Comparison

RED Tools vs Donna

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

Donna

This app serves as a pocket-sized assistant for users of RED cameras, enabling them to learn, practice, and reference the DSMC/DSMC2 menu structure. It helps avoid on-camera menu surfing and provides insights from industry professionals.

Highlights
  • Learn RED camera menu structure
  • Practice menu navigation
  • Reference DSMC/DSMC2 menus
  • Avoid on-camera menu surfing
  • Industry professional insights
  • Support for specific firmware versions
Features
Read full description

*Featured on NO FILM SCHOOL, CineTechnica, REDSHARKNEWS and NATEANDSEAN.RED.COM* - A must for anyone working with RED cameras. Your very own RED headed assistant. Donna allows users to quickly learn, practice and reference the DSMC/DSMC2 menu structure in the palm of their hand. ANYTIME. ANYWHERE. A perfect companion for AC's, DP's, DIT's, Rental Houses, Owner/Operators and film students working with RED cameras. "I work for RED and have been supporting the cameras for over 7 years. No BS… I sincerely believe that this is hands down the best thing for any RED user, assistant, owner, operator, or enthusiast to have on their phone. I recommend it to everyone on the receiving end of one of my camera demos, or anyone who contacts me about menu navigation." - Nate Heartt, RED LEARN. PRACTICE. REFERENCE. -Avoid menu surfing on the camera -Look like a menu wizard in front of your colleagues. -Bridge that gap between a Data Manager and a DIT. -Maybe you’ve gone as far as you can on your own and need to quickly file a support ticket while on set… DONNA can help with that. -Look up the latest RECON post or lens coverage on REDUSER -Maybe you want to see what crazy trouble Sean and Nate are into.. Donna Tips provides insight from the top professionals in the industry. The current release covers firmware version 5.3.X, 6.X.X and WEAPON 6.1.X Please note, this will not allow you to control the camera and is a simulator to be used for educational purposes. Not all buttons/menus are active.

Screenshots

RED Tools4 screens
Donna4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Donna at 4.3 against RED Tools's 3.3. Donna also leads on update cadence (every 2 months vs every 21 months) and review sentiment (71% vs 50%). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases 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.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Donna holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 15 and 10 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of RED Tools's written reviews are positive against 71% of Donna's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

RED Tools ships an update every 21 months, Donna every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 19, 2026 and October 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
RED Tools versus Donna: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRED ToolsDonna
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.3 (15 ratings)4.3 (10 ratings) — better
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews70.8% of reviews — better
Number of ratings15 — better10
Update frequencyEvery 21 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.68.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size7 MB59 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperRED Digital CinemaKristopher Prygrocki

Customer experience

RED Tools

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

Donna

All ratings10 ratings
Positive80.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative20.0%
Written reviews24 reviews
Positive70.8%
Neutral0.0%
Negative29.2%

In-app purchases

None

RED Tools

No in-app purchases

None

Donna

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is RED Tools free?
RED Tools is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Donna free?
Donna is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, RED Tools or Donna?
Donna is rated higher. RED Tools averages 3.3 out of 5 from 15 ratings, while Donna averages 4.3 from 10 ratings.
Do RED Tools or Donna have ads?
Neither RED Tools nor Donna shows ads.
Which is updated more often, RED Tools or Donna?
RED Tools ships an update every 21 months, and Donna every 2 months. Most recently, RED Tools was updated on September 19, 2026 and Donna on October 3, 2026.

Other comparisons