I’ve used a lot of different on camera monitors over the years but last year, my go to monitor has been the PortKeys BM5. The reasons why I used this the most is because it’s a lot more than just a monitor. I compare it to a Swiss-Army-Knife of camera accessories.
Get the Portkeys BM5 Touch Screen Monitor here:
B&H https://bhpho.to/2tQEGph
Amazon https://amzn.to/2FUg8yF
Amazon UK https://amzn.to/2FITARc
Amazon Germany https://amzn.to/35KihXZ
Adorama https://adorama.rfvk.net/QLkPP
eBay https://ebay.to/2FKaE9y
For the price this monitor offers a lot more than your average on camera field monitor. It’s obviously first and foremost a color accurate and sharp display. It is also super bright at 2200 nits and it’s a touchscreen display that can function as a remote control to different cameras and accessories.
Here are a couple of the great features:
-It’s super bright at 2200 nits
-False Color
-Waveform
-RGB Parade
-Histograms
-Vector Scope
-Focus Peaking
-Various Anamorphic Modes
-Can store and apply LUTs to your displayed image
-Touchscreen allows for quick zooming in to check focus
Perhaps the biggest feature that makes this monitor stand out is the fact that it can connect to most cameras via a camera control cable or through Bluetooth. Once you connect this monitor to a camera you can then control those cameras entirely using the touchscreen. Like I show in my video when connected to the Z-Cam E2 or the Blackmagic Pocket 4K camera it even allows you to change advanced in depth menu settings of the camera and creates quick access function buttons. In the case of the ZCam E2 I found this monitor to be a must have accessory like I mentioned in my previous post. First of all the ZCam E2 doesnt have a monitor but also changing the camera settings using it’s buttons takes forever. Using the PortKeys BM5 monitor the Z-Cam E2 suddenly turns into what I would call a Mini Red Camera where you have all the functions and assists right at the touchscreen.
If this wasn’t enough, the PortKeys BM5 monitor can even connect to other accessories like the various Tilta Nucleus lens control kits. Over time PortKeys plans on adding even more functionality to this already great monitor.
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DISCLAIMERS:
Some of my links have an affiliate code, allowing me to make a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thanks!
The opinions expressed in this video were not influenced by or paid for by any outside individual or company. I use and test lots of products that are sent to me or that I buy myself. In the end, I only talk about the products that I find interesting.
I am solely interested in “Reliable” and “Affordable” 5″ monitors. But, as soon as I find a new monitor, more people comment
that the monitor is not “reliable”??? I have
viewed half a dozen monitors and all of them have not been “reliable”???
Many things are reliable to a point. Including monitors. You will always see people complain about this or that not being reliable because those people are the ones that are not being careful with their gear. All technology needs to be used the proper way and stored / transported with care. I’ve heard people complain about iPhones not being reliable or Samsung phones not being reliable but those are usually the same people who drop their phones or abuse them in all sorts of other ways. Anything that is man made has it’s limits.