Donna vs pCAM Pro
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
Read full descriptionHide 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.
pCAM Pro
This app provides 27 essential tools for cinematography and photography professionals and students. It offers instant calculations for depth of field, field of view, exposure, and more, with a user-friendly interface designed for on-the-go use.
- Depth of Field calculations
- Field of View preview
- Focal Length matching
- Exposure calculations
- HMI Flicker-free settings
- Speed Booster adapter calculations
- VFX tracking markers
Read full descriptionHide full description
Plan shots, choose lenses, calculate exposure, and pre-visualize the frame in seconds. 27 pro tools. Every result illustrated. 2,000+ camera formats plus unlimited user-defined formats. I've deliberately kept pCAM Pro a one-time purchase, with none of the subscriptions that have crept into so many apps. • Universal app for iPhone, iPad, Apple Silicon Mac, and Apple Vision Pro • Depth of Field (hyperfocal, total depth, near and far, image circle) • Field of View (and angle of view) • Field of View Preview in both Portrait & Landscape camera positions (8 images to pre-visualize & size shots by distance & focal length) • Focal Length (lens) Matching — match to horizontal, vertical, or diagonal dimensions • Relative Size (compares sensors) • Exposure calculations • HMI Flicker-free (safe shutters & safe camera speeds) • Reference (technical charts, lists & tables. Cine film stocks with film can labels, cine lens specs, false color/exposure change, diopter distance table, miniature shooting, safe panning speeds, zone system) • Insert Slate (4 font colors plus white or black backgrounds) • Splits — Aperture Finder calculation • Speed Booster® Adapter — calculate reduced Focal Length & Boosted Aperture with various adapters. Also create camera format profiles with attached adapters for use in other tools • Eye Light (soft-edged light shapes — Full Screen, Oval, Ring, and Strip) • Chroma Key & VFX Tracking (green and blue screen and VFX tracking markers) • Light Effects for handheld light or via Apple AirPlay to HDTV. Includes templates for: fire, television, siren, neon, strobe, flashbulb, lightning. Create unlimited custom animations • Mired Shift — Gel Selector • Conversion calculator • 4 Test Charts (incl. Siemens Star) • Triangulate calculation (calculate distances, image circle, etc.) • Film Running Time to Length • Shooting to Screen Time • Color Correction (chooses color correction filters) • Time Lapse (shooting interval, event duration, screen time) • Scene Illumination (beam intensity) • Light Coverage (width/distance) • Underwater Distance • Diopter (lens focus, diopter power) • Macro (object distance, magnification, corrected stop, DoF, object size, image size, fill percentage) • Built-in user guides on each screen • Calculates instantly & automatically as each entry is entered • 2,000+ camera formats plus unlimited customizable, user-defined camera formats, CoC & filters • Designed by a working camera technician who understands that calculations must be done simply and on-the-run AND ONE THING THAT ISN'T A CALCULATOR Crew Wheel — spin to settle who's buying the coffee. Not a tool, just a small gift for the standing-around time. Every long day needs one. TRUSTED WORLDWIDE BY DPs, Photographers, Camera Assistants, Camera Operators, Production Designers, VFX, Videographers, Gaffers, plus Film, Television, and Digital Media students. INDUSTRY RECOGNITION • Membership in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (Production and Technology Branch). • 75th Primetime Emmy Awards — Emmy® for "Outstanding Achievement in Engineering, Science & Technology" from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. • 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards — Engineering Plaque for "Outstanding Achievement in Engineering Development" from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. • Technical Achievement Award from Society of Camera Operators — "For outstanding contributions to cinematography through the design and development of the pCAM Film+Digital Calculator."
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Donna at Free against pCAM Pro's $34.99. Donna also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 3) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 17.0). pCAM Pro's advantage is rating (4.9 vs 4.3) and update cadence (weekly vs every 2 months). On ads 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
Donna is free to download; pCAM Pro costs $34.99 up front. pCAM Pro sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Donna asks for nothing beyond the download.
pCAM Pro holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: pCAM Pro has 222 ratings behind it against 10, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 71% of Donna's written reviews are positive against 97% of pCAM Pro's.
Donna ships an update every 2 months, pCAM Pro weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 3, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Donna | pCAM Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $34.99 |
| Rating | 4.3 (10 ratings) | 4.9 (222 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 70.8% of reviews | 97.4% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 10 | 222 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Weekly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | #129 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 8.0 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 59 MB | 42 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Kristopher Prygrocki | David Eubank |
Customer experience
Donna
pCAM Pro
Bugs and requests
Donna
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
pCAM Pro
Reported bugs
1 issue- None explicitly mentioned, but feature requests imply areas for improvement.
Requested features
3 requests- Access iPhone camera for exact POV simulation
- Implement a night mode
- Relocate hyperfocal 'apply' button in Depth-of-Field calculator
In-app purchases
Donna
No in-app purchases
pCAM Pro
- Small Tip$1.99
- Medium Tip$4.99
- Large Tip$7.99








