Attaching a monitor with HDMI or SDI

Using these cameras, you can often take advantage of an external monitor for additional control. Remember, external monitors can offer features like focus assist, although we do have that built in now. We also have the ability to take advantage of things like false colors or overlays like waveforms and histograms that make it easier to see what's going on. On the pocket cinema camera, it uses a very small connector, and you need to go from a micro HDMI. So, I can go from the micro to a more standard HDMI connection, which makes it easier to attach to an external monitor.

Now, once you have an HDMI signal, there are lots of professional adapters out there, from companies like Black Magic, AJA and others, that go from HDMI to SDI, making it easy to attach pro video monitors. Remember, the cinema camera and the production camera do offer a dedicated SDI slot. You have that right on the side there, it is SDI out, and you can take that and run it over to a monitor. For example, I've done just that. You'll see here on the large monitor, I've run my cable from the camera into the back, and I'm monitoring via SDI.

This gives me some additional choices. For example, this particular production monitor from Panasonic, has the ability to bring up a waveform monitor. I can see blue, to make it easier sometimes to check focus, or other details. And, I can even go to a one to one view if I want to see the full quality. Now, other things as you're working will have additional overlays or options. This particular one does offer a very useful ability to see a waveform monitor to gauge exposure. And many smaller, portable HDMI based monitors or portable HD-SDI monitors do have several other tools designed for use in the field.

The other benefit, too, is in a shooting situation where you have a large set with multiple people on it, you can have a larger display. This way, not only do you have a better image for them to see, but you keep extra set of fingerprints off the back of the camera, making it easier for you to control things, and everyone else to see what's going on.