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As a filmmaker, I’m always looking for ways to get better footage. One of the things that has always plagued me is the inability to properly judge focus when shooting video with DSLRs or mirrorless cameras. These cameras have tiny screens which makes it hard to tell whether something is in focus or not without zooming in on your subject and taking a look at it up close (which isn't always possible). In this post I'll talk about why monitor color accuracy matters so much, what kind of monitors are available for DSLR video shooters, and how battery powered monitors can be the difference between getting good footage or bad footage.
Camera Monitor screens are the worst for recording video. They're too small, they're hard to see in bright light, and they're even worse when you're recording outside in bright sunlight (which is basically all of us here on planet Earth).
So what can you do about this? Well, if you have a smartphone with a front-facing camera that's no more than 5 years old or so and isn't some weird obscure brand like Alcatel or ZTE (sorry if your phone's name is Alcatel or ZTE), then it probably has something called "Retina" display technology. This makes images look super crisp and detailed, with high contrast and vibrant colors. All good things for recording videos!
DSLRs have tiny screens which make it hard for you to judge focus. They are also hard to see in bright light, low light, and sometimes even indoors. This is due to their small size and the fact that many DSLRs don't come with an external monitor or viewfinder.
The monitor on the back of your camera is probably the last thing you think about when choosing a camera, but it’s an important feature to consider. Some monitors are better than others—and those that are better have their own advantages.
Better cameras have better screens. This can be defined in a couple ways: they’re easier to use, more accurate, more reliable and durable, cheaper and/or smaller in size (compact). For starters, let's look at how these factors relate to each other and why having a great screen matters so much for DSLR video workflows.
Easy-to-use: A good screen makes it easy for users to adjust settings like white balance or exposure compensation without needing to refer back constantly between the viewfinder and their computer monitor. More importantly though is how easy it is for users who aren't familiar with DSLR technology itself yet; if this sounds like yourself then you'll want something that makes navigating through menus less confusing because otherwise you'll spend all day just trying figure out how everything works!
Color accuracy is a key factor in deciding which monitor you should buy. As a photo/video professional, color accuracy will be an important consideration for you as it impacts your work. Color accuracy is the measure of how close a monitor is to displaying the true colors of the image it is displaying. For example, if you are taking photos and want to match them exactly with what you see on your computer screen—you'll need to consider whether or not the monitor has good color accuracy or not.
There are many factors that determine how well-calibrated a monitor is but one of them is its native resolution (e.g., 1920x1080). The higher this number, the more accurate your picture will look because there are more pixels available for each individual pixel and therefore less chance that some won't get any attention from your eye when looking at things like text (because so many more pixels exist).
It’s a game changer. Battery powered monitors are lighter and more portable, and can be used in more situations than those with cords. They are also easier to set up, since you don’t have to worry about the External Camera Screen being too far away from your camera or not having an outlet nearby.
Battery powered monitors are also practical for travel photographers who need to pack light but still want to have access to a large screen while shooting outdoors or on location.
The SmallHD Focus 7 and Video Devices Pix-E5 are the best monitors currently available. Their large, bright screens make them ideal for shooting in any environment. They also include built-in Bluetooth, so you can control your camera remotely from the monitor's screen or use it to power wireless accessories like ND filters and wireless microphones.
The SmallHD Focus 7 is larger than the Video Devices Pix-E5, but both offer a 7” touchscreen that rotates 270 degrees for easy viewing during handheld shooting or when mounted on a tripod.
