Focus on Amazon (soon)➡ geni.us/sXvr6I at B&H➡ bhpho.to/2tXlNj7 Slim Batteries on Amazon (my preference)➡ geni.us/zgvvT Large batteries on Amazon (4+ hours)➡ geni.us/BEWRAyE This review was shot with: Camera (Amazon)➡ geni.us/SWZYEy Lens (Amazon)➡ geni.us/1KN3G Mic (Amazon)➡ geni.us/HAyko
Nice review. I have two question. Now that you have been using the camera with this type of setup for a while. Does the a6300 or a6500 have any issues with overheating when you have the dummy battery installed. I am thinking about getting one of these cameras but have concerns about the overheating issues. I assume that a battery grip would work the in the same way.
I own both the a6500 overheats less and for me has never shutdown so far the a6300 does. Also my personal view is replacing the battery with a 'cold' one every 30min works best even better than external power. But on a a6500 i think for most people overheating is a issue talked about a lot but a real problem for very few.
Ok, thanks. So the key issue here is to use some sort of dummy battery, that will help a lot with overheating issue. Good to know, then I can get the a6300 and not have to worry about that problem. Again thanks.
Maybe i was unclear, i think the a6500 will be better if you can for many reasons a little more 'room' on heat is one but there are more. For example for video the IBIS and touchscreen to focus. Using a 'dummy' is not key its one step sorry its simply not a black/white issue. The best 'trick' is NOT to use a dummy but swap batteries every 29min the reason is simply the new 'cold' battery will take some of the heat and so 'cools' the camera down for a while. I would really get the a6500 and the smallhd focus and move from there and see if a) are more tricks needed b) what tricks for you.
Max, great review. I'm thinking of purchasing this monitor for use on my DJI Ronin M. In your opinion, is the HDMI cord long enough for gimbal use? If not, would any other micro HDMI cord work with this monitor? Thanks for your help!
Your videos rock. Every question I have, I get the best answer from you. Outstanding work, getting right to the point. Subscribed and notifications on! Also, please keep posting links to the gear you use in each video. Super helpful!
For sure it is a bit pricey especially if you are a budget film maker. But when you start looking at other field monitors with these specs/features, it's actually a really good deal.
Yes its is pricey. I'm used to spending $200-300 on budget monitors and that was my mindset and I looked at $500-1000 monitors as a bit of a rip off. Now I understand how much value they can bring and how much easier they can make you're job over something cheap, and especially if you need to use those tools.
There are some cheap DVD car monitors, at 50$. And they have HDMI. They don't have battery but you can add one easy. I don't understand why Sony is making things so hard for us, with no selfie tiltable screen....
8:55 i have the 6500, a7rii and a7sii. the HDMI info display is disabled on the A7 cameras as well in 4K mode. in 1080p it works fine and even the a6500, 6300 will have info display option enabled too.. if u lower the res. kinda dumb but oh well
Excellent monitor and overview, howevwe just want to add another limination of the Sony a6300/6500 and not the monitor. Which can be important. Auto focusing options are not all available. Sometimes this makes a big difference, if shooting vlog by yourself. The info from bellow is from Sony manual. [HDMI Info. Display] will temporarily be set to [Off]. A 4K movie is not output to the connected 4K-compatible device during High Frame Rate shooting. The counter does not move forward when 4K movies are being output. The following functions are not available when the camera is connected via an HDMI cable and the [ File Format] is [XAVC S 4K], or when the [ File Format] is [XAVCS 4K] and [Dual Video REC] is [On]. [Smile/Face Detect.] [Lock-on AF] under [Focus Area] [Center Lock-on AF] [Eye AF]
Has this been updated with the camera, or is it still like this? Been using the GH5 and miss Sony's focusing system, but if I got this monitor it would kill a lot of the focusing options I would like to have available. With these settings disabled, do you think the phase detection is still good enough vs using face detection with the GH5. Hate that Sony chose to disable it. I'd be sold otherwise.
Will the a6500 still use some form of autofocus or are you saying there is no autofocus being performed by the camera when and HDMI connection is made...? That would be a REAL problem for many for sure.
Mines been kinda glitchy and had to reset it a few times. Also hate those stupid clips on the back and the dummy battery barely fits. Definitely a good monitor but hoping some good firmware updates roll out. Seems like they were a little rushed.
On Sony a73, when I shoot in 4K, SmallHD doesn't show any info such as recording etc. It ONLY show the video being recording which defies the whole purpose of using a monitor. Can you confirm that SmallHD can't show all such info when recording in 4K? Thanks.
Hello max , when u are using your smallhd focus on the a6500 , does it disable the face detection af function ? If yes , it's a big deal breaker for using the monitor on a gimbal ... thanks for your answer
Hey Max! Do you still use Samsung Nx1? Could you test if this monitor works with one as some of the previous Smallhd models didn't support the Nx1. I already tried asking Smallhd customer service but they weren't sure if it does.
Thanks Max! I have the ninja flame. Love it so much but heavy and bulky for sure. I'm looking into the focus for wedding and it really seems to have a friendly form factor
Thats one of my biggest uses for it. Sucks recording outside in the daylight with the Sony's. I tried using larger monitors but for run n gun on such a small camera it was a pain.
@@ManicMK I ended up getting the 7" Feelworld FW279 and I like it, except for the fact that being so bright sometimes you end up overexposing (use false color and you should be fine)
Hi Max! Firstly, great channel and thank you for all the extremely valuable info you share. I have my Small HD Focus on order and it should arrive later this week for me to use on my Fuji X-T2. You mentioned that 4K support is coming? Will that be via a firmware update in the near future?
The Focus is most similar to the 501, but the 501 is more expensive, half the brightness, no touchscreen interface, and doesn't come with the tilt arm (but looks like you could use it) It also can't power your camera. It does have support two batteries (not sure the battery life) more than double (more durable if you drop it). It also supports a sidefinder add on. The resolution is 1080P so it is sharper, but from what I've seen with the Focus 720P is plenty for a 5". The 701 is the same but larger, and the 502 and 702 models have SDI connections. To answer your question, yes I definitely like the Focus especially when you factor in pricing.
Does Focus supports Sidefinder? On the B&H page of Focus in Q&A section B&H staff answers to this: "Sorry, but the SmallHD Sidefinder Accessory for 500 Series Monitors is not listed as an accessory for the SmallHD FOCUS.". Have you tried if it fits, Max? To me, that's the defining point, cause I wanted it to serve me more like an EVF with my BMPCC. I'd go with 501, but besides price/weight difference it just freaks me out to put such an expensive piece of equipment on a BMPCC's weak Micro-HDMI port. With Focus it would be much less stressful risk.
Who of you is using the GH5 plus a SmallHD Focus monitor? I am interested in your experience with the precision of the Focus zebra? I feel, 70% zebra on the monitor differ vom 70% zebra on the GH5.
Max, a quick question - does the a6500 still have auto focus face tracking when shooting 4k when using the HDMI into the smallHD monitor? Have heard that cannot. Your advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks...!!!
Hey man I got the same monitor with Sony 6300mah batteries. How much time does it give you while shooting 4K ? I find the time much less than the 2.5-3 hours that smallhd claims
IF you don't plan to use 4k 60fps 10bit on the gh5, would you recommend this over the Atomos Ninja Inferno? Seems like it has the same features. Thanks for the video.
Just got mine last week and it is Fantastic!!! I must with the Crane. You can check out some back stage pictures of the crane and small HD on my instagram @studioekworx. I love it!! I have the 7 inch but it was too big for me on location and small jobs with run and gun type filming. Does anybody know if when using 2 batteries does it drain one battery at a time? Or does it drain both at the same time? I had it cut off the toher day with 2 batteries and when I tried to charge one of the 2 batteries, One was still fully charge but the monitor cut off..? Only gripe is the Small HD hdmi cable. They should have left it universal. And not a small hd custom cable. That thing could get lost easily.
it would be amazing if you did a video on sony a7S III set for sLog3 and false color. maybe we could do a crowdfund for ya. Not everyone wants the raw and weight for the Ninja and SmallHD menus are better. thanks
Oddly enough while the small Sony Cameras tend to have very reflective screens so does the Small HD Focus. It is a bit pricey for what you are getting and even on sale at BH a month before NAB you know they are likely to update it somehow... but not drop the price I am guessing. Nice swing arm though.
Just out of curiosity, have you tried shooting videos using eye wear with HDMI input directly from the camera? If so, how is the experience compared to an external monitor like this?
Another great review! This could be perfect for my GH5. I have to carry everything on my back, so weight and bulk is a major concern. This looks feature rich and compact enough to bring along on shorter rides. Would you recommend any other monitors for someone doing a lot of remote outdoor shooting?
anyone know how to install luts? I put the luts on an sd card but the smallhd focus is not recognizing the sd card in the menu, I tried turning it on with the sd card in first but still nothing. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks
How's the focus assist on this? I had a desview 5 inch and it was unusable for focussing with a bmpcc4k as it showed stuff in focus that totally wasn't.
Maybe you can answer this. Focus assist on the g85 works fine with auto lenses. Does it work with manual only lenses as well? Can't seem to get it to work.
I would like to ask you if this monitor will serve as an assistant to take pictures at ground level with a nikon d810 and what model would be ideal for it?
That Touch Screen is SO WEAK it cracked on me within a Month... then since there are no Buttons to Operate the Screen it is basically USELESS till your REPAIR it or BUY ANOTHER. Not only that, they sold it without a MINI to MICRO HDMI cable...seems they don't care about CANON 5D Users, only Sony. YOu have to go Buy the cable separately on Ebay or Amazon.
Great review, Max! The micro-HDMI port is one of my only gripes with my FOCUS monitor. So far of all the many cables I own, the one that came with the monitor is the only one that will fit in there. I do appreciate that the port can't be damaged though so it's probably a fair trade-off. Also of note, I didn't get the power kit because I already have a few Sony dummy batteries with DC jacks, however I hadn't realized the monitor uses the tiny 3.5mm DC port rather than the usual 5.5mm jack. So I guess I'll either need to buy the SmallHD dummy battery or splice on a 3.5mm male plug onto one of my existing dummy batteries. Loving this thing so far though!
What is the time lag or latency like on this unit on both video and audio? I use a GH4 / GH5 and I have tried a few cheaper models and the time lag on audio is far too distracting if you are monitoring dialogue through headphones via the camera. I am using REAL SOUND not REC SOUND on the GH4's setting.
I seriously can't use 1080p and see info on the main 6300 display. Am I missing something? I'm going to have to return this if I can't see the info on the main display. I'm completely fine with not seeing the image while recording, I just want to see the info.
Question -- how did you get the monitor to work with the camera LCD at the same time? I've got two field monitors and when i plug them in, the camera screen cuts out and I lose touch-to-focus capability.
I wish you had shown zooming in functionality on the screen, as well as focus peaking. The number one reason for me to get an external monitor is to check my focus.
dustpuppy42 Honeslty I didn’t even thing about showing that as I haven’t really used those other than just trying once or twice. The display is sharp enough that I can clearly tell what’s in focus without using peaking or punching in.
At 3:58 I can see that your monitor is outputting 60fps in the top left. Mine however is 30fps, is there a way to change this? I can't find it anywhere.
Hey Max love ur channel, its actually my favorite because you aim towards more the video guys like myself, but still satisfying the photography community also. I really value your opinion so that leads me to ask, what would be your top 10 features that you would like to see in the upcoming A7s3? I would love to hear your thoughts. Thanks!
SmallHD has done it right, I will pick one up! Max thank you for the review. I use the VideoDevices PIX-E5 and the SmallHD 702, and they are both heavy for small cameras. I love the calibration of the SmallHD with the DisplayCAL3 software
I need help: I Have tried everything in my power to get my GH4 to send signal to the SmallHD Focus Monitor. Here are my settings: GH4 Body Filmware - Ver. 2.7 System Frequency / 24.00Hz (Cinema) TV Connection: TV Aspect: 16:9 | HDMI Mode: (Play): Auto | 3D Playback: 3D | VIERA Link: ON HDMI Rec Output: Bit Mode: 4:2.2 8Bit | Info Display: Off | 4k Down Convert: Auto | HDMI Recording Control: Off Rec Quality: 4k 100mm | 24p Rec Format MP4 (LPCM) Do you have any suggestions?
Hey Max, Is there any way you could make an overheating test with this monitor and the Sony a6500? I just wanted to know if the camera overheats and if it improved. If you just let me know I would appreciate it. I can't find any videos on this. - Paul Show less REPLY
1) Will it accept 4K signal from my panasonic gh4 or is this a feature that will come with firmware updates? 2) Would you know if the Panasonic gh4 screen will be deactivated when using the monitor? Thank you!!!
for $500 you can get almost a S8 smartphone, 5.8 inches 1440p max brightness at 1000 nits. and it costs samsung to make for $85. i am not trying to say smartphone display can replace it but the pricing of this one definitely turns people off
Lucky Never It's not all about size, resolution, and nits though. It's also about being able to match the camera sensor's bitdepth, color space, and dynamic range. That's the benefit of a monitor like this. Which, for a videographer, is (or at least should be) super important.
As a side note - I wonder what your opinion is on non-reflective screens. A touch screen similar to the Kindle...then no problem seeing it in daylight (even bright light) my TV is non-reflective...so much better to watch. My computer monitor is non-reflective (pleasure to work on), my laptop REFLECTIVE! (can't stand it). Visiting others...with their reflective TVs (horrible to watch!) any reflection in the screen is such a put -off for me but TVs & computer monitors aside I think it would be great on camera screens.
To be honest I like glossy screens as long as the display is bright enough. The main reason why is everything look sharper which makes it easier to judge focus with. The rear LCD of the a6500 is very reflective but also very dim when shooting 4K as the brightness adjustment is disabled and it turns way down to low. The new a9 has a glossy display but allows for sunny mode when shooting 4k video which makes it easy to use in daylight.
Hi Max. In your video you say 800nits is definitely bright enough. I picked up one of these monitors and found it no brighter than the LCD screen on my GH4. In harsh sunlight I also found that there was too much reflection to comfortably view the screen. Is this different from your experience? I've also noticed that the monitor gets quite hot on the left side of the screen. Have you noticed this? Thanks!
Nice features and review - THX! But is it right that it adds moire to the image through the image downscaling - For example from 1080P to the 720P panel resolution (you mentioned it according focusing)? That would be bad as normally you want to see 1:1 the image produced and recorded by the camera. Or did you just mean, that you can see more easily the moire of the camera (which gets also recorded)? LG
AustrianGeek The image that gets recorded is the same without a monitor a bit but doesn’t effect that. A lot of cameras LCD screens push more pixels to the rear LCD’s like Canons, Panasonic, and especially my NX1’s. If you open up a 4k Video on a 1080p monitor it could look like there is some moire or aliasing but that’s just a byproduct of sinple scaling.
Thx for the reply. Sure - The recorded image stays the same (it´s not important if there´s an external screen connected or not). But you need to trust the external monitor on the A6500 for exapmle (as the internal display is not showing the picture anymore). The point is: It´s just annoying, if the screen then adds moiré to the image which isn´t really there on the final recording - Especially if you´re shooting alot of interview stuff and so you need to work with problematic clothing -> Fine structured suits, dresses and so on. Btw.: There are many screens out there, which don´t have problems with the scaling (at least from 1080P to an 720P capable panel - 4K to 720P is a different story ^^). Would be just disappointed, if the SmallHD Focus (which isn´t super cheap to be honest) isn´t able to do that ^^. So - Is it really adding moiré and aliasing if you feed an 1080P or 1080i signal to it? It´s still not clear to me 100% - sorry ...
Max, do you know if they intend to make DMW-BLC12 Dummy Batteries for these units to charge the likes of Panasonic G85's or GX8's? They do know a lot of us Panasonic shooters don't all use GH5's, right? Haha, it was my intention to upgrade, but my G85's been phenomenal for my work. I'd love to find a dummy battery for charging my G85 for when my SmallHD Focus arrives. Thanks brother.
You mention how this monitor's power solution helps with overheating, and since you have been using the a6500 for so long, how often do you deal with your a6500 overheating?
Once again a great video Max... Thanks for sharing! Just one very important question... at 8:20 you speak about the display with a6500. When we click record are we still able to visualize the video on the smallhd and the informations on the rear lcd or is it the blackout on the smallhd I'm about to order my a6500 but this would be a shame not monitoring on the smallhd
Do you have much experience with the Atomos Ninja Inferno? It seems like for just a bit more money you get a slightly bigger and brighter screen, more options, XLR inputs and obviously all the recording options. I guess the downside is that it would make the rig much larger.
+Donnie Lawson I didn’t have an inferno but an assassin (similar size/weight) and it was a huge pain using it on these smaller cameras, especially the a6300/a6500. I ended up almost never using it and recently sold it. The small HD is much better but you don’t get recording.
Hey Max. Thanks for your video. Wondering if you've experienced the same problem with your Rode VideoMic Pro... As the shockmount is built for it to be upright, I found that if I moved around with the Rode mic attached, I heard the mic hitting the shock mounts in my footage. Any idea how to mitigate this issue? Obviously I could put it on top, but it would be cool to actually make use of the L bracket that is included! Thanks again for all your videos!
Focus on Amazon (soon)➡ geni.us/sXvr6I at B&H➡ bhpho.to/2tXlNj7
Slim Batteries on Amazon (my preference)➡ geni.us/zgvvT Large batteries on Amazon (4+ hours)➡ geni.us/BEWRAyE
This review was shot with:
Camera (Amazon)➡ geni.us/SWZYEy
Lens (Amazon)➡ geni.us/1KN3G
Mic (Amazon)➡ geni.us/HAyko
Nice review. I have two question. Now that you have been using the camera with this type of setup for a while. Does the a6300 or a6500 have any issues with overheating when you have the dummy battery installed. I am thinking about getting one of these cameras but have concerns about the overheating issues. I assume that a battery grip would work the in the same way.
I own both the a6500 overheats less and for me has never shutdown so far the a6300 does. Also my personal view is replacing the battery with a 'cold' one every 30min works best even better than external power. But on a a6500 i think for most people overheating is a issue talked about a lot but a real problem for very few.
Ok, thanks. So the key issue here is to use some sort of dummy battery, that will help a lot with overheating issue. Good to know, then I can get the a6300 and not have to worry about that problem. Again thanks.
Maybe i was unclear, i think the a6500 will be better if you can for many reasons a little more 'room' on heat is one but there are more. For example for video the IBIS and touchscreen to focus. Using a 'dummy' is not key its one step sorry its simply not a black/white issue. The best 'trick' is NOT to use a dummy but swap batteries every 29min the reason is simply the new 'cold' battery will take some of the heat and so 'cools' the camera down for a while. I would really get the a6500 and the smallhd focus and move from there and see if a) are more tricks needed b) what tricks for you.
Ok I understand, thanks.
'' 5 inches is the perfect size'', thats what she said.
peter panda 1:02 I wonder how many people were thinking the same thing lol
Carnival PS [ Miami Carnival 2017 ] I did hahaha
Is that what she says to you? ....Sorry, bro. She's lying.
I don't think there is a woman alive that has said this
My bf is 5 inches. That's why he's now my ex boyfriend.
Good audio. Nice editing and kept me interested through out the whole video !
Thanks, Aleks!
LOL I just noticed UA-cam now has a preview on their thumbnails like YouPorn! BTW Great content max! Always wanted an affordable Small HD!
Max, great review. I'm thinking of purchasing this monitor for use on my DJI Ronin M. In your opinion, is the HDMI cord long enough for gimbal use? If not, would any other micro HDMI cord work with this monitor? Thanks for your help!
How did you get the audio meters to work, when I add mine to the video view it doesn't seem to pick up any sound only moves on playback
decisions decisions, Would love to get this but need to get rid of my SmallHD AC7, plus my edelkrone evf holder.
The brightness difference and weight will be huge. Over 4x lighter and 3 time brighter.
Can you power it with a mount battery?
Your videos rock. Every question I have, I get the best answer from you. Outstanding work, getting right to the point. Subscribed and notifications on! Also, please keep posting links to the gear you use in each video. Super helpful!
Now the A6500 is perfect.... but oh!!! wait a minute, this is crazy expensive :(
For sure it is a bit pricey especially if you are a budget film maker. But when you start looking at other field monitors with these specs/features, it's actually a really good deal.
Yes its is pricey. I'm used to spending $200-300 on budget monitors and that was my mindset and I looked at $500-1000 monitors as a bit of a rip off. Now I understand how much value they can bring and how much easier they can make you're job over something cheap, and especially if you need to use those tools.
Plus the build quality is much higher. This thing will be able to take much more wear and tear than a $200 monitor.
There are some cheap DVD car monitors, at 50$. And they have HDMI. They don't have battery but you can add one easy. I don't understand why Sony is making things so hard for us, with no selfie tiltable screen....
damn this monitor is fire
Cinematography Database especially for $499 👌
Yeah, he is fired my ass! Why i have big delay with my GH5S?
In Europe it costs 700 euros.It's overrated.
yeppp, but it's sent with the battery adapter and the battery with battery charger :P so it's not reallly different :)
8:55 i have the 6500, a7rii and a7sii. the HDMI info display is disabled on the A7 cameras as well in 4K mode. in 1080p it works fine and even the a6500, 6300 will have info display option enabled too.. if u lower the res.
kinda dumb but oh well
+MikeTheVike so weird. I could have sworn the a7s2’s at the small HD booth has them both on when recording.
Yeah didn't realise they did this until buying two A7SII's! The low light sure makes up for it though
I use a6300 and the lack of HDMI info display in 4k is driving me crazy!!! Max can you mention this please...
Excellent monitor and overview, howevwe just want to add another limination of the Sony a6300/6500 and not the monitor. Which can be important. Auto focusing options are not all available. Sometimes this makes a big difference, if shooting vlog by yourself. The info from bellow is from Sony manual.
[HDMI Info. Display] will temporarily be set to [Off].
A 4K movie is not output to the connected 4K-compatible device during High Frame Rate
shooting.
The counter does not move forward when 4K movies are being output.
The following functions are not available when the camera is connected via an HDMI cable and the [ File Format] is [XAVC S 4K], or when the [ File Format] is [XAVCS 4K] and [Dual Video REC] is [On].
[Smile/Face Detect.]
[Lock-on AF] under [Focus Area]
[Center Lock-on AF]
[Eye AF]
Has this been updated with the camera, or is it still like this? Been using the GH5 and miss Sony's focusing system, but if I got this monitor it would kill a lot of the focusing options I would like to have available. With these settings disabled, do you think the phase detection is still good enough vs using face detection with the GH5. Hate that Sony chose to disable it. I'd be sold otherwise.
Will the a6500 still use some form of autofocus or are you saying there is no autofocus being performed by the camera when and HDMI connection is made...? That would be a REAL problem for many for sure.
Mines been kinda glitchy and had to reset it a few times. Also hate those stupid clips on the back and the dummy battery barely fits. Definitely a good monitor but hoping some good firmware updates roll out. Seems like they were a little rushed.
On Sony a73, when I shoot in 4K, SmallHD doesn't show any info such as recording etc. It ONLY show the video being recording which defies the whole purpose of using a monitor. Can you confirm that SmallHD can't show all such info when recording in 4K? Thanks.
Just ordered mine! Looking forward to not looking at that stupid dim Sony display! 😄
Hello max , when u are using your smallhd focus on the a6500 , does it disable the face detection af function ?
If yes , it's a big deal breaker for using the monitor on a gimbal ...
thanks for your answer
I also like to know that.
Hey Max! Do you still use Samsung Nx1? Could you test if this monitor works with one as some of the previous Smallhd models didn't support the Nx1. I already tried asking Smallhd customer service but they weren't sure if it does.
Thanks Max! I have the ninja flame. Love it so much but heavy and bulky for sure. I'm looking into the focus for wedding and it really seems to have a friendly form factor
Thats one of my biggest uses for it. Sucks recording outside in the daylight with the Sony's. I tried using larger monitors but for run n gun on such a small camera it was a pain.
Just got mine yesterday! :-)
That monitor sure ups the production value of the a6500. Thanks for reviewing it for us.
I'm unable to use it with my a6300, it repeatedly shows "NO HDMI SIGNAL" , can you please help me out in this 😔
Can you test with the BMPCC4K? Interested to see if its a good solution for the bad battery and no flip out screen.
Did you ever get it for the 4k
@@ManicMK I ended up getting the 7" Feelworld FW279 and I like it, except for the fact that being so bright sometimes you end up overexposing (use false color and you should be fine)
Marco Martins ah thank you, yeah I’m getting a black magic soon and trying to find a battery solution. An external monitor can be a great investment
@@ManicMK I use a V-mount with a smallrig cage and rods, top handle, + monitor
Great review, I love my Smallhd Focus too ;)
This looks like the ultimate monitor solution, very optimized for small system DSLR work.
Hi Max! Firstly, great channel and thank you for all the extremely valuable info you share.
I have my Small HD Focus on order and it should arrive later this week for me to use on my Fuji X-T2.
You mentioned that 4K support is coming? Will that be via a firmware update in the near future?
Do you like the Focus better than the 501/502 or 701/702? ..What's the difference between them?
The Focus is most similar to the 501, but the 501 is more expensive, half the brightness, no touchscreen interface, and doesn't come with the tilt arm (but looks like you could use it) It also can't power your camera. It does have support two batteries (not sure the battery life) more than double (more durable if you drop it). It also supports a sidefinder add on. The resolution is 1080P so it is sharper, but from what I've seen with the Focus 720P is plenty for a 5". The 701 is the same but larger, and the 502 and 702 models have SDI connections. To answer your question, yes I definitely like the Focus especially when you factor in pricing.
Does Focus supports Sidefinder? On the B&H page of Focus in Q&A section B&H staff answers to this: "Sorry, but the SmallHD Sidefinder Accessory for 500 Series Monitors is not listed as an accessory for the SmallHD FOCUS.". Have you tried if it fits, Max? To me, that's the defining point, cause I wanted it to serve me more like an EVF with my BMPCC. I'd go with 501, but besides price/weight difference it just freaks me out to put such an expensive piece of equipment on a BMPCC's weak Micro-HDMI port. With Focus it would be much less stressful risk.
Who of you is using the GH5 plus a SmallHD Focus monitor? I am interested in your experience with the precision of the Focus zebra? I feel, 70% zebra on the monitor differ vom 70% zebra on the GH5.
Max, a quick question - does the a6500 still have auto focus face tracking when shooting 4k when using the HDMI into the smallHD monitor? Have heard that cannot. Your advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks...!!!
Does anyone know if this would fit with the SmallRig cage for Sony A7SII with the Top Handle 1638 attached?
Hey man I got the same monitor with Sony 6300mah batteries. How much time does it give you while shooting 4K ? I find the time much less than the 2.5-3 hours that smallhd claims
IF you don't plan to use 4k 60fps 10bit on the gh5, would you recommend this over the Atomos Ninja Inferno? Seems like it has the same features. Thanks for the video.
Just got mine last week and it is Fantastic!!! I must with the Crane. You can check out some back stage pictures of the crane and small HD on my instagram @studioekworx. I love it!! I have the 7 inch but it was too big for me on location and small jobs with run and gun type filming. Does anybody know if when using 2 batteries does it drain one battery at a time? Or does it drain both at the same time? I had it cut off the toher day with 2 batteries and when I tried to charge one of the 2 batteries, One was still fully charge but the monitor cut off..? Only gripe is the Small HD hdmi cable. They should have left it universal. And not a small hd custom cable. That thing could get lost easily.
it would be amazing if you did a video on sony a7S III set for sLog3 and false color. maybe we could do a crowdfund for ya. Not everyone wants the raw and weight for the Ninja and SmallHD menus are better. thanks
Makes you think if the Default Date/Time was set to 2015, does that mean that that's the year they were developing the SmallHD Monitor?
Oddly enough while the small Sony Cameras tend to have very reflective screens so does the Small HD Focus. It is a bit pricey for what you are getting and even on sale at BH a month before NAB you know they are likely to update it somehow... but not drop the price I am guessing. Nice swing arm though.
Just out of curiosity, have you tried shooting videos using eye wear with HDMI input directly from the camera? If so, how is the experience compared to an external monitor like this?
Another great review! This could be perfect for my GH5. I have to carry everything on my back, so weight and bulk is a major concern. This looks feature rich and compact enough to bring along on shorter rides.
Would you recommend any other monitors for someone doing a lot of remote outdoor shooting?
Do I get the Sony Bundle or Black Friday bundle that is still available? Good prive on the Black Friday one
anyone know how to install luts? I put the luts on an sd card but the smallhd focus is not recognizing the sd card in the menu, I tried turning it on with the sd card in first but still nothing. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks
How's the focus assist on this? I had a desview 5 inch and it was unusable for focussing with a bmpcc4k as it showed stuff in focus that totally wasn't.
Maybe you can answer this. Focus assist on the g85 works fine with auto lenses. Does it work with manual only lenses as well? Can't seem to get it to work.
I would like to ask you if this monitor will serve as an assistant to take pictures at ground level with a nikon d810 and what model would be ideal for it?
Great review. could you share a link where can I get the slim micro HDMI cable?
Once again, a spectacular product review! I'm assuming I can totally use this with my NEX-7?
Can you still fit your mic with the cage and the monitor?
are there video feed issues for the Sony a7iii? Will it display video on both the focus and built in screen?
5 inch in my opinion is small for me since i owned 5 inch monitors so now i will buy 7 inch monitor i think its better for me good review bro
After 2 months? How the hell did you get one that soon??? Cannot wait to get this for my gimbal.
Does anyone know if auto rotation works in vertical? Like if you want to shoot tall buildings.
That Touch Screen is SO WEAK it cracked on me within a Month... then since there are no Buttons to Operate the Screen it is basically USELESS till your REPAIR it or BUY ANOTHER. Not only that, they sold it without a MINI to MICRO HDMI cable...seems they don't care about CANON 5D Users, only Sony. YOu have to go Buy the cable separately on Ebay or Amazon.
Feeling the same thing about the cable and I can't find why the DSLR Scale isn't working on my 5D Mark II. :(
why my screen isn't the full video? it's cropped like a square
I am enjoying mine. My only concern is that it drains my battery in less than an hour. Not sure why.
Can the hotshoe bracket allow the bracket to be flipped to the other side of the camera body?
Great review, Max! The micro-HDMI port is one of my only gripes with my FOCUS monitor. So far of all the many cables I own, the one that came with the monitor is the only one that will fit in there. I do appreciate that the port can't be damaged though so it's probably a fair trade-off. Also of note, I didn't get the power kit because I already have a few Sony dummy batteries with DC jacks, however I hadn't realized the monitor uses the tiny 3.5mm DC port rather than the usual 5.5mm jack. So I guess I'll either need to buy the SmallHD dummy battery or splice on a 3.5mm male plug onto one of my existing dummy batteries. Loving this thing so far though!
Are you able to play audio during playback using the monitor?
What is the time lag or latency like on this unit on both video and audio? I use a GH4 / GH5 and I have tried a few cheaper models and the time lag on audio is far too distracting if you are monitoring dialogue through headphones via the camera. I am using REAL SOUND not REC SOUND on the GH4's setting.
disables face recognition autofocus on a6500.
I seriously can't use 1080p and see info on the main 6300 display. Am I missing something? I'm going to have to return this if I can't see the info on the main display. I'm completely fine with not seeing the image while recording, I just want to see the info.
Very nice!
Question -- how did you get the monitor to work with the camera LCD at the same time? I've got two field monitors and when i plug them in, the camera screen cuts out and I lose touch-to-focus capability.
Just bought the slim batteries through the link! I get my Focus next week and can not wait to use it with my A9. Thanks for this video Max.
I wish you had shown zooming in functionality on the screen, as well as focus peaking. The number one reason for me to get an external monitor is to check my focus.
dustpuppy42 Honeslty I didn’t even thing about showing that as I haven’t really used those other than just trying once or twice. The display is sharp enough that I can clearly tell what’s in focus without using peaking or punching in.
At 3:58 I can see that your monitor is outputting 60fps in the top left. Mine however is 30fps, is there a way to change this? I can't find it anywhere.
Notification Squad, thanks for this. Been waiting for your review!
Does the focus have HDMI recording trigger?
Are you Ted Cruz's son? You look like Ted Cruz's son.
The micro HDMI input is a major bummer :-( :-/
(no SDI either, also no loop through!)
HI Are there any monitors for point and shoot cameras?
Have you ever tried it as a drone monitor? Thanks!
Hey Max love ur channel, its actually my favorite because you aim towards more the video guys like myself, but still satisfying the photography community also. I really value your opinion so that leads me to ask, what would be your top 10 features that you would like to see in the upcoming A7s3? I would love to hear your thoughts. Thanks!
In 10 to 15 years your opinion of 5" vs 7" may change. Young eyes, I miss them.😀
Actually my eyes are quite bad :( (at a distance though)
Hello! nice video ! what monitor Arm Holder ? th
Does this monitor work with Sony 6400 in 4K?
SmallHD has done it right, I will pick one up! Max thank you for the review.
I use the VideoDevices PIX-E5 and the SmallHD 702, and they are both heavy for small cameras.
I love the calibration of the SmallHD with the DisplayCAL3 software
CAN YOU RECORD YOUR SCREEN?
Max does it drain your battery faster using that
How is this monitor compare to atomos Shinubi?
Can the monitor not swivel left and right?
I need help:
I Have tried everything in my power to get my GH4 to send signal to the SmallHD Focus Monitor.
Here are my settings:
GH4 Body Filmware - Ver. 2.7
System Frequency / 24.00Hz (Cinema)
TV Connection: TV Aspect: 16:9 | HDMI Mode: (Play): Auto | 3D Playback: 3D | VIERA Link: ON
HDMI Rec Output: Bit Mode: 4:2.2 8Bit | Info Display: Off | 4k Down Convert: Auto | HDMI Recording Control: Off
Rec Quality: 4k 100mm | 24p
Rec Format MP4 (LPCM)
Do you have any suggestions?
Hey Max,
Is there any way you could make an overheating test with this monitor and the Sony a6500? I just wanted to know if the camera overheats and if it improved. If you just let me know I would appreciate it. I can't find any videos on this.
- Paul
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REPLY
1) Will it accept 4K signal from my panasonic gh4 or is this a feature that will come with firmware updates?
2) Would you know if the Panasonic gh4 screen will be deactivated when using the monitor? Thank you!!!
1) That feature will come soon with a firmware update (I've been told any day now) 2) The GH4 should power both!
for $500 you can get almost a S8 smartphone, 5.8 inches 1440p max brightness at 1000 nits. and it costs samsung to make for $85. i am not trying to say smartphone display can replace it but the pricing of this one definitely turns people off
Gregori O haha of course I am stupid to you as a hd employee or share holders when I bring up the true cost of a fantastic display.
Lucky Never It's not all about size, resolution, and nits though. It's also about being able to match the camera sensor's bitdepth, color space, and dynamic range. That's the benefit of a monitor like this. Which, for a videographer, is (or at least should be) super important.
you cant use profile picture in smartphones
you might want to mention that the screen does not tilt all the way when attached the NPF-970
It does if you tilt it upwards instead to flip around.
As a side note - I wonder what your opinion is on non-reflective screens. A touch screen similar to the Kindle...then no problem seeing it in daylight (even bright light) my TV is non-reflective...so much better to watch. My computer monitor is non-reflective (pleasure to work on), my laptop REFLECTIVE! (can't stand it). Visiting others...with their reflective TVs (horrible to watch!) any reflection in the screen is such a put -off for me but TVs & computer monitors aside I think it would be great on camera screens.
To be honest I like glossy screens as long as the display is bright enough. The main reason why is everything look sharper which makes it easier to judge focus with. The rear LCD of the a6500 is very reflective but also very dim when shooting 4K as the brightness adjustment is disabled and it turns way down to low. The new a9 has a glossy display but allows for sunny mode when shooting 4k video which makes it easy to use in daylight.
Wait no video feed?? So what’s the point?
Hi Max. In your video you say 800nits is definitely bright enough. I picked up one of these monitors and found it no brighter than the LCD screen on my GH4. In harsh sunlight I also found that there was too much reflection to comfortably view the screen. Is this different from your experience?
I've also noticed that the monitor gets quite hot on the left side of the screen. Have you noticed this? Thanks!
Nice features and review - THX! But is it right that it adds moire to the image through the image downscaling - For example from 1080P to the 720P panel resolution (you mentioned it according focusing)? That would be bad as normally you want to see 1:1 the image produced and recorded by the camera. Or did you just mean, that you can see more easily the moire of the camera (which gets also recorded)? LG
AustrianGeek The image that gets recorded is the same without a monitor a bit but doesn’t effect that. A lot of cameras LCD screens push more pixels to the rear LCD’s like Canons, Panasonic, and especially my NX1’s. If you open up a 4k Video on a 1080p monitor it could look like there is some moire or aliasing but that’s just a byproduct of sinple scaling.
Thx for the reply. Sure - The recorded image stays the same (it´s not important if there´s an external screen connected or not). But you need to trust the external monitor on the A6500 for exapmle (as the internal display is not showing the picture anymore). The point is: It´s just annoying, if the screen then adds moiré to the image which isn´t really there on the final recording - Especially if you´re shooting alot of interview stuff and so you need to work with problematic clothing -> Fine structured suits, dresses and so on.
Btw.: There are many screens out there, which don´t have problems with the scaling (at least from 1080P to an 720P capable panel - 4K to 720P is a different story ^^). Would be just disappointed, if the SmallHD Focus (which isn´t super cheap to be honest) isn´t able to do that ^^. So - Is it really adding moiré and aliasing if you feed an 1080P or 1080i signal to it? It´s still not clear to me 100% - sorry ...
There's so many cheap monitors out there! This is so overpriced! OMG!
Hi does sony a6500 recognittion AF still works when record externally to Small HD Focus?
Thanks in advance!
Max, do you know if they intend to make DMW-BLC12 Dummy Batteries for these units to charge the likes of Panasonic G85's or GX8's? They do know a lot of us Panasonic shooters don't all use GH5's, right? Haha, it was my intention to upgrade, but my G85's been phenomenal for my work. I'd love to find a dummy battery for charging my G85 for when my SmallHD Focus arrives. Thanks brother.
You mention how this monitor's power solution helps with overheating, and since you have been using the a6500 for so long, how often do you deal with your a6500 overheating?
Can I use this Monitor with the A6000 too ?
Once again a great video Max... Thanks for sharing!
Just one very important question... at 8:20 you speak about the display with a6500. When we click record are we still able to visualize the video on the smallhd and the informations on the rear lcd or is it the blackout on the smallhd
I'm about to order my a6500 but this would be a shame not monitoring on the smallhd
Michael Ashman thank you for the answer!
Do you have much experience with the Atomos Ninja Inferno? It seems like for just a bit more money you get a slightly bigger and brighter screen, more options, XLR inputs and obviously all the recording options. I guess the downside is that it would make the rig much larger.
+Donnie Lawson I didn’t have an inferno but an assassin (similar size/weight) and it was a huge pain using it on these smaller cameras, especially the a6300/a6500. I ended up almost never using it and recently sold it. The small HD is much better but you don’t get recording.
can you change focus with a monitor?
How to you remove the slim batteries? I'm using the one you recommended from Amazon but I'm having a hard time removing. PLEASE help. Thanks!
Hey Max. Thanks for your video. Wondering if you've experienced the same problem with your Rode VideoMic Pro... As the shockmount is built for it to be upright, I found that if I moved around with the Rode mic attached, I heard the mic hitting the shock mounts in my footage. Any idea how to mitigate this issue? Obviously I could put it on top, but it would be cool to actually make use of the L bracket that is included!
Thanks again for all your videos!
Love this monitor. Is there a possible way to power on/power off with Sony camera's like A7 and FS5?