The best camera settings apps and tools
"What settings should I use?" is the most-asked question in photography, and the answers are scattered across blog articles, calculators, cheat sheets and apps. Here's an honest map of what exists, and which is right for which moment.
Last reviewed 2026-07. We include tools that beat ours — if a competitor is the right answer, we say so. ShootSm.art is made by Future Vision Concepts.
What to look for
- Does it know YOUR camera, or give generic numbers? A 1.6× crop body needs different advice than full-frame.
- Can you use it in the field, one-handed, in seconds?
- Does it explain WHY, so you eventually stop needing it?
- Does it work offline when you're out of signal?
At a glance
| Tool | Best for | Platforms | Pricing |
|---|---|---|---|
| ShootSm.artours | Getting a specific, tailored answer fast | Web · installable (PWA) | Free tier · Pro subscription |
| Printed/PDF cheat sheets | Glanceable reference with no battery | Paper · PDF | Free to a few dollars |
| PhotoPills | Planning landscape, night and astro shoots | iOS · Android | One-time purchase |
| Your camera's manual / in-camera guide | Learning what your body can actually do | PDF · in-camera | Free |
| Cambridge in Colour | Understanding the concept, not just the number | Web | Free |
ShootSm.artours
An AI coach that gives starting settings for your exact body, lens and scene — and explains them in plain language.
Strengths
- Settings tuned to your exact camera (crop, clean-ISO ceiling, sync speed, AF)
- Explains the reasoning, so it teaches instead of just dictating
- Free tier, plus printable cheat sheets that work offline in the field
Limitations
- Needs signal for the AI coach (the cheat sheets and guides work offline)
- Newer and smaller than the big established names
Printed/PDF cheat sheets
Static reference cards for common scenes — from blogs, Etsy, or camera bags.
Strengths
- Zero friction — no app, no signal, no battery
- Great for beginners learning the shape of the settings
Limitations
- Generic — not tuned to your camera
- Static; can't answer a follow-up
PhotoPills
The deep planning app for sun, moon and Milky Way, with AR previews and a pile of calculators.
Strengths
- The most complete planner out there — sun/moon/Milky Way, AR night-sky, timelapse and DOF calculators in one app
- One-time price, no subscription
- Superb for scouting a spot before you drive out to it
Limitations
- Genuinely steep learning curve — it rewards study
- Mobile only, and it plans the shoot rather than telling you what to dial in
Your camera's manual / in-camera guide
The manufacturer's own documentation and modes.
Strengths
- Authoritative for your exact model's menus and features
- Free and always correct about the camera
Limitations
- Tells you what buttons do, not what to shoot at
- Nobody reads them
Cambridge in Colour
Free web calculators (DOF, diffraction, print size) alongside excellent tutorials.
Strengths
- The tutorials around the calculators are genuinely superb
- Free and ad-light
Limitations
- Not maintained as actively as it once was
- No personalization to your gear
Common questions
Is there an app that tells you what camera settings to use?
Yes — ShootSm.art is built for exactly this: you give it your camera, lens and what you're shooting, and it returns starting settings with the reasoning. Generic exposure calculators can compute a value, but they don't account for your body's crop factor, ISO headroom or autofocus. Cheat sheets are a good offline fallback.
Are camera settings apps worth it, or should I just learn?
Both — and the good ones aren't in conflict. A tool that explains why it chose 1/2000s is teaching you the rule; you'll internalise it and need the tool less. A tool that just spits a number out isn't worth much.
What are the best free camera settings tools?
ShootSm.art has a free tier and free printable cheat sheets; Cambridge in Colour's calculators and tutorials are free; and your camera's manual is free and authoritative about your body's features.