Ideally you come from the filmmaking industry, have a technical mind and are interested in nerding out about new camera gear, fuzzing over things that matter to filmmakers and content creators alike, and have a talent and lust for writing.
In short, you got it, the PortKeys LH5P’s UI is a big step up from the previous archaic one, but I feel like it still needs some refinement and improvements to get it “right.” PortKeys could change this kind of thing via a firmware update, so I have no doubt they’ll put in the extra work to make it a great, easy to use, and pleasing UI.
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.
The monitor has a contrast ratio of 1000:1, and the panel itself is 10-bit (8+2 FRC), so not “true” 10-bit. An 8+2 FRC panel is less expensive for manufacturers to produce, as it’s based on a “software trick” to simulate 10-bit on an 8-bit panel. I’m simplifying things here, but keep in mind that even some of the most expensive monitors from SmallHD or Atomos (except NEON) use the same technique.
The PortKeys LEYE is not the company’s first try at making an EVF. Indeed, last year, they released the OEYE-3G EVF with SDI/HDMI input ports and a very high 1080P resolution.
The PortKeys Universal Handle is made out of milled aluminum frame wrapped with red oak around the handle. The design looks ergonomic and comfortable, and I love the sleek design and look of it. Also, it comes with a faux-leather strap for a better grip.
Canon EOS C300 Mark III has also been announced this year. It is a sucessor of one of Canon’s most popular cinema cameras ever – the C300 Mark II. The new generation offers an uncropped 4K120p video on the Super35 sensor as well as modular design, internal ND filters, and Dual-Pixel AF.
A quite surprising result on the rolling shutter measurements, which adds up to the very positive overall impression: in 4K DCI 25p mode (using ProRes HQ and ZLOG2) I got a very good result of 11.1[ms]. For comparison, the BMPCC4k has a rolling shutter of 16[ms] in UHD 25p mode.
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.
All in all, it is a good monitor, but I didn’t like one detail: it only takes 1080p signals via HDMI, although the Z CAM E2 could provide a 4k signal. Hence, you have no good way to judge focus on the monitor itself for a 4k HDMI signal, as neither punching in (1:1 pixel view) nor the in – built focus peaking of the monitor would display this signal accurately.
The charger uses a standard micro USB PCB, and it can be charged with a plethora of devices, including wall plugs and power banks. To maximize the charging speed, it requires a minimum of 2.1A 5V connection.
The Volta Cinema Top Handle attaches to your camera or rig via a NATO rail. The handle comes with an extra piece of rail and two 1/4″-20 mounting screws if you don’t have one.
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.
The HS7T can be powered by two hot-swappable Sony L-Series batteries or via the 4-pin LEMO input (DC 7.4~24V). Moreover, the monitor can supply power for any wireless video transmission system attached to the back: a helpful feature when trying to keep the monitor setup clean and compact.
The Chinese manufacturer PortKeys is starting to be well-known for making affordable monitoring solutions for filmmakers with a lot of built-in monitoring and camera control features. We first heard about the company with the fully-featured BM5 monitor that can control your camera, then more recently the LH5H that is HDMI-only which we are currently reviewing – stay tuned for more info about it.
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).
However, according to Volta Cinema, they “uses the legacy D-tap port which usually has a 14V output but in the case of our top handle, the output is only 7.2V.”.
The OEYE-3G EVF is upgradable through a USB port and includes many free software features right out of the gate such as:.
According to Manfrotto, the Flexloader L can take up to eight lenses, a DSLR/DSLR with grip or Cinema Camera, a 16-inch laptop (27 x 2.5 x 46 cm/10.63 x 0.98 x 18.11in), a gimbal, a tripod, and more. So you got it; this backpack can take a lot of stuff. That also means carrying a lot of weight on your shoulders, but we’ll talk about that in detail later.
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.
You’ll find six pages at the top of the UI: monitoring tools, image setting, LUT, display tools, audio, markers, and settings.
Finally, on some pages, like the Settings page, you have various settings you can adjust at the bottom of the screen/menu. But, for some settings, there are two subpages. One weird thing is that you have to use the physical buttons to access the second subpage, which doesn’t make sense to me.
The monitor mount was designed for use with the SmallHD 5 series and the Portkeys BM5 but it will work with most other monitors that have 1/4″-20 mount holes on the bottom of the monitor.
As I already mentioned, there is a built-in Sony NP-F style battery plate at the monitor’s back. I did a quick battery life test with a Sony NP-F970 battery at maximum brightness (1700nit). I got away with around one to one hour and a half battery life.
Also, there is a USB Type-A port on the right side of the monitor that you can use to power the PT5 via a power bank (5V/2A). If you power your monitor with a Sony NP-F or Canon LP-E6 battery, this USB port doubles as a 5V/1A power output that could easily charge your smartphone at the same time.
If you’re new to PortKeys, this company is specialized in affordable HDMI and SDI camera monitoring solutions. Recently, we talked about their LEYE viewfinder, the fully-featured SDI/HDMI BM5 monitor, and the affordable PortKeys P6. The company has just released a new 5.5″ HDMI-only monitor, the PortKeys LH5P. This product name may sound familiar to you, as it is the big brother of the PortKeys LH5H that was released last year.
Earlier this year, PortKeys introduced the BM5 field monitor, an impressive little display that can control your camera. If you never heard of the PortKeys BM5 before, it is a 5-inch 1080P WLED touchscreen display that features an HDMI and SDI input, and an SDI output with cross-conversion.
A Sony NP-F-style battery powers it. Also, there is a power input/output port so you can power it off a V-Mount/Gold Mount battery or use the monitor to power your camera.
It’s time to talk about my favorite part of the Flexloader L: the straps and back padding. The back padding is out of this world, and even with a fully-loaded bag that is close to 20kg, you’ll not feel it on your back, especially your lower back. It has a firm – yet so comfortable – padding with a mesh design and air tunnels, so you don’t sweat.
Indeed, the Volta36 batteries are 36Wh/5A batteries; that’s a lot of juice in such a small package. In the graph above, you can see the capacity to weight ratio compared to other battery solutions.
So is the Manfrotto PRO Light Flexloader L the perfect bag? There are only very few minor things that, to me, could be improved:.
The number of software features included is impressive. Unlike the Gratical X for example, all software features are included for free, and the PortKeys OEYE-3G EVF firmware can be upgraded through the USB port. These features include:.
you consider yourself a filmmaker – maybe you are a creative young person starting out, or a professional in the industry who has worked for many years already, aiming to get more involved in the blogger / journalistic scene – becoming a writer for CineD sounds like the right thing to do for you.
Yes, that’s right. Even the brand new Sony a7S III is included in this CVP special. The camera is supposed to start shipping in September 2020, but it already caused a lot of excitement.
We are looking for technical and non-technical writers with expertise in camera technology and film and video post production, as well as “soft” filmmaking topics of where filmmaking techniques are applied.
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.
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.
The Portkeys PT5 is a 5″ monitor with one HDMI input and one HDMI output port. Having HDMI loop-through is pretty impressive on a monitor at that price level. Both in and out ports support resolutions up to 4K DCI at 24p, 4K UHD at up to 30p, FullHD at up to 60p.
On the software side, the PortKeys P6 features a lot of useful analyzing functions and tools. Below is a list of the built-in tools:.
If you swipe to the left or right, you can access the System settings page. This page is where you can adjust the display settings, audio output, LUT, firmware update, etc.
The batteries are best isolated from one another when traveling as long as there are other metallic components in the compartment. We haven’t yet experienced a short after months of use. They have short circuit protection, but as you know, in case it does happen it requires the user to connect them to the charger in order to restore them.
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.
The is a 5″ on-camera monitor / live streaming device with decent features: a 400nits touchscreen display with a 1920 x 1080 resolution, one 4K HDMI 2.0 input port, and plenty of monitoring tools all in a very compact package. When I heard about its super low price at $89 (a special CineD price), I had to give it a try to see how it performs. Here are my findings of the most affordable monitor we ever reviewed on CineD!.
To mount the BM5 to your camera or rig, the monitor features a 1/4″ hole at the bottom and one at the top. Also, an “L bracket” – like the SmallHD Focus – to mount the monitor more easily to your camera is available as an accessory.
Panasonic G9 used to be “only” a great MFT mirrorless camera with a main focus on photography. Panasonic recently announced new firmware update, which will equip the G9 with killer video features – same like its slightly bigger sibbling, the GH5. G9 will be able to record 10-bit video internally up to 4K 30p, 4K 60p 8-bit, new slow motion framerates in 1080p, and it will also support the paid V-log upgrade.
If you already have a PortKeys monitor – including the BM5, BM5 II, HH7, HS7T, OEYE-3G – the company just released several firmware updates on its website. Here are the firmware update details:.
The PortKeys LH5P does have a built-in fan. In the menu, you can set it to low, medium, or high. I left the fan at a “low” setting during all my testing, and the monitor did not get super hot.
If you power your monitor with a Sony NP-F or Canon LP-E6 battery, the 8V DC out port on the right side of the monitor can be used to power other small camera accessories or a smartphone, I suppose. Unfortunately, a D-Tap or any other powering cable isn’t included in the kit, but you can easily find one at affordable prices.
The sun hood consists of two parts: a plastic sun hood and a mounting bracket—the bracket clips onto the monitor, and the sun hood attached to it via some velcro.
The functions you can control are pretty basic at the moment: start/stop the recording, change your ISO settings, adjust the focus settings…etc. I think this is just the beginning.
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