Helicon Remote vs Magic Nikonian ViewFinder
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Helicon Remote
Control your Nikon or Canon DSLR remotely for tethered shooting. Features include automated focus and exposure bracketing, time-lapse, and extra-long exposures. Supports Wi-Fi and USB connections for advanced photography workflows.
- Tethered shooting
- Camera remote control
- Automated focus bracketing
- Exposure bracketing
- Time lapse shooting
- Extra long exposures
- Live View
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Helicon Remote is a utility for tethered shooting and camera remote control compatible with all recent Nikon and Canon DSLR cameras. USB connection is supported on iOS 13.0 and newer. Only Wi-Fi connection is possible on iOS 12! Key features: - Wi-Fi support (for cameras with built-in Wi-Fi unit, as well as external Nikon WT and Canon WFT units) - Automated focus bracketing (focus bracketing, exposure bracketing and time lapse shooting can be combined in any way possible) - Extra long exposures - up to 32 minutes (all Canon cameras, Nikon D750 / Df / D600 / D610 / D800 / D810 / D4 / D4s / D7100 / D5200 / D5300) - Advanced exposure bracketing - Image review - Full screen Live View - Focus peaking (areas in sharp focus can be highlighted) - Live View noise averaging - Time lapse shooting - Video recording - Hyper focal distance and DOF calculator - Live histogram (gray/RGB) Compatible cameras Canon: - EOS R, Rp, R5, R6 - M6 Mk II, M50, M50 Mk II - 1D Mark III, 1D X Mark III, 1Ds Mark III, 1D Mark IV, 1D C, 1D X, 1D X Mark II; - 5D Mark II, 5D Mark III, 5D Mark IV, 5DS, 5DS R (5DSR); - 6D, 6D Mark II; - 7D, 7D Mark II; - 40D, 50D, 60D, 70D, 77D / 9000D, 80D, 90D; - 100D / SL1 / Kiss X7, 200D / SL2 / Kiss X8, 250D; - 450D / Rebel XSi / Kiss X2, 500D / Rebel T1i / Kiss X3, 550D / Rebel T2i / Kiss X4, 600D / Rebel T3i / Kiss X5, 650D / Rebel T4i / Kiss X6, 700D / T5i / Kiss X7i, 750D / Rebel T6i / Kiss x8i, 760D / Rebel T6s / EOS 8000D, 800D / Rebel T7i / Kiss X9i, 1000D / Rebel XS / Kiss F, 1100D / Rebel T3 / Kiss X50, 1200D / T5 / Kiss X70, 1300D / Rebel T6 / Kiss X80; - 2000D / Kiss X90 / T7 / 1500D; - 4000D / 3000D. Nikon: - Z5, Z6, Z6 II, Z7, Z7 II, Z50 - D3, D3s, D3x, D4, D4s, D5, Df, D90, D300/D300s, D500, D600, D610, D700, D750, D780, D800/D800e, D810, D810A, D850, D5000, D5100, D5200, D5300, D5500, D5600, D7000, D7100, D7200, D7500. Sony: A7 III, A7 RIII Compatible Wi-Fi cameras Canon: Cameras with built-in Wi-Fi unit: - EOS R, Rp, R5, R6, M6 Mk II, M50, M50 Mk II - 1D X Mark III, 5D Mark IV, 6D, 6D Mark II, 70D, 750D, 760D, 80D, 90D, 800D, 77D, 1300D, 200D, 2000D / Kiss X90 / T7 / 1500D. Cameras that support an external wireless adapter: 5D Mark II + WFT-4A, 7D + WFT-5A, 1D C / 1D X + WFT-6A/B, 5D Mark III + WFT-E7A, 1 DX Mark II + WFT-E8A, 5DS / 5DS R + WFT-E7A, 7D Mark II + WFT-E7A (ver. 2). Nikon: Cameras with built-in Wi-Fi unit: - Z5, Z6, Z6 II, Z7, Z7 II, Z50 - D5300, D5500, D7200, D780. Wi-fi connection requiring latest firmware: D500, D750, D850, D5600, D7500. Cameras that support an external wireless adapter: D5200 / D7100 + Wu-1a, D600 / D610 + Wu-1b, D4S / D800 / D800E / D4 / D7000 / D3X / D300 / D300S / D3S / D3 / D700 + WT-4A; D810 / D810A / D7200 / D750 / D4S / D800 / D800E / D7100 / D7000 / D4 + WT-5A, Df + WU-1a.
Magic Nikonian ViewFinder
Simulates the field of view for specific camera and lens combinations, aiding photographers in pre-production. Capture shots with embedded metadata and control focus and white balance.
- Simulates camera and lens field of view
- Supports various Nikon camera models
- Adjustable focal length and aspect ratio
- Apply color presets (LUTs)
- Capture images with metadata
- Control exposure, focus, and white balance
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Magic Nikonian ViewFinder presents you a precise framing preview for the real camera/lens combination you'll be shooting with, right where you stand with your iPhone / iPad. It simulates the field of view of Nikon digital cameras or lens and can help thousands of professionals in photography at the preproduction. PLEASE READ: this app does not turn your Apple device into an external monitor, but operates as a stand-alone director's viewfinder. The app contains ad banners, which can be turned off with additional in-app purchase (in 'About the App' menu). The app is a digital directors viewfinder - it helps you see the exact field of view for your future shot. Select the camera from the menu and rotate the wheel to select the focal length of the lens. Supported cameras: - Nikon D4s, D5, Z7, Z6 - Nikon D750, D810, etc (marked as DXX0 in the app) - Nikon D500 - Nikon D5600, D3400, D7500, etc (marked as DXX00 in the app) Magic ViewFinder simulates using tele adapters or anamorphic optics on your camera (see menu). From the menu you can also select the aspect ratio of the frame guide overlaying your image. Magic ViewFinder lets you apply color presets (aka LUTs) to the live picture, which brings you even closer to the final shot. You may capture the image for future reference, with additional data like the focal length, date/time and camera / lens information. While capturing, you may lock exposure and turn on/off AF to better control the captured picture. You can turn on the AF mode, or lock the focus temporarily. You can also tap the live screen to focus on particular objects. White balance may work in Auto, Locked or Manual mode. If the field of view of your real camera is wider than your in-device camera, the app adds 'padding' around the image, since the device cannot 'see' what is beyond. It is the best solution that we developed. Please note that position of your iPhone or iPad should correspond to the 'nodal point' of your real lens, which is somewhere in the middle of the lens. This point is, so to speak, the weighted center of the optics. Ad policy: The ads are designed to appear non-intrusively. Ads can be turned off (see below). Additional info about the app may be read at: http://dev.kadru.net/index.php/magic-viewfinder/ If you have any issues please email us for a quick support: dev@kadru.net To activate additional settings (i.e. to use all available optical adapters and frame guides) and to turn off advertising, please subscribe to (Option #1) or purchase Premium Features (Option #2) in 'About the App' menu. In-App Purchase Option #1: - Title of service: Premium features: subscription - Length of subscription: a month (auto-renewable) - Contents of service: Turned off ads and additional options for frame guides, optical adapters, anamorphic indices, more LUTs - Price: $1.49 - Payment will be charged to iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase - Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period - Account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period, and identify the cost of the renewal - Subscriptions may be managed by the user and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the user’s Account Settings after purchase - Any unused portion of a free trial period will be forfeited when the user purchases a subscription to that publication, where applicable. Terms of Use: http://dev.kadru.net/tos.html In-App Purchase Option #2: - Title of service: Premium features: purchase - Length of subscription: once and forever - Contents of service: Turned off ads and additional options for frame guides, optical adapters, anamorphic indices, more LUTs - Price: $4.99 Privacy Policy: http://dev.kadru.net/privacy_policy/Privacy_Policy_Magic_CaNiLu_ViewFinder.html
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Magic Nikonian ViewFinder at 80% against Helicon Remote's 29%. Magic Nikonian ViewFinder also leads on rating (4.6 vs 2.4). Helicon Remote's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, ratings volume, update cadence 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
Both are free to download. Helicon Remote sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Magic Nikonian ViewFinder sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Magic Nikonian ViewFinder holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 2.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 38 and 39 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 29% of Helicon Remote's written reviews are positive against 80% of Magic Nikonian ViewFinder's.
Helicon Remote ships an update every 3 months, Magic Nikonian ViewFinder every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Helicon Remote | Magic Nikonian ViewFinder |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 2.4 (38 ratings) | 4.6 (39 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 29.2% of reviews | 80.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 38 | 39 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 6 weeks — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 12.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 19 MB | 23 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Helicon Soft s.r.o. | Roman Medvid |
Customer experience
Helicon Remote
Magic Nikonian ViewFinder
In-app purchases
Helicon Remote
- Lifetime license$47.99
Magic Nikonian ViewFinder
- Premium features: subscription$1.491 Month
- Premium features: purchase$4.99
Questions
Is Helicon Remote free?
Is Magic Nikonian ViewFinder free?
Which has better reviews, Helicon Remote or Magic Nikonian ViewFinder?
Do Helicon Remote or Magic Nikonian ViewFinder have ads?
Which is updated more often, Helicon Remote or Magic Nikonian ViewFinder?
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