13 Best on Camera Monitor

If you’re an indie filmmaker or a professional photographer, the importance of a dedicated camera monitor cannot be explained to everyone. However, it is part and parcel of almost every professional photographer and can help you take the best shots thanks to the bigger screen at your disposal. So which are some of the best camera monitors out there? Well, there is a handful of them.

So we’ve decided to talk about a few of the best camera monitors available in the market today. You may recognize a few of these camera monitors, but we’ve made sure to talk about a few underrated offerings as well. So let’s take a look.

13 Best on Camera Monitor

Atomos Shogun Flame 7

This is an exciting camera monitor that comes with a dedicated HDR Mode with 10 Stop Dynamic Range, giving you full control over HDR shots before even clicking the picture. It can also record UHD 4K and 1080p (120 fps). The content can be recorded conveniently over to a 2.5-inch external SSD or HDD. Moreover, this camera monitor can offer 10-Bit 4:2:2 ProRes & DNxHR encoding.

As for the display itself, well, this unit is packing a 5-inch 1920 x 1200 resolution touchscreen display, which is a significant upgrade over the standard viewfinder of your camera. The touchscreen allows you to make changes to your pictures while capturing them. It is perfectly suitable for outdoor conditions, thanks to the extra-bright screen. This camera monitor comes with a durable armor body that can withstand moderate drops. But since it’s a display, we recommend keeping it tightly wrapped when not in use to avoid accidental damage. This applies to pretty much every device with a display on it. As far as the features are concerned, this offering is pretty decent. However, we would have liked to see a water-resistant coating on top of the device.

SmallHD Focus

This is yet another attractive 5-inch camera monitor that gives you the liberty to carry it pretty much everywhere you go. It can fit into most units, including DSLRs and handheld video cameras. It comes with a micro HDMI slot which helps connect to your camera and act as a bigger viewfinder. Besides, the company offers a micro HDMI cable with this product, saving you the trouble of having to get it on your own. The micro HDMI port on the monitor also has a protective covering to keep it safe from harsh environments.

However, one downside here is that the display resolution is only 1280 x 720, which is otherwise known as HD or 720p. But the company is offering this at a significantly lower cost than standard camera monitors, which is a big bonus here. This model also includes a battery charger as well as an adapter for Sony cameras. It’s a complete package, and if you’re looking for a decent camera monitor at a fraction of a cost, this has to be it. Be sure to have a closer look at this product.

Sony CLM-V55

Sony is known to make some of the best camera equipment out there, and it’s no surprise that the company features on this list too. The CLM-V55 features a 5-inch WVGA display, which makes it convenient to watch videos and the pictures you’ve just taken. The design of this camera monitor also allows it to be swiveled up to 360 degrees and tilt at 90 degrees, which makes this a very versatile offering. The company offers an adapter to enable the tilt feature. Moreover, it also comes with an audio jack, which makes it suitable for monitoring audio separately.

It also supports peaking for improved focusing, thus ensuring you never miss the crucial shot. If you’re a photographer with no video requirements, this handy portable monitor can be a great asset for your photoshoots, regardless of the conditions. This is thanks to the built-in shades that make it suitable for use even during rainy weather. It uses a micro HDMI connection (cable included) to establish a connection between the camera and the monitor.

Blackmagic Design Video Assist 4K

This is an exciting monitor that comes with a larger 7-inch touchscreen display with a high pixel density, which gives it a distinct advantage over the competition. It also supports 10-bit 4:2:2 ProRes and DNxHD recording, which makes it quite a popular offering among photo and video professionals. The big caveat here is that this product doesn’t come with batteries onboard. However, it supports any LP-E6 Lithium-Ion battery.

This device is pretty capable as far as recording, storing, and monitoring is concerned. It has a wide range of ports, including HDMI ports and SDI In and Out ports, respectively. This allows you to connect this monitor to practically any camera out there. Given the fact that it uses a larger 7-inch display, a camera monitor like this may be better suited for videos rather than photos since this offering also supports 4K. It has excellent reviews and especially the touchscreen display, which makes it easy to record without ever touching your camera.

Neewer F100

This is yet another 7-inch camera monitor that supports recording and monitoring of 4K video with a compatible DSLR or video camera. However, it doesn’t come with a touchscreen display, relying on buttons under the display instead. This isn’t much of an inconvenience, as you’ll no longer have to worry about wet hands. To make this more favorable towards outdoor conditions, the company also offers a sunshade with this product. This product doesn’t come with batteries included, although the company mentions that it’s compatible with Sony NP-F550 Series batteries. When you do get the batteries installed, it is recommended to take them out when not in operation to prolong the life of the monitor.

It comes with a robust design, including locks for the HDMI port, as well as the battery case. This monitor establishes a connection between the monitor and the camera using a standard micro HDMI cable. Unfortunately, the company doesn’t offer the cable with the product. However, the fact that it only costs a fraction of what the other products on this list makes this worth considering.

Convergent Design Odyssey 7Q+

This is highly rated by experts thanks to its large 7.7-inch OLED display. Although its resolution is slightly lacking at 1280 x 800, it more than makes up for it with the features onboard. Further, it packs a 176-degree viewing angle. It can record content in up to 4K using a standard HDMI or an SDI connection. What I like about this camera monitor is the fact that it supports large sized SSDs or solid-state drives to use this as a storage hub for all your recorded videos.

This monitor is just an inch thick and runs on practically any power source (6.5 to 34 volts). This monitor also supports USB connectivity, so there’s no shortage of options here. Unfortunately, it’s not the cheapest product on our list either. But considering the features and performance it offers, especially with the snappy touchscreen, we think the pricing is justified. If you’re a professional video/photo enthusiast, a tool like this can greatly alleviate some of the major recording pain points. Be sure to check it out.

Atomos Ninja Inferno

This is the second Atomos offering that we’re discussing in this article, and it’s a highly capable offering. Equipped with a 7.1-inch touchscreen display and a resolution of 1920 x 1200, this camera monitor is definitely among the best out there. This product also comes included with a power adapter, Master Caddy II, as well as a traveling case to take it with you wherever you go. Much like the Shogun Flame 7, this offering comes with 10 stops of dynamic range for extensive HDR capabilities. This monitor can also help you record 4K content in Apple ProRes/DNxHR formats.

This product also comes with all the accessories you need to set it up with your camera. Its design allows for it to be swiveled in any direction, although it lacks a sunshade. Thankfully, the high-brightness SuperAtom IPS display will greatly help with sunlight visibility. It comes with HDMI connectivity, which makes it easy to pair with most modern-day photo and video cameras. Customers can also choose to add media storage devices such as SSDs to allow the monitor to record footage and store it natively on the attached drive. We recommend heading over to Atomos’ official site for more details on compatible drives.

FEELWORLD FW568

This uses a smaller 5.5-inch display, which makes it more compact and, in turn, more manageable to carry around. The company is using an LCD panel here with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 or Full HD 1080p, which is considered relatively upscale among portable monitors. It also offers a viewing angle of 160-degrees. The display is a touchscreen, so you’re not required to interact with physical keys. The company mentions that this camera monitor uses the Rec.709 HD standard and professional color calibration methods to represent accurate colors and detail each time.

Customers also get support for Peaking Focus Assist and Histogram, making this the perfect option for content producers and photographers alike. The monitor comes with multiple ports, including HDMI In, HDMI Out, DC In, DC Out, and a 3.5mm headphone jack for external audio sources. The DC output port allows you to connect this monitor to external batteries like the NP-F L-series or LP-E6 battery. If you’re considering this for outdoor shoots, the fact that it offers brightness at 500 nits is a welcome sign as it can sustain even the harshest sunlight. The company doesn’t offer a sunshade with this product, however.

Elvid FieldVision 4KV2

This is one of the better-designed monitors that we’ve come across as it packs a decent 7-inch 1920 x 1200 display with physical control buttons. This means you won’t get support for touchscreen controls here. In terms of video recording, this camera monitor can support UHD and DCI 4K resolutions by default, making it suitable for even the best cameras around. It can help to view angles of up to 160 degrees as well as Focus Peaking. This camera comes included with a ball shoe mount and a sun hood/sunshade. Other accessories included with this monitor include a mini HDMI to HDMI cable and an HDMI cable locking collar.

The monitor uses power from the L-Series battery plate, while batteries and a charger will have to be purchased separately. Additionally, if you already own a compatible camera based on the L-Series battery, you can use it on this device to power it up. As far as the overall features are concerned, this camera monitor offers immense value considering what it brings to the table. The lack of a touchscreen display may be a concern to a few customers, however.

PortKeys HH7

While this may not beat many camera monitors in terms of size, it certainly has one of the brightest screens among most monitors we find today. The PortKeys HH7 comes with a 7-inch 1920 x 1200 resolution LCD panel and weighs a miserly 300 grams. This makes it light and easy to carry around, no matter where you go. This monitor also supports 4K HDMI input by default, thanks to the dedicated ports onboard. This device supports dual swappable battery supply, allowing you to swap out batteries when you’re outdoors quickly. As for the brightness we mentioned above, the company indicates a rating of 1200 nits, which is pretty remarkable for a device this small. The company claims that this can even outdo standard camera monitors with a dedicated sunshade.

What’s different here is the fact that it has viewing angles of 178 degrees rather than just 160 degrees like we’ve seen with multiple monitors in the market. The monitor also supports Claymore wireless video transmission attachments, putting this in an elite list among camera monitors. Weighing just 300 grams and carrying a thickness of just 20mm, this can be easily attached to any camera without adding any additional bulk. While it costs slightly more than conventional camera monitors, the price tag appears justified given what it brings to the table.

Eyoyo E7S

This monitor packs a 7-inch 1920 x 1200 display and has a minimalistic design. It won’t offer any flashy features, but if you’re looking for an affordable monitor with all the essential features and a reasonable price tag, this one will probably fit the bill perfectly. The Eyoyo E7S can connect to cameras as well as other monitors to mirror content. This is done thanks to the onboard HDMI In and Out ports. The company has also added an audio port here to allow independent monitoring of audio recorded by the camera.

A product like this should be suitable for products like the Steadycam, DSLRs, Camcorders, Handheld Stabilizers, as well as professional video camera cranes. Much like other monitors on this list, this product doesn’t come with its battery. However, it uses the F970 and LP-E6 battery plate, which help you narrow down the search for batteries. The monitor supports a wide range of software editing and post-processing features, so you’re getting your money’s worth with this device.

Lilliput A7s

The Lilliput A7s is a 7-inch 1920 x 1200 resolution camera monitor with plenty of fans to its name. It’s a handy and lightweight monitor that can fit any professional camera or DSLR. It also supports 4K camera assist along with 4K HDMI input & loop output. This camera also supports Exposure Level control, Histogram and comes with an Audio Level Meter to determine the audio intensity around the camera. At 320 grams, it’s slightly more substantial than most camera monitors we’ve discussed today, but the thickness remains relatively minimal at 20.5mm.

The best part about this portable camera monitor is the fact that it has its sunshade, allowing you to get a proper glimpse at the display even in broad daylight. Monitors that don’t carry a super-bright display usually come preinstalled with a sunshade or similar accessory. The monitor comes equipped with a red silicone cover that keeps the device safe during your travels. Considering the features that it’s packing, this is worth a look.

Feelworld Master MA5

We’re back to 5-inch monitors for our last option of the list, and it’s certainly a good one. Although it doesn’t offer the versatility of a more prominent display, this 5-inch 1920 x 1080 IPS display provides excellent viewing angles and, best of all, fantastic portability. Snappy response time, as well as advanced light sensitivity features, make this a competent monitor. Users can set custom shortcuts on the monitor for features like Histogram, Focus Assist, Zebra Exposure, and more.

This monitor only measures 139 grams, which makes this one of the lightest camera monitors we’ve discussed today. It comes with F970/LP-E6 battery plates (batteries not included) and can be charged using the DC 8V output port on the monitor. This port is capable of supplying power to most mirrorless as well as DSLR cameras. It also comes with a durable carrying case that makes it easy to carry around during your adventures. This offering has the honor of being the smallest monitor with the 180-degree tilt-arm functionality. Be sure to check this product out on Amazon.