What is a director’s viewfinder and what do I need it for?

A director’s viewfinder is a device or app used to previsualize the framing of a certain camera/lens combination. So instead of moving a heavy camera around set to try out a shot, the director or DP will use a director’s viewfinder to find the exact camera position. Optical director’s viewfinders have been around for a long time, but they are quite expensive and don’t allow you to easily switch between different camera formats and resolutions. While they still can be useful today in certain situations, most filmmakers have switched to using Cadrage Director’s Viewfinder on their iPhones/iPads. It offers much more flexibility and precision at a fraction of the cost. Find out more about Cadrage here.