10 Best DSLR Camera Monitors [Updated 2021]
- What to Look for in a DSLR Monitor
- Best Camera Monitor: Ikan Delta DH5e-V2
- Best Camera Monitor: Andycine A6 Lite
- Best Camera Monitor: SmallHD 501
- Best Camera Monitor: FeelWorld 759A
- Best Camera Monitor: Blackmagic Design Video Assist
- Best Camera Monitor: Lilliput 668GL
- Best Camera Monitor: Marshall Electronics M-CT7
- Best Camera Monitor: TV Logic F-5A
- Best Camera Monitor: Lilliput A7S
- Best Camera Monitor: Ikan Saga
- Brightness - There’s not much point in having a field monitor if you can’t see it!
- Field of view - You don’t want to be corralled into viewing the monitor only from directly in front of it. A wider field of view gives you the ability to move around without losing the crystal clear view of the display.
- Resolution - The higher the resolution, the better. Field monitors are intended to give you a better view of the scene than your DSLR’s LCD, so a bright, resolute screen is a must.
- Size and weight - You want a monitor that is featherlight and small because you’ll be carrying it around in your camera bag and it’ll be attached to your DSLR as you shoot. The less bulk, the better.
- Monitor Resolution: 1920 x 1080
- Display Size: 5"
- Field of View: 160-degrees (both horizontal and vertical)
- Monitor Resolution: 1920 x 1080
- Display Size: 5"
- Field of View: Customizable
- Monitor Resolution: 1920 x 1080
- Display Size: 5"
- Field of View: 179-degrees (both horizontal and vertical)
- Monitor Resolution: 1280 x 800
- Display Size: 7"
- Field of View: 178-degrees (both horizontal and vertical)
- Monitor Resolution: 1920 x 1080
- Display Size: 5"
- Field of View: 135-degrees (both horizontal and vertical)
- Monitor Resolution: 800 x 400
- Display Size: 7"
- Field of View: 130-degrees (horizontal) 120-degrees (vertical)
- Monitor Resolution: 1920 x 1440
- Display Size: 7"
- Field of View: 70-degree (L/R), 50 degrees / 70 degrees (U/D)
- Monitor Resolution: 1920 x 1080
- Display Size: 5.5"
- Field of View: 160-degrees (both horizontal and vertical)
- Monitor Resolution: 1920 x 1200
- Display Size: 7"
- Field of View: 170-degrees (both horizontal and vertical)
- Monitor Resolution: 1920 x 1200
- Display Size: 7"
- Field of View: 178-degrees (both horizontal and vertical)
photo by Tzido via iStock
Best DSLR Camera Monitor
Given that today’s DSLRs have excellent video capabilities, it makes sense to invest in a camera monitor.
After all, having a larger, more resolute screen on which to see your sequences will help you frame up the perfect video.
But don’t think field monitors are just for videography - the big, beautiful screens outlined below also come in handy for framing up perfectly-composed still images.
The question, of course, is what are the best DSLR monitors? Let’s find out! We have a great article about best DSLR camera too on our website PhotographyTalk.com.
Table of Contents
If you invest in a DSLR camera monitor, you want something that will perform well and stand up to use over the years, not something that’s just so-so and will fall apart.
What to Look for in a DSLR Monitor
This being the case, you should look for a few specific features when shopping for a DSLR external monitor:
Below, I’ve listed 10 of the best DSLR monitors you can buy today. Each of the DSLR camera monitors listed below ticks all of the boxes outlined above.
Best Camera Monitor: Ikan Delta DH5e-V2
Key Specs:
I personally use the Ikan Delta and can speak to its quality and performance.
Not only is it small and lightweight, but Ikan has created a monitor that has breathtaking image quality - the HD screen displays an image that is bright, crisp, and resolute.
I really appreciate the touchscreen capabilities, as that makes exploring the monitor’s features, checking menu settings, and zooming an easy task.
Something else of note is that this camera monitor has a built-in histogram, guides, audio meters, false color, and peaking, so it’s loaded for bear to help you capture the highest-quality video.
There’s an HDMI input and output (with 4K UHD support), a 3.5mm audio jack, and a USB port that’s ideal for loading 3D LUTs.
Learn more about the Ikan Delta camera monitor
Best Camera Monitor: Andycine A6 Lite
Key Specs:
Another top option for the best DSLR monitor is the Andycine A6 Lite.
This rig has a polarized screen that offers 30% better brightness sensitivity, so it gets top marks for brightness.
Another primary feature of this DSLR monitor is that it comes with a handy swivel arm so you can position it precisely to get the best view - tilt it up or down and swivel it to the left or right as needed. The monitor can also be viewed in vertical or horizontal aspect.
This monitor has 4K HDMI input and output and is compatible with handheld stabilizers in addition to being compatible with virtually any DSLR. It also gets top marks from reviewers for having a beautiful color-neutral display with lightning-fast response times.
Other features of note include a histogram, embedded audio, zooming, false color, and a peaking filter, to name a few.
Learn more about the Andycine A6 Lite camera monitor
Best Camera Monitor: SmallHD 501
Key Specs:
As I noted earlier, one of the primary features to look for in a field monitor is size, and the SmallHD 501 certainly delivers on that front.
By far the smallest monitor on this list at 2.9 x 5.8 x .8" and just 7 ounces, this monitor is the perfect choice for photographers and videographers that want to run and gun.
But don’t think that because it’s small that it doesn’t pack a punch…
Reviewers note that the 5-inch screen is bright, punchy, and crisp. It has a user-friendly interface with a joystick to navigate the menu system. There’s also the option to create 8 presets to speed up your workflow.
This little guy supports 3D LUTs, has HDMI input and output, and has an anodized aluminum frame for durability.
Learn more about the SmallHD 501 camera monitor
Best Camera Monitor: FeelWorld 759A
Key Specs:
Like the other monitors on this list, the FW759 is thin, lightweight, and easily portable.
Though the colors aren’t as robust as on some of the other monitors listed here, it does have a larger display than most and comes with a sunshade to assist in viewing on bright days.
The display output is bright and crisp, and with a 178 x 178 degree viewing angle, you get tons of flexibility in terms of your positioning relative to the monitor.
There’s HDMI and AV inputs, focus peaking, a built-in speaker, and a check field assistant for inspecting colors. This model also comes with an articulating arm to enhance its usability.
Learn more about the FeelWorld 759A
Best Camera Monitor: Blackmagic Design Video Assist
Key Specs:
What sets the Blackmagic Design Video Assist apart from many of the other monitors listed here is that it has both HDMI and 6G-SDI inputs. That means you can use it with both professional and consumer-grade cameras.
Additionally, this unit records 10-bit 4:2:2 video at up to 1080p if you use a high-speed U1 SDHC or SDXC memory card.
The touchscreen gets good marks from reviewers for its responsiveness and ease of use for monitoring features while you shoot.
Speaking of features, you have a histogram, audio meters, time-code displays, focus peaking, and many other goodies right at your fingertips.
Learn more about the Blackmagic Design Video Assist camera monitor
Best Camera Monitor: Lilliput 668GL
Key Specs:
Another brand you might not be familiar with is Lilliput, but their 668GL is an excellent budget-friendly DSLR monitor that’s worthy of a good, long look.
Though it doesn’t have the resolution or field of view of the other monitors on this list, it’s 16:9 aspect ratio is particularly nice for video work. Likewise, the anti-glare finish on the monitor aids in making it easily viewable, even when shooting outdoors in sunny conditions. A sun hood is also included. This isn’t to mention the large 7-inch screen, which is among the largest on this list.
This unit has an HDMI input that supports most DSLR cameras up to 1080p resolution. The built-in battery offers three hours of use while the 6-20 VDC power source offers additional power options.
With a shoe-mount adapter included, you can easily mount this monitor on a DSLR or tripod as needed.
Learn more about the Lilliput 668GL camera monitor
Best Camera Monitor: Marshall Electronics M-CT7
Key Specs:
The Marshall Electronics M-CT7 offers up to 1920 x 1440 resolution on a large 7-inch screen, yet is still lightweight and portable - just what you want in a field monitor!
This rig has dual composite video inputs, an audio input, and VGA and HDMI connectivity as well.
There’s a rear speaker so you can monitor the audio, an Auto Aspect Ratio detect feature, color temperature adjustment, and the ability to flip or flop the image on screen.
It’s also powered by a simple DSLR battery, which enhances its usability while on the go.
Learn more about the Marshall Electronics M-CT7 camera monitor
Best Camera Monitor: TV Logic F-5A
Key Specs:
The TV Logic F-5A is a fully-featured yet lightweight monitor that offers a large viewing angle, high resolution, and supreme sharpness.
This monitor’s claim to fame is its peaking boost capability for pulling focus. Likewise, it has focus assist, camera logs, HDR emulation, and LUT import.
This unit is easy to use, with convenient control via a scroll wheel and three function keys for navigating through its menu structure.
You get multiple inputs, including HDMI and 3G-SDI, an audio level meter display, a time code display, vector scope, and much more.
Learn more about the TV Logic F-5A camera monitor
Best Camera Monitor: Lilliput A7S
Key Specs:
The A7S by Lilliput offers a large 7-inch screen like the previous Lilliput model described earlier. However, this model offers much higher resolution at 1920 x 1200.
The A7S offers 4K inputs and is compatible with UHD 4K with a 16:9 aspect ratio. You get a full HD display panel for crisp, bright views of the scene. Likewise, it offers HDMI loop through functionality, which means you can connect it via HDMI to other devices with an HDMI input.
Furthermore, Lilliput has included customizable function keys, a pixel zoom function, vector scopes, peaking, histograms, check fields, and much more.
It’s for these reasons that I’ve included it as one of the best DSLR external monitors available in 2019.
Learn more about the Lilliput A7S camera monitor
Best Camera Monitor: Ikan Saga
Key Specs:
Last, but certainly not least, is the Ikan Saga DSLR camera monitor.
Like the other Ikan monitor on this list, the Saga offers a beautifully bright LCD display that’s easily viewable, even in bright, sunny conditions.
The monitor offers HDMI and 3G-SDI inputs and outputs, support for DCI 4K UHD, a histogram, audio level meters, and clip guides.
Additionally, there’s a headphone output, peaking, and false color, as well as 1:1 pixel mapping.
DSLR scaling enables you to extend the HDMI video output to 3:2, 16:9, normal or full screen, while underscan constrains the size of the image so you can see everything the camera sees on the monitor.
Learn more about the Ikan Saga camera monitor
