Gallery: Please visit the gallery to view images in full size. From the gallery, you will be able to add the images to the shopping cart and checkout. YouTube: I have a YouTube Channel (Hari PHL) where I post videos once a week. Please subscribe to my channel and share my videos. I appreciate your support. Thank you for visiting my site.
A camera field monitor is an external device that can be used in conjunction with your camera to provide a larger image than the LCD screen or viewfinder. Camera field monitors are regularly used in cinematography, but professional photographers and keen amateurs often make use of them to help with framing, composition and to improve the accuracy of the image they can see before they take a picture.
The camera field monitor can be attached to consumer grade cameras using an HDMI connection cable and runs on batteries, which often have the capacity to be swapped out seamlessly during use.
Why Do You need a Camera Field Monitor?
Although a camera field monitor might appear to be a luxury or an unnecessary gadget nothing could be further from the truth! Many professional photographers swear by their camera field monitors and despite the fact that it may seem daunting once you take the leap and start working with one you will never look back!
Many LCD monitors on cameras are very small and do not accurately articulate the photo that you will be taking. This can be difficult if you are working under pressure or in bad lighting conditions when you will want to see a better representation of the photo before you commit to it. Like me there are many photographers who wear glasses. It is difficult to wear glasses and use the camera viewfinder.
The size of the typical phone screen is bigger. Mobile phones like those made by Apple and Samsung are very good at accurately reproducing an image that is very close to what you are seeing in real time as a photographer. This can be a problem when you switch from a phone to a digital camera. The LCD screens are smaller and you have to play with the settings of the camera to accurately reproduce what you are seeing.
The Benefits of Utilizing a On-Camera Field Monitor.
- Camera field monitors are an extremely valuable tool when it comes to framing your photos and improving the overall composition of your work. They allow you to stand back from the camera and get a new perspective on the picture before you take it.
- Camera field monitors are very useful if you are doing photography where you are experimenting with shutter speeds. When you are changing shutter speeds you’ll be able to see the impact of the change more easily and accurately on the field monitor meaning that you can adjust the speed settings on site.
- When it comes to color profiling for your photography a calibrated field monitor will allow you to accurately set the color profiles for your shots. Most LCD screens are not a high enough quality to do this effectively and so you will need a camera field monitor to do so.
- Some cameras do not have custom frame dimensions settings however with a field monitor you will be able to insert frame markers, grid lines and capture the perfect shot in the aspect ratio that you require.
- Using an external field monitor you are able to get a crisper focus in your images because the larger screen allows you to get a better idea of the fine details in the shot.
- Dust spots can ruin an otherwise perfect photo but with the help of a field monitor you can easily see these and remove the offending marks!
- You can create a more rounded exposure in your photography using a camera field monitor.
- Many camera field monitors allow you to load your favorite LUTs (Look Up Tables – Color Adjustment Profiles). Once you load the LUT, you will be able to preview the image in the way it will look after post-processing.
The Monitor is Important But You Also Need to take account of the NIT.
NIT is a unit that is used in photography to measure the amount of light that is emitted from an object, such as an LCD monitor. The term ‘NIT’ is derived from the Latin word ‘nitere’ which means ‘shine’ or ‘to shine’ and describes the brightness of a screen.
When you are looking for a good camera field monitor you want a screen that is viewable in the daylight which will require at least 1000 NIT. 1 NIT is the same as 1 Candela per Square Meter, which is written as 1 cd/m2. Both candela per square meter (cd/m2) and NIT measure how bright a screen is and can be used interchangeably in product descriptions. Keep in mind that the technology of the monitor uses will have an impact on the NIT. For example a 1000 OLED NIT is not the same as a 1000 LED NIT.
I have a SmallHD Focus 5″ OLED monitor (I have a Samsung phone that uses OLED technology and I like the color reproduction). The SmallHD OLED monitor NIT is only around 380. It is slightly difficult to use the monitor when the sunlight hits directly on the monitor, but you can always tilt it or turn it away from the sun. Some monitors also come with a “shade”.
The Main Types of Camera Field Monitor.
The two main types of field monitor are the External Monitor and the External Recorder. The External Recorder comes with a range of additional features and functionality that the External Monitor does not have.
The external recorder can also record (video) which gives you extra storage space although some external monitors have SSD-Disk slots so you can still record hours of footage, or save photos, and store it off camera while still on site.
The Camera Field Monitor Hack – Your Smartphone!
If you are on a tight budget you can improvise a camera field monitor with your smartphone. You will not get the true functionality of an external monitor however as a very basic setup you can manage with it!
To set your phone up as an external monitor you will need to download an app, like the field monitor app for Apple. The app is extremely limited though, so don’t expect too much from it! That said it can be a fun way to find out if you might like to use a field monitor more often and upgrade to a fully functional professional grade product. If you connect the camera to your phone using Bluetooth you might notice a lag. Instead you can buy a camera mount (you can buy one for around $30) and mount the phone to the camera and connect using HDMI cable).
My favorite monitor manufacturers are SmallHD, Portkeys and Atomos. FEELWORLD and Neewer also make good monitors. If you buy a 5 inch to 5.5 inch monitor, you will almost get the smartphone feel (in terms of the viewing dimensions). 7 inch monitors are bigger. The SmallHD monitor that I use is 5.5 inches.
A Camera Field Monitor is an Awesome Addition to Your Equipment.
These versatile, easy to use and highly functional items are a purchase that you’ll never regret making. These portable, battery powered screens give you a better view of the shot you’re taking and with functions such as on screen grid displays they can really help with your composition, alignments and framing.
With a huge range of options on the market there is something to suit every photographer and whether you’re shooting video or still shots making use a quality camera field monitor will really help to raise your game and allow you to focus on the image without squinting through a small and unclear LCD monitor on the back of your camera.
Do you use a camera monitor?
NOTE: Shoot Philadelphia is supported by readers. Some of the links above are affiliate links. At no cost to you, I may earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. It helps me to continue to offer free content on this site. Subscribe below and receive notifications of new posts by email. Your privacy is important to me and I will not market your email ID. Visit the Affiliate Disclosure page and the Privacy Policy page in the About section for additional information.
Leave a Reply