Couple things about the Atomos contrast issues. Some LUTs will come with Atomos specific versions for monitoring, like Phantom LUTS, but in my experience, calibrating the monitor helps a lot. The second thing is making sure you enable the ‘legalize’ option in the monitors signal in settings. Everything will look super crunchy if it’s not enabled. Great video!
I don’t usually comment on YT videos, but WHAT?! You only have 186 followers? That has to be a glitch or a mistake. Your stuff is waaaaay too good for that to be true. ✅ Valuable info ✅ Easy to watch ✅ Great color + sound ✅ Fantastic on-screen presence Instant sub. Looking forward to whatever comes next. 🙌
Like you, I’ve been in the market for a budget monitor. I was upgrading to a 7 inch monitor so I could use it for outdoor use and a lot of these monitors aren’t bright enough for outdoor use. I have the Atmos ninja V and yes, it’s a pain in the ass to turn off. But someone in the Sony FX 30 group posted a picture of his Samsung galaxy note 10 cell phone as a monitor and I asked how he hooked it up. Because I’ve seen lot of videos and the ascoon connector that you can use iPhones or iPads as a monitor. He told me about the monitor plus app on Samsung or android store. So using that app and I can connect either my Samsung S22 ultra cell phone and Samsung S9 Ultra tablet which has a 14.6 inch screen and all you have to do is connect it by USB-C cable to both the tablet and FX 30. So it made my camera set up super light with the cell phone and when I want to use the tablet, I just place it on its own tripod. Stand for indoor use like interviews. But I did pick up portkeys lh7p 7 inch monitor for my other camera. Thanks for sharing this video.
@@Avioncthomas I sent it back. I thought it would be a lot brighter and the colors didn’t match up from my lcd screen to my monitor and I tried adjusting it with not much luck. So I been just using my atomos ninja v on my new Sony nx800 and my fx30 i’ve been just using my Samsung Galaxy S22 cell phone as a monitor, which actually works damn good. But I still am in the market for a nice 7 inch monitor. I just been spending money on other things right now.
I would highly recommend the Portkeys Lh5pII. You can touchscreen camera controls for Canon, Sony, etc. if you want, its insanely bright at 2200 nits, has Lut Support, and weighs 285 grams which is still light considering the entire housing is aluminum and feels very high quality. The 30 gram difference you mentioned is .06lbs lol. NO ONE is feeling that difference. Functionality should always be paramount (without getting excessive of course).
First of all, great work on this video. Secondly, you should consider the Feelworld LUT6 because I think you'll find it has a lot of the features you seem to like. That's what I've been using for the past year and a little bit and it's been great, can't recommend it enough. As far as the way LUTs are displayed on Atomos monitors, there's definitely an issue. So much so that, for example, Phantom LUTs (which I use for grading and with my Feelworld) actually come with separate files that are specifically meant for Atomos monitors because of the problem you mentioned. That means you need to be mindful of which LUTs you're going to be using and either tweak them in a way that counters the issue or hope that whoever makes them also knows about it and has you covered by providing extra versions, which is kind of a pain in the ass 😅
Thanks man! The LUT6 looks cool but it is heavier than I’d like at 300 grams. I’m glad I’m not the only one who’s had a hard time with Atomos and LUTs 😂 I actually just picked up the Phantom LUTs recently. They’re great, really love that they come with an Atomos specific LUT.
Aaannddd I'm hooked. I look forward to more reviews! I love the balance between depth and length -- that's what. she. said? enough info that I'm not left with more questions, but short enough that I'll sit through the whole video! Super helpful for quick decision making.
I started with the Portkeys LH5Pii, but picked up an Osee T5+ and absolutely love it! The focus peaking and focus assist tools are awesome, and it's not super power-hungry.
@@DangAlvinFilms Yeah, it is! The Osee just seems to be better in use. The Focus Peaking function used with the Focus Assist tool makes manual focussing a breeze. And it's less power-hungry than the Portkeys. I also kept bumping the touch screen mid-shot, and it bothered me.
@@jon.parsons wich bateries do you use? Iam thinking about to grab 3 4400mah NPs. By the math on watts to mahs , it sould run about 4 hours each. What your experience?
@@Lomiler I get a whole 10-12 hour wedding day from 2x 2500mah NPs and 1x 3500mah NP - I want to get more of the 3500mah ones from Kinefinity, they last for ages
Another great video man. I’ve had the Osee for a year. For $125 I’m happy with it. I did no however do a direct comparison like you did 😂. In the future I think I’m going Small HD, but last year that was not in the budget
I went with the Osee T5+ it was on sale, the brightness and the features made it my choice. However, I agree with you. The viewing angle issues and the touch of the screen feels cheap and fragile. I will be keeping mine as I've already used a few times. When it is time to upgrade I'm considering a monitor with remote functionality. Good comparision video.
This is the perfect video I needed to watch since I am on a mission to build out my Sony FX6 rig. The first thing I thought about is how well this video is put together and it was very satisfying to watch! 😊
What a concise and well written review dude, I was surprised to see your channel has so little subs, you've obviously thought this out really well! In-depth, without being droning or too technical, and I especially appreciate how you framed this around "my needs, thoughts and use-cases", rather than from an authoritative "this is the best objective monitor >:(" - which was very refreshing. I'm getting to the point where a monitor would come in handy and the Osse/Portkeys definitely look like good options. Btw, props where due: Teleprompter read was on point and I was engaged for the whole video. Subbed :)
Thank you so much man!! Making my day 😍 And I’m glad you noticed the effort to not sound authoritative. I’m definitely trying to avoid talking that way.
Yeah, those monitors are super cool! Unfortunately they’re quite a bit heavier and larger than the ones I tested in this video. For my purposes they sadly didn’t make the cut.
I don't need a Monitor I've had Ninja V for a while now, I got it for $300 though but I still watched this video because it is the best comparison I've seen. I choose the Ninja V at the time because of the screen quality. I tested a freewell which had higher Nits but it was washed out even in the sun it was very reflective and hard to see. I don't need the Monitor to be Accurate because we all set out balance and Calibration before we even mount the monitor and press record. If it's a lil warm on the Ninja it didn't matter, but being able to see better out side and in bright lights, with minimal reflections was important to me. Maybe you could of done that test, have each screen side by side and pass a light through them. You will notice how much each screen bounces or reflects light. But also this was a few years back I'm sure the tech for all these new monitors are closer then when I first got my monitor. Anyway amazing job on the video. I don't really shoot anymore but I will like and subscribe and leave this long ass comment to support.
Hi Josh! I already pulled the trigger on a PT6 after watching a video in the PT5ii. Since it’s only for my talking head shots indoors the brightness is not an issue for me. Your video however reaffirms my decision and I really enjoyed watching it! Love your set too by the way. Keep this level of effort up and you’ll be monitized on TH-cam in no time. In fact I’ve just decided to sub to help you along.
Really well done, brother! I wish the port keys was brighter as well, but it’s been good so far. Hope you have a solid wedding season bro! My first one of the season this weekend. Cheers!🥃
Thanks man!! Yeah it was definitely a disappointment. Oh well, hopefully they come out with a bright version in the future. I just had my first 2023 wedding last weekend 😄
@@JoshBirman I have tried brighter ones, but I needed on that doesn’t draw much power either. As you know, battery life is key on wedding days! How is the battery life on the shinobi?
That it is! I’ve been very happy with the Shinobi’s battery life. It’s much better than the Ninja V! I feel like I can go somewhere between 2-3 hours with an NP-F750. Bring about 3 of those to a wedding and you’re probably good.
8:46 i have 3 Ninja V with C70 and you are correct there is a color cast if you apply the lut in the monitor but if you send the Luts via HDMI it won’t happen. The problem imo is how the OS on the monitor interpret the luts
Good to know! I actually stopped using the HDMI View Assist awhile back. In my experience, and Damien Cooper also pointed this out in one of his videos, the HDMI View Assist on the C70 incorrectly maps the exposure. So what you end up seeing is a false representation of what your image will look like with a LUT applied. Makes it very easy to incorrectly expose. So I only use LUTs on my monitors now.
100%! I just personally find sun hoods cumbersome and annoying in fast paced environments. Especially ones where I need to quickly tear down and set up my camera rig. So I prefer not to use them. They are definitely a great option though.
Yeah, that PT6 is great! I don’t personally use sunshades so I unfortunately didn’t bother testing it out. But I honestly don’t think it would be enough. 600nits just isn’t very bright.
Since you're mostly using the C70s internal tools the SmallHD Action will probably be perfect for you! It's main downside is it's lack of assist features.
Wow, great video! I really like your style! (image and graphic wise) Was impressed that you have only 247 (now 248) subs. At the start of the video the background music was a tiny bit to loud to understand you properly, but overall I really enjoyed this one.keepit up!
Good info but I clicked on your review cuz it said "Lightweight" in the title... and the winner is not something I consider lightweight. I ended up with the Osee and have zero regrets. I also have a Ninja V when I don't care about weight or need recording.
I have a Ninja V now, but I'm still keeping my Fotga C50, which is quite bright, and super-lightweight unlike the Ninja V, has a lot of features, 8 customizable buttons, touch screen, and everything you need from a field monitor. Only downside is that only accepts 4K30p as input signal max. It was good on my GH5 due to downscale to 1080p60 via HDMI, but not ony my S5/S5II which doesn't do downscale anymore, that's why I needed my Ninja V.
Very nice comparison! I was looking at the Portkeys one and seems like a great option since I'd mostly use it indoors. Also, can't believe you're only at 353 subs... your production quality is amazing!
Hey Josh, great video! Any thoughts on the new Atomos Shinobi II? It has a 30% thinner design and 50% brighter HDR screen. I'm considering purchasing one for my Sony FX30.
Great video Josh, but I would caution you using the C70 screen as your reference point. Most of these are surprisingly inaccurate and shouldn’t be trusted for judging colour.
Fair point! Those little LCDs are definitely not made to be used for professional color grading or anything. But it does do a pretty decent job and on a fast paced wedding day there isn’t really a better option 😄 Being able to color calibrate the Shinobi is super nice. I feel like I can trust that pretty well, even though I know it’s not gonna be perfect.
Love the video Josh! I have both the PortKeys and the Atomos, my only issue with the Atomos is when in anamorphic de squeeze, you loose waveforms and most of the assists, you’re only left with zebras and focus peaking. Just an FYI for all Anamorphic shooters. Cheers mate!
@@JoshBirman yeah it sucks because I would like to judge expose without looking at the camera screen. The PortKeys gives you all the assist even in anamorphic mode And you can choose a user assignable anamorphic de-squeeze from 1.0x to 2.0x Buuuuttt like you said the brightness of the monitor doesn’t help at all
SmallHD Action5 sucks. I have a brand new one that was a replacement of one that would cut in and out. Same thing happened with the new one. I've had all the monitors you have here. I have a Ninja5 on a studio rig. I have 2 Shinobi's on 2 C70's. I have a Godox on my R5c. This is where I'm staying for a while. The Godox is a nice monitor. The Shinobi's match the LCD screens better than anything I've tried. Desview, Portkeys, Osee and went back. SmallHD to follow.
@@JoshBirman It's maybe not the perfect tool, but it's the best for me right now. I need the forgiveness of full frame because I work in a lot of low-light situations where I can't bring in lighting, nor would want to. The 8K files are surprisingly easy to work with, even on an M2 Pro Mac. I'm happy with some of the Arri looks I can get out of it, though I prefer the Red color science. It's heavy rigged out, so handheld can get rough on a long day, but still it gives me the image I want.
Great in-depth review. Just curious, you never mentioned if you used the sunshade that comes with the PortKeys PT6 monitor. If so, did it make any difference or not when filming outside.
Thanks man!! I don’t personally like using sunshades while I’m filming so I didn’t test it out. If I ever do another monitor review I’ll be sure to try out the sunshade if one is included though.
@@JoshBirman screen quality yes, but the colour accuracy is not something we can really speak to since we’ve only owned two monitors 😅 we’re happy with it!
Awesome video Josh!!! Easily the best comparison video I've found by far IMO, about competitive camera monitors. I'm still on the hunt, I'm also down to the Shinobi for consideration after going through a few feel world monitors. However, I'm now looking into Small HD as well. Trying to make the decision is frustrating for me, shooting A7siii, Looking forward to more vids. Going to check the rest of your vids. 542 subscribers??? Keep making content man, great info, super personality, and entertaining. To hell with the moon, you should be going to Mars.
Dude, thank you so much 🥹❤️ SmallHD makes some great monitors, but they’re definitely in a whole other price bracket. I think their cheapest one is $1,200. I’m actually working on a follow up to this video right now. Osee is about to release a new monitor that’s looking pretty promising.
@@JoshBirman looking forward to it. The price tag is the only reason i haven’t pulled the trigger. Looking forward to more of your content. Don’t stop!!!!! I can’t imagine where you’re going at 100 vids. It’s awesome to see people grow and surpass their dreams, and you’re well on your way. Thanks again.
@@JoshBirman I'm waiting on that Osee Lilmon 5 as well... they say it should be delivered by today, though I haven't gotten a shipping notice yet... we'll see! Spec- and review-wise, I'm kinda between that and the Shinobi 7, never having used either. I'm hoping I like the Lilmon enough, both for its size and price. Great review! 👊🏻
600 nits and you're shooting outdoors without a sunshade? Not to mention PT6 also comes with a plastic carrying case, which I think is also a plus point
Seems to me that color shift when off access should not be much of an issue. Just view on access when checking color which should be something that you only have to do seldomly during a shoot... after that the monitor color is not as critical. Just my opinion.
Thank you! I have not used it for that before. I think I would probably find it too bulky for wedding photography. If you’re doing landscape photography it seems like a great addition though.
Have you seen the Godox GM6S? What do you think? Here it is cheaper than the shinobi and has 1,200 nits and options to control the camera on it… I'm about to buy one and my first option has been Godox, but I'm still going to study a little more
The problem with holding a camera at waist level when shooting people is that the camera looks up their noses. All things considered the view is far more flattering when the camera looks down from slightly above subject eye level where the flare of the nostrils hides the nose holes. Once you become aware of this the nostrils visible from a low POW will seem like a second set of pupils from some beady-eyed rodent perched on the upper lip. You will also begin to notice why most actors other than character actors usually have aquiline noses where the tip of the nose hangs down below the nostrils hiding them from the lens of the camera at their eye level. But get the camera down around waist level and that beady little rodent will again peer out over their upper lip. There are workarounds like having the subject lean forward at the waist more than the camera is pointing up when wanting the ceiling instead of the floor in the background. To the camera they will appear to be sitting upright. 😊
I feel your pain. Cheap monitor rarely = good. You might want to check out Portkeys LH5P II. Gets decent reviews. The problem I found was that my model did not fit standard NPF batteries, very odd. I had the Action 5 and wasn't impressed with the mount, and the basic features it came with. Atomos is getting pretty old and they do have their own limitations. Looking increasingly like professional SmallHD monitors might be the only option in spite of their price tag.
I don't know if anyone has mentioned it yet but the reason the Atomos is so CRUNCHY is because of the legalize feature. Gerold Undone has a whole video about. I had that atomos and with a firmware update they add if gave you the option to swith on or off the legalize option which fixes that issue. Its on the Atomos Ninja V, don't know about the Shinobi
If you’re going handheld you kinda gotta just lean into the handheld look, there’s going to be some shake. For speeches I’m usually shooting those with a tripod camera or I may use a monopod depending on the situation. If I know I’m going to have a long take and I won’t need to move during it, I’ll usually use a monopod.
I have a Sony camera, and I don’t want my Shinobi monitor to charge the camera’s battery. However, I do want to keep the camera control feature enabled. Is there a way to disable the charging function while keeping camera control, or is disconnecting the camera control cable the only solution?
On the shinobi, I momentarily slide the battery out to shut it down. THE BUTTON IS SO ANNOYING. So is the lock functionality that is sometimes enabled when you are fiddling with the button. Whoever designed this got real stoned and got super paranoid about this thing accidentally powering off and ruining THE SHOT, MAN.
Great video. Did you try the sunshade that comes with the PT6? Curious if that makes it usable outside. Also, did you look at the FeelWorld F5 Pro? It is about the same price as the PT6.
I didn't really consider the FeelWorld monitors. From previous experience with them and from watching videos they don't seem robust enough. I'd be worried about it not holding up super well long term. But I've never tested one out so I couldn't really say for sure.
I wish I could do weddings handheld. Many clients I find don’t like shakey footage and just want the moment to be captured. On a gimbal all day lol. Back hurts
Great video, i’m considering a monitor for my Sony Zv1 & RX10iv for shooting video as both screens are very dark when shooting in highest resolution. Question is will this reflect on the monitor or will the monitor retain its brightness. struggling to get a fix for this issue.. Thanks
I have a c70 as well. Mostly shooting weddings. Still not sure if I need an external monitor but I feel like some little thing I would change I only notice at home watching the footage on the big screen so I'm not sure... To get or not to get... Do you see huge difference with external monitor?
@@JoshBirman Gotcha. Thank you for replying. I mostly use it on gimbal and don't want to add an extra weight. So I guess after your response I'll just stay on the c70 native monitor to save my back a bit :))
Yeah, it is kind of a pain to do. However, it’s one of the only budget monitors I’m aware of that actually let’s you calibrate it. So that is something.
This might be a dumb question, but I was looking at the PT5 II and the PT6. I know with the former, you can apply a lut in unit, and have it carry through the HDMI out. Is that something you can do with the PT6 as well?
Hello Josh! Amazing explained video!!! Loved it. I bought a Portkeys PT6 for my R5, and it's totally ok for what I do, but I have a quick question for you. When applying the lut, I get an over saturated image, that doesn't align with what the real lut does on the CLog3 final video when grading it. Does that also happened to you when you were testing the Portkeys PT6 with your C70? Thanks!
That’s so odd. The only other thing I could off is that you maybe have HDMI View Assist turned on and the LUT at the same time, but that doesn’t seem likely.
Killer job, Josh! This might be the best, most in-depth, small monitor review I've ever seen. Well done!!
Thanks for letting me borrow your Shinobi to do it 😄
Couple things about the Atomos contrast issues. Some LUTs will come with Atomos specific versions for monitoring, like Phantom LUTS, but in my experience, calibrating the monitor helps a lot. The second thing is making sure you enable the ‘legalize’ option in the monitors signal in settings. Everything will look super crunchy if it’s not enabled. Great video!
I recently picked up the Phantom LUTs and they’re a game changer for Atomos monitors!
no legalize option on the shinobi
@@dimitridjuric3886 that's only for the log coversion problem in the Ninja. Shinobi is not a recorder so there is no legalize.
I don’t usually comment on YT videos, but WHAT?! You only have 186 followers? That has to be a glitch or a mistake. Your stuff is waaaaay too good for that to be true.
✅ Valuable info
✅ Easy to watch
✅ Great color + sound
✅ Fantastic on-screen presence
Instant sub. Looking forward to whatever comes next. 🙌
Dude! Thank you so much!!
Such a high quality video from a small channel! Killer work
Thank you!!! 😄
Excellent video with the best, most in-depth, small monitor review I've ever seen as well ! Thank you !
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it 😊
Like you, I’ve been in the market for a budget monitor. I was upgrading to a 7 inch monitor so I could use it for outdoor use and a lot of these monitors aren’t bright enough for outdoor use. I have the Atmos ninja V and yes, it’s a pain in the ass to turn off. But someone in the Sony FX 30 group posted a picture of his Samsung galaxy note 10 cell phone as a monitor and I asked how he hooked it up. Because I’ve seen lot of videos and the ascoon connector that you can use iPhones or iPads as a monitor. He told me about the monitor plus app on Samsung or android store. So using that app and I can connect either my Samsung S22 ultra cell phone and Samsung S9 Ultra tablet which has a 14.6 inch screen and all you have to do is connect it by USB-C cable to both the tablet and FX 30. So it made my camera set up super light with the cell phone and when I want to use the tablet, I just place it on its own tripod. Stand for indoor use like interviews. But I did pick up portkeys lh7p 7 inch monitor for my other camera. Thanks for sharing this video.
Is port keys bright enough outdoors? How do you like it so far ?
@@Avioncthomas I sent it back. I thought it would be a lot brighter and the colors didn’t match up from my lcd screen to my monitor and I tried adjusting it with not much luck. So I been just using my atomos ninja v on my new Sony nx800 and my fx30 i’ve been just using my Samsung Galaxy S22 cell phone as a monitor, which actually works damn good. But I still am in the market for a nice 7 inch monitor. I just been spending money on other things right now.
The set, color and image looks so good
Thank you so much!!
Really satisfying b-roll sir! I salty I watched an entire video to reveal that the most expensive monitor is the best monitor.. imagine that.
I would highly recommend the Portkeys Lh5pII. You can touchscreen camera controls for Canon, Sony, etc. if you want, its insanely bright at 2200 nits, has Lut Support, and weighs 285 grams which is still light considering the entire housing is aluminum and feels very high quality. The 30 gram difference you mentioned is .06lbs lol. NO ONE is feeling that difference. Functionality should always be paramount (without getting excessive of course).
Sounds pretty great! I might have to try one out at some point.
First of all, great work on this video. Secondly, you should consider the Feelworld LUT6 because I think you'll find it has a lot of the features you seem to like. That's what I've been using for the past year and a little bit and it's been great, can't recommend it enough. As far as the way LUTs are displayed on Atomos monitors, there's definitely an issue. So much so that, for example, Phantom LUTs (which I use for grading and with my Feelworld) actually come with separate files that are specifically meant for Atomos monitors because of the problem you mentioned. That means you need to be mindful of which LUTs you're going to be using and either tweak them in a way that counters the issue or hope that whoever makes them also knows about it and has you covered by providing extra versions, which is kind of a pain in the ass 😅
Thanks man! The LUT6 looks cool but it is heavier than I’d like at 300 grams. I’m glad I’m not the only one who’s had a hard time with Atomos and LUTs 😂 I actually just picked up the Phantom LUTs recently. They’re great, really love that they come with an Atomos specific LUT.
Love the high key look for your talking head!
The subtle but tasteful contrast ratios are 🔥🔥
Thanks dude!!
My best advice would be - get one with SDI and HDMI because I paid twice when I upgraded my camera :D
Aaannddd I'm hooked. I look forward to more reviews!
I love the balance between depth and length -- that's what. she. said?
enough info that I'm not left with more questions, but short enough that I'll sit through the whole video! Super helpful for quick decision making.
Oh good! I’m so glad! That’s what I was going for 😄
Yes. So much yes. Loved this!
Thanks Maclean!!
I started with the Portkeys LH5Pii, but picked up an Osee T5+ and absolutely love it! The focus peaking and focus assist tools are awesome, and it's not super power-hungry.
Isn't the Portkeys LH5Pii a higher end monitor? Do you prefer the Osee T5+ over it?
@@DangAlvinFilms Yeah, it is! The Osee just seems to be better in use. The Focus Peaking function used with the Focus Assist tool makes manual focussing a breeze. And it's less power-hungry than the Portkeys. I also kept bumping the touch screen mid-shot, and it bothered me.
@@jon.parsons wich bateries do you use? Iam thinking about to grab 3 4400mah NPs. By the math on watts to mahs , it sould run about 4 hours each.
What your experience?
@@Lomiler I get a whole 10-12 hour wedding day from 2x 2500mah NPs and 1x 3500mah NP - I want to get more of the 3500mah ones from Kinefinity, they last for ages
Another great video man. I’ve had the Osee for a year. For $125 I’m happy with it. I did no however do a direct comparison like you did 😂. In the future I think I’m going Small HD, but last year that was not in the budget
I’m still eyeballing that SmallHD Action 5 😂 I’ve heard mixed things about it though.
I went with the Osee T5+ it was on sale, the brightness and the features made it my choice. However, I agree with you. The viewing angle issues and the touch of the screen feels cheap and fragile. I will be keeping mine as I've already used a few times. When it is time to upgrade I'm considering a monitor with remote functionality. Good comparision video.
Thanks man! It’s definitely a good monitor.
This is the perfect video I needed to watch since I am on a mission to build out my Sony FX6 rig. The first thing I thought about is how well this video is put together and it was very satisfying to watch! 😊
Thank you!! Hopefully it was helpful for you!
@@JoshBirman yes it was! Have you given the Portkeys 5.5 a look with 2200 nits, you can’t go wrong there.
@JSHFilms I have not. It was a bit too heavy for my needs unfortunately. Looks super nice though.
great job Josh! My problem, I still do not know, what to buy!
I just bought the Shinobi.. loved the vid, I almost bought the PT6
What a concise and well written review dude, I was surprised to see your channel has so little subs, you've obviously thought this out really well! In-depth, without being droning or too technical, and I especially appreciate how you framed this around "my needs, thoughts and use-cases", rather than from an authoritative "this is the best objective monitor >:(" - which was very refreshing. I'm getting to the point where a monitor would come in handy and the Osse/Portkeys definitely look like good options. Btw, props where due: Teleprompter read was on point and I was engaged for the whole video.
Subbed :)
Thank you so much man!! Making my day 😍 And I’m glad you noticed the effort to not sound authoritative. I’m definitely trying to avoid talking that way.
This was a great review! Looking forward to more content.
More to come!
PORTKEYS LH5P II ($399) and BM5 III ($749, with SDI) are 2200 nits and they can control the camera (SS IRIS ISO RECORD START STOP).
Yeah, those monitors are super cool! Unfortunately they’re quite a bit heavier and larger than the ones I tested in this video. For my purposes they sadly didn’t make the cut.
Dude you need more subs! Well done!
Thank you!!
Just got the Desview R5ii love it
That's a fair comparison big up brother
Man, you’re made for TH-cam! Great vid, had to subscribe
I don't need a Monitor I've had Ninja V for a while now, I got it for $300 though but I still watched this video because it is the best comparison I've seen.
I choose the Ninja V at the time because of the screen quality. I tested a freewell which had higher Nits but it was washed out even in the sun it was very reflective and hard to see. I don't need the Monitor to be Accurate because we all set out balance and Calibration before we even mount the monitor and press record. If it's a lil warm on the Ninja it didn't matter, but being able to see better out side and in bright lights, with minimal reflections was important to me.
Maybe you could of done that test, have each screen side by side and pass a light through them. You will notice how much each screen bounces or reflects light.
But also this was a few years back I'm sure the tech for all these new monitors are closer then when I first got my monitor.
Anyway amazing job on the video. I don't really shoot anymore but I will like and subscribe and leave this long ass comment to support.
That’s a great idea to do a screen reflection test! If I ever do another video like this I’ll definitely do that. Thanks for the comment!
Hi Josh! I already pulled the trigger on a PT6 after watching a video in the PT5ii. Since it’s only for my talking head shots indoors the brightness is not an issue for me. Your video however reaffirms my decision and I really enjoyed watching it! Love your set too by the way. Keep this level of effort up and you’ll be monitized on TH-cam in no time. In fact I’ve just decided to sub to help you along.
Thank you!! So glad the video reaffirmed your choice!
Very good review Josh...keep up the good work!
Thanks Paul!! Hopefully I can get into a faster upload rhythm.
Great review. I have the Shinobi as well and I like it. I will be picking up a Osee as well.
Thank you!
Totally awesome, thank you for this video. Keep going, I think you are going to do great.
Thank you!!
Amazing video !!! Thank you Josh
Really well done, brother! I wish the port keys was brighter as well, but it’s been good so far.
Hope you have a solid wedding season bro! My first one of the season this weekend. Cheers!🥃
Thanks man!! Yeah it was definitely a disappointment. Oh well, hopefully they come out with a bright version in the future.
I just had my first 2023 wedding last weekend 😄
@@JoshBirman I have tried brighter ones, but I needed on that doesn’t draw much power either.
As you know, battery life is key on wedding days!
How is the battery life on the shinobi?
That it is! I’ve been very happy with the Shinobi’s battery life. It’s much better than the Ninja V! I feel like I can go somewhere between 2-3 hours with an NP-F750. Bring about 3 of those to a wedding and you’re probably good.
@@JoshBirman truuuue. Thx for the info!
8:46 i have 3 Ninja V with C70 and you are correct there is a color cast if you apply the lut in the monitor but if you send the Luts via HDMI it won’t happen. The problem imo is how the OS on the monitor interpret the luts
Good to know! I actually stopped using the HDMI View Assist awhile back. In my experience, and Damien Cooper also pointed this out in one of his videos, the HDMI View Assist on the C70 incorrectly maps the exposure. So what you end up seeing is a false representation of what your image will look like with a LUT applied. Makes it very easy to incorrectly expose. So I only use LUTs on my monitors now.
I understand the port keys isn’t as bright but you could always put the hood on that they give you with it
100%! I just personally find sun hoods cumbersome and annoying in fast paced environments. Especially ones where I need to quickly tear down and set up my camera rig. So I prefer not to use them. They are definitely a great option though.
super helpful vid, thanks Josh!
The portkeys pt6 isn't that bad in sunlight if you use the included sun cover.
Excellent review. Thanks. I'm still up in the air. The PT6 is so nice. I shoot oputdoors so I'm wondering how well the sunshade works.
Yeah, that PT6 is great! I don’t personally use sunshades so I unfortunately didn’t bother testing it out. But I honestly don’t think it would be enough. 600nits just isn’t very bright.
Dude this video is so good. Please keep going!
Thanks dude!!
Since you're mostly using the C70s internal tools the SmallHD Action will probably be perfect for you! It's main downside is it's lack of assist features.
After watching this video, the C70's monitor seems the best. I share your frustrations with the shinobi as it's the one I have too.
Yeah the C70’s screen is definitely the best suited to the camera. Just a bit of a bummer it’s located where it is. Makes it hard to go handheld.
great review! currently looking for a budget monitor and this video was very in depth! looks like i'll be getting a shinobi to pair with my R6 II
Wow, great video!
I really like your style! (image and graphic wise) Was impressed that you have only 247 (now 248) subs.
At the start of the video the background music was a tiny bit to loud to understand you properly, but overall I really enjoyed this one.keepit up!
Thanks man!!
Honest and nicely put video!
Thank you!
This review is so good you just got 1 more subscriber!
Good info but I clicked on your review cuz it said "Lightweight" in the title... and the winner is not something I consider lightweight. I ended up with the Osee and have zero regrets. I also have a Ninja V when I don't care about weight or need recording.
Thanks so much for your amazing review! 👍
Thanks for watching!
I have a Ninja V now, but I'm still keeping my Fotga C50, which is quite bright, and super-lightweight unlike the Ninja V, has a lot of features, 8 customizable buttons, touch screen, and everything you need from a field monitor. Only downside is that only accepts 4K30p as input signal max. It was good on my GH5 due to downscale to 1080p60 via HDMI, but not ony my S5/S5II which doesn't do downscale anymore, that's why I needed my Ninja V.
Very nice comparison! I was looking at the Portkeys one and seems like a great option since I'd mostly use it indoors. Also, can't believe you're only at 353 subs... your production quality is amazing!
Thank you!! Yeah, the PT6 is amazing for indoor use.
@@JoshBirman Is the PT6 useless outdoor even with the sunhood attached?
@@bemboing4338 I personally feel like it is. I'm sure the sunshade helps some, but it's not gonna do a ton.
The channel has only been posting for 3months, take a breath.
Hey Josh, great video! Any thoughts on the new Atomos Shinobi II? It has a 30% thinner design and 50% brighter HDR screen. I'm considering purchasing one for my Sony FX30.
Thanks man! I haven’t looked into a ton but Chris Brockhurt recently put out a really great video about it.
Great video Josh, but I would caution you using the C70 screen as your reference point. Most of these are surprisingly inaccurate and shouldn’t be trusted for judging colour.
Fair point! Those little LCDs are definitely not made to be used for professional color grading or anything. But it does do a pretty decent job and on a fast paced wedding day there isn’t really a better option 😄 Being able to color calibrate the Shinobi is super nice. I feel like I can trust that pretty well, even though I know it’s not gonna be perfect.
Great video... but the real question is what monitor were you using to film this video? 🤔
Haha! Just the C70 by itself.
Love the video Josh! I have both the PortKeys and the Atomos, my only issue with the Atomos is when in anamorphic de squeeze, you loose waveforms and most of the assists, you’re only left with zebras and focus peaking.
Just an FYI for all Anamorphic shooters.
Cheers mate!
That’s interesting about the Anamorphic mode. I had no idea. Thanks for the heads up!
@@JoshBirman yeah it sucks because I would like to judge expose without looking at the camera screen. The PortKeys gives you all the assist even in anamorphic mode
And you can choose a user assignable anamorphic de-squeeze from 1.0x to 2.0x
Buuuuttt like you said the brightness of the monitor doesn’t help at all
SmallHD Action5 sucks. I have a brand new one that was a replacement of one that would cut in and out. Same thing happened with the new one. I've had all the monitors you have here. I have a Ninja5 on a studio rig. I have 2 Shinobi's on 2 C70's. I have a Godox on my R5c. This is where I'm staying for a while. The Godox is a nice monitor. The Shinobi's match the LCD screens better than anything I've tried. Desview, Portkeys, Osee and went back. SmallHD to follow.
Good to know about the Action 5. Thanks!
@@JoshBirman Same as Desview with Action5 with Log looking color. Terrible.
Thank you for your presentation.
I'm shooting on the R5C and use the SmallHD Action 5. It's absolutely perfect and worth the extra weight.
Good to know!! How do you like the R5C?
@@JoshBirman It's maybe not the perfect tool, but it's the best for me right now. I need the forgiveness of full frame because I work in a lot of low-light situations where I can't bring in lighting, nor would want to. The 8K files are surprisingly easy to work with, even on an M2 Pro Mac. I'm happy with some of the Arri looks I can get out of it, though I prefer the Red color science. It's heavy rigged out, so handheld can get rough on a long day, but still it gives me the image I want.
thank you !
I hear the new Desview R6 is a big improvement over the R5ii.
Great in-depth review. Just curious, you never mentioned if you used the sunshade that comes with the PortKeys PT6 monitor. If so, did it make any difference or not when filming outside.
Thanks man!! I don’t personally like using sunshades while I’m filming so I didn’t test it out. If I ever do another monitor review I’ll be sure to try out the sunshade if one is included though.
great video! personally, we love the Desview R6 as we find it is a few levels above the r5II!
Thank you! Do you feel like the screen quality and color accuracy is there?
@@JoshBirman screen quality yes, but the colour accuracy is not something we can really speak to since we’ve only owned two monitors 😅 we’re happy with it!
Awesome video Josh!!! Easily the best comparison video I've found by far IMO, about competitive camera monitors. I'm still on the hunt, I'm also down to the Shinobi for consideration after going through a few feel world monitors. However, I'm now looking into Small HD as well. Trying to make the decision is frustrating for me, shooting A7siii, Looking forward to more vids. Going to check the rest of your vids. 542 subscribers??? Keep making content man, great info, super personality, and entertaining. To hell with the moon, you should be going to Mars.
Dude, thank you so much 🥹❤️ SmallHD makes some great monitors, but they’re definitely in a whole other price bracket. I think their cheapest one is $1,200. I’m actually working on a follow up to this video right now. Osee is about to release a new monitor that’s looking pretty promising.
@@JoshBirman looking forward to it. The price tag is the only reason i haven’t pulled the trigger. Looking forward to more of your content. Don’t stop!!!!! I can’t imagine where you’re going at 100 vids. It’s awesome to see people grow and surpass their dreams, and you’re well on your way. Thanks again.
@@JoshBirman I'm waiting on that Osee Lilmon 5 as well... they say it should be delivered by today, though I haven't gotten a shipping notice yet... we'll see! Spec- and review-wise, I'm kinda between that and the Shinobi 7, never having used either. I'm hoping I like the Lilmon enough, both for its size and price. Great review! 👊🏻
Thanks man! I’ve actually got a Lilmon 5 review coming soon!
600 nits and you're shooting outdoors without a sunshade? Not to mention PT6 also comes with a plastic carrying case, which I think is also a plus point
I wanted to test out the monitors in the way that I would personally use them on a shoot, which is why I decided not to use the sun shade.
Seems to me that color shift when off access should not be much of an issue. Just view on access when checking color which should be something that you only have to do seldomly during a shoot... after that the monitor color is not as critical. Just my opinion.
10:29 I think that you can zoom in by double clicking the shinobi. (at least the inferno 7" works )
Just tried it out on the Shinobi and it doesn’t work 😕
@@JoshBirman That's a boomer :(
Great video again. Keep it going
Thanks David!!
You will love the Osee Lilmon 5
I’m really looking forward to it!
Great video man!!
Thank you!!
I actually returned the Osee T5+ and I got the Osee Lilmon 5
Oh cool! How are you liking the Lilmon 5?
@@JoshBirman It actually good, its more than enough for what I need. definitely the touchscreen was the deal breaker
Does the monitor need to be in color though? I think just a clear black and white monitor to nail my focus would be a good start
Great review Josh. Besides video, do you use the Shinobi for still photography? If yes how has it performed?
Thank you! I have not used it for that before. I think I would probably find it too bulky for wedding photography. If you’re doing landscape photography it seems like a great addition though.
Great video! I was hoping that you wouldn’t pick the Shinobi 😂 I’m comparing all of the 7 in versions.
Haha! Why not? I’m excited to see that comparison. I’ve never used the 7 inch Shinobi. Curious to see if there’s any software differences.
Have you seen the Godox GM6S? What do you think?
Here it is cheaper than the shinobi and has 1,200 nits and options to control the camera on it… I'm about to buy one and my first option has been Godox, but I'm still going to study a little more
I heard about it but I haven’t used it. Looks interesting.
The problem with holding a camera at waist level when shooting people is that the camera looks up their noses. All things considered the view is far more flattering when the camera looks down from slightly above subject eye level where the flare of the nostrils hides the nose holes. Once you become aware of this the nostrils visible from a low POW will seem like a second set of pupils from some beady-eyed rodent perched on the upper lip.
You will also begin to notice why most actors other than character actors usually have aquiline noses where the tip of the nose hangs down below the nostrils hiding them from the lens of the camera at their eye level. But get the camera down around waist level and that beady little rodent will again peer out over their upper lip. There are workarounds like having the subject lean forward at the waist more than the camera is pointing up when wanting the ceiling instead of the floor in the background. To the camera they will appear to be sitting upright. 😊
I feel your pain. Cheap monitor rarely = good. You might want to check out Portkeys LH5P II. Gets decent reviews. The problem I found was that my model did not fit standard NPF batteries, very odd. I had the Action 5 and wasn't impressed with the mount, and the basic features it came with. Atomos is getting pretty old and they do have their own limitations. Looking increasingly like professional SmallHD monitors might be the only option in spite of their price tag.
I need to see this video I'm buying one tomorrow form150 and I cant wait to get it
How do you feel about the andycine c6? Would love your thoughts on that 2600 nit monitor.
Great review. Thanks Josh 👊
I don't know if anyone has mentioned it yet but the reason the Atomos is so CRUNCHY is because of the legalize feature. Gerold Undone has a whole video about. I had that atomos and with a firmware update they add if gave you the option to swith on or off the legalize option which fixes that issue. Its on the Atomos Ninja V, don't know about the Shinobi
The Legalize function is definitely helpful but it was still pretty crunchy for me even with it enabled 🤷🏻♂️
I don't think there's the legalize option on the Shinobi
I did not see that plot twist coming! When you say you're only shooting hand held does that mean no gimbal as well?
Yep! Gimbal free. Didn’t even bring it to my last 2 weddings.
@@JoshBirman how do you compensate for the shake when you need a really long clip? Or interviews or speeches?
If you’re going handheld you kinda gotta just lean into the handheld look, there’s going to be some shake. For speeches I’m usually shooting those with a tripod camera or I may use a monopod depending on the situation. If I know I’m going to have a long take and I won’t need to move during it, I’ll usually use a monopod.
@@JoshBirman interesting, thanks for the info
Hey dude, great reviews!!!! Subbed and like, will definitely keep up with your content. Well done!
Thank you so much!
gret review, nice video color btw. keep it up, bro.
Thanks man!!
For outdoors, I’d like to know how much the shade caps the monitors come with help?
I don’t personally use them so I unfortunately can’t really give you an answer.
Did you consider Viltrox DC-550 ? Seems to have a lot of pro's going on in regards to what you just said.
I have not tried it. It wasn’t out when I made this video. But quite a few people have mentioned it. Looks like a pretty nice monitor!
I have a Sony camera, and I don’t want my Shinobi monitor to charge the camera’s battery. However, I do want to keep the camera control feature enabled. Is there a way to disable the charging function while keeping camera control, or is disconnecting the camera control cable the only solution?
I don’t have the Shinobi II, only the first gen model. So I’m not sure.
On the shinobi, I momentarily slide the battery out to shut it down. THE BUTTON IS SO ANNOYING. So is the lock functionality that is sometimes enabled when you are fiddling with the button. Whoever designed this got real stoned and got super paranoid about this thing accidentally powering off and ruining THE SHOT, MAN.
😂😂 Yeah the power off “procedure” is super annoying!!
Great video. Did you try the sunshade that comes with the PT6? Curious if that makes it usable outside. Also, did you look at the FeelWorld F5 Pro? It is about the same price as the PT6.
I’m sure it would help, but it would basically ruin the slim form factor. So for my purposes it wasn’t worth it.
I didn't really consider the FeelWorld monitors. From previous experience with them and from watching videos they don't seem robust enough. I'd be worried about it not holding up super well long term. But I've never tested one out so I couldn't really say for sure.
Thanks for the feedback. I subscribed and am looking forward to seeing more of your videos.
The monitor you're looking for is the Andycine C5
Thanks for the recommendation! A little over the “lightweight” weight limit I had in mind though.
@@JoshBirman No problem. Maybe you can compensate that with NP-F550 batteries, have more of them instead of 750.
I wish I could do weddings handheld. Many clients I find don’t like shakey footage and just want the moment to be captured. On a gimbal all day lol. Back hurts
Weirdly enough I actually find my back hurts worse going handheld. Not really sure why 🤷🏻♂️
Honestly new subscriber here
Great video, i’m considering a monitor for my Sony Zv1 & RX10iv for shooting video as both screens are very dark when shooting in highest resolution. Question is will this reflect on the monitor or will the monitor retain its brightness. struggling to get a fix for this issue.. Thanks
It maybe above your budget, but the Desview V5 looks really compelling at 2800 nits (Plus recording too).
Interesting! I’ve never looked into that one.
Hey Josh. Great video. I have the PT6 since launch and mine doesnt have pinch to zoom. Do you know if was added via firmware?
Oh weird! I’m honestly not sure. Updating the firmware can’t hurt though.
I have a ninja v and shinobi and yes, its punchy with LUTs and WB is warmer so i mainly use them as just for reference and framing. Hahaha
But the shinony has palyback problem R6,you have wait 3-4 second after you press the button
Interesting! I haven’t experienced that
I have a c70 as well. Mostly shooting weddings.
Still not sure if I need an external monitor but I feel like some little thing I would change I only notice at home watching the footage on the big screen so I'm not sure... To get or not to get... Do you see huge difference with external monitor?
The main reason I use an external monitor is so that I can pull the camera in close to my body. Outside of that, I’d just use the camera’s LCD
@@JoshBirman Gotcha. Thank you for replying. I mostly use it on gimbal and don't want to add an extra weight. So I guess after your response I'll just stay on the c70 native monitor to save my back a bit :))
I hate that there is no easy way to calibrate the color of the atomos monitors
Yeah, it is kind of a pain to do. However, it’s one of the only budget monitors I’m aware of that actually let’s you calibrate it. So that is something.
Thank you!
Does Pt6 get concerningly hot while usage? I am about to buy one. How its heating up is compared to lilmon 5?
Yeah, I feel like they all got hot at about the same level.
@@JoshBirman got it. Thank you
This might be a dumb question, but I was looking at the PT5 II and the PT6. I know with the former, you can apply a lut in unit, and have it carry through the HDMI out. Is that something you can do with the PT6 as well?
It sure is!!
Hello Josh! Amazing explained video!!! Loved it.
I bought a Portkeys PT6 for my R5, and it's totally ok for what I do, but I have a quick question for you. When applying the lut, I get an over saturated image, that doesn't align with what the real lut does on the CLog3 final video when grading it.
Does that also happened to you when you were testing the Portkeys PT6 with your C70? Thanks!
Weird. No, that didn’t happen to me. Are you maybe using the wrong conversion LUT? Like using a C-Log2 LUT for C-Log3 footage?
@@JoshBirman no no! Because my end/edited footage with Davinci looks perfect! Its just when monitoring with the lut applied
@@JoshBirman Even when using the phantom lets, the grading ones or even the monitoring version (made for atomos monitors)
That’s so odd. The only other thing I could off is that you maybe have HDMI View Assist turned on and the LUT at the same time, but that doesn’t seem likely.
@@JoshBirman I'll check that! Thanks
ANDYCINE C5 5.5 Inch Ultra High Bright 3000nit Touch Screen ($260) NOW ON SALE FOR $60. That's -77% off. *270g though
Dang! That sounds awesome!
Where
@@dronephotogeek it was on Amazon believe it or not.