If you’re in the market for an external camera screen, there are many choices available. Atomos Ninja V, Portkeys LH5P, Liliput A7S, and SmallHD Indie are just a few options. For additional options, see our reviews of the VILTROX external camera screen and Liliput A7S. Both of these products are high-quality options. If you’re looking for an excellent value, check out Liliput’s A7S.
Portkeys LH5P
If you’re in the market for a new external camera screen, you may want to consider Portkeys’ LH5P. Its aluminum body is perfect for mounting external camera monitors, which are notoriously unstable and prone to damage. This monitor also features a Headphone jack, which is helpful for monitoring audio signals. Regardless of the monitor you choose, there are a few things to consider when purchasing one.
The monitor features a 5-pin “aviation” power input and comes with a D-Tap to 5-pin power cable for powering external accessories. Another USB port doubles as a 5V/1A power output, and it supports charging Sony NP-F batteries. If you plan to use the screen outside of your camera, be sure to check the battery compatibility before buying. The LH5P is compatible with most cameras and accessories.
Atomos Ninja V
If you need a small monitor recorder for your camera, the Atomos Ninja V external camera screen may be the perfect choice. This compact monitor recorder comes with a touchscreen display and is super powerful, recording signals up to 4K 60p 10-bit HDR video. This means that it can produce more detail than the camera does. Its screen is also incredibly bright and has over ten stops of dynamic range.
The Ninja V supports a variety of codecs, including Apple ProRes and Avid DNx. It also comes with a 3.5mm audio/mic input jack and a bidirectional high-speed video port. Future expansion modules can also be added for higher-resolution cameras. It supports HDMI video and audio, and is fully compatible with the latest version of Adobe Premiere Pro.
Liliput A7S
If you are looking for an external camera screen for the Liliput A7S, you’ve come to the right place. The Lilliput A7S is a 7-inch full HD monitor that supports UHD 4K and can output to a compatible display. Its high-resolution display boasts a 1000:1 contrast ratio and is equipped with a loop-through HDMI port. The Lilliput A7S’s two customisable function keys allow you to access your favorite functions.
The screen is 7-inches and is capable of displaying Full HD 1920 x 1080 resolution at 30 frames per second. The screen also features a scroll wheel and buttons for easy navigation. Despite its affordable price tag, the Liliput A7S can handle 4K video, and features two customizable function keys to help you control the camera. Other useful features of the screen include pixel-to-pixel scan and focus peaking.
SmallHD Indie
Aside from its XL1 touchscreen display, the SmallHD Indie 7 features advanced pixel zoom and color correction, framing guides, and 3D LUT overlays. This camera monitor weighs a scant 30 ounces, but it is packed with features, including a YRGB peak and time code. The downside is its limited brightness: a maximum of 500cd/m2. Still, it’s an excellent option for solo shooters and directors who need to review their footage.
While most external camera screens come with common log profiles, more expensive models allow you to upload your own custom LUTs. Having custom LUTs helps you check color and exposure on-the-fly, without having to wait until post-production. Other benefits of these external cameras screens include built-in recording and saving footage to an external memory card. Although most external camera screens don’t come with built-in recording, some of them let you save footage to an SD card.
