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. RED Komodo and Monstro size comparison. Image Credit: Phil Holland.
However, on the Porkeys PT5, I found that even at maximum brightness, the image doesn’t shift a lot, and blacks are still pretty dense. I guess it’s mainly because the PT5 has a full brightness of 500nit only. you can write well and you are actually enjoying it.
Portkeys has just launched a new lightweight 5″ on-camera monitor: the Portkeys PT5. This monitor can take HDMI input/output signals at up to 4K DCI at 24p or 4K UHD at up to 30p, it has a maximum brightness of 500 nits with all the monitoring tools you need to control your image properly, and it retails for only $169. So let’s take a closer look at Portkeys’ most affordable monitoring option yet!. There are several ways to attach tripods or light stands to the Flexloader.
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. This means, that you cannot dig into the shadows – there is nothing there, only black.
Top: menu and navigation buttons, a 1/4″-20 mounting point, a power On/Off button, and a function button. The E2 already received a firmware update version 0.95 that you can download here. The Atomos Ninja V will receive a firmware update later in June 2020. Both of these firmware updates are free.
One of the only things that could be improved on the BM5 II that I have is the overall UI, which feels a bit outdated. The new PortKeys LH5H features a new UI that looks much better and more intuitive. On the left and right sides of the monitor, you’ll find various customizable shortcuts to your favorite monitoring tools. The display itself is tactile, so you can activate/disable functions quickly without having to go inside the menu. I did a quick test with a DJI Ronin RSC2 that barely fits inside this pocket.
The HDMI cables are pretty thick, and while I prefer slim cables, they are of good quality, especially the full-size to full-size HDMI cable. On top of the EVF, you’ll find four user-assignable buttons.
Last but not least, at the front of the bag, inside the rain cover pocket, you’ll find two nylon loops. Using the two front straps and these two nylon loops, you can attach a heavy camera tripod to the bag. I tried with my Sachtler Speed Lock CF HD set of tripod legs: it works. Fan speed (low/medium/high), volume output, image flip.
The F7 PRO is an HDMI-only monitor. The HDMI input and output support 4K signals up to 60fps. What is unique with the Volta Cinema Top Handle is that it is the first design I saw where you could swap batteries to use it infinitely if you have enough batteries. With very little information available on the Internet and no reviews yet, we reached to the company to see if it holds all its promises.
Portkeys also showcased camera control for the Canon EOS C70, but you’ll need a dedicated LANC cable. PortKeys has now released the LEYE II to solve that powering issue, offering a built-in battery plate.
Bottom: one 1/4-20″ mounting point with exhaust vents. Portkeys recently released an updated version of its famous BM5 monitor that can control your camera: the Portkeys BM5 III WR. This new model features a bigger 5.5″ display with a maximum brightness of 2200nits. It has a built-in Bluetooth module to control your camera, and an implemented wireless camera control for the RED Komodo. Let’s take a closer look at it!.
PortKeys LEYE II Viewfinder Introduced – Now with Built-In Battery Plate. The OEYE-3G EVF is upgradable through a USB port and includes many free software features right out of the gate such as.
HS7T with wireless video transmission system. The monitor comes with a wipe cloth and a USB disk. More accessories are available to purchase separately, including a safety box, an anti-fall rubber protection bracket, a sunshade, and a handy pan/tilt arm to mount it on top of your camera.
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. 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.
A few days ago Jarred posted a short demo of the new version of RED CONTROL app on iOS. The app seems to be able to control the Komodo and provide image feed from the camera with very little lag. Komodo Monitor Mount. Source: GDU.
Back: a Sony NP-F/Canon LP-E6 battery plate and a battery release button. The camera supports recording in ProRes 422 HQ/Normal/LT as well as H.265 and H.264 codecs. It records directly onto CFast cards and also includes time-lapse modes.
Unfortunately, as you can tell, there is no anamorphic de-squeeze option. Image Quality of the Z CAM E2 Cinema Camera.
I can not confirm that these new dividers do better at absorbing shocks. So far, so good! Next, I put the Z Cam E2C through our lab to measure dynamic range and rolling shutter.
There is a loupe in front of the display, but it doesn’t look like you can flip it/remove it, according to the pictures. To fit nearly every filmmaker, the loupe of the LEYE features a +8 to -3 diopters adjustment. Also, the loupe’s back is totally round, with a “sponge eye mask” that prevents LCD sunburns and allows users with glasses to look at the EVF easily. However, no “traditional” eyecup is included, which is a little bit of a bummer. 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.
There are many 5″ on-camera monitors available on the market, with different price ranges depending on features you need/want. So I decided to compare the Porkeys PT5 ($169) to the Atomos Shinobi that retails for a $299 price tag ($130 more expensive) and the FeelWorld F5 that is $149. The motor control settings page if you have a follow focus attached to your monitor.
What is unique with the Volta Cinema Top Handle is that it is the first design I saw where you could swap batteries to use it infinitely if you have enough batteries. With very little information available on the Internet and no reviews yet, we reached to the company to see if it holds all its promises. All in all, I was amazed by this aggressively priced 5″ monitor from Portkeys, which is the company’s “entry-level” monitor. The image coming out of the PT5 is great for the price, and it offers all the tools you need to monitor your signal properly.
B&H Buy link: DJI Osmo Action Was: $379.00 Now: $279.00 (Savings: $100.00). 3D LUT monitoring and 3D LUT SDI output.
Anamorphic de-squeeze options added: 1X, 1.33X, 1.42X, 1.5X, 1.66X, 1.85X, 2X, 2.35X, User (1.00X~3.00X). Last but not least, the waist belt is inside the built-in pocket when you receive the bag. This is handy if you, like me, rarely use them. One thing I hate is to have a waist belt I don’t use swinging around. Also, the waist belt features a small mesh pocket with a zipper.
Edit: the Z Cam E2C offers a gigabyte ethernet connection for control and live streaming, but no multicam synchronization as written earlier in this post and mentioned in the video above – sorry for this mistake – I have deleted the respective passages in the text below. 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.
I would suggest getting a case for transporting these batteries inside your camera bag. Maybe Volta Cinema will come out with a battery pack holder in the near future. 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.
Another great addition is on the backside of the monitor. In fact, the new design includes a plate on the back of the screen to comfortably host a wireless video transmission system. The screen itself is very bright (2000 NITS), even in direct sunlight I had no issues seeing the image. Unfortunately, the surface of the screen is very reflective which can hamper the viewing experience, see figure 3 below.
And that’s it. It is not an overly-complicated bag with tons of zippers and pockets all over the place. Instead, Manfrotto decided to keep things simple, and it just works perfectly. The Z CAM E2 uses a dual ISO sensor, so I also tested the second gain value of ISO 2500 and got a result of 10.4 stops (SNR = 2).
As Phil Holland wrote, aside from REDCODE RAW files, the camera can also shoot ProRes MOV files for quick turnaround. They are available in HQ and 422 for both 4K and 2K resolutions. According to Phil, the camera can’t record both at the same time. you actively come up with your own ideas.
With a very affordable price of $399, this entry-level electronic viewfinder filled a hole in the market. And, if you have a camera without a built-in EVF – like the Canon EOS C70 or Sony FX3 – it could have been the perfect solution. I was also pleased to find a printed user manual (finally!) with everything you need to know to get started and navigate through the menus.
CVP Buy link: Canon EOS 77D Camera Body Was: €682.12 Now: €525.99 (Savings: €156.13 – Cashback). you have fluent writing skills in English (native speakers preferred).
B&H Buy link: Sony a9 Camera Body with Free Accessories Kit Was: $3,998.00 Now: $3,498.00 (Savings: $500.00). As you can tell, there are a million ways to position the dividers and reconfigure the Flexloader L to fit your gear and needs. It’s a very versatile bag that can carry a lot of gear while still being carry-on sized so you can bring it with you on a plane.
As you can see, the PortKeys LH5P represents a good value for money compared to other monitors in the same price range, but it will be up to you to decide if it ticks all the boxes for your needs. This type of case is similar to most – if not all – Portkeys monitors. However, I was pleased to see that this case is more prominent than previous cases.
False Color, Zebra, Underscan, Histogram, Waveform, 3D LUT. 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.
Our first Black friday deals post features interesting cameras from DJI, Canon, FUJIFILM, Nikon, Panasonic, Sony, and Z CAM. Additionally there are FilmConvert, and MZed Black Friday offers. This is the first out of three Black friday posts. In the next post we will take a look at lenses and computers. 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.
Powering options and battery life. 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.
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. However, comparing the E2 to other cinema cameras in this sensor class the competitor BMPCC4k cannot be neglected. The BMPCC4k is significantly less expensive, has a large build in screen (5”) and allows internal ProRes as well as 12bit RAW recording (Blackmagic raw). Also, Blackmagic managed to squeeze out 0.8 stops more dynamic range.
write one representative news post about a current subject of your own choosing that you would consider a “perfect fit” for our site (and which we haven’t written about yet). It can be either a classic news post of something current (example here), a review (like here) or a longer educational post (like here). Choosing the right subject and headline is almost as important as the proper content to go with it :-). B&H Buy link: Canon EOS R Camera Body with 24-105mm Lens Was: $3,399.00 Now: $2,699.00 (Savings: $700.00).
Portkeys BM5 III WR Monitor Announced – RED Komodo Control. Zoom, Peaking, Framing guides, Grids, Aspects, Anamorphic de-squeeze.
B&H: Nikon Z 6 with FTZ Mount Adapter and Bag Kit – $547 Discount. 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.
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. The buttons on top of the monitor are a bit rigid and clicky too. The battery fit at the back of the monitor is smooth, tolerances are good, and both Sony/Canon batteries go in and out smoothly; no issues here.
I think monitors like the Atomos Shinobi that retails for a $299 price tag ($100 cheaper), or even the AndyCine A6 Plus V2 do make a better comparison starting point. I worked on a table to compare all three models which you can find below. Not all monitors are created equally, and the quality of the display behind them may vary significantly. A great on-camera monitor must be as color accurate as possible and as close to “what you see is what you get” as possible.
There are three 1/4″-20 mounting points at the back of the top handle. Finally, on the top are three user-customizable buttons, a menu dial, and an exit button to control the EVF.
The Volta36 battery charger has two charging indicators. 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.
I think soon we will start seeing third party accessories for Komodo from other manufacturers as well. You can activate numerous monitoring tools at the same time to help you. I’m not sure if i’s a bug or something regular, but you can “only” activate two scopes at the same time between Luma Histogram, Luma Waveform, and RGB Waveform. You can’t start all three at the same time. However, you can activate two scopes and peaking/guides/grids at the same for example. All in all, monitoring tools are fine.
Buy link: Canon EOS R5 Bundle Was: €5.321,89 Now: €5.091,22 (Savings: €230,68). 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.
PortKeys has now released the LEYE II to solve that powering issue, offering a built-in battery plate. B&H Buy link: FUJIFILM X-T3 Camera Body Kit with Accessories Was: $1,499.00 Now: $1,299.00 (Savings: $200.00).
So, you have to rely on the camera’s focus peaking (displayed via HDMI to the monitor). 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.
System settings page to adjust the display, audio output, LUT, firmware update, and so on. I hope that in the next production batches, Volta will solve that with a permanent labeling or engraving technique. We’ll talk about the battery charger’s build quality and monitor mount a bit later in their dedicated sections.
Panasonic sells the same camera as G85 in the USa and G80 in Europe, so don’t get confused. This set with the LUMIX 12-60mm f/3.5-5.6mm lens offers great value for the price. B&H offers free accessories (spare battery, memory card, and camera bag) with the purchase. CVP offers free LUMIX 25mm f/1.7 lens (!), and free 3-year Panasonic LUMIX warranty. DJI Osmo Action – $100/€77 Discount.
But, you can put small LED lights – I put two Nanlite PavoTube 6C in one pocket with ease – or a compact slider, for example; it works. I love the fact that it allows high frame rates, ProRes recording, and many more things. Z CAM is definitely a company to watch out for – also, I am curious to see their new APS-C and full frame cameras (S6, F6, and F8) that are scheduled to arrive later this year.
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