{"id":92581,"date":"2017-07-13T10:46:09","date_gmt":"2017-07-13T15:46:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/?p=92581"},"modified":"2017-07-13T10:46:09","modified_gmt":"2017-07-13T15:46:09","slug":"review-small-hd-focus-monitor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/review-small-hd-focus-monitor\/","title":{"rendered":"Hands-On Review: SmallHD FOCUS Monitor"},"content":{"rendered":"

SmallHD’s 5″ FOCUS monitor will give your camera a big upgrade\u00a0without breaking the bank.<\/h2>\n

All images via PremiumBeat<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

SmallHD’s FOCUS monitor is a 5-inch, 800nit display with rotating capabilities that\u00a0might be one of the biggest selling points for anybody shooting tutorials, vlogging, or working without a\u00a0cameraperson<\/strong>. The FOCUS offers a bright display<\/strong> that eases shooting in the middle of the day or in intensely lit\u00a0circumstances. Let’s dive in for a closer look.<\/p>\n

The SmallHD FOCUS<\/h3>\n

\"Hands-On<\/p>\n

SmallHD calls this monitor,\u00a0“the monitor you can see outside.” So, I took the monitor outside in the middle of a 100-degree summer day in Texas and can report the screen works wonderfully in that regard. I’m shooting on a Sony a7S II, and its display isn’t really the clearest in daylight, so the FOCUS is an absolute must for visibility<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Clearly seeing what’s in or out of focus is a huge benefit. The Focus Assist and Peaking assists<\/strong> help a lot with color customization options<\/strong> \u2014 and they’re\u00a0easy to access. In general, the monitor is fairly\u00a0touch sensitive with a quick reaction time. The swiping-touch feature<\/strong> isn’t perfect,\u00a0but it’s still a step up from past SmallHD monitors that lacked touch screen capability altogether.<\/p>\n

SmallHD FOCUS Monitor Settings<\/h3>\n

\"Hands-On<\/p>\n

Aside from controlling the live image, the FOCUS allows you to toggle\u00a0your image display<\/strong>. The monitor is very\u00a0helpful for ensuring you get the exact\u00a0image you want, and it offers many levels of customization, including brightness, aspect ratio, image rotation, pixel zoom, and even\u00a0volume control<\/strong> for your headphones.<\/p>\n

There is a cold shoe mount on the side so you can mount a small LED light or mic, which can help balance the rig<\/strong> and keep it from becoming\u00a0too top heavy. There are also three\u00a01\/4″ 20 mounts on the top, bottom, and the side of the monitor for any other pieces of\u00a0equipment you’d like to add.<\/p>\n

If you’re shooting with Canon, sometimes the camera doesn’t\u00a0output the entire image, so the FOCUS lets\u00a0you scale up with these cameras (such as the 7D and 5D).<\/p>\n

One of the most enticing features of the FOCUS is the swipe feature for different setups<\/strong>. If you’re going to be shooting different locations and lighting setups, you can have all your custom pre-made settings<\/strong> ready to go.<\/p>\n

Using the SmallHD FOCUS Tools<\/h3>\n

\"Hands-On<\/p>\n

The touch screen allows you to touch-zoom in to check your focus and control the display<\/strong> by\u00a0adding crosshairs to help center and stage your shot.<\/p>\n

Each tool offers\u00a0a simple tap and swipe motion<\/strong> to toggle the tool on or off. Once you’ve set proper exposure, focus, and aspect ratio<\/strong>, you can swipe left or right to the next page to further correct and play with your image. By tapping the name of the tool in the top left of the monitor, you can\u00a0customize the tool<\/strong> by\u00a0changing the color of exposure and focus points. As far as touch screen sensitivity goes, it did feel awkward at times to use two hands to zoom in or out to bring up the monitor settings. That being said, it’s still an easy-to-use, small, touch screen monitor.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

As you can see above, the different pages allow you to simultaneously check the Waveform or False Colors<\/strong>, play with the histogram, and ensure\u00a0your subjects are in focus with the Focus Assist.<\/p>\n

\"Hands-On<\/p>\n

The monitor also comes with a headphone jack, so if you’re using the Sony a6300 or a6500, you can\u00a0listen to the audio you’re recording from an\u00a0attached microphone\u00a0instead of using an external audio recorder<\/strong>.\u00a0The monitor also has an\u00a0SD card slot for uploading your custom LUTs<\/strong> to the monitor \u2014 you can save these looks under Profiles.<\/p>\n

There are also preset LUTs on the monitor<\/strong> you can\u00a0work with. The SD card slot will accommodate\u00a0future firmware upgrades<\/strong>,\u00a0and you can save certain profiles to the SD card, saving time on your next shoot \u2014 especially if you need to run and gun.<\/p>\n

The FOCUS also allows you\u00a0to power your camera through an auxiliary out cable \u2014\u00a0<\/strong>which you must purchase separately. This is obviously a major<\/em>\u00a0advantage. If you’re working with Sony cameras (which are notorious for sub-par battery life), this capability will come in handy. In the same vein, if your camera is prone to overheating, using a dummy battery while the monitor powers the camera can\u00a0help keep your camera relatively cool<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

SmallHD FOCUS Price and Bundles<\/h3>\n

SmallHD sells the monitor by itself (including the micro HDMI and USB cables, cable clips, and tilt arm), for $499 USD.\u00a0You need to purchase an\u00a0L series battery separately<\/strong>, so expect to spend a little more on this monitor.<\/p>\n

You’ll also need to purchase an additional<\/strong>\u00a0$60\u00a0power\u00a0adapter if you want to power your camera with the monitor<\/strong>. SmallHD currently sells five different power adapters<\/a> for Sony, Nikon, Panasonic, and Canon cameras.<\/p>\n

The best deal SmallHD offers are the camera specific bundles, which are about $600 USD, an average savings of $180 USD.\u00a0With the bundle, you’ll receive an ANTON BAUER L series battery\u00a0(47Wh), a dummy battery with charger, the tilt arm, HDMI, cable clips, and USB cable. There are camera-specific bundles<\/strong> for whichever brand you shoot with. I personally recommend spending the extra money so you receive all the necessary products with the monitor at the same time.<\/p>\n

Side note<\/strong>: the cable clips that come with the base monitor option are an excellent way to manage the inevitable three cables you’ll need to\u00a0attach to the ridged back of the monitor.<\/p>\n

General Thoughts<\/h3>\n

\"Hands-On<\/p>\n

At first, I wasn’t completely sold on the apparent gimmick of the bright display and charging capabilities, but while writing this review, I went out on the town with my a7S II and quickly discovered why the FOCUS would be a valuable asset. Given the short battery life of my camera, giving the battery a longer lifespan<\/strong> is a major bonus.<\/p>\n

Aside from the obvious features that make this product stand out, the most notable is the size. For somebody like me on the go, traveling and avoiding\u00a0weight and bulk<\/strong>, you can keep your rig can minimal and fun to shoot with. So, what you’re getting for the price is well worth it.<\/p>\n