Comparison

RED Tools vs LidarAC

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

Head to head
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.

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

Screenshots

RED Tools4 screens
LidarAC4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: LidarAC at every 11 days against RED Tools's every 21 months. RED Tools's advantage is iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.6). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

RED Tools ships an update every 21 months, LidarAC every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on September 19, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
RED Tools versus LidarAC: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRED ToolsLidarAC
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.3 (15 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings15 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 21 monthsEvery 11 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.6 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size7 MB16 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperRED Digital CinemaLuis Arndt

In-app purchases

None

RED Tools

No in-app purchases

None

LidarAC

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is RED Tools free?
RED Tools is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is LidarAC free?
LidarAC is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do RED Tools or LidarAC have ads?
Neither RED Tools nor LidarAC shows ads.
Which is updated more often, RED Tools or LidarAC?
RED Tools ships an update every 21 months, and LidarAC every 11 days. Most recently, RED Tools was updated on September 19, 2026 and LidarAC on October 2, 2026.

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