About
PlanIt for Photographers (Planit!) is the go-to planning tool for serious landscape and nature photographers who want to nail their shots before ever visiting a location. The app functions as a virtual camera — users place a camera pin anywhere on the globe, set any date and time (past or future), and instantly visualize sun, moon, star, and Milky Way positions relative to their chosen scene. The app ships in two tiers: Planit Pro (Photo Planner) for pre-shoot planning and Planit Live (Travel Companion) for on-location use. Together they cover more than 100 features across six major domains: Sun & Moon (golden hour, blue hour, moonrise/moonset, celestial finders), Night Photography (star positions, constellations, Milky Way seeker, meteor showers, light-pollution maps), Special Interests (time-lapse sequencing, solar and lunar eclipses, exposure and ND-filter calculators), Camera Tools (focal length, aperture, depth of field, hyperfocal distance, panorama planning), Viewfinders (VR, AR, picture, and Street View modes with ephemeris overlays), and Meteorology & Oceanography (rainbow prediction, tide data). Users can drop custom markers on the map to simulate compositions and share location files with other photographers. Powered by Google Search, the location finder accepts both place names and GPS coordinates. All celestial calculations are accurate to 0.1°, making PlanIt an indispensable pre-visualization and scouting tool for landscape, astrophotography, and seascape photographers worldwide.
Key Features
- Virtual Camera Simulator: Place a virtual camera pin anywhere on Earth, set any date and time, and preview exactly how celestial objects will appear in your frame before visiting the location.
- Sun & Moon Planning: Accurately track sunrise, sunset, moonrise, moonset, golden hour, blue hour, and celestial positions with 0.1° precision for perfect timing.
- Night Photography & Astrophotography Tools: Locate the Milky Way, plan star trails, find dark sky sites with light pollution maps, and track constellations, planets, nebulae, and meteor showers.
- Simulated Viewfinders: Preview your composition through VR, AR, picture, or Google Street View viewfinders with real-time ephemeris overlays for an immersive pre-visualization experience.
- Camera & Exposure Calculators: Calculate depth of field, hyperfocal distance, panorama settings, ND filter values, and exposure for any scenario directly within the app.
Use Cases
- Planning the exact time and camera position to capture the Milky Way rising over a mountain range at a remote location.
- Scouting a beach location from home to find when the golden hour sun will align with a sea stack for a dramatic seascape composition.
- Simulating star trail arcs over a landmark to determine the ideal shooting direction and exposure length before an overnight trip.
- Predicting tide levels and rainbow positions for a coastal shoot to time arrivals and maximize natural light opportunities.
- Pre-visualizing a solar or lunar eclipse through a virtual viewfinder to plan camera settings, location, and framing in advance.
Pros
- Unmatched Feature Depth: With 100+ features covering celestial, weather, oceanographic, and camera data, it's a one-stop planning solution that eliminates the need for multiple apps.
- High Accuracy: Celestial object positions are calculated to within 0.1°, giving photographers confidence that their planning data translates reliably to real-world conditions.
- Plan From Anywhere: The virtual camera lets photographers scout and plan shots for any location on Earth without physically traveling there, saving time and money.
- Shareable Location Files: Custom marker files can be saved and shared with other photographers, enabling community-driven location discovery and collaboration.
Cons
- Steep Learning Curve: With over 100 features across multiple domains, new users may find the interface overwhelming and require significant time to master all capabilities.
- Paid Tiers for Full Access: The complete feature set is split across Planit Pro and Planit Live, meaning users may need to purchase both products for end-to-end planning and field use.
- Primarily Mobile-Focused: Designed primarily as a mobile app, users who prefer desktop-based planning workflows may find the experience less comfortable on larger screens.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of photography is PlanIt designed for?
PlanIt is built specifically for landscape, astrophotography, seascape, and nature photography. It covers planning for golden hour, blue hour, Milky Way, star trails, eclipses, tides, rainbows, and timelapse sequences.
How accurate is the celestial data in PlanIt?
All celestial object positions in PlanIt are calculated to within 0.1° accuracy, provided the user inputs correct location and time data.
What is the difference between Planit Pro and Planit Live?
Planit Pro is the full-featured Photo Planner used for pre-shoot planning from home, while Planit Live is a Travel Companion designed for on-location use in the field.
Can I plan shots for any location in the world?
Yes. PlanIt uses Google-powered search and accepts both place names and GPS coordinates, allowing you to plan shots for virtually any location on Earth.
Does PlanIt support timelapse and sequence planning?
Yes. PlanIt includes dedicated timelapse and sequence planning tools, as well as exposure calculators and ND filter calculators to help you set up long-exposure and timelapse shots.
