Impress your video-shooting loved one, or treat yourself to the gift of an on-board monitor. Mirrorless cameras, DSLRs, and action cameras are popular, compact choices for capturing video, but most lack a good-sized, high-resolution display screen. Look to "on-board" or "on-camera" monitors to fill the gap—most offer 5 to 7" display screens, with some also doing double duty as recording devices.
These compact monitors also provide a crucial window into your shot for a camera assistant, director, dolly grip, sound mixer, crane operator, or other crew person who needs to view the frame during recording.
Features may include SD card or SSD storage, waveforms, vectorscopes, peaking, zebras, pixel zoom, and focus assist. Optional accessories like articulated support arms, removable sunshades, and various battery plates and power cables are available separately to customize each monitor to your liking.
Listed below in alphabetical order are 10 popular monitor selections—divided into splurge-worthy and (relatively) more economical choices.
Splurge-Worthy
Atomos Ninja V 5" 4K HDMI Recording Monitor
Record, monitor, and review your DCI 4K, UHD 4K, and HD footage easily with the compact, 5" Ninja V. The AtomHDR feature enables you to view up to ten stops of dynamic range, especially handy when capturing in LOG.
Atomos Shogun Inferno with Accessory Kit
The Shogun Inferno natively displays HDR (log) footage and records up to UHD 4K60 video via HDMI or 12G-SDI inputs using separately available 2.5" SSD drives. It also supports Quad 3G-SDI input captures DCI 4K in ProRes from select Sony and Canon camera models. Accessories like a hard case, docking station, batteries, and sunshade are included in this kit.
Convergent Design Odyssey7Q+ OLED Monitor & 4K Recorder
The versatile 7.7" touchscreen Odyssey7Q captures up to DCI and UHD 4K video over HDMI or SDI and even enables you to fake a multi-camera look with only one camera. Record three different shots and a switched view in HD using the Titan HD Extract function.
SmallHD 702 Bright On-Camera Monitor
Sharp, daylight viewing is the SmallHD Bright series’ claim to fame, something to consider if you often shoot outside. Create up to 12 pages of user-defined options and power the monitor with either dual Sony L-series or Canon LP-E6 batteries. A water-resistant Portabrace case is included with the monitor.
Video Devices PIX-E5 5" 4K Recording Video Monitor
The PIX-E5 can simultaneously record 4K ProRes files and 1080p H.264 proxy files, can bake a LUT into the lower res H.264 only while leaving the ProRes file clean. Designed by a Sound Devices subsidiary, this monitor incorporates 3.5mm audio-input jacks and is compatible with a separately available XLR audio mixer.
Budget-Conscious
Blackmagic Design Video Assist HDMI/6G-SDI Recorder and 5" Monitor
Compatible with a wide range of cameras, the touchscreen Video Assist 5" monitor records up to 10-bit 4:2:2 1080p60 video. Dual battery slots on this aluminum-housed monitor back are compatible with the popular Canon LP-E6 type batteries.
Ikan DH5e-V2 Delta 5" 4K HDMI Monitor with 3D LUT Support
View your customized “look” while shooting by loading your 3D LUT into the lightweight Delta DH5e-V2 5" monitor via its USB port. Touchscreen controls include a pinch-to-zoom gesture and quick menu views.
Elvid 7" FieldVision 4K Monitor Kit with Battery, Arm, and HDMI Cable
View up to 4K video signals on the 400 cd/m² Elvid FieldVision 7" monitor. Features like focus peaking, 1-to-1-pixel mapping, and a zebra function help you evaluate your image. This kit includes a battery, an articulating arm, and a cold-shoe adapter.
Lilliput FS7 4K HDMI/3G-SDI Monitor with L-Series Type Plate
UHD 4K support, 3G-SDI input, and 500 cd/m² brightness are some of the features of the high-contrast Lilliput FS7. This high-contrast monitor accepts 7-24 VDC power and has loopouts for both its HDMI and 3G-SDI signals.
SmallHD FOCUS 5" On-Camera Monitor
The lightweight, bright FOCUS 5" supports up to UHD 4K video, links to your camera via a micro-HDMI port, and features the Swipe OS system for touchscreen tool control. Power the monitor using a single Sony L-series type battery or via an optional DC power supply.
Explore the entire selection of on-camera monitors on the B&H Photo website, or for a hands-on look, stop in to the B&H SuperStore in New York.
