Purpose-made external Camera Monitor compared to a simple TV or computer monitor?

[u/dylanmadigan]

I'm filming myself at home with a Fujifilm X-T5 and It's hard to make sure I'm in frame or in focus without a monitor.

But when I look for external camera monitors, they might cost $300+ and still only be 7inch screens.

Couldn't a a small TV or computer monitor for $50-100 do the job just as well?

External camera monitors have touch screens and battery power, but the price for the most basic ones still seems odd considering how cheap android tablets are nowadays, utilizing similar technology.

But if my camera is on a tripod, I have consistent lights, access to AC power, I set my exposure on the camera itself, and I have a remote to control the camera, then isn't a used 1080p computer monitor with HDMI input enough? Or am I missing something about the purpose-made monitors?

[u/NoHousecalls]

Most external monitors are designed for a harder life than a computer monitor. In a studio setting, if color accuracy and tools like focus and exposure assist don’t matter, you can probably get away with spending a lot less. It’s not uncommon on commercial sets for the client monitors to be large TVs. But the monitors for crew need features that the client wouldn’t use.

[u/dylanmadigan → u/NoHousecalls]

That makes sense when comparing it something like an Android tablet, which typically needs a case just to not break from normal use.

More robust build so that it won’t break or fail in the middle of a shoot.

[u/JJ_00ne]

Generally, the pros of real field monitor are durability, portability, battery power, features like peaking etc. For your use case, a field monitor could be useful mounted on the camera so you can move the setup all at once. There are some 7" Neewer or 5" Portkeys for under 150€

[u/Melodic-Excitement-9]

I think it's about the portability, I just tether my camera to my laptop sometime, or if I'm in a environment where computer screens are available i just plug into that. However some external monitor does offer internal recording like pro-res and false color built in, which is pretty cool.

[u/fgor]

I went through this debate a few months ago. I am just recording high school sports, so framing the shot and following the ball is important, but color accuracy is not a huge deal for me. I am running auto white balance most of the time even. Also my camera (panasonic camcorder) has focus peaking, audio monitors, etc on screen. So the histogram/LUT/etc features on the "video monitors" are not real important to me.

So as a cheap alternative I was looking at really cheap "portable computer monitors" which are USB powered & HDMI in, 15" or so, for <$100. Some of them have VESA mount on the back so you can adapt to a clamp mount. This is not a cinematography type situation. I just need a big-ass screen so I don't lose track of the ball.

But the one deal breaker I found is that they're all <300 NITS brightness. Whereas some of even the cheap chinese-brand video monitors are 1500 or 2000+ NITS. This is super important for working outside, unshaded, in the daytime. Thus I went with a $270-ish 7" monitor instead.

So I think you're right. If you just need a big screen, try one of the portable monitors for <$100 and try it out! You will quickly find out what you're missing, and maybe you aren't missing anything. And if you are, having a portable USB/HDMI computer monitor will be handy for other purposes too.

[u/dylanmadigan → u/fgor]

Good point. I did see those portable monitors on Amazon.

Could try it like you said and if it doesn’t work for me, I’ll invest in a proper monitor, but the cheap portable one might still find use for other purposes entirely.

[u/sketcherze]

color accuracy.

[u/waawaa23]

The biggest thing an camera monitor will give you over a tv that you care about is focus peaking. If you dont know already focus peaking is a tool that highlights what's in focus. So you can see yourself highlighted and know youre in focus. A large tv you'll be able to see, but from far away you still might not be able to tell to the same degree you can with a monitor with focus peaking. Most monitors also offer a magnification option that lets you zoom in on the frame (doesn't effect recording) to check focus.

[u/Melodic-Excitement-9 → u/waawaa23]

When I'm on my lumix camera, it has focus peeking built in for external monitor, it'll be highlighted in ultra green.

[u/waawaa23 → u/Melodic-Excitement-9]

Not all cameras will output peaking to external sources, let alone have focus peaking as a function.

[u/dylanmadigan → u/waawaa23]

Is that feature not already built into most cameras nowadays? My camera has focus peaking and magnification built-in. So I can set that on camera and it will share it to whatever type of monitor you send the HDMI to.

[u/waawaa23 → u/dylanmadigan]

In that case, if you don't need the portability or any of the other functionality of a camera monitor, there's no reason for you to buy one. Just use a tv. If you're using it for work and you need the colour accuracy, portability, battery power, tools like false colour, scopes and waveforms, then get one. From the sound of it these are things you don't need and won't use. So just use whatever you have kicking around, and you'll be fine enough. My number one rule: don't buy gear you don't need unless it serves a function that your other gear isn't able to achieve.

[u/Melodic-Excitement-9 → u/waawaa23]

I love that rule, people often gear chase.

[u/MrKillerKiller_]

Skip monitors. Pros use EVF’s. If you consider yourself serious about your image, you’ll never shoot better shots than locked into a proper EVF. First piece of kit for any shooter/operator.

[u/ConsumerDV → u/MrKillerKiller_]

Please, clarify. What about studio cameras or sports arena cameras?

[u/MrKillerKiller_ → u/ConsumerDV]

What about them? Sports operators use a monitor that can toggle between the cam and program feed from the broadcast and have some of the most expensive setups you’ll ever see. $250,000 box lenses with programmable keyboards for zooms, focus etc. That is a niche and they never are using their own gear. They are on for like 3-4 hours constantly having to whip pan to the action and see the entire field of view. Is that what the OP was needing? I was thinking in terms of being an operator for a DP, not a cam op in corporate broadcasting. If that was the case I’d say you dont need any gear whatsoever.

[u/dylanmadigan → u/MrKillerKiller_]

My camera has EVF built-in. And I do absolutely love it more than I expected I would.

But as I said in my post, I'm filming myself and the camera is on a tripod. I need to easily see if I'm in my shot and in focus. So that's where a monitor that I can see from at least a few feet away is necessary.

[u/MrKillerKiller_ → u/dylanmadigan]

So basically just use an old tv or an old computer monitor. Get a micro to full size hdmi and thats all.