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Portkeys has released 3 new monitors: the LH7P Wireless Camera Control Monitor for Sony & Blackmagic cameras for $349, the BM7IIDS Wireless Camera Control Monitor for $899, and the MT22DS Dual Screen Cinema Production Monitor for $1749. All 3 monitors will be presented at the NAB show in Las Vegas. Let’s have a closer look!
Portkeys, a Chinese manufacturer of monitors, EVFs, and other film accessories, is known for creating innovative on-camera monitors with aggressive price/feature ratios. Good examples are the Portkeys BM5 III WR which can control a RED Komodo, and their LH5PII monitor, which is under $400 and also supports camera control. Another example would be the Portkeys PT5 5″ on-camera monitor that retails for just $125.
Let’s start with the LH7P monitor that handles HDMI input/output signals only. It is a 7″ 1920×1080 touchscreen on-camera monitor with built-in Wi-Fi that allows you to wirelessly control Sony and Blackmagic cameras. Connecting to the camera’s generated Wi-Fi network lets you control specific camera parameters. We are only talking about wireless camera control, not wireless video transmission. For a video signal, you will still need a cable between your camera and the monitor.
If you are using a Sony A7 III, A7 IV, A7S III, A1, A9 II, RX10, A7C, FX3, FX30, or A9 II, you can control REC, Iris, ISO, Shutter, Color Temperature, White Balance, EV, Focus Areas, Single Focus, and Exposure Mode.
If you are using a Blackmagic camera like the BMPCC 4K, 6K, or 6K Pro, you can connect via Bluetooth to enable camera control features like REC, Iris, ISO, Resolution, Auto Exposure, Shutter, White Balance, Mode Selection, Off Speed Recording, Project Frame Rate, Codec and Quality, and Off Speed Frame Rate.
The monitor weighs only 236 g / 8,3 oz, has a brightness level of 1000nits, a contrast ratio of 1000:1, and it covers 100% of Rec.709. Unfortunately, the Portkeys LH7P has only HDMI in and out, and no SDI. It draws 9W, you can power it with any Sony NP-F style battery, and it is available in black or white.
The Portkeys LH7P also packs some handful features, such as:
The BM7IIDS is a 7″ 1920×1080 on-camera monitor with 2200nits – more than 2 times brighter than the LH7P monitor. It comes with a single HDMI input that supports signals up to 1080p60, 1x HDMI output, dual SDI input (up to 1080p60), and 1x SDI output. You can perform a signal cross-conversion between HDMI and SDI connectors in any direction, so there is no longer a need for an external conversion box.
It has a built-in Wi-Fi module that allows wireless control with RED, Sony and Blackmagic cameras. Canon, Panasonic and Z-CAM cameras can benefit from wired control using LANC cables, multi-control cables, or USB-C cables. Again, this is not a wireless video signal transmission tool, it is only a camera control feature.
Adjustable wireless camera features include REC, Iris, ISO, Shutter, Color Temperature, White Balance, EV, Focus Areas, and Single Focus for Sony cameras such as the A7 III, A1, A9 II, A7C, FX3, A7S III, A7 IV, RX10, FX3, and FX30.
As with the LH7P monitor, the BM7IIDS has the same custom freeze frame feature for match cuts, 3D LUT HDMI output, anamorphic lens calibration, customized peaking range, custom rectangular image crop, and brightness and RGB signal detection before and after loading 3D LUTs. Additionally, it has a false color and ARRI false color feature with customizable overexposure and underexposure IRE scales.
Other additional features include the following:
The MT22DS monitor features a 21,5″ 1920×1080 display with a brightness of 1000nits and a contrast ratio of 1000:1. It covers 100% of Rec.709 and it features two SDI and single HDMI in/out ports with the ability for a signal cross-conversion between HDMI and SDI connectors in both directions. Also, it packs two 48V XLR phantom audio embedded SDI output connectors, two 12-24V DC inputs, a USB-A, and a headphone output jack. The monitor supports 3D LUTs, which must be loaded via a USB stick and an optional Vesa mount is also available.
As with the BM7IIDS monitor, it has the same split-screen monitoring features, custom freeze frame feature for match cuts, 3D LUT HDMI output, anamorphic lens calibration, customized peaking range, custom rectangular image crop, brightness and RGB signal detection before and after loading 3D LUTs. It also has a false color and ARRI false color feature with customizable overexposure and underexposure IRE scales.
Other features include:
If you are planning on heading to this year’s NAB Show, these 3 new Portkeys monitors will make their debut in Las Vegas. Pricing is as follows:
For more information, please visit Portkeys’ website.
What do you think about these new Portkeys budget-friendly monitors? Would you like to use them to control your camera? What features are most interesting to you? Don’t hesitate to let us know in the comments below!
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Jürgen Moors is a freelance filmmaker based in Vienna Austria. As a pilot he is passionate about all sorts of aerial photography, but he is also working on the ground as a production manager, producer, director, editor and camera operator. Jürgen has over 35 years of experience in several departments in the film business.