Quickly adjust color and temperature using common presets. Access the full range of Rainbow series lighting effects, with the ability to fine-tune individual effect parameters. 3. Customize Group lights for more complex designs. Apply settings to an entire group or fine-tune individual fixtures. Save your own Colors and FX settings to Favorites for quick recall onto any selected fixture or group. Enable smooth transitions by setting a fade time of up to 5 seconds. Firmware Requirements Rainbow 2 & Double Rainbow 
 - Recommended*: QS 0.9B with TimoTwo v1.1.1.5 
 - Minimum compatible: QS 0.8B with TimoTwo v1.0.7.2 *iOS26 users must update to recommended versions or later Litepanels Astra IP 
 - Firmware v1.5.0 with VLPM v1.0.2m (or later)

Screenshots

CameraKit4 screens
starCTRL3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: CameraKit at 4.7 against starCTRL's 2.9. CameraKit also leads on review sentiment (66% vs 25%) and ratings volume (321 vs 7). starCTRL's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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. CameraKit sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. starCTRL asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

CameraKit holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 2.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: CameraKit has 321 ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 66% of CameraKit's written reviews are positive against 25% of starCTRL's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

CameraKit ships an update every 2 months, starCTRL every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
CameraKit versus starCTRL: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCameraKitstarCTRL
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (321 ratings) — better2.9 (7 ratings)
Positive reviews66.1% of reviews — better25.0% of reviews
Number of ratings321 — better7
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 6 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.014.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size46 MB3 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperZak RayVidendum Production Solutions, Inc.

Customer experience

CameraKit

All ratings321 ratings
Positive93.1%
Neutral1.6%
Negative5.3%
Written reviews62 reviews
Positive66.1%
Neutral11.3%
Negative22.6%

starCTRL

All ratings5 ratings
Positive20.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative80.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive25.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative75.0%

Bugs and requests

CameraKit

Reported bugs

9 issues
  • Lost all pro purchases
  • Cannot restore purchases
  • Monthly subscription broken
  • Subscription cycle error
  • Crashes when restoring purchase on iPad Mini
Show 4 more
  • App crashes when selecting XT3 camera
  • App crashes when typing numbers in search
  • BMPCC4K resolution and frame rate wrong
  • BMPCC 6K frame rate wrong

Requested features

21 requests
  • Pro-rate for early adopters
  • Direct link to working manual
  • Develop something for framing
  • Add support for Sony a7 IV
  • Add support for Nikon
Show 16 more
  • Add support for Braw calculate for BMD, BMPCC 4K
  • Organize favorites list
  • Include Sony A7s
  • Include Panasonic HC-X1000
  • Include Sony NEX-EA50
  • Update with new cameras regularly
  • Include Blackmagic Pocket CC
  • Add accurate info for all frame rates (Avid, Red)
  • Clarify camera generations (C100 vs C100 mk 2, RED Scarlet MX vs Dragon)
  • Add film formats
  • Include compressed raw formats for Blackmagic
  • Add RGB color space for ProRes4444 on Alexa
  • Correct 29.97i to 29.97PsF for C100
  • Add slow-mo and resolution details for cameras
  • Add 3000 fps for Phantom 4k
  • Add 200 fps in UHD for Alexa Mini

starCTRL

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

3 purchases

CameraKit

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly Subscription$4.991 Month
  • Annual Subscription$49.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Access$99.99
None

starCTRL

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is CameraKit free?
CameraKit is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is starCTRL free?
starCTRL is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, CameraKit or starCTRL?
CameraKit is rated higher. CameraKit averages 4.7 out of 5 from 321 ratings, while starCTRL averages 2.9 from 7 ratings.
Do CameraKit or starCTRL have ads?
Neither CameraKit nor starCTRL shows ads.
Which is updated more often, CameraKit or starCTRL?
CameraKit ships an update every 2 months, and starCTRL every 6 months. Most recently, CameraKit was updated on September 29, 2026 and starCTRL on September 30, 2026.

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