Helios is a Sun Position Calculator that graphically represents the position of the sun from dusk to dawn, on any given day, in any given place.
Designed as an aid to Cinematographers and Stills Photographers working in natural light, Helios is essential to anyone who needs to plan a day around the constantly changing character of sunlight. Helios works without a network connection, though some functions are enhanced when connected to the internet.
Gaffers, Grips, Location Managers, Production Designers and First Assistant Directors will already be aware of the value of this information. Other professionals, from Architects and Surveyors to Electricians and Landscape Gardeners can now predict sun exposure in the field, without the need for complex tables or graphs. This information can be emailed and then printed from within the application.
Helios operates in 4 modes:
HelioMeter View is a graphical representation of the sun's predicted position on a compass dial (azimuth) for any time of day, showing the sun's elevation and proportional length of shadow an object would cast.
SkyMap View represents both the sun's path in the sky through the day and the direction of sunlight shown over a map of your location
Clinometer View shows the sun's elevation at any given time in the day. Essentially an electronic inclinometer that reads in both time and angle. A compass in this view allows observation of both elevation and azimuth.
HelioData View provides numerical information where figures are preferable. This data can be sent via email from within Helios.
While the accelerometer (inclinometer) and magnetometer (digital compass) of your iPhone are reasonably accurate, we think it wise to keep a high quality analogue device like the Suunto Tandem on hand for critical readings of elevation and azimuth. 2010 Chemical Wedding
Helios Sun Position Calculator reviewed by Users
Incredible I've been waiting for an app like this for a long time now, and this far exceeded my expectations. With each update so far there's been fantastic new features. Kudos!!!
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Version 1.2
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May 27, 2009
- Helios Sun Position Calculator review by
GeckoTH
Excellent application! A must have for the professional photographer. It is also very useful for anyone who would like to be in the right place at the right time for the best outdoor photos. The only negative is the high price.
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Version 1.1
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May 25, 2009
- Helios Sun Position Calculator review by
2GOOD4U2
Does not work close to ecuator! Do you really think that 30 deg. Is close to the ecuator?
The main window of the program does not work if you are close to the ecuator.
$30 and it does not do anything better than focalware!
The reviews are just to good, I wonder about that.
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Version 1.1
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May 18, 2009
- Helios Sun Position Calculator review by
normanson
Superb Been checking App Store frequently for this kind of app. I've emailed some suggestions and they were incredibly responsive. Some were aready planned for the next update. I can carry and keep charged one less device. Compares to GPS units that cost much more.
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Version 1.1
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May 21, 2009
- Helios Sun Position Calculator review by
Charlie Lieberman ASC
The right tool for the job Just what I've been seeking for my location scouting. My last exterior scout in a West Texas valley required determining sunset over nearby hills. I used Compass Free to determine my bearing, Clinometer to sight the elevation angle of the Western horizon (while my gaffer told me the angle reading from the side), and Focalware for my some limited sunpath info. Helios provides accurate data like that provided by Naval websites in an easy to read, graphical format.Be aware, Helios calculates for magnetic north readings, not true north. I'd like to see an option for true north calculations as well.Also, a printout of the day's sun info in to a .pdf would be great so I could add sunpath data to my script binder.
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Version 1.1
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May 14, 2009
- Helios Sun Position Calculator review by
mmorlan62
Great app, buggy help section The help section takes many taps/swipes to access, then after you're done reading just the one you picked, you can't go back to any menu. You have to back out to the main iPhone page and then start Helios over. I hope they fix that with an update.
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Version 1.1
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May 14, 2009
- Helios Sun Position Calculator review by
Frankie90027
Magnetic Declination This is a great application, but I'd really like to see a setting where we could choose between using magnetic north or true north. I live in Alaska where the difference between the two measurements is over 20 degrees, and I usually know better where true north is rather than magnetic north, so I'd prefer to see true north displayed in the application rather than magnetic north.
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Version 1.1
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May 17, 2009
- Helios Sun Position Calculator review by
rlx7
Love it! Simple. Elegant. Fast. Accurate....I love this!!!!
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Version 1.1
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May 20, 2009
- Helios Sun Position Calculator review by
Russell Carpenter, ASC
Diel & Sun Position Handy for determining sunrise, solar noon, sunset and other photoperiod times. This eliminates looking things up on the USNO site.
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Version 1.1
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May 12, 2009
- Helios Sun Position Calculator review by
Biophysical Geographer
Amateur Photographer This is a fantastic app. I struggled with the price at first since I'm not a pro, but I'm very glad I spent the money. The UI is wonderful and easy to use, features are well thought out and well implemented. I plan on focusing on natural light photography, and the views Helios provides are extremely useful whether I'm shooting landscapes, portraits, or anything where I'm looking for that special lighting. If you're an amateur, don't let the price stop you...amateurs need great tools too!
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Version 1.1
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May 13, 2009
- Helios Sun Position Calculator review by
fotomoto
LOOOOOONG Overdue! Every time I'm trying to plan a photography shoot, I find myself looking up sunrise/set times and trying to guess where the sun will be relative to a particular building or scene at a specific time. My friends like to take their chances, but I'm beyond anal about it. Imagine my surprise when I found Helios and learned it's designed specifically with photo & cinematography pros in mind! Alt/Az, rise and set times, sky map, inclinometer AND shadow length approximation?? I feel TOTALLY VINDICATED! Excellent App!
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Version 1.1
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May 12, 2009
- Helios Sun Position Calculator review by
Veggeep
Sunpath meets Suunto in an Amazing Package! Just found this app the other day, already used it on set and it is amazingly helpful. Great user interface. Incredible idea well executed. Inclinometer mode is really well done.If you haven't done sun tracking before, Helios makes it as easy as possible, and it's a bargain for what it does.
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Version 1.1
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May 5, 2009
- Helios Sun Position Calculator review by
Dwight Stone
Photographer This is an fantastic tool that any serious photographer/film maker should have in their kit. It takes the guess work out of scouting. Kudos to the developers, they nailed it.
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Version 1.0
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Apr 22, 2009
- Helios Sun Position Calculator review by
LowellTindell
Gaffer Finally a sun chart for the iPhone. Super convenient. Easy to use. Super slick interface. It's all right there for you. No more getting up early to print up "that chart". Finally an app I really need. I can't wait to show it off to my cameraman.
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Version 1.0
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Apr 19, 2009
- Helios Sun Position Calculator review by
Satanelli
Helios Wow! finally a sun calculator for the iphone. Great interface,Eco-Friendly Paperless and intuitive and a joy to use. A terrific App!!
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Version 1.0
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Apr 27, 2009
- Helios Sun Position Calculator review by
srsheridan
Key Grip Quite incredible. Spent five minutes learning how to use this app and next hour trying to find something that could make it better. It likely cannot be made any more useful, it is just that perfect.
Remarkable in every way. If you have been actively using sun data on a regular basis you will find this clever app indispensable.
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Version 1.0
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Apr 26, 2009
- Helios Sun Position Calculator review by
Ibexican
Director This is a great piece of software that's easy to use even for a novice sun tracker. Since my iphone is always with me, anything extra tools I can bring to a tech scout without increasing the weight of my bag makes me happy.
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Version 1.0
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Apr 19, 2009
- Helios Sun Position Calculator review by
NICK zero-zero-zero-zero-zero-zero-one
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