A field monitor is an invaluable asset when it comes to shooting professional videos or taking photographs.
Most cameras have an inbuilt display; however, in most cases, the screen is small; therefore, you do not get the best aspect ratio or precise focus on subjects.
A field monitor displays large and polished photographs. Moreover, you can mount it in an innumerable number of positions to facilitate optimal viewing angles.
Most people shop for an on-camera monitor with a set budget; however, I would recommend that you clearly define the features you need before considering the price.
The main advantage of this approach is that you will gain a better understanding of the value of different specifications.
I have analyzed the eight best field monitors that you should consider buying.
1. Neewer F100 7-inch 4k camera field monitor
If you are looking for a high-grade professional monitor, this Neewer F100 7-inch 4k camera field monitor is what you need.
It has a beautiful design, weighs less than two pounds, and it has a 7-inch screen; therefore, it is portable.
The IPS panel with an LED backlight provides a wide viewing angle (160 degrees) and excellent color contrast for both videos and photography.
It displays information from more perspectives without overlapping your picture. This monitor is multi-functional with inbuilt video, audio, and HDMI inputs, which guarantees high-quality output regardless of the quality of the camera.
It features a very high resolution of 1280X800 resolution, supports 4k video and Ultra HD inputs. Additionally, it offers focus assist (pixel to pixel), and zoom functions for setting up your shot.
It has a 360-degree adjustable hot shoe that allows you to change the viewing angle smoothly while shooting.
Additional features include an HDMI clamp that prevents your HDMI cable from accidentally being detached and a shoe for mounting the monitor on top of your camera. Besides, it comes with a sun hood for shooting outdoors.
PROS
- Clear large screen
- Comes with a lot of accessories in the package
- Efficient in working with different types of cameras
- Light-weight with professional-grade work efficiency
- Features a high resolution of 1280×800
CONS
- No power plug
2. FEELWORLD F570 5.7 inch DSLR on Camera Field Monitor
This monitor is an excellent choice for both professional and home use. It features a very sleek design with a thickness of 0.73 inches and weighs about 280 grams rendering it highly portable.
It has an IPS panel that provides a wide viewing angle and an excellent color contrast of 1400:1. The wide viewing angle of 170 degrees makes it easy for more than one person to view the screen at the same time.
One of the reasons the FEELWORLD F570 5.7 inch DSLR on Camera Field Monitor is top in my list is because of its high resolution of up to 1920×1080 (Full HD) and brightness of 460cd/m2.
Additionally, it supports 4K (4096 x 2160) HDMI input and output.
Additional features include the power consumption of not more than 8 Watts, color calibration technology that smoothly and efficiently enhances color production without distorting the images during production.
It lacks the touch screen feature; however, the buttons on the sides are effortless to use.
PROS
- Offers a color contrast of 1400:1
- Wide-angle viewing of 170°
- 4K HDMI input and output support
- Light-weight, portable for professional or home usage
- Features high resolution of 1920×1080 Full HD pixels
CONS
- No touchscreen features
3. FEELWORLD FW759 7 Inch IPS Screen
This monitor is yet another great creation from FEELWORLD. If you are looking for a field monitor to work well with a DSLR camera, this is the one you need.
It has a slim design with a thickness of 17mm and weighs less than 300 grams; hence, it is highly portable. The 7-inch IPS screen provides a wide viewing angle of 178° both in the horizontal and the vertical directions.
Additionally, you can install the screen in any position that is convenient for you.
The screen features a resolution of 1280X800 (ultra HD), a color brightness of 400cd/m2, 800:1 color contrast, and an aspect ratio of 16:10.
It has an inbuilt speaker that guarantees high-quality audio regardless of the camera’s recorder.
Additional features include an HDMI lock that ensures safe signal transmission; thus, your shooting sessions are free from the lousy connection that arises when using HDMI format for HD signal transmission.
It has a collapsible sunshade for more comfortable viewing in direct sunlight.
PROS
- Come with a 360º tillable arm
- Portable
- Lightweight
- Offers a contrast ratio of 1000:1
- 4K HDMI support without lags
- High-resolution screen of 1920×1080 pixels (Full HD)
CONS
- None
4. FEELWORLD F5 5-Inch DSLR on Camera Monitor
This field monitor has a display measuring about 5 inches and weighs 142.5 grams; hence, it is highly portable.
The IPS screen features a resolution of 1920×1080 pixels (Full HD) and an inbuilt color calibration, which makes it easy to get the accurate color without distorting the images.
With a brightness of 450 cd/m2 and color contrast of 1000:1, the videos and images appear on the display as they are in real-time.
Whether you are a hobbyist or a professional filmmaker, this monitor will satisfy your needs. It supports 4K HDMI Input and Output without delay.
It also features a peaking focus assist, which makes it easy to take the sharpest picture. Moreover, it has a 360° tilt arm that offers a better monitoring angle and a viewing Angle of 80°/80° (L/R and U/D).
Additional features include a sunshade for filming outdoors, zoom feature (4x, 9x, and 16x), and you can either install it on a camera as a viewfinder or on a handheld stabilizer.
The monitor is not a touch screen; however, it has an intuitive menu control that is easy to use. Check the manufacturer’s website for support and warranty info.
PROS
- Come with a 360º tillable arm
- Portable
- Lightweight
- Offers a contrast ratio of 1000:1
- 4K HDMI support without lags
- High-resolution screen of 1920×1080 pixels (Full HD)
CONS
- None
5. Lilliput A7s Full HD 7 Inch Monitor with 4K Camera Assist
It is the ideal monitor for a camera person looking for functionality and portability. It is small and weighs about 2.16 pounds; therefore, it is very portable.
It features a 7 inches IPS LCD panel that provides a wide viewing angle of 170 degrees in both the horizontal and vertical directions. With a resolution of 1920X1200 pixels (Ultra HD), the images appear bright and detailed.
The monitor has a color contrast and brightness of 1000:1 and 500cd/m2, respectively, which make the images appear vibrant.
It comes with a foldable sun hood for protection against harsh light when shooting in direct sunlight. You can easily adjust the cold shoe mount bracket to suit your different needs.
The monitor is easy to use, and it supports 4K HDMI Input and Loop Output.
Additional features include less than 12 watts of power consumption with an indicator for viewing the battery status, headphone output jack, and one speaker.
This monitor is an excellent option for professionals and hobbyists.
PROS
- It is a portable
- Light-weight device
- Wide-viewing angles of about 170º
- 4K HDMI support without lags
- High-resolution screen of 1920×1200 (Ultra HD)
CONS
- None
6. FEELWORLD FW568 5.5 Inch DSLR Camera Field Monitor
If you are looking for a monitor that is efficient and functional, this is the one you need. It weighs about 175 grams, thus highly portable.
The 5.5-inch screen has a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels and displays sharp and detailed images.
With the inbuilt Rec.709 HD color calibration, images appear vibrant and are an accurate depiction of the subject. It has a brightness and contrast ratio of 500cd/m2 and 1000:1, respectively.
This field monitor facilities 4K HDMI input and output without delay. It features a cold shoe tilt arm that allows rotation of up to 360 degrees; hence, you get the best shots.
The monitor comes with FW568 for the perfect focus and framing. Its wide viewing angle of 80° and 80°(L/R) and 80° and 80°(U/D) enables more than one person to view the images.
Additional specifications include: zooming feature (4X, 9X, and 16X), less than eight watts power consumption, and a sunshade that prevents excessive brightness when shooting in direct sunlight.
PROS
- It is light-weighted
- Portable
- additional features such as extra zoom up to 16x
- 4K HDMI support
- It offers a Full HD resolution of about 1920×1080 pixels
- Comes with a 360º tillable arm
CONS
- Average screen size
7. ESDDI F5 5 Inch Monitor With Full HD
This 5-inch monitor weighs about 1.6 pounds; therefore, it is portable and will not put your camera down. The monitor features a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels with a pixel density of 441 PPI; consequently, the images appear sharp and detailed.
Additionally, it has a color brightness and contrast of 450cd/m2 and 1000:1, respectively, which makes the photos appear vibrant.
This ESDDI F5 field monitor works as a viewfinder as well as a video monitor; therefore, it is an excellent option for recording YouTube videos as well as photographs.
It provides a wide viewing angle of 80° in both the horizontal and vertical directions. Additionally, it has an HDMI input/output and dual HDMI cable (Micro/Mini), making it compatible with Nikon, Canon, and Sony cameras.
In case you are looking for a field monitor with extra input features, this is the one for you. It comes with a histogram, embedded audio, focus-assist, false colors, exposure, aspect ratio, safe frames, image freeze, nine grid, and zoom features.
One of the outstanding features of this monitor is its 2200mAh Li-ion rechargeable battery. The seller provides you with a one-year warranty.
PROS
- It is a portable device
- Light-weight
- Offers 1920×1080 resolution pixels
- Offers contrast ratio of 1000:1
- Offers viewing angle of 80º x2 (L+R) with horizontal and vertical viewing angles
- It offers tons of additional features
CONS
- None
8. FEELWORLD F6 plus 5.5 Inch DSLR Camera Field Touch Screen
This monitor is an excellent choice for filming videos as well as taking photographs. It features a very compact design and weighs less than 250 grams; hence, it is incredibly portable.
It has an IPS panel with an LED backlight that provides a wide viewing angle and an excellent color contrast of 1000:1.
It provides you with a wide viewing angle of 80 degrees in both the horizontal and vertical directions. Additionally, it comes with a tilt arm, which allows the monitor to rotate up to 360 degrees.
One of the reasons I would recommend this monitor is because of its high resolution of up to 1920×1080 (Full HD), a color brightness of 500 cd/m2, and its 4K HDMI input and output support.
One of the unique features of this FEELWORLD F6 is its innovative touchscreen, which makes functions such as zoom easy to operate. It has a power consumption of not more than 8.4 Watts that can power your DSLR at any time.
Additional features include a color calibration technology that smoothly and efficiently enhances color production without distorting the images during production.
PROS
- Portable
- Light-weight
- Offers a 1920:1080 (Full HD) resolution pixels
- Comes with a contrast ratio of 1000:1
- Offers 80º x2 (L+R) with horizontal and vertical viewing angles
- It offers a touch-screen display
CONS
- None
9. Neewer F200 Field Monitor
If you are looking for high quality and professional monitor for your camera. Then Neewer F200 is the best choice at a reasonable price.
It weighs 1.8 pounds which develops easiness in carrying the camera. This product has high-quality features for the attraction of professionals.
That includes a high resolution of 1200: 1.
High brightness and dot pitch IPS panel provide you a 160 degree wider view. Its ultra-slim design appeal the people’s eyes.
This consists of a thickness of 17mm. There are different marker colors available in this model. It is best for both video and photography.
The power source of this monitor is a battery. When the camera goes into the sleeping mode or not getting the signal. The simple solution to this is to restart the camera.
It is one of the best-recommended products in the market.
PROS
- Portable
- Lightweight
- This device offers a 1920:1080 (Full HD) resolution pixels
- The device offers a viewing angle of 160º
- Professional level optical device
- It offers a contrast ratio of 1200:1
CONS
- None
10. FEELWORLD F6 with 5.7″ Display
Due to compact features and high-quality resolution. It is the best choice for most professionals. That is an excellent choice for both videos and photographs.
This weighs less than 250 grams. That helps you carry it with the camera easily. It has a 5.7-inch screen with a 16.7-megapixel color display.
The resolution contrast of this model is 1400:1.
The power consumption of this is less than 8w. That makes it a more desirable product for everyone. It has an LED backlight to capture a better view. The backlight also has an adjustability feature.
PROS
- Lightweight
- It is portable
- It has an additional LED Backlight
- Professional level optical device
- It offers a contrast ratio of 1400:1
CONS
- None
11. LILLIPUT A8 with 8.9″ Display
It is one of the top best field monitors present in the market. This is an eye-catching product due to its excellent features. First of all, it has 8.9 inches wider display.
That helps in capturing a better view. It has a resolution contrast of 800:1. The IPS display screen with a 16:10 aspect ratio helps you to cover the 170 degrees of viewing angle.
These qualities make it best for filming a video. The HDMI support for input and output is also available in this model.
It is operated on a dc supply. It has a double power supply system. The model has extended and high-quality features.
That makes it durable for all types of situations. The sunshade helps to avoid light interference.
PROS
- Clear picture in 8.9-inch screen
- Offers a contrast ratio of 800:1
- Supports HDMI for input/output
- Offers viewing angles of about 170º
- Durable
CONS
- None
12. FEELWORLD FW450 with 4.5 Inch Display
For a wonderful visual experience, the FW450 field monitor is the best choice. That is due to its outstanding features.
The weight of this model is only 0.26 pounds. That makes it easy to carry with the camera. It has a 4.5-inch screen display.
The contrast of this model is 900:1. It captures the wide view of 160 degrees. It can display multiple monitors on a single screen.
The ultra-thin design of 0.7 inches attracts the people. It has a 0.25-inch screw hole to attach to the camera. It is the best choice for both filming a video and capturing the photo.
The Free World FW450 is easy to carry due to its lightweight. The 4k HDMI input, output capability makes it the best choice for professionals.
PROS
- Portable
- Lightweight
- Offers a contrast ratio of 900:1
- Supports 4K HDMI for input/output
- Offers viewing angles of about 160º
- Durable
CONS
- None
What’s the Best
There are tons of best camera monitors available on our list we can not say which one is specifically the best as they build these camera monitors to offer distinct advantages to the consumer for fulfilling their needs.
What would be the best camera monitor purely depends on what you would be looking for in the best camera monitor, go through every product available in the list for getting the best outcome for your deemed purpose.
There are camera monitors that come in handy with great tools if you are a film-making person with flexible opportunities for monitoring your recording or overworking on them while taking the best shots.
Finding the perfect balance is purely dependent on you for what you are looking for in the best camera monitor.
Types of Best Field Monitors:
There are tons of field monitors available in the market, and there are specifically handpicked 13 best field monitors by us for you, which are for both professional to home usage level with tons of best features that are the necessity in the best field monitors if you listen to it from us.
The best types of field monitors are those which conduct everything you are looking for in them from cool video optimizing modes to even cooler functionalities as the best ones have it all, there are pretty impressive field monitors that we have moderated on our list for you to go through for choosing the best one for yourself.
These are some features that the best field monitors include:
- Great brightness and resolution no less than HD or Full HD.
- Extra monitoring tools such as HDR, Viewfinder, Waveforms, etc.
- Zooming features.
- Aspect ratio guides.
- Color management features.
Factors to Consider When Buying a Field Monitor:
Different Types of Field Monitors:
There are four main types of panels from the LCD technology family.
They include:
IPS:
They are very efficient when it comes to color accuracy, consistency, and create better viewing angles.
They are an excellent option for both professionals and home use.
TN:
The TN panels have low response times, the highest refresh rates, minimal motion blur, and low input lag.
However, they have their viewing angles, and the color contrast is not very good. TN panels are exceptional when it comes to gaming.
VA:
The VA panels have a better viewing angle than TN but worse than IPS; they have the best contrast and image depth.
Resolution:
Resolution refers to the number of pixels a monitor can display in terms of the horizontal and vertical dots. For instance, 2880X1800 means there are 2880 and 1800 horizontal and vertical dots, respectively.
The higher the resolution, the clearer your videos and photos will appear; conversely, the lower the pixels, the lower the quality of the videos and photographs.
It is crucial to buy a monitor that supports your camera’s resolution.
Monitor and Recorder Combination:
Some monitors have an inbuilt recorder that enables the user to record high-quality audios that the camera’s internal microphone may not match.
The main advantage of these types of monitors is that you are guaranteed high-quality audio regardless of the camera.
Portability:
When it comes to portability, the two key features to consider its weight and size. The more massive and extensive the screen is, the less portable it becomes.
In case you are using a handheld camera, a lightweight monitor will come in handy.
You should take note of the fact that a bigger on-camera monitor will require you to move your head more to see around the monitor.
Connectivity:
The kind of output ports your camera has will determine its connectivity to the monitor. Some of the most common connectivity include:
HDMI
It is an interface that allows uncompressed audio and video data transfer between HDMI-compliant source devices.
It is crucial to note that even when using an excellent cable, HDMI signals degrade and become unusable after about 49 feet, which is limiting. It is the most common type of connectivity in cameras.
SDI:
It refers to the Serial Digital Interface that transmits uncompressed videos and audios. Its signal can run up to 300 feet without the use of an amplifier.
The common types of SDI are HD-SDI, Dual-Link, HDI-SDI, 3G-SDI, 6G-SDI, 12G-SDI, and Quad Link SDI.
The difference between these various types of SDI is the bit-rates and video format each uses. If you are looking to do professional work, I would recommend the SDI.
Composite Video Cable:
It is a dying technology mainly because it does not support HD videos or progressive scan videos.
The data is heavily compressed, thus losing resolution and clarity.
Component Video Cable:
Component video splits the video signals into three cables (green, blue, and red).
It supports HD videos of up to 1080p and progressive scan images.
Touchscreen vs. Buttons:
Touch screen monitors are more comfortable to use; however, your choice will depend on preference as both work perfectly well.
LUT:
LUT stands for Lookup cable and allows you to change the way a monitor will display images.
Some monitors will allow you to apply no LUT, 3d LUT, or any other types of LUT to the output.
Viewing Angle:
The larger the viewing angle, the easier it is for you. In most cases, a narrow viewing angle may alter the color and contrast of the images when you change the position.
Color Contrast and Brightness:
Field monitors with high color brightness and contrast tend to display pleasing and vibrant images.
However, in sunlight, the light intensity becomes overwhelming; thus, a sun hood is essential.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Verdict!
All the field monitors mentioned above are of high quality; hence, your choice will be dependent on preference.
Additionally, they have a zebra exposure of 0-100, which warns you when the highlights are blown out.
The monitors feature a different aspect ratio to suit your needs.
There are many great video camera options that will perfectly suit any videographer’s needs.
For HD filming, I would recommend a ratio of 16:9 and 2.35:1 for cinemascope.
Last but not least, it is essential to note that to determine the size of an HDMI monitor, measure the display diagonally.
