In this guide, we’ll show you the best external camera screens and monitors, and explaining why an external screen can be hugely beneficial for videography. Any serious video rig will almost certainly have two things in addition to the camera: an external microphone for better audio, and an external screen or monitor that shows what’s being captured. Even with the , or , the built-in screens are almost universally too small to see from any kind of distance – even the high-end 8K has only a 3.
2-inch rear screen. They are generally dim so that they are swamped by outdoor glare, and in many cases can’t be angled easily in all directions. An external monitor is a way to solve all these problems at a stroke – and some are also equipped with recording ability, allowing you to record video at higher resolutions, frame rates or quality levels than the camera otherwise offers.
Here is our roundup of recommendations: what each one does and how it works. Products are grouped into families and brands to make it easier to compare the features of these camera monitors. : , , The Atomos Ninja V is .
It’s been around for a while and has become practically the standard external monitor for many mirrorless cameras – its ability to capture 4K ProRes Raw video has seen it adopted by many camera makers. It’s also opened up the potential for raw capture with cameras that don’t support it internally; though some models may require a firmware update. Given its capabilities, the Nin.