Zak Ray, the developer of CameraKit and LensKit, has released FinderKit, a viewfinder app for iOS with exciting features for cinematographers and photographers, ideal for location scouting and the preproduction process in general.
Back in the day, whenever we had to film or shoot a project on location, we usually had to bring any potential cameras or lenses that we might want to use with us. It was the only way to determine the ideal focal length for a particular shot, and it was the main method for aligning our vision with reality. Since not everyone can build a set according to their vision, we had to check if our wide lens was wide enough to cover an establishing shot without any surprises, for example.
Director’s viewfinders were another option to visualize shots, but their price was usually linked to high-budget projects. Luckily for us, in the meantime, app developers have introduced excellent tools to facilitate our work. Sunseeker, Shot Designer, and Cadrage, among others, are famous apps that filmmakers and photographers have used ever since they were made available. Let’s see what FinderKit adds to the game.
Customize your previews
At first glance, FinderKit is not revolutionary since many of its features are available in other viewfinder apps. However, it can be downloaded for free with complete functionality but limited camera models. There is an in-app purchase that unlocks all the cameras available.
Basically, a viewfinder app like FinderKit simulates what a camera with a particular lens would frame, using your phone screen to previsualize the shot before the actual shooting. One main thing that differentiates all of these apps is how many types of cameras and lens models are included. FinderKit offers over 100 cameras and 1000 lenses from manufacturers like Canon, Sony, Panasonic, Arri, Cooke, etc. The app also includes accessories like speed boosters, extenders, or custom crops to make the preview more precise and complete.
The interface is user-friendly and straightforward, including tools like overlays and image looks, where we can get closer to our final idea by changing the color temperature, contrast, saturation, etc.
Organization and time management are essential for filmmakers and photographers, and Filmkit lets you create custom lens kits for each project by grouping individual lenses. The Projects feature lets you organize your settings and save shot lists with metadata, video, and photos for specific projects. You can group your media by project or scene, and create PDFs for viewing, organizing, or sharing your vision with the team.
Overall, with similar apps on the market that have similar features, choosing FinderKit or another one of these apps will depend on personal taste or a particular configuration available in the app itself.
Price and availability
The FinderKit app is now available for free from the Apple App Store, with full functionality but limited cameras. To unlock all the cameras, the app offers a subscription model for $4.99 a month, which also gives you full access to the LensKit and CameraKit apps. FinderKit is also available as a one-time purchase, including all future updates, at $24.99, but this does not include CameraKit or LensKit.
What do you think of LensKit? Have you used viewfinder apps previously for your projects? Let us know in the comments below!
