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I love my field monitor and it makes me a better filmmaker. It's worth the investment even if you don't do much video work. If you're just starting out with film, check out our guide to filmmaking essentials
The SmallHD 702 Bright Camera Monitor is the perfect field monitor for most people. It's large enough to give you a clear, detailed view of your footage, but small enough that it won't take up much space in your camera bag. The screen is bright and easy to see in sunny environments (like out on location on a summer day), and it has all the controls you need right on the monitor itself.
This monitor is also easy to use: just connect it to your camera via HDMI or SDI cables or add it as an extension to an existing SmallHD monitor using the included cable. You can mount this 7” wide-gamut display onto any rig using either its VESA 100 mount or ¼-20 mounting points, so whether you're using Red Rock Rigs' 2-Stage Tripod System or VCT Pro Cine Sliders' Locking Baseplate with Hardware Kit, this monitor will fit perfectly into your setup.
Larger monitors are more difficult to transport, store and use in the field. If you're working on location or in a production truck, you want a monitor that's small enough to fit with your other gear and be easily stowed away when not in use. When you're out on location, for example, you might not have easy access to wall outlets—and if there aren't any outlets available at all, not even an AC adapter will save your larger monitors from dying on you mid-shoot.
Another issue with large monitors is that they won't fit into most production trucks without their own dedicated space (which is harder to come by than it sounds). This means that if the director wants the director of photography (DP) or gaffer to have access to his or her camera's settings while they're filming an interview with two cameras running simultaneously (as is often required), then one of those cameras will need its own monitor—and it'll need one that can be positioned alongside both actors' faces rather than simply being off-set behind them.
Field monitors are expensive, but they can be a worthwhile investment if you want to produce high quality video. They are not just for professionals. If you do a lot of video work, field monitors are a good investment because they make the process easier and more pleasant. Some people prefer using only a laptop or iPad, but these options often result in poor angles and bad lighting since there's no way to adjust the angle of your camera when using one of those devices as an external monitor (you have to hold it up).
A field Camera Control Monitor is a device that allows you to view your footage as it plays. Field monitors come in many different shapes, sizes, and resolutions. They can be used for many different purposes including monitoring on set or in the studio, color grading and editing for film & TV production.
For example: You could use a field monitor to analyze video quality during recording or post-production by using waveform monitors and vectorscopes (tools). Vectorscopes are useful for color grading while waveform monitors are useful for editing and timing.
Field monitors are pretty expensive, but for many people, it's worth investing in one.
If you're considering purchasing a field monitor, keep in mind that they're not a must-have for everyone. If you do any kind of photography or video work on any kind of regular basis, it's probably worth the investment. By amplifying your image and giving you more information about what's going on in the shot, field monitors make editing easier and help ensure that you get great shots every time.
The field monitor is an essential part of any video production workflow. It’s not the most glamorous piece of equipment, but it will make your work easier and more efficient. Investing in a field monitor is definitely worth it if you want to produce high quality video with fewer headaches—and they don't cost much!
