Some companies try to enter the EVF market with a monitor and a loupe attachment. It’s the case with products from SmallHD, with their SmallHD 502 + viewfinder attachment, and F&V with the SpectraHD 4 EVF. While these two solutions can be helpful, they are also quite bulky.But, the real advantage of the BM5 over its competitors – other than the incredible $499 price – is the control port at the back of the monitor. By connecting the monitor to your camera, you can control various functions like start/stop the recording, change your ISO settings, adjust the focus settings… etc.
PortKeys is mostly known for making affordable products that offer filmmakers an excellent price/features ratio. The PortKeys LH5H came out in July 2020, and its successor, the LH5P, was released in January 2021. This monitor is one of the company’s entry-level products. However, the least we can say is that this HDMI-only monitor is no different from its bigger brother when it comes to features, at an aggressive price-point.Now PortKeys is introducing a brand new solution to the EVF market called the OEYE-3G EVF.
One full-size HDMI to full-size HDMI cable.The monitor doesn’t have a built-in battery plate like the Zacuto Gratical HD. You can switch it on using an external battery through the 7-24V Lemo port. The OEYE-3G only draws around 7W.
On the PortKeys LH5P, there are one HDMI input port and one HDMI output port. The monitor supports a maximum input resolution of DCI 4K at 24p, 4K UHD at up to 30p, and FullHD at up to 60p. I tested all three with a Panasonic GH5 and did not get any issues, may it be on the input or output side.The Volta Kit is available now and includes the top handle, two batteries, a battery charger, and a NATO rail for €140.00. The monitor mount will cost you an additional €40.00. You can purchase an extra pack of Volta36 batteries for €50.00.
I guess adding a small button at the bottom of the screen that allows you to access the “tool adjustments” settings would be a good help and easy to do (UI/Software change).the small front pocket could feature the same metal zippers pull straps as the main compartments ones, so you can close it with the TSA lock.
PortKeys, the company specialized in HDMI and SDI camera monitoring solutions has just released its latest 5.2″ monitor that is capable of controlling your camera: the PortKeys LH5H.Given the value of 36 ms, I was wondering how it can do 29.98fps at 4K – I measured the rolling shutter at 29.98fps and got a result of 31.3 ms interestingly. So obviously the readout speed changes with the different modes.
The biggest improvement over the old plastic version is, of course, build quality. In fact, the new PortKeys HS7T Metal Edition features an all-aluminum alloy, which makes the monitor stronger and more durable. Furthermore, this metal construction also helps with heat dissipation.Fair enough, that’s not the end of the world as micro-USB to USB cables are very common in everybody’s house, but it’s worth mentioning. After all, even Apple decided to not ship their iPhone 12 with a charger anymore, which is curious considering its high price point.
A monitor is a monitor, no matter its price, and I treat every product the same, so let’s get started!. The display has a resolution 1920 x 1080 resolution, with a maximum brightness of 500 nits. It is also a touchscreen display to navigate inside the menu. However, this brightness will fall slightly short in bright daylight shooting conditions, so I would not call it a daylight viewable monitor.
This update makes the Z CAM E2/Atomos a very capable lightweight combo capable of shooting 4K60P ProRes RAW for just under $2500.00, which is incredible. (Our friend and colleague Philip Bloom shot a short piece with this new setup. You can view it by clicking here).PortKeys LH5H – Ergonomics and Powering Options.
It has been more than two weeks since our last RED Komodo Update article. I have to say things are getting much faster around Komodo now since the first customers got their cameras and there are first hands-on tests with sample footage emerging. The best places to follow the latest news about Komodo right now are Jarred’s Instagram account, Komodo Section on REDuser, and RED Komodo Facebook group.To make it short, all you have to do is purchase the right cable for your camera with the monitor – also available separately – and plug it from the LH5H to the camera. Then, you’ll be able to trigger the recording, navigate through the menus of the camera, change your settings, and so on.
Buy link: Canon EOS C300 Mark III Bundle Was: €13.967,33 Now: €13.446,06 (Savings: €521,27).Sony a6000 Camera with Two Lenses and Accessories – $400 Discount.
The user-interface consists of four “pages”:.As I mentioned earlier, the Portkeys PT5 casing is made out of ABS plastic. It feels like good quality plastic, but I wouldn’t want to drop the monitor just to check if it survives.
One Aputure 200D LED light with all the cables. To power the camera, you can use Sony NP-F batteries or use the DC 12V 5A LEMO power port. Finally, there is an ethernet port for control/setting/live streaming, a Wifi antenna port, a USB port, and an HDMI output. Also, you have full camera control (including monitoring) through a phone application.
Both the LH5H and LH5P has the same ergonomics and input-output ports:. The PortKeys LH5P features a 5.5″ WLED display with a FullHD 1080p / 1920 x 1080 resolution. The display is a touchscreen that you can use to navigate through the menus (more on that later).
RED Komodo can record in ProRes as well. Image Credit: Phil Holland.Waveform (RGB and Luma), False Color, Exposure, Histogram, False Color, 3D LUT.
Also, if you use a 5-pin XS16 to dummy battery cable, you can power your camera/follow focus motor directly from the LH5H dedicated output port, which is smart. This port is compatible with Tilta Nucleus-M and Nucleus-Nano follow focus motors.The stickers were a bit of an afterthought when we realized not many of the clients were actually watching the video guide before using the handle. It has resulted in a couple of instances where the battery was forced in the wrong way, and it broke the pins (which is also why we provide the supplementary set).
Canon EOS C500 Mark II is a full-frame cinema camera capable of 5.9K video. When announced last year, the camera introduced the new modular design. To know more about it, check our Lab Test as well as our first look hands-on video. This bundle will additionally get you a Canon BP-A60 (OTH) battery and SanDisk CFexpress Extreme Pro 512GB memory card. Canon EOS RP Camera Body with Accessories Kit – $300/€243 Discount.
Now, let’s take a look at the top Black friday camera deals for filmmakers:.Sony a9 Camera Body with Free Accessories Kit – $500 Discount.
When communicating with the company they told me the following:.Manfrotto PRO Light Flexloader L Backpack Review.
Our European partner online shop CVP based in the UK decided to celebrate the site relaunch with us and they prepared some great special deals exclusively for our readers. We asked them to include current popular cameras in the bundle so that all the offers are relevant. You can navigate inside the menu via the touchscreen or the buttons at the top of the Black Mini. At first glance, the user interface looks a bit outdated, but in the end, it is straightforward to navigate inside and find what you’re looking for.
In terms of input/output, you’ll find an HDMI input and HDMI output ports on the left side of the LH5H, as well as a 3.5mm jack output, but no SDI ports. The LH5H is an “entry-level” monitor, perfect for DSLR/Mirrorless camera users. If you need both HDMI and SDI ports, the BM5 II is more suited for you. Also, the PortKeys LH5H is made of plastic, not metal, with a weight of just 170g/0.37lbs.But there’s even more for BMPCC 4K/6K users: The LH5P has a built-in Bluetooth module, which means you can connect your camera and monitor without the need for a cable. I loaned the monitor to a friend that has one, and it worked perfectly with his BMPCC 6K camera.
MZed Pro annual membership is available for just $199 (normally $299, save $100). Members get access to MZed library of 29 current courses plus new courses added regularly. The ourses can be downloaded using their new iOS app.The features a 5″ LCD display with a FullHD 1080p / 1920 x 1080 resolution. The display is a touchscreen that you can turn on and off via a long press on the power button.
To make things even more secure, there is even a side of the battery with a cut-out. I have no worries about inserting the batteries inside the handle or the battery charger.PortKeys LEYE EVF Announced – 4K HDMI Affordable Viewfinder.
I think soon we will start seeing third party accessories for Komodo from other manufacturers as well.The LH5P display is color calibrated by Portkeys out of the factory. The monitor is in-factory calibrated using an X-Rite i1 Display Pro colorimeter. In short, it should be pretty color accurate out of the box.
On top of the LH5H, you’ll find four customizable function keys, a power switch, and four buttons to access and navigate inside the menu. At the bottom of the monitor, there is one camera control mini-USB port (more on that later) and a 5-pin motor camera control port that doubles up as a DC 7-24V power output port.Let’s make it simple here; the PortKeys LEYE II has its predecessor’s same features and specifications. In a nutshell, that includes:.
As you can see, the P6 is fully packed with all the essential tools. The only drawback of PortKeys’ monitors is the user interface, which is not the most intuitive near beautiful out there, but it gets the job done. Last week, we were the first to report about a new company named PortKeys and their BM5, a field monitor capable of controlling your camera. Ahead of NAB 2019, the company just announced another exciting product, the OEYE-3G EVF. Let’s take a look at this exciting new EVF.
To know more, check our Lab Test as well as Nino’s C300 Mark III review. This bundle will additionally get you a Canon 24-70MM F2.8L II USM EF-Mount lens and SanDisk CFexpress Extreme Pro 512GB memory card.Also, there is a USB Type-A port at the bottom of the monitor that you can use to power the LH5P via a power bank (5V/2A). If you power your monitor with a Sony NP-F battery, this USB port doubles up as a 5V/1A power output that could charge your smartphone at the same time just fine.
PortKeys HS7T Metal Edition: all-metal design.The Chinese camera manufacturer Z CAM has made quite an impression on us when we reviewed their flagship model Z CAM E2. Now we have the much more affordable sister cam Z Cam E2C cinema camera in our hands – has it inherited some of the strong features? Read on ….
I am left a bit puzzled about possible use cases for this cam – by its very name it implies the use as a cinema camera which I definitely cannot recommend because of the mentioned extreme rolling shutter and the limited dynamic range.But, you’ll have to handle all that extra tripod weight on your back, the unbalance, and the Flexloader L will flip over when you put it on the ground. Also, it’s not very practical to access the bag’s camera compartment.
A good monitor is nothing without great monitoring tools. These tools allow you to judge your exposure, focus, white balance, and so on. This is useful so you can make creative decisions and adjust your camera settings.Finally, there’s a 5-pin “aviation” power input/output port, as PortKeys calls it. You can use the included D-Tap to 5-pin power cable to power your monitor from a V-Mount/Gold Mount battery. Also, you could use the included 5-pin to barrel connector cable to power accessories, but I did not try it. According to the company, this port can feed a 7.4V camera accessory if you power the monitor with a Sony NP-F battery.
What do you think of the PortKeys BM5? Do you think the camera remote functions are useful? Let us know in the comments down below!.The 1DX Mark III is the newest generation of Canon’s professional DSLR. While aimed at pro photographers in the first place, the camera offers some serious video specs too. It can record 5.5K 60fps 12-bit RAW video internally.
If you’re often shooting outside you should probably not consider this monitor as the screen is tough to see if you’re shooting outdoor. Also, even on a cloudy day, the included sun hood has its limits.The FX9 is Sony’s new full-frame cinema camera. Announced in September 2019, it offers solid 10-bit internal recording modes, very good autofocus, audio, internal eND, and more.
What do you think of the PortKeys Bluetooth Module? Do you think it is useful for the BMPCC 4K/6K cameras? Do you already have the PortKeys BM5 monitor? Let us know in the comments!.DJI Osmo Pocket is the smallest Osmo yet. It combines camera with a 3-axis gimbal and fits literally in the palm. The camera still offers up to 4K 60fps video recording. Make sure to watch and read our DJI Osmo Pocket review for more information.
Adapta is KipperTie’s simple PL to RF adapter while Revolva also offers a system for inserting ND filter cartridges. Pricing for KipperTie Komodo accessories has not been announced yet.However, I was a bit worried about a possible short inside my camera bag between the batteries and whatever metal object they could hit. Volta Cinema told me that:.
CVP offers free LUMIX 25mm f/1.7 lens (!) and free 3-year Panasonic LUMIX warranty. CVP also offers G9 in a set with the LUMIX 12-60mm f/2.8-4 lens for an incredible price.In a lot of ways, the Portkeys PT5 reminds me a lot of the SmallHD 501, which is still to this day my favorite 5″ on-camera monitor. It’s compact, lightweight, with good battery life, and it just feels like it’s part of your camera. The good thing is that the PT5 is a fraction of the SmallHD 501’s price, and it even has a way better battery life, but it doesn’t have SDI input/output ports. So you can’t have the cake and eat it too.
Batteries, memory cards, and a ballhead.Anamorphic de-squeeze, color temperature.
Any Smart 7 Monitor + Bolt 4K Monitor Module 750 TX connected to the camera with any necessary camera control cables.These tools are pretty standard nowadays on on-camera monitors, but nothing is missing on the LH5P. Also, you can adjust the position and scale of each tool via the touchscreen, but more on that in a second.
Filmmaking for Photographers with Philip Bloom is available for $149 (normally $199, save $50). Once you short press the power button, the monitor takes around five seconds to boot up until it is operational, which is pleasant.
You probably got it; I’m not a huge fan of the monitor mount, it works ok, but it could be improved to make it perfect. PortKeys is a Chinese company specialized in creating monitors and viewfinders. We first reported about their PortKeys BM5 monitor, a 5-inch field monitor with SDI/HDMI input and output ports capable of controlling your camera. Then, the company released the OEYE-3G and LEYE EVFs, a Universal Handle that can control nearly every camera, and more recently, the PortKeys LH5P that we’re reviewing here.
Buy link: FUJIFILM X-T4 Bundle Was: €2,593.15 Now: €2,480.33 (Savings: €112.82).Internally, it can record to CFAST 2.0 cards in C4K and 4K UHD at up to 160 fps in H.265. In HD resolution, you can go at up to 240 fps in H.265. In Apple ProRes 4:2:2 10-bit, you can go at up to 60 fps. Finally, in ZRAW (partial-debayer), it supports C4K at up to 30 fps internally.
you’re getting your name out there to thousands of eyeballs, and we can link to your personal site from your name in the news and review posts. PortKeys LH5P Review – Great Monitor Under $400.
These monitoring tools were also available in the previous version, but Portkeys improved its peaking mode, which looks easier to view now. A new “freeze-frame” tool is now available to capture a frame and use it as a reference/guide.First is to put a Canon LP-E6 or Sony NP-F battery at the back of the monitor. Indeed, the built-in battery bracket supports both type of batteries natively, which is very smart and reminds me of the SmallHD 700 series of monitors.
FEELWORLD F7 PRO wireless video transmission system.Peaking, zooming, and audio meters.
The biggest benefit for me is that the Volta Cinema Top Handle removes weight from your rig and keeps it well balanced. Indeed, Sony NP-F batteries at the back of a monitor tend to be clumsy and not heavily enjoyable to shoot with. With this top handle, you feel lighter and gain freedom.The display has a resolution of 1920 x 1080, with a maximum brightness of 1700 nit. Also, it is a touchscreen display to navigate inside the menu.
Panasonic LUMIX GH5 Camera Body – $700/€215 Discount Plus Cashback, Free LUMIX 25mm f/1.7 Lens, Free 3-Year Warranty.In short, at least on paper, it seems like the LH5H comes with all the tools you need to correctly judge the exposure of your image and frame your shots correctly.
Since May this year, I have been using the micro four thirds (MFT) Z CAM E2 and more recently now the Z Cam E2C cinema camera. The more expensive Z CAM E2 flagship model has very pleasing colors out of the box, a flat Z-Log2 profile and high frame rates (up to 4K 160fps) in combination with strong internal recording options (H265, ProRes) as well as anamorphic modes – a very well rounded offering.Fig.1: Waveform plot of the Z CAM E2 cinema camera at ISO500 using Z-LOG2 ProRes HQ – about 11 stops can be identified above the noise floor.
The battery fit at the back of the monitor is snug. The battery goes in and out smoothly; no issues here. There is a battery lock to keep everything nicely and securely in place.We plan to add subsequent control to Sony FS5/FS7, Canon C200/C300 II, RED, and ARRI cameras. We even plan to add the Tilta Nucleus N/M wireless follow focus The user can update the monitor’s firmware via the USB port.
Up to 50 custom 3D LUTs can be loaded into the FEELWORLD F7 PRO. Source: FEELWORLD.In addition, the Z CAM app essentially gives you full control over all the camera settings – very nice!.
The exterior design of the PortKeys LH5P is not groundbreaking; it’s simple and quite minimalist. Now let’s take a quick tour of the monitor:.CVP Buy link: Panasonic LUMIX G80 Camera with 12-60mm Lens Was: €609.02 Now: €525.88 (Savings: €83.14, Free 25mm f/1.7 lens, and Free 3-year warranty).
PortKeys LH5P on the left, PortKeys LH5H on the right.However, they also closed the door on other monitors who might want access to the latest features from Teradek. BlackMagic, Atomos, PortKeys, and others will have to find their own solutions.
According to Manfrotto, the fabrics are water repellant. Also, there is a built-in fold-out rain protector located at the front of the bag. I did not stress-test the water resistance, but I never had issues with Manfrotto products in rainy conditions in the past, so this one should be no different.Volta’s capacity to weight ratio compared to other battery solutions. Image credit: Volta Cinema.
Let’s talk quickly about the batteries’ technology. According to Volta Cinema, the Volta36 uses the same 21700 cells as Tesla uses in their cars. These cells allow them to pack more energy in a smaller format.What do you think of this new PortKeys OEYE-3G EVF? Do you already use an EVF with your camera? Let us know in the comments down below!.
The monitor has a contrast ratio of 1000:1, and I could not confirm if the panel itself is 8 or 10-bit (8+2 FRC obviously if it’s the case). According to VIDEOGEAR, the display covers 131% of the Rec.709 color space and 98% of DCI-P3. On top of that, the panel would support HDR ST2084 300 / ST 2084 1000 / ST 2084 10000 / HLG monitoring, but I have high doubts about it and can’t confirm.Sharpness, chroma, brightness, backlight, tint, color temperature adjustments.
The R6 is one of Canon’s two newly introduced mirrorless cameras. It is the lower-resolution more-affordable sibling to the Canon R5. It offers internal 4K60p video in 10-bit with no crop and with AF.These theoretical tests don’t have much sense to me as you usually don’t always shoot at full brightness for this amount of time without switching off the monitor, but it gives you a rough idea. In “normal” real-life shooting conditions, I found the battery life to be pretty good.
Also, another thing that surprised me is that the NATO locking mechanism doesn’t have a spring inside. It means that when you unscrew it, the part that moves doesn’t follow the locking screw, and you might have to move it by hand. This is something minor and not a dealbreaker, but a small improvement that could be made in the next versions.Now let’s take a quick tour of the monitor:.
As you can tell, even my iPhone 11 is more significant than this monitor! Indeed, the Portkeys PT5 has dimensions of only 136 x 72 x 17mm for a weight of 130g/0.28lbs. I was shocked at how light it is when I took the PT5 out of the box; it weighs almost nothing, mainly because the casing is made of ABS plastic.Full-frame 12MP sensor, UHD in up to 120P, Full HD in up to 240p, all modes available in 10-bit 4:2:2 internally, no overheating, (almost) no crop, flip-out screen, full-size HDMI… This camera seems to tick a lot of boxes.
Inside the small pockets with tripod logos, you’ll find straps that attach to their respective rubber hooks.The bag is made out of nylon and synthetic fabric. The ripstop nylon fabric features a cross pattern all over it. This kind of fabric is used to make military clothes, so I have very little doubt about its quality or longevity. All in all, it’s a matter of taste, but it’s a nice-looking bag that looks professional without screaming “there’s plenty of camera equipment inside,” which I always like.
The Portkeys BM5 III WR is available now for €517. When you order it, you’ll have to choose the correct control cable for your camera, if you want to control it wired. The Volta Cinema Top Handle is the company’s first product, designed with a simple goal in mind: create a top handle that can power camera accessories or even your camera via a D-Tap port. I had the chance to play with it for one month, and here are my findings.
PL to RF Revolva Mount Adapter with ND filters. Source: KipperTie.This update makes the Z CAM E2/Atomos a very capable lightweight combo capable of shooting 4K60P ProRes RAW for just under $2500.00, which is incredible. (Our friend and colleague Philip Bloom shot a short piece with this new setup. You can view it by clicking here).
The batteries have two power connectors (plus and minus) used to charge them and connect to the handle’s pins. Also, there are small coded pins, so you can’t insert the battery inside the handle or charger in the wrong direction.In October 2021, Manfrotto introduced a new PRO Light camera bags lineup for photographers and filmmakers. So I was very eager to try the Manfrotto PRO Flexloader L backpack for various reasons. First, it is one of the biggest carry-on camera-specific luggage on the market. Also, it’s Manfrotto’s second generation of PRO Light backpacks. So did the company improve what was already an excellent lineup of products? Let’s find out!.
* CVP Terms and conditions apply. All products are subject to availability. We reserve the right to withdraw the Promotion at any time without notice. Any descriptions of the promotional product is for illustrative purposes only and there may be small discrepancies in the size and colour of goods supplied.When you power on the monitor, it’ll display your image, but nothing else. If you swipe up/down on the left side of the screen, you can quickly adjust your brightness setting. On the other hand, if you swipe up/down on the right side of the display, it’ll change your audio output level. Now, if you swipe up in the middle of the screen, it’ll show you the menu. Also, you can access the menu by simply pressing the menu button.
Check Field, Guides, Cross Hair, Grids. Teradek just released the 4K Monitor Module 750 TX, a transmitter unit capable of 750 feet of 4K HDR transmission – not to mention wireless camera control. Oh, and it meshes right onto your SmallHD Smart 7 monitor. Are you drooling yet?.
Also, there is a 3.5mm headphone jack if your camera doesn’t have one or if you want to monitor your audio signal directly from the PT5, which works fine.For BMPCC 4K/6K users, you can even control your camera wirelessly. You don’t need the additional BT1 Bluetooth module with the LH5H, as it is built-in inside the monitor. It means that you can control your BMPCC 4K/6K wirelessly out of the box!.
And the Z CAM E2 did not disappoint – see the video on top. The camera has a very organic, detailed image with fantastic, out of the box colors. Grading the Z-LOG2 profile using the LUT’s supplied by Z CAM on their homepage was a joy and is as easy as it can get. CVP Buy link: Panasonic LUMIX GH5 Camera Body with 12-60mm f/2.8-4 Lens Was: €1,616.67 Now: €1,319.83 (Savings: €296.84, Free accessories, Free 25mm f/1.7 lens, and Free 3-year warranty).
Z CAM claims 13stops of dynamic range on their marketing materials, so I was quite curious how it would fare in our standard test (click here for more info on how we test). Firmware tested was 0.86, raw was not available at that time.On the Portkeys PT5, here are the built-in tools:.
Talking about the bottom of the Flexloader L, there are two rugged bumpers under the dense nylon cover. These bumpers will help reduce impacts when you put your bag on the ground.At the moment, ProRes RAW is supported in Final Cut Pro X along with a collection of other apps, including ASSIMILATE SCRATCH, Colorfront, FilmLight Baselight, and Grass Valley Edius. Adobe and Avid have announced that Adobe Premiere Pro and Avid Media Composer will support ProRes RAW this year.
… and smartphone filmmakers / content creators. Edit: Phil Holland was kind enough to share with us a download link for footage taken with his new camera. You can obtain it by clicking here.
The new PortKeys Bluetooth Module for BM5/BM5 II monitors screws directly to the back of the monitor. This update is especially exciting for BMPCC 4K/6K users. First, you will have access to the daylight/tiltable screen of the BM5. Second, you will be able to control your camera via the monitor wirelessly. The number of settings you can adjust via the BM5 is imposing; please see the full list below.To modify a tool’s settings, you have to hold the icon of the tool you want to adjust in the sidebar and slide to the right at the same time. I’ve been able to make it work, but even with the user manual, it’s not straightforward, and it took me a dozen tries to get to the tool adjustments settings.
The $399 price tag of the PortKeys BM5 is outstanding for a monitor with that much functionalities. The field monitor will be available end of April. We will add B&H buy links when it become available.The PortKeys BM5 top and bottom. The remote camera socket is located at the left of the USB port.
These are very good results for a micro four thirds sensor, almost exactly the same as for the Panasonic GH5s (10.7 stops) and coming in second behind the other four thirds cinema camera rival, the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K, BMPCC4k, which has 11.6 stops of dynamic range in ProRes HQ.The only thing that prevents it from slipping out of the handle is the battery cap (if it ever moves.) Update: Volta Cinema told us that the monitor mount comes with a small m3 screw in the box, that is used to secure it tightly to the handle, as the monitor mount is not meant to move around in any way.
The LH5P is powered via a Sony NP-F battery, but you can use the USB port to feed the monitor from a V-Mount/AB external battery as well as a battery bank.CVP Buy link: Canon EOS RP Camera Body Was: €1,362.46 Now: €1,118.99 (Savings: €243.47 – Cashback, Free RF-EF Adapter).
Nikon Z 6 is the first full-frame mirrorless camera from Nikon – it is the “all-arounder” within the new Z system. It features 24.5MP CMOS sensor and can record UHD 4K video at up to 30fps and full HD at up to 120fps – all in H.264. The camera can also output RAW signal via HDMI, so this could be the perfect camera to use with the Ninja V to capture in ProRes RAW.But Tudor didn’t stop here. He worked hard on its product and idea to refine the design, improve features, and launch it on its own a couple of months later, in August 2020.
I have tried this option in practice but quickly abandoned it for moving shots, as the motion blur (or partial lack thereof) of the resulting image looks weird. It may work for a static interview though, or a situation where the scene demands a higher shutter speed (1/200 and up).Bottom: there is one camera control mini-USB port, a 5-pin motor camera control port that doubles up as a DC 7-24V power output port, one 1/4-20” mounting point with locating pins, and a USB Type-A port to update the firmware of the LH5P, load your LUTs, or power it.
Sony RX100 III Camera Kit with Accessories – $150 Discount.Rigged out RED Komodo. Image Credit: Phil Holland.
Once you short press the power button, the monitor takes around five seconds to boot up until it is operational, which is pleasant.However, for the past four years, I finally found some solutions that work for me. I purchased and used Manfrotto rolling bags – including the Pro Roller Bag 70 and Reloader Air-55 Pro – and they’ve been real workhorses. They’ve been a joy to use and what carries all my camera equipment 99% of the time. The Windows vs. macOS debate is as big as the backpack vs. rolling case one, but both solutions have pros and cons.
These theoretical tests don’t have much sense to me as you usually don’t always shoot at full brightness for this amount of time without switching off the monitor, but it gives you a rough idea. In “normal” real-life shooting conditions, I found the battery life to be pretty good.You got it; the LEYE II is a pretty decent electronic viewfinder that now features a built-in Canon LP-E6 battery plate at the back of the unit. Unfortunately, there is no indication about the battery life from PortKeys.
PortKeys P6 5.5″ HDMI Monitor Announced.However, the batteries and the top handle both have a “V” sticker on them that indicates which direction you’re supposed to put the battery inside the handle. It only took me three shooting days before all of the stickers disappeared. Volta told us:.
FUJIFILM X-T4 Bundle – €112.82 Savings. There are tiny grooves on the monitor itself, so both frames stay in place firmly.
CVP Buy link: DJI Osmo Action Was: €319.18 Now: €241.56 (Savings: €77.61).Portkeys PT5 Review – Impressive On-Camera Monitor Under $200.
The same type of battery can be used for the Portkeys BM5 monitor as well which is a big plus, and I needed all the spare batteries for the monitor, as its power consumption was quite high.B&H has a great deal on the Sony a6000 with two lenses – E PZ 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS and E 55-210mm f/4.5-6.3 OSS – plus memory card, extra battery, battery charger, and camera bag.
However, even if I found the UI easy to understand, there are some things I did not like. First, when you open the menu, it’ll stay open for a certain amount of time that you can adjust between 10 and 30 seconds. But when you’re done, you can’t exit the menu and hide it. Instead, you’ll have to let it disappear on its own without touching anything for 10/30sec.PortKeys, the company specialized in HDMI and SDI camera monitoring solutions has just released its latest 5.2″ monitor that is capable of controlling your camera: the PortKeys LH5H.
email hiring[at]CineD.com to apply.The user interface consists of two pages. When you start the monitor, it shows you your image or the Portkeys landing page if no source is connected. If you touch the screen, the image scales down a bit and the Function settings page pops up on the sides of the display. All your monitoring tools are on this Function page.
So when the new Z Cam E2C arrived I was curious to see if some of the strengths have trickled down to this very affordable model – the Z Cam E2C is currently listed at just 799 USD.The loupe of the LEYE II features a +8 to -3 diopters adjustment.
This is not that bad on the LH5P, and even at maximum brightness, the image remains viewable and usable. Keep in mind that this is a budget-friendly monitor, so comparing it to the big boys doesn’t make sense.The same type of battery can be used for the Portkeys BM5 monitor as well which is a big plus, and I needed all the spare batteries for the monitor, as its power consumption was quite high.
The dividers feature Manfrotto’s M-GUARD technology to protect your equipment. M-GUARD dividers are made of high-density EVA foam and are “50% slimmer with 50% greater shock absorption” compared to previous Manfrotto dividers.Z CAM E2 Cinema Camera in the Wild – Hands-on Review.
This interesting bundle includes the newest APS-C mirrorless camera FUJIFILM X-T4 (our review). With its 26.1MP sensor, the camera can record up to 4K 60P uncropped video in 10-bit in F-Log. It offers nice ergonomics, good IBIS, and flip-out screen. The bundle further includes the 5″ 1000nit monitor/recorder Atomos Ninja V and SanDisk 128GB 300MB/s SDXC memory card.Also, there are rubber pull straps at the end of some zippers that open “secondary” compartments.
Out of the box, the colors and images coming out of the PT5 are extremely good, and I would say close to being 100% color accurate. I only lowered the saturation by 3-4, and that’s it. I was delighted by what I saw, and I would not be that surprised if Portkeys calibrate each monitor out of the factory. The image is crisp and clear, which is impressive for an entry-level product.According to Manfrotto, these “SAS-TEC” structural reinforcements feature exclusive viscoelastic memory foam for multi-impact endurance. Unfortunately, I did not open the bag with a knife to verify, but the bottom bumpers did well during my testing.
PortKeys Universal Handle – Features.PortKeys HS7T with NATO clamp at the bottom. Source: PortKeys.
The offers you three 1/4″-20 mounting points at the bottom, top, and right side of the monitor. I think that it is enough for an on-camera monitor, even if, as always, I would have preferred 3/8-16″ mounting points with ARRI locating pins, which are more versatile.I am left a bit puzzled about possible use cases for this cam – by its very name it implies the use as a cinema camera which I definitely cannot recommend because of the mentioned extreme rolling shutter and the limited dynamic range.
Also, the barrel connector should be replaced by a 4-pin power input at the back of the unit, next to the SDI input. Talking about the SDI input: the viewfinder should support resolutions up to 1080p60 via the SDI Input.Codec wise there are H264 and H265 10bit internal recording options to SD cards, but as a big differentiator to other cams in this price bracket, it offers to record ProRes via USB-C to an external SSD drive.
In October 2021, Manfrotto introduced a new PRO Light camera bags lineup for photographers and filmmakers. So I was very eager to try the Manfrotto PRO Flexloader L backpack for various reasons. First, it is one of the biggest carry-on camera-specific luggage on the market. Also, it’s Manfrotto’s second generation of PRO Light backpacks. So did the company improve what was already an excellent lineup of products? Let’s find out!.A laptop pocket at the back can easily fit a 16-inch MacBook Pro or an iPad, for example.
A monitor of this size and weight makes a lot of sense to use with a small and lightweight battery, like a Canon LP-E6 pack, which is around 50 grams. Indeed, for example, a Sony NP-F 970 battery is 350g, which is twice the monitor’s weight; it looks a bit ridiculous. Also, Canon LP-E6 batteries are the same I use to power my Canon EOS R. I only have to use and carry one type of battery on set.Like most on-camera monitors (the ones that are not OLED), especially daylight-viewable ones, if you crank up the brightness, the display tends to lift the image’s black parts. In short, blacks are not black anymore, but more on the grey side and the picture starts to be a little washed out.
This product demonstrates the advantages of a semi-closed ecosystem. The Vitec Group has, over the years, picked up SmallHD, Teradek, and even Amimon – the company that manufactures the wireless chips underlying them all. By bringing all of these companies under one umbrella, Vitec opened the door to collaborative products like the Teradek 4K Monitor Module family.Indeed, a great on-camera monitor must be as color accurate as possible and be as close to “what you see is what you get” as possible. If your monitor colors are not correct, you won’t see your footage the way it’s supposed to be. For example, when a monitor’s colors are wildly inaccurate, you can see orange when you’re supposed to see yellow or red. It can affect how you’ll set your camera’s white balance or exposure, for example.
For BMPCC 4K/6K users, you can even control your camera wirelessly. You don’t need the additional BT1 Bluetooth module with the LH5H, as it is built-in inside the monitor. It means that you can control your BMPCC 4K/6K wirelessly out of the box!.The PortKeys LEYE electronic viewfinder was first announced back in November 2020. This 4K HDMI-only EVF had a nice and compact form factor (106 x 70 x 78 mm) for a weight of 300g. In addition, the LEYE features a 2.4-inch display with a resolution of 1440 x 900, and can take signals up to 4K at 30 frames per second.
The left side of the Portkeys PT5.You got it; I love when I’m working with and not against an on-camera monitor. A third-party monitor should feel like a natural addition to your rig and not an add-on that you don’t want to bring/mount on your camera.
USB cables: a mini-USB to USB-C cable, and a mini-USB to Lanc camera control cable. When you purchase the LH5P, you have the option to buy additional camera control cables.However, the sun hood blocks the sunlight pretty effectively, there are minor light leaks on the edges, and it’s quick to set up. It’s definitely nice to have it in the package!.
Internally, it can record to CFAST 2.0 cards in C4K and 4K UHD at up to 160 fps in H.265. In HD resolution, you can go at up to 240 fps in H.265. In Apple ProRes 4:2:2 10-bit, you can go at up to 60 fps. Finally, in ZRAW (partial-debayer), it supports C4K at up to 30 fps internally.According to Portkeys, the PT5 only draws 6W of power. To give you a rough idea, as these results can vary a lot depending on the age/state of your battery pack, I did a quick test with a fresh Canon LP-E6N battery pack (14Wh).
Manfrotto put some thick and quite long metal pull straps at the end of the main compartment and gimbal zippers, so it’s easy to open/close the most-used bag’s pockets.Top Black Friday Deals for Filmmakers – Part 1: Cameras, FilmConvert, MZed.
I had an enjoyable time using the LH5H in run-and-gun situations, especially with a mirrorless camera. The monitor is light, it has a decent battery life, so it’s perfect for compact camera setups. However, I had a couple of hard times with the UI while trying to adjust some features, but I already mentioned that.To know more, you can check some of our previous articles – news post with specs, Johnnie’s review, or Philip’s 75-minute review. In this bundle, you will get the camera body, Atomos Ninja V (which can record 12-bit ProRes RAW with this camera), and SmallRig 3007 Cage.
I don’t remember any third-party field monitor – other than any OEM screen that usually ships with your camera – that can control a camera. By connecting the supplied cable from the monitor to your camera, the BM5 can control some of the camera functions. As you would expect, the casing of the is mostly made out of plastic. I think that there is no metal except the 1/4-20″ inserts. The plastic quality is decent.
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