The first two things you probably notice about the pCAM Film+Digital Calculator are its beautiful graphics and its high price. Let me start this review by saying that the app is worth every dollar you spend on it! With its ease of use and a great range of calculators, this app is a dream for me and has replaced pretty much all of the other calculators that I have.
How would you rather learn about calulating the depth of field between two objects? Through an intuitive graphical depiction (on the left) or by reading through text based instructions?
In essence, pCAM is a toolbox of 18 different calculators – from the usual (depth of field, hyper-focal, exposure) to the unusual (Underwater Distance, Diopter). Whatever I needed, it was there.
In general, pCAM works like this: Rather than having a set of fields to enter data into, pCAM always offers you a depiction of what needs to be calculated, which greatly aids entering the desired calculation parameters and also makes most of these calculations pretty self-explanatory, even when you try them the first time.
Intuitive graphics and the use of color make it easy to determine what needs to be entered (red fields) and what the outcome of the calculation is (blue or black fields)
Typically, the first thing you select is the camera, which is on the bottom of the screen, since it might not change as often as the other parameters do. If needed, click any of the blue-shaded buttons to specify what needs to be locked in the calculator. Then enter the red parameters and read out the results in the blue or black fields. It is this simple to perform pretty complex calculations.
Lighting and underwater distance calculations are easy to perform.
pCAM supports around 100 video and still cameras, which all include the correct Still, HD Video and Motion Picture Camera manufacturer’s specs for Image Size and Circle of Confusion for excellent accuracy. The author keeps adding more cameras all the time – in fact, since I downloaded the first version, the camera database more than doubled.
Obviously, the target audience is professionals and serious amateurs, with specific targets being Directors of Photography, Photographers, Camera Operators, Camera Assistants, VFX Supervisors, Script Supervisors, Gaffers, Grips, Editors, Production Designers, Art Directors, Film and Photography Students.
Features:
- Works on iPhone or iPod touch.
- Graphical interface.
- Calculates instantly and automatically as each entry is changed.
- Saves entries until you change or reset.
- Quick Gestural finger changes to Depth of Field Distance and Aperture inputs.
- Customizable, user-defined Camera Formats, CoC and Filters.
- Easy Picker wheels for Aperture, Camera Formats and Light Sources.
- Global settings for Feet & Inches or Metric – EI or ASA – Foot-candles or Lux, Exposure defaults, Depth of Field nudging increments.
- Built-in Instruction Manuals on each screen.
- Motion Picture formats: 8mm – 16mm – 35mm – VistaVision – 65mm – 70mm – IMAX.
- Video formats: 1/3”, 1/2”, 2/3” CCD HD – 35mm Adapters – Super 35mm-sized HD – 65mm-sized HD.
- Still Camera formats: 35mm Standard – 4/3 – APS – Panoramic – DSLR – Digital backs – 6×6cm – 6×7cm – 4×5 – 5×7 – 8×10.
Calculators:
- Depth of Field
- Hyperfocal
- Splits/Aperture Finder
- Field of View (Picture Sizes)
- Field of View Preview (with images to size shots)
- Angle of View
- Exposure
- Running Time to Length
- Shooting to Screen Time
- HMI (safe speeds and shutters)
- Color Correction (choosing color correction filters)
- Diopter
- Macro
- Time Lapse
- Underwater Distance
- Scene Illumination (beam intensity)
- Light Coverage (width/distance)
- Siemens Star (Focus chart).
A PDF version of the instruction manual is also available on the pCAM website.
Verdict: Highly Recommended and an easy Editor’s Pick!
Price: $39.99 from iTunes.
Full Disclosure: David Eubank, the developer of pCAM, provided a free review copy for this review.
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