Choosing a Video Monitor Follow
There are quite a few brands of video monitor available through Henry's.
Search monitors on henrys.com here: Monitors
Here are some things to keep in mind when choosing the monitor that may be best for you:
What camera do you use?
This can have a bearing on monitor choice depending if the camera is small in physical size, the type of video resolution output available on the camera, maximum obtainable video resolution and whether or not it can output a 'clean HDMI' signal.
Also consider if the camera can (or if you want to) record higher resolution or RAW video internally. Many newer cameras can do this now but many older ones can't. If your camera can't record high bit-rate log or RAW video internally you may want a monitor that incorporates external recording media capability (such as to SSD - solid state drive).
If you are outputting 4K video you may want to look at monitors that are capable of displaying 4K resolution. If you only output and record in a maximum of FullHD or HD then a lower resolution may suit you fine.
Monitor Size
Keep in mind that a larger monitor equals added bulk and weight. For most DSLR and mirrorless ILC cameras a good monitor size is in the 5" to 7" range. This is far bigger than the average camera back LCD monitor (3.2" max. in general) and is not too unwieldy when mounted atop the camera or on an accessory arm.
A 7" to 9" monitor will be better for larger camera rigs or when viewing from a longer distance.
Brightness and Resolution
A monitor with higher screen resolution will give a clearer on screen image for checking sharpness and image quality. A larger monitor size will need a higher resolution to appear sharper.
For example a 5" monitor with 1280 x 720 resolution will appear sharper than a 7" monitor with the same resolution as the screen pixels are packed tighter together on the smaller monitor.
The brighter the screen the better its visibility when viewing outdoors. Look for a monitor advertising 1000 NIT's or more for good outdoor visibility without a sun shade. Some lower NIT models will list a sun shade as an included accessory.
Extra Features
All monitors will have a minimum set of features but here is a list of things to look for that will add to the usability:
- Zoom-in - to check sharpness
- Aspect ratio guides - different framing sizes
- Waveforms - displays the brightness, or luminance of the shot - great for help in grading
- Vectorscope - measures the colour information in a video image
- False colour - different colours to help you understand exposure levels of each part of your image.
- LUT support - think of LUTs as preset colour looks for your video footage that can help to speed up your editing process. Some monitors will have pre-loaded LUTs available. Others will also offer the ability to load custom LUTs.
- Peaking - manual focus aid