Comparison

CameraKit vs RED Tools

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

RED Tools

This app assists filmmakers and camera operators with camera setup by providing tools for crop factor, recording time, flicker-free video, depth of field, panning speed, and exposure. It offers customizable settings for various shooting situations and RED camera systems.

Highlights
  • Crop factor preview
  • R3D recording time evaluation
  • Flicker-free video calculation
  • Depth of field estimation
  • Panning speed guidance
  • Exposure assistance
Features
Read full description

RED Tools is a convenient reference tool designed for use by filmmakers and camera operators to outline best practices in camera set-up for a variety of shooting situations. Each tool is customizable based on a selected RED camera and sensor type. Standard film formats are also included for comparison. RED Tools is also included in the RED Control app, which also provides free, full-featured camera control and video streaming for RED’s latest DSMC3 products. TOOLS INCLUDED: CROP FACTOR Preview how a given focal length will appear depending on resolution setting and sensor type. Illustration depicts viewable area relative to a traditional 35 mm stills photography sensor by default, but other reference sensors are selectable within the drop-down menu. R3D RECORDING TIME Evaluate the video data rate and available recording time based on your RED camera settings. This can help you understand media requirements and production costs in advance of a shoot. FLICKER FREE VIDEO Find a flicker-free shutter speed and frame rate combination when shooting under artificial lighting. DEPTH OF FIELD Understand how various camera settings influence depth of field. PANNING SPEED Estimate the panning speed where judder will likely become too pronounced. The goal is to provide a more accessible tool than the charts and tables commonly referenced in cinematography manuals. It uses the standard rule of thumb that camera panning should not cause objects to transit the entire horizontal extent of an image in any less than seven seconds. EXPOSURE Assist with exposure when one camera setting has to change. Example usage scenarios include when a higher frame rate needs to be used for slow motion, when the T-stop has to change for depth of field, or when the shutter angle has to change to minimize flickering in artificial light. NIKKOR Z Lens Coverage Use this tool to understand how NIKKOR Z lenses will look on your RED Z Mount camera bodies. The tool shows the extent the light will fall off at different sensor formats, and if any hard vignetting occurs.

Screenshots

CameraKit4 screens
RED Tools4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: CameraKit at 4.7 against RED Tools's 3.3. CameraKit also leads on update cadence (every 2 months vs every 21 months) and ratings volume (321 vs 15). RED Tools'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. RED Tools asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

CameraKit holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: CameraKit has 321 ratings behind it against 15, 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 50% of RED Tools's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

CameraKit ships an update every 2 months, RED Tools every 21 months. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
CameraKit versus RED Tools: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCameraKitRED Tools
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (321 ratings) — better3.3 (15 ratings)
Positive reviews66.1% of reviews — better50.0% of reviews
Number of ratings321 — better15
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 21 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.0 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size46 MB7 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperZak RayRED Digital Cinema

Customer experience

CameraKit

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

RED Tools

All ratings13 ratings
Positive53.8%
Neutral7.7%
Negative38.5%
Written reviews18 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral16.7%
Negative33.3%

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

RED Tools

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

RED Tools

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is CameraKit free?
CameraKit is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is RED Tools free?
RED Tools is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, CameraKit or RED Tools?
CameraKit is rated higher. CameraKit averages 4.7 out of 5 from 321 ratings, while RED Tools averages 3.3 from 15 ratings.
Do CameraKit or RED Tools have ads?
Neither CameraKit nor RED Tools shows ads.
Which is updated more often, CameraKit or RED Tools?
CameraKit ships an update every 2 months, and RED Tools every 21 months. Most recently, CameraKit was updated on September 29, 2026 and RED Tools on September 19, 2026.

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