External Camera Screen | Consider the Tips While Buying

An external camera screen, also known as an external camera monitor, is a necessary accessory to sharpen your shooting skills and give your photography a more professional look. Whether you're using an action camera or a bulky still camera, this plugin will add value to your work.

These monitors are used to connect externally to a digital camera via HDMI or SDI connections to assist with photography and cinematography. Camera monitors like the famous portkeys lh5p typically have bigger screens than the built-in monitors on consumer cameras and are often brighter and capable of better color reproduction.

External Camera Screens and Monitors

Large external camera displays give you accurate information about the brightness and color accuracy of objects and the environment, based on which you can judge how the video will look after the final finishing.

This is not on the built-in screen. Depending on the available light intensity, things will look different on the screen at different times. You can check how everything looks on the external display and change various modes and camera settings accordingly.

What to Consider While Buying External Camera Screen?

When buying an external camera monitor for camera setup, cheap or expensive, you should consider the following.

Cost

External camera screens can cost you depending on features or brand name. In general, the more you play, the more you get. Some of the camera monitor brands that rule the market are Small-HD, Portkeys, Atomos, etc.

Size and Weight

Size Matters. You've probably all heard this line. The bigger the size of your monitor, the more you can focus on your photography. But in return, the size increases its weight and cost. Most external camera screens come in two sizes, 5 inches, and 7 inches. The extra two inches definitely make a big difference when shooting for a detailed look. So, if your budget allows, go for a 7-inch camera screen.

Screen Resolution

Most of the monitors in this camera have a resolution of 1080p, with the exception of some, such as the Small-HD 5, which have a resolution of 720p. Since you're buying these monitors for sharp, focused photography, you should be able to access 1080p. Avoid 4k screens because not only will it increase your budget, but it's not very useful because you won't be able to tell the difference between 4k and 1080p resolution on a small 5 or 7-inch screen.

Brightness

The brightness of monitors is measured in nits. The more nits, the brighter your screen will be. Brightness plays an important role when shooting in sunlight. If the brightness is low, you won't be able to see your screen properly in direct sunlight.