Which Camera Monitor Should I Buy?
There are a ton of different reasons you might need a camera monitor when you're filming.
My primary concern is usually to check my luscious Fabio hair, obviously.
But in all seriousness you may be filming on your own and...
Need to make sure you're in focus. (Who wants to film something twice?)
Don't have a flip screen or the one your camera has is too small to be useful.
Have multiple camera angles you need to see from one spot.
Need to preview a top down angle that only an incredibly high ladder or aggressive yoga position would enable.
Trying to show your client the framing you're suggesting
Can't see the camera screen behind a gimbal while you're running like the wind.
Either way, a camera monitor would be super helpful in all of these situations.
I recently reviewed three monitors at different price points. Needs and budgets vary and I don't believe there's ever just one tool for the job. There's just the right tool for the job. So let's jump in...
If you're on a budget and in need of something basic and under $200, consider looking into the cheap monitor I review in the video below.
Highlights of this product include:
4K HDMI input, HDMI output and 8V DC output
Dual-use battery plate for both Sony NP-F970/F550 Battery and Canon LP-E6 Battery.
Custom-built carrying bag for outdoor shooting task
3-1/4 mount Screws
A 180° swivel tilt arm with 2 cold shoe mounts and 1 screw mount for low angle shooting
Resolution: 1920x1080
PixelsBrightness: 450cd/㎡
Viewing angle: 160/160 degree (H/V)
Audio: 3.5mm Stereo Headphone
Rec.709 Color calibration
Focus Assist (Red, Green, Blue)
Zebra and False Color function
Image Zoom (4X, 9X, 16X)
As you go up in price the display quality gets better, you add a touch screen, and the price jumps to about $400. Take a look at what I consider to be a solid professional but mid-range price choice in the video below:
Highlights of this product include:
5” 1920x1080 HDMI Monitor (same as Ninja V recorder)
1000 nit brightness
Accepts a 4K signal up to 30 fps or HD up to 60fps
Can display 10+ stops of dynamic range when being used with Log or HLG HDR outputs.
Built-in gamma presets for popular camera Log or HLG profiles.
427 pixels per inch
Weighs only 200g / 7 oz
Polycarbonate body
1/4”-20 mounts on top & bottom
Headphone jack on the side to monitor audio
On screen audio levels to help monitor sound
6 hour battery life from a single Sony NP-F750
SD card for LUTs & firmware updates
Can have 8 internal preset LUTs in memory, but have many more on an SD card to pull from too.
$399 US / 399 Euro MSRP
If you're looking for a full-fledged monitor with all the bells and whistles, that's more versatile and has a beautiful screen, watch the video below.
Highlights of this product include:
Regular 5” Screen = 720p + 800 nits + 70% NTSC + 294 pixel density
OLED 5.5" Screen = 1080p + 300 nits + 105% NTSC + 402 pixel density + 60,000:1 contrast ratio
160 degree viewing angle
Tilt arm mounts to cold shoes
When you flip the monitor around it flips automatically and mirrors
Cold shoe mount on the side for microphones too
3 1/4”-20 mounting points (top, bottom, right)
Micro HDMI port, accepts 4K signal
SD card slot for adding LUTs & firmware updates
Uses the Sony L-Mount battery (the NPF 570, 770, or 970)
Can power your camera with the proper adapter (sony, panasonic, nikon, canon, etc.)
Headphone jack
As with any piece of camera gear, you don't need to go right to top of the price pile.
Need a brighter, lightweight screen? Go with the Shinobi. It weighs less and has a brighter screen for filming outside.
Need to flip the screen around a lot or mount it in weird places? Get the SmallHD Focus. If you film mostly inside, it is a great, more flexible monitor option. (It costs much more though too.)
Just need something cheap and small to make sure you're in focus? Search the bargain bins of Amazon.
All three of these monitors will get the job done, so you just need to think about what problems you're hoping to solve and choose one over the other.