External camera screens & on-camera monitors and The majority of professional video cameras have a screen so you can see what’s in your frame. The screen on a typical DSLR, mirrorless, or camcorder isn’t very large, though. Additionally, the camera’s built-in screen might not be able to rotate and flip so that you can see your frame when you’re standing in front of the camera, which is bad for vlogging or setting up lights. In this article check out the latest or best external camera screens & on-camera monitors. Finally, if you’re recording outside in a field under the harsh midday sun, it might not be powerful enough to display your picture. When filming, external monitors let you view finer details because they have a higher resolution. If you’re recording outside, they may be more powerful than your typical screen and more suited for a sun hood so you can really see what you’re capturing. A variety of tools and scopes, like zebra patterning, histograms, focus peaking, waveforms, and real colours, can also be seen on external monitors but may not be available on your video camera. External camera screen and Additionally, more expensive choices come equipped with their own SSD storage and codecs (such as ProRes and RAW). Some external monitors, like the Atomos Ninja V, can also be used as recorders. best external camera screens & on-camera monitors. They have more storage space and sometimes even better codecs than the ones in the camera. If you have never used an external monitor before, though, the functions and settings might seem complicated. We have written this guide for you so that you will know what to look for when purchasing your first external monitor. After reading the article, you’ll have a thorough comparison of 10 cheap external monitors that offer great value.
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Buying Guide for an External Monitor for Your Video Camera
Every external monitor has a different set of features and specifications, and they range in price.
Here is a list of the key specifications you should look for in an external monitor for video production.
#1. Display
The most crucial factor that needs your attention is the display’s quality. When it comes down to it, an external monitor’s sole purpose is to accurately portray what you are recording. Here are some specific things to watch out for when it comes to monitors.
#2. Screen size
The size of a monitor display can vary, from roughly 5 inches to 7 or even more. As a general rule, you can see more details on the screen while filming, and the larger the display. Additionally, a larger display will make it simpler for you to use the features of your monitor, particularly if you have “fat thumbs.” Having said that, it doesn’t make sense to get a 19″ external display if you’re intending to place the monitor on your DSLR or camcorder. Those creatures were primarily employed in the studio or larger-scale productions. Also, keep in mind that the monitor’s size and weight are quite important if you plan to install it on your camera. For instance, a larger 7″ display will make your gear heavier than a 5″ screen, which can make it harder to balance if you’re shooting handheld.
#3. Display quality
The resolution of the display is another crucial component. You can see your video in better resolution with higher display resolutions. Additionally, a lot of premium monitors include full HD resolution (1920 x 1080 pixels, a.k.a. 1080p). You don’t need a monitor with a 4K resolution to play back 4K content, and 4K displays are still very uncommon. Also, there is a good chance that your camera will also give you an HDMI version in 1080p. You can watch it as long as your monitor can scale the video. Simply said, you won’t be able to see every little nuance. However, scaling the video may add certain artefacts that may be noticeable when you play the video again on your monitor. Fortunately, many on-camera displays have a 1:1 pixel option that allows you to zoom in and watch a portion of the frame at full resolution.
#4. Display resolution
External monitors’ display technologies vary. While some monitors use an IPS display, others use an LCD, LED, or OLED (or even a combination of the two!). Each technology has advantages and disadvantages, but IPS, an LCD/LED hybrid, or OLED are recommended to look for. The aforementioned technologies enable you to examine objects from a wider angle without compromising image quality. The results provide deeper blacks and better contrast than, for instance, a monitor with an LCD screen.
#5. Display radiance
Last but not least, each display also has a number indicating the monitor’s brightness. For outside filming, a monitor with a brightness of 1000 cd/m2 is a great choice. A brighter display is indicated by a higher number, and vice versa. OLED displays are significantly more expensive than LCD panels but offer a lot more brightness. If you’re shooting outside in direct sunlight, monitors with a brightness of 500 cd/m2 or less may require a parasol. There are several great monitors available with 500cd/m2 or less that are completely functional in a variety of settings. If you’re shooting in the daylight, simply put on the sun hood (which is occasionally included).
#6. Touchscreen or not
On-camera monitors with touchscreens are available. However, the cost also rises with a touchscreen. This is illustrated in our ranking, where the SmallHD Focus 5 is the only touchscreen display, but it’s also the priciest. The use of a touchscreen has advantages and disadvantages. The entire user experience can be made more effective and intuitive if it is a good one that is quick and responsive. If it’s a bad one, you’ll despise the fact that it doesn’t respond well to your touches. Additionally, oily fingers are prone to touch displays. So, your preference is really up to you.
#7. Optional Power
Different kinds of batteries can be used to power the external monitor. In some circumstances, the manufacturer may design the battery and sell it along with the display. The package comes with both the rechargeable battery and the right AC adaptor to charge it. While some require a different kind of battery, typically made by Sony (L-Series Battery Mount for NP-F550 batteries) or Canon (LP-E6 Battery Plate for, for example, LP-E6 batteries), certain monitors do not support these types of batteries. You might need to purchase the battery separately in some circumstances. The good news is that those batteries are made to endure for hours, so you can shoot video constantly both indoors and outdoors. Even better, you can get a dummy battery kit that enables you to run your camera and monitor off of the same battery. The interesting thing about this is that while monitor batteries are larger than camera batteries, they typically have a longer lifespan.
13 Best On-Camera Monitors & External Camera Screens
These are the thirty best external camera screens, which are as follows:
#1. Atomos Ninja V
The touchscreen video monitor and recorder are called the Atomos Ninja V. It is incredibly powerful, despite being extremely small. It is capable of recording camera signals up to 4K 60p 10-bit HDR video. This is the best external camera screen. You may actually be able to record better footage than you get directly from your camera if your camera can send a RAW video signal from the sensor to this recorder. The screen has over 1,000 nits of brightness, making it extremely bright. To see in broad daylight, this is more than adequate. Also, it has a dynamic range of more than 10 stops, which makes it easy to see small differences in your photos. Another key selling feature is the tiny size and low price of the AtomX SSDmini, the recording medium for this recorder, which costs just $199 for 500GB and $399 for 1TB.
#2. Atomos Sumo19 SE 19″
The updated model of the company’s top-notch field monitor-recorder-switcher is the Atomos Sumo 19 SE. This 19″ monitor is the big boy and has a lot of party tricks. It is incredibly versatile. Any of the following camera inputs can now be recorded by the Sumo 19: Up to 5.7kp30, 4kp120 DCI/UHD, and 2kp240 DCI/HD are supported by ProRes RAW. DCI up to 4Kp30 is supported by CDNG. It may be utilized as a quad-view live switcher and recorder for your multi-camera shoots and can accept input from several cameras. This is incredible, especially for the price. The Sumo 19 SE is more than bright enough for usage in daylight, save from the recording functions, at 1200 nits. It supports SDI and HDMI and offers HDR with a dynamic range of over 10 stops. This is a strong field monitor that will unquestionably help you out on set.
#3. Blackmagic Design Video Assist 5″ 12G-SDI HDMI HDR
With the Blackmagic Design Video Assist 5′′ 12G-SDI HDMI HDR, you can record and monitor using SDI and HDMI inputs. Additionally, you can utilize a USB-C connector to connect an external drive to a recording device. This helps to keep your workflow straightforward. Direct shooting to a hard disk allows for immediate editing. The Blackmagic Video Assist’s newest model includes a significantly brighter screen and supports 12G-SDI. High data rates may be transferred to the recorder, and it includes native Blackmagic RAW recording, which is only supported by a few cameras. This is the best external camera screen. The majority of contemporary editing programs work quite well with this codec’s efficiency. In some cases, you may be able to avoid recording in the already compressed H.264.
#4. Atomos Shogun 7
The Atomos Shogun 7 offers a lot more functionality for the additional cost if you opt to take the Atomos path rather than the Atomos Ninja V. Additionally, it has a larger 7-inch display. Four SDI connectors are provided, allowing for multi-camera switching. It also has a second slot for a battery, which is very helpful since the bigger monitor definitely uses more power. Additionally, the Shogun’s screen is brighter, with a 1500 nit contrast to the Ninja V’s 1000 nit. For viewing the HDR video’s increased contrast range, this is quite helpful. Additionally, the Shogun’s dynamic range is about 15 stops as opposed to the Ninja’s 10 stops.
#5. SmallHD 702 Touch 7″
For demanding projects, the SmallHD 702 Touch 7-inch is a sturdy monitor. The Touch 702 has a unibody design and is built of aircraft-grade aluminium, which gives it a significantly more durable build quality than many of the less expensive monitors. In a few crucial areas, it is vastly superior to its predecessor, the SmallHD 702 Bright. It now has amazing colours and is 50% brighter. Since the screen fully encapsulates the DCI-P3 colour space, you are getting incredibly accurate colour reproduction, which is crucial for deciding how you want to appear on camera. Thanks to the sensitive touch screen, the well-known page interface can now be used much more quickly and easily.
#6. SmallHD Cine 7
The SmallHD Cine 7 builds on the Touch 702 and is designed to operate effectively with cinema cameras at the highest level of film production. It offers accurate colour reproduction and 100% coverage of the DCI-P3 colour space, just like the 702 Touch. It is constructed in a unibody design using the same aerospace quality aluminium. Its improved brightness of 1,800 nits, which makes it very usable even in strong daylight, is what distinguishes it as the best 7-inch monitor. Through the touch screen interface and the Ethernet port, the Cine 7 can also manage a few cinema cameras, including the ARRI Alexa Mini. 2-pin power input is also supported, allowing you to power the monitor when it is connected to a movie camera. Using different battery plates that can be attached to the monitor, batteries like Sony L series batteries, Gold batteries, or V-mount batteries can also be used to power the screen. Given its pricing, the Cine 7 is undoubtedly a top-of-the-line display overall. This is without a doubt the best external camera screen for high-end cinematographers because of the brightness, ease of use with the SmallHD modules that let you switch between multiple views, crazy colour accuracy, sturdy build, camera control, and lemon power options.
#7. Feelworld F568 5.5″
Going to the other end of the price spectrum, the Feelworld F568 5.5′′ is one of the more affordable options for an external camera screen. Even though it’s cheap, that doesn’t necessarily mean it doesn’t have most of the features you need in a monitor. It has a 1080p resolution, a very high 1000:1 contrast ratio, and typical focus and exposure help features like focus peaking, a histogram, and anamorphic mode, just like many of its more expensive siblings. False colour, which I adore the most, is frequently absent from DSLRs and mirrorless cameras. Given that it weighs only 60 oz, this monitor is ideal for use on top of a camera that is being moved around on a gimbal. It accepts Canon LP-E6 or Sony NP-F L series batteries, and a DC output connector lets you charge your camera directly from the monitor. The F568 also comes with a tilt arm that is mounted on a cold shoe, so you are essentially set up and ready to use right out of the box. What more could you ask for from a display this cheap?
#8. Atomos Shinobi 7″
The Atomos Shinobi 7′′ external camera screen is incredibly cheap. This does not have recording capabilities, in contrast to the Atomos monitors that were discussed earlier. Although it is a great monitor with great features, it also has a trick up its sleeve in that it can cross convert from SDI to HDMI or the other way around. There are times when your camera can only output SDI and times when external client monitors only support HDMI. This monitor offers a staggering 2,200 nits of brightness, which is really amazing. Now, something so brilliant frequently necessitates a larger fan, which can increase noise. However, Atomos considered this problem. You can choose between needing maximum brightness and reducing fan noise. For indoor settings where you typically don’t require full brightness, lower fan noise is preferable. Full brightness is better when you’re outside and a slightly louder fan won’t bother you.
#9. Atomos Ninja V+ 5”
If you need a monitor/recorder with 8k recording from cameras like the Canon R5, the Atomos Ninja V+ 5′′ will be your go-to display. The Ninja V still has the same body, but the “+” on this recorder monitor stands for the powerful new processor that lets this updated model record at much higher resolutions and frame rates. The Ninja V+ now has the ability to record in up to 4K at 120p and up to 8K. This works well with the Sony FX6 or FX9. Now that RAW recording is an option, keep in mind that this recorder only supports ProRes RAW. This monitor is great for professional installations because it can take an SDI module.
#10. SmallHD Indie 7
Although it weighs only 26 ounces, the SmallHD Indie 7 is constructed like a tank, like all other SmallHD displays. It has a brightness of 1,000 nits, 10 bits of colour, touch controls that are very sensitive, a great menu user interface, and the ability to add important add-on accessories. This is the best external camera screen. This is excellent for mid-to-high-end filmmakers because it allows them to control the RED DSMC2 and the RED Komodo cameras (through licensed software upgrades). This also gives you options other than just utilizing RED’s services. You can also buy a Bolt 4K RX monitor module, which will let you use this monitor as a 750-foot-range wireless director’s viewfinder.
#11. Lilliput A7S 7″ IPS Full HD HDMI Field LED Monitor
The A7S, Lilliput’s first 4K input monitor, has a Full HD LCD panel that supports Ultra 4K. The 1920 x 1200 resolution and 16:9 aspect ratio of the display make for crisper visuals. The A7S also has a 4K HDMI output port that lets you connect it to HDMI devices and a display. The A7S provides a variety of tools and editing features. These features include tools for flipping images and timecodes. It won’t be difficult to mount and charge this field monitor on your DSLR. It has adaptors for shoe mounts, 14″ BSW thread holes, and battery plates that are made specifically for certain Sony, Canon, and Panasonic models.
#12. Feelworld 7″ HD IPS Ultra-thin HDMI On-Camera Field Monitor
Professional photographers and videographers working from diverse angles will obtain amazing photos with realistic details thanks to the IPS panel in Feelworld’s seven-inch video monitor. Due to its 1280 x 800 resolution, this monitor also reproduces colours accurately, provides high-quality images, and reaches full colour. It even supports DSLRs and camcorders and has HDMI, audio/video, and other connections. The FW759 is not only useful but also incredibly thin and portable, enabling simpler photography in a variety of settings. This is the best external camera screen. Therefore, the monitor will display clear and detailed images regardless of where you shoot. Even better, it has an HDMI lock that makes it easy for your camera to send a video signal.
#13. Lilliput 667GL70NP/H/Y 7″ Camera-Top LED Monitor
The 7-inch packaging for Lilliput’s 667GL is the same size as that of the 668GL, which it replaces. It has a 16:9 aspect ratio and shows HD video in full. The component and composite inputs on the monitor can also be used to connect suitable cameras. This is the best external camera screen. The 667GL can send video signals in the format because it has a specific input for HD-SDI devices. The 500:1 contrast ratio of this on-camera monitor ensures that the colours in your footage are accurate. This aspect ratio gives your image-rich, vibrant colours throughout. A matte display with anti-glare and reflection protection is another monitor characteristic. The 667GL’s 450 cd/m2 brightness means you won’t have to worry about watching videos in direct sunlight. Your video will appear less washed out thanks to this feature.
FAQ
Why is an external camera screen necessary?
It might be challenging to discern exact focus, framing, and exposure while using a DSLR or mirrorless camera because of the small screen that is included with the camera. You can do all of these things with significantly more screen space if your camera has an external monitor. Since there are many more pixels available, it is simple to distinguish between in-focus and out-of-focus objects. Smaller details may be seen, and the framing is much more exact. Additionally, using a larger display is significantly more convenient and accurate. An external camera monitor adds features that are frequently absent from cameras, in addition to the advantage of having a larger screen. With the false colour exposure tool, which is one of the exposure tools you get, you can have a visual overlay that gives you the various exposure values in your photograph by using different colours for different values.