Developers at London-based Moving Picture Company (MPC) have created a handy iPhone app that producers and camera operators can use to calculate data amounts required during shooting and post-production.

The Data Calculator, available for free download in the iTunes store as of last month, is a mobile version of the post company's Flash-based web app. Like a spreadsheet, it adds up the amount of disk storage required in gigabytes based on the model of camera, the format (digital or film), the frame rate and the running time. It also works in reverse, so users can also enter a data amount to calculate a running time.

The app is primarily targeted at production company producers, says Chris Vincze, digital imaging and workflow producer in MPC's Data Lab.

"In my experience in working with digital camera footage on set, the producer will ask a loader how many cans of film have we used on the shoot?" he says. "When we process material, our cost structure is based on the amount of footage you shoot in terms of gigabytes, so it's a handy tool to budget."

MPC's Data Lab operates like a film lab, transposing footage captured on digital cameras into workable offline formats for offline editors, for internal use and for other companies. Cost models can differ depending on the data lab - some charge by running time and others, including MPC, charge by the gigabyte.

Vincze says the app will also help camera techs, editors and post producers better manage rushes and archives during each step of the production and post process.

"Half of the problem is that digital acquisition is still in its early stages," he says. "It's still a new frontier and everyone does it in a slightly different way. This tool is really to just try to bring what is an unfamiliar way of working in to more familiar territory."

Vinczes says there are no plans to charge for the app. An updated version is due out later this spring or summer when new camera models hit the market.

Download MPC's Data Calculator app here.

www.moving-picture.com