Best External Camera Screen With A Detailed Buying Guide
You must have seen that movie directors watching the footage on a tad big and bright external camera screen monitor. After watching such kind of BTS footage, have you ever wished to have such a big and sharp external filming monitor? If yes, then I have good news for you.
Today, I’ll talk about such external monitors for the camera, which come in various shapes and sizes, including lots of additional features to make the shooting season easy and enjoyable. Besides recommending a few of the best on-camera monitors, I will give you some purchasing tips to help you decide which one to buy. So, stay tuned till the end.
In a hurry?! Here are my top picks for the best external camera screen
REVIEWS OF THE BEST EXTERNAL CAMERA SCREEN
1. NEEWER F100 7” CAMERA FIELD MONITOR - BEST CAMERA MONITOR
PRODUCT DETAILS:
When looking for the best camera monitor, resolution and brightness are the most important specs you need to bother. Here, these two aspects - the compatible resolution of 4K and full HD and brightness of 450cd/m2-pixel density are making this camera better than others. That’s why I put the Neewer F100 at the top position.
Despite being 7” large, the ultra-thin design doesn’t add much weight to the mounting system. Another big advantage of this monitor is it includes versatile connection cable and mounting accessories, such as a mini and micro HDMI cable, AV Cable, mini Ball Head, and so on.
The sunshade is a great add-on feature of this video recording monitor; that blocks the harsh sunlight and makes it clearly visible outdoors under bright daylight. There is a wide range of advanced monitoring options, as well. I think no other option can give you a large camera/camcorder monitor at such a low price point.
What I liked about this PRODUCT:
2. FEELWORLD FW568 V2 5.5” SLR MONITOR - BEST DSLR MONITOR
PRODUCT DETAILS:
I've picked up a small form factor monitor; that weighs only 175 Grams. THANKS TO THE INCLUDED SUNSHADE; the IPS screen is bright enough, even under daylight. The waveform monitoring feature is a big plus of this monitor; that helps you accurately analyze the image quality.
However, after looking at the features and specs, you may understand that a bigger external camera monitor isn't always a better option than rests. I have chosen this one for the people; who look for a lightweight external screen for perfect focusing and framing while shooting on the go.
What I liked about this PRODUCT:
3. LILLIPUT A7S 7” HDMI MONITOR - BEST EXTERNAL LCD SCREEN FOR DSLR
PRODUCT DETAILS:
Again a 7” LCD camera monitor for you from the Company Lilliput. It offers a brighter preview than the previous option so keep reading this product review.
The included sunshade and silicon rubber case provide overall protection; that protects the screen from shock and bright sunlight.
Here you’ll get versatile exposure and monitoring features, like – Peaking Color, False Color, Peaking Level, Exposure Level, Histogram, and Audio Level meter, including a few customizable shortcut keys. The shortcut keys are all about the most used in-monitor functions, which help you enable the tasks at a glance instead of scrolling through the long menu list.
It will add only 320 Grams, making it a good choice for outdoor shooters; who work with handheld applications.
What I liked about this PRODUCT:
4. ATOMOS NINJA V 5” - BEST CAMERA SCREEN ATTACHMENT
PRODUCT DETAILS:
If you are from the professional filming industry, looking for a high-end but small camera monitor, this one is just for you. Looking at the resolution and pixel density, you can understand how sharp and bright the screen will be.
Aside from the superior brightness and sharpness, the Atomos Ninja V is the one; that allows you to store the footage into the AtomX SSDmini drives. The drivers of this monitor recorder offer up to 2TB storage space and store the industry-quality 4K DCI footage as Apple ProRes or Avid DNxHR file formats with 10-bit 4:2:2 chroma subsampling.
Going for a higher-quality camera screen attachment than the previous could add the price. The Atomos Ninja V is not exceptional. Nevertheless, the features and specs of this small camera monitor is worth the price.
What I liked about this PRODUCT:
5. PORTKEYS PT5 5” - BEST HDMI CAMERA MONITOR
PRODUCT DETAILS:
A full HD monitor is always a good option to gain universal compatibility in terms of resolution, and the best part is that most HDMI camera monitors offer it. However, most of them do not come with such an affordable price point.
If your budget is tight and doesn't need 4K compatibility, look no further than PORTKEYS PT5. If you are well-aware of the camera world or follow my write-ups, you might be familiar with the name - Portkeys. I mentioned Portkeys monitor in my previous article on the quick camera tripod mount.
You can mount this external camera screen on your camera setup via a quick-release camera mount, like KONDOR BLUE. However, now coming to the main point, why I prefer Portkeys.
The advanced 3D LUT features, RGB Waveform, Luma Waveform, and Histogram are some of the biggest advantages of Portkeys, making it one of the best field monitors for DSLR.
What I liked about this PRODUCT:
6. Neewer FW600 5.5” HD CAMERA MONITOR
PRODUCT DETAILS:
Like the previous model, this external camera screen monitor can be added to any camera and gimbals, ensuring perfect focus and framing. The monitor provides sharp and detailed picture quality all the time and ensures a bright preview in all situations, even under direct scorching sunlight.
You can directly connect the monitor to any DSLR camera or camcorder through the versatile cables; those come with the monitor, as well. It receives 4K HDMI signals without delay. A 3.5mm earphone jack is also there for real-time audio monitoring.
I personally like its advanced exposure tools and built-in 3D LUTs, which provide accurate real-time color grading options. If you want creative artistic color effects in the additional display unit, the Neewer FW600 is a good option for you.
What I liked about this PRODUCT:
7. VILTROX DC-90 HD 8.9” CANON CAMERA MONITOR
PRODUCT DETAILS:
A bigger and brighter on-camera video monitor may be all you are looking for. And that's why you are still scrolling; Right? You can finish your search here. The VILTROX DC-90 provides the largest screen on the recommendation list; plus, it comes within only $175 to win your heart.
The price and screen size couldn't be the main concern for anyone. Hence, the VILTROX DC-90 does not disappoint you in the others aspects. It will provide a great visual experience in all situations.
All of the exposure tools, the advanced assistant features, and the screen protection features are also available in this monitor, making it an overall good affordable option for industry-level professionals.
What I liked about this PRODUCT:
8. SONY CLM-V55 5” - BEST ATTACHABLE SCREEN FOR CAMERA
PRODUCT DETAILS:
This attachable screen for the camera exceptionally offers 4:3 and 16:9 aspect ratios with variable viewing angles. It has 480P resolution since the tight pixel density makes the preview sharp enough.
It lets you zoom into the scenes on the monitor using a click wheel. That means you can check all details without manually zooming in from the camera.
This one could be a good option for outdoor shooters, whereas the adjustable nature adds extra comfort and flexibility during shooting.
What I liked about this PRODUCT:
9. FEELWORLD F7 PRO - BEST FILMING MONITOR FOR CAMERA
PRODUCT DETAILS:
In the end, I again picked up a 7" touch screen, as 5 to 7 inches screens are the most preferred ones by professionals. This monitor displays crisp and sharp video with every detail and helps achieve accurate exposure and focus.
You may start finding what is the extra here? Despite being pricier than the previous options, why do I mention the FEELWORLD F7 PRO as the best external recorder monitor?
That's because this monitor is compatible with a hot shoe mount so that you can attach it to the camera using a quick release in no time. The load custom 3D LUTs makes the color calibration easier, whereas the HDR waveform ensures noticeable clarity and details, making the filming process more efficient and quick than the rest.
What I liked about this EXTERNAL CAMERA SCREEN:
WHY DO YOU NEED A CAMERA MONITOR?
No matter what the viewfinder of your camera offers. I'm pretty sure that an external monitor would take your work efficiency to the next level. It is one of the most helpful gadget for your cameras.
The apparent reason behind this claim is a large screen always delivers high-end picture quality with better sharpness and more details. You can easily notice what is or isn't in focus, the flaws in the footage; that you are filming. You might often overlook such things on a built-in 3" viewfinder screen; that your camera has.
Secondly, most professionals always prefer using an external camera monitor for their placement flexibility. You can position this external camera screen as you want, at any place or any angle from where you can comfortably see what is being recorded.
Additionally, the screen of these monitors matches the aspect ratio of the final output. Unlikely, the screens of several mirrorless cameras or DSLRs do not even follow any proper aspect ratio of a medium, where the recorded footage is going to be projected or playback. As the monitors are designed following such aspect ratios, you could easily visualize what the final processed video output is going to look like.
Moreover, some of these video recording monitors even help you improve the quality of the video you capture. They offer some advanced video processing features like Look-up Table (LUT), which you find in Final Cut Pro. You can instantly see what the final processed video will look like by applying such features and tools.
Now tell me, if one has the budget to add a few external accessories to their setup, why he/she will not pick up a decent camera field monitor, along with the microphone and flashlight, to increase their productivity and work efficiency.
THINGS TO CONSIDER BEFORE CHOOSING AN EXTERNAL CAMERA SCREEN
Have you decided about the camera monitor purchase? Wait, wait! Before pressing the ‘Buy Now’ option, go through these points and check whether you picked the best one or not?
Screen Size
Having a big-screen view is the main reason professionals pick external camera monitors. That doesn’t mean you’ll jump at any bigger one. If you have a mirrorless or DSLR camera, you could get a 5” monitor. Likewise, the 7” monitors will be a good addition for cinema cameras or pro camcorder owners.
From 5” monitors to 9” monitors, whatever you’ll choose; keep in mind; it will add a pretty weight. Make sure your mounting system is capable of handling the weight.
Filmmakers and directors generally use 10” large camera field monitors, but larger than 9” monitors are not suitable for on-camera use.
Frame Rate
Before choosing a monitor, you should check whether it supports various resolution videos with different frame rates or not. A higher frame rate means smooth motion video with crisp details. The compatible frame rate will ultimately define how the video will play smoothly on the monitor.
Resolution of the Monitor
Resolution is slightly related to the screen size. A small screened monitor could work with low-resolution output, but a large screen monitor always requires high resolutions, minimum HD.
For instance, any on-camera monitors between 5” – 9” will look bright and sharp in full HD to HD. Anything smaller than a 5” screen may look satisfactory with less than HD.
There is one more thing; that you need to look out for before buying any monitor. Suppose you have 4K output spec in your camera; you must scale down the resolution sometimes. Hence, you make sure that the resolution your camera is outputting and the resolution of the chosen display unit is compatible with each other.
Exposure Tools
Aside from providing a big and bright preview, the on-camera monitor screens benefit you with extra monitoring and exposure tools. The waveforms and other exposure and brightness-related tools like RGB parade, false color, vectorscope, and HDR preview are some of the big advantages of having a separate on-camera monitor over the built-in options that your camera has. These options will help you keep an eye on the colors, exposure, and focus.
HDMI and Component Video Signal
HDMI and component input are the two most desirable connectors for transmitting from standard to high-definition resolution video without involving any hassle.
Both work well, though people mostly look for the HDMI port as the HDMI connection contains a single cable for both audio and video transmission, delivers better surround-sound audio, supports 3D videos, and ensures superior picture quality.
While buying an external camera screen try to choose the one; that has both options.
SD Signal
When comparing the specs of SDI and HDMI, the HDMI connection is a real winner because of the high-speed and low data consumption nature. Therefore, industry professionals look for Serial digital interface (SDI) monitors over HDMI, as the SD signal is efficient to carry data over longer distances.
FAQ
It will be better to stick between a 5” to 7” large monitor for on-camera use. If you have an industry-level professional film camera setup, go for 9” or 10” or larger than 9” monitors.
While buying an external monitor for a video camera, all you need is a good resolution, high brightness, and a sunshade to make it clearly visible in all situations and lighting conditions. The protective features, exposure tools, and advanced monitoring tools add extra benefits during shooting.
Instead of reading lots of steps in words, follow the steps by watching this video. The video will teach you how to connect a camera to an external camera monitor via a mini-HDMI cable.
CONCLUSION
Maybe you never get the opportunity to work with the professional film industry, or may be your budget pulled you back to make your setup look like a professional filming camera setup. It’s high time to make your dream come true.
For this reason, I picked up some affordable stand-alone camera-top monitors. They are undoubtedly best in terms of build quality and functionality. Hopefully, you liked my recommendations and I believe the purchasing tips will help you to pick the best one for you.
