The Best “External Camera Screen”

The external camera screen (also known as field monitors or recorders) give you a large picture view that allows you to see the whole image and fix minor problems before it is too late. Modern DSLRs and mirrorless cameras have built-in screens that allow you to view and compose images. However, the industry standard of 3 inches is not a high-quality standard. Most screens offer poor viewing experiences.

Not to mention that most screens lack proper articulation and touchscreens and advanced video-centric features like Waveforms and False Color and Focusing Assist tools. They are often less reliable and smaller than necessary for critical framing and detailed focusing.

An external camera screen is a great option, as it provides a wider view and a host of advanced tools that are not available on many cameras. There are many sizes and shapes of external camera screens, but they all make video shooting easier and more enjoyable. Many photographers might consider them an unnecessary expense or a purchase for later. These monitors can be a great tool for budding videographers. They will ensure that your framing is perfect, your focus is accurate, and your footage is ready to go for post-processing.

1 – Blackmagic Audio Assist external camera screen

Blackmagic RAW is the focus of the Blackmagic Video Assist. This external recorder measures 5 inches and supports 12Gb/s as well as 4K DCI video. The device also features an HDMI 2.0a port, and an SD card recorder. It encodes files in industry-standard Apple ProRes or Avid DNx formats at 10 bit 4:2:2. It also has loop-through outputs that allow simultaneous monitoring of the footage on a bigger screen, projector or broadcast monitor.

The 5-inch model has a touchscreen that allows for intuitive control, a 1080p resolution and 2500 nit brightness. It also covers 100% of DCI-P3 coverage. Additional bonuses include dual card slots and HDR support, 3D LUT Support, scopes, RGB parades, focus assist, SSD storage as well as a tally lamp.

2 – Atomos Shogun 7

The Atomos Shogun 7 combines HDR capabilities with a recorder and switch. The 7-inch recorder encodes to ProRes RAW or CinemaDNG codecs. It can also support DCI 4K 60 FPS, 2K 240 FPS, and DNxHD codecs. It can also do this using 12G-SDI and HDMI 2.0 connections. It can switch between four HD video streams live and a program stream.

The monitor has a 7-inch touchscreen and 1080p resolution. It’s also an HDR monitor that combines LCD and LED technologies to produce richer blacks than OLED. It has a 15+ stop dynamic range, 3000 nit brightness and 105% DCI–P3 coverage. It also automatically adjusts the color and brightness of connected TVs, ensuring true-to-life DolbyVision HDR quality on all compatible displays.

Additional bonuses include a headset jack, 3D LUT Support, SSD Storage, focus assist and de-squeeze.

3 – Atomos Shinobi

Their first professional monitor, the Atomos Shinobi, was a compact and lightweight model. It supports DCI 4K 30 FPS 10-bit at 4:2:2.

The touchscreen is 10-bit FRC and 5.2 inches in size. It also features an IPS panel with 1000 nit brightness and a 1080p resolution. It also features AtomHDR technology, which allows you to monitor popular log formats such as those from Sony, Panasonic and ARRI. This device has a dynamic range of 10+ stops. It also has the Selfie Mirror Mode, which allows you to frame your videos when vlogging. It weighs in at just 196g. Waveforms, scopes and focus assist are just a few of the many bonuses that this monitor offers.

An external monitor or camera screen is a great idea.

An external camera screen, monitor or recorder can be purchased for a variety of reasons. Here’s a list of these reasons, along with the explanations.

External monitors offer better resolution, which allows you to see fine details when filming or focusing. The majority of monitors have 1080p resolution and are smaller than the rear screens on compact cameras. The increased resolution allows for easier focus determination without straining the eyes. The larger format makes it easier for you to see details and distractions. They can even be color calibrated and offer HDR support to allow for more precise color gauging.

How to select the best external camera screen?

There are many factors that you should consider when choosing an external camera monitor. Before you make your decision, consider the following questions: What size monitor do I need? What size monitor is required? Wireless connectivity is how important? Do I need a bright screen? What type of input and output signals are required to support my workflow? Are advanced monitoring tools such as peaking vectorscopes, zebras or false color required? Is LUT support also required?

These are just a few of the many questions you should ask when shopping for and comparing different options. Below are more details and considerations.

Camera configuration

We must first make sure that your camera setup can support external monitors. These are the questions you should ask and we’ll cover them in detail below.

First, is your current DSLR or mirrorless camera capable of producing a clear video signal? What type of connection does your camera use? Is it a micro HDMI, mini HDMI or full-size HDMI? Last but not least, what resolution and frame rate does your HDMI-equipped camera output via HDMI?

Type of monitor

There are many features available on external monitors made by different brands. They generally fall under one of three categories. These are the types you will find:

• Only viewing
• Recording and viewing
• Wireless transmission and recording of images

Only monitors are useful for recording, as they provide a larger screen. They are a great choice if you need more screen real estate or flexibility. However, they are not the only ones that have many benefits.

Size and Weight

The majority of external monitors and screens are between 5-5 inches. Anything larger can be used as a monitor director for commercial or larger sets.

Although 7-inch monitors offer more screen real estate than 5-inch monitors, they also come with eyepieces. Attaching an eyepiece improves your viewing experience, especially when you are shooting in bright environments. However, you will find more information on the screen if the display is larger.

Inputs and Outputs

Monitors have different input and output connections. This is another thing to be aware of. Monitors today have two main inputs: SDI and HDMI. Let’s begin with HDMI.

Resolution

Although resolution is not as important as the monitor’s display technology, it is still an important consideration. A monitor with a 1080p Full HD resolution will be a great choice. To frame properly, you don’t necessarily need a 4K-equipped screen. Because shooting at higher resolutions causes lower resolution monitors automatically scale the image to fit. This can introduce artifacts and make it difficult to make proper exposure judgments. 1080p will suffice until 4K resolution monitors become the norm.