SmallHD Cine 7 Touchscreen On-Camera Monitor Review

When I was in the market for a new external monitor for filmmaking, I was immediately overwhelmed by the different options. Like many filmmakers, I sought an external monitor to provide great functionality, versatility, and professional image quality. After much research, I found the SmallHD Cine 7 Touchscreen On-Camera Monitor, a stunning portable touchscreen monitor with a beautiful image display that allowed me to bring my images to life as I’d never been before. Let’s explore the features of the SmallHD Cine 7 Touchscreen On-Camera Monitor and see if it will help you elevate your films to the next level.

What is the SmallHD Cine 7 Touchscreen On-Camera Monitor?

The SmallHD Cine 7 Touchscreen On-Camera Monitor is a high-quality monitor designed for professional filmmakers and videographers. For cinematographers looking to capture high-quality imagery with a wide range of features and a bright screen, this 7-inch touchscreen display is ideal. The SmallHD Cine 7 Touchscreen On-Camera Monitor can be powered by a battery or AC adaptor, with various battery plates available depending on your needs. Check out my other post on why you should have an external monitor in your kit.

Features

The SmallHD Cine 7 Touchscreen On-Camera Monitor features a 7-inch touchscreen display with a 1920 x 1200 resolution. The touchscreen is very responsive, allowing you to explore the menu and change settings in seconds. With a high contrast ratio of 1000:1, you can see fine details in the shadows of your shot and correct any problems on set.

The monitor also has a wide viewing angle of 160 degrees, allowing you to see your shot from almost any angle without distorting the image or causing color shifting. This video by SmallHD goes into more detail about these features.

Something unique about the SmallHD Cine 7 Touchscreen On-Camera Monitor is its diversity in inputs and outputs, featuring HDMI, SDI, and USB options. The variety of inputs and outputs makes working on projects of any budget level seamless. With this monitor, you can view footage in high quality and transfer files efficiently.

A considerable advantage of the SmallHD Cine 7 Touchscreen On-Camera Monitor is the ease of portability. Weighing in at 20 ounces, you can take it on the go and set up your monitor quickly. The SmallHD Cine 7 Touchscreen On-Camera Monitor also boasts a high resolution and contrast ratio, making it easier to see details in your shots, even in the brightest locations.

With wide viewing angles, you’ll be able to spot problems in your shot faster and fix issues on set instead of post-production. Often when you shoot in HDR, you’re unable to see that quality reflected in your monitor, but the SmallHD Cine 7 Touchscreen On-Camera Monitor excels at displaying HDR content. When color grading or in post-production, this feature comes in handy.

Since the SmallHD Cine 7 Touchscreen On-Camera Monitor is incredibly versatile, you can use it as your external monitor or even a director’s monitor. This monitor can customize profiles to add different settings like waveform, vectorscope, or histograms at the touch of a button.

Additionally, the SmallHD Cine 7 Touchscreen On-Camera Monitor offers 3D LUT support, focus assist, peaking features, and false color and zebra overlays. This opens up the SmallHD Cine 7 Touchscreen On-Camera Monitor to be used not only on film sets, but also for live broadcasts and all types of video production.

A bonus feature of the Cine 7 is linking with a Teradek unit. Learn more with this awesome blog article by Teradek.

ARRI & RED Camera Controls

The SmallHD Cine 7 Touchscreen On-Camera Monitor supports camera control over Ethernet using the ARRI Ethernet protocol for ARRI cameras. While you’ll need an ARRI camera with an Ethernet port and cable, you can control various camera settings directly from the monitor, including playback, start/stop functions, and iris control. Here is a video showing you how to set up your Cine 7 with ARRI controls.

For RED cameras, the SmallHD Cine 7 Touchscreen On-Camera Monitor features a RED camera control interface that allows you to control specific camera settings directly from the monitor. You will need a RED camera, a compatible USB port, and RED proprietary cable. Still, you can change camera settings, start/stop recording and adjust focus on your SmallHD Cine 7 Touchscreen On-Camera Monitor.

With the ARRI or RED controls, filmmakers can utilize their monitor to change their camera, quickly saving valuable time on set. This unique feature does come at a premium price of $400 more than the monitor itself.

Pros and Cons

Here’s my list of pros and cons for the SmallHD Cine 7 Touchscreen On-Camera Monitor.

Pros

• High-quality display:
  The Cine 7 features a high-resolution, high-contrast display of your footage. 
• Camera control features:
  The Cine 7 offers camera control features for both ARRI and RED cameras, which can save valuable time on set. 
• Lightweight and portable:
  The Cine 7 is lightweight and compact, making it easy to travel and film. 
• Multiple inputs and outputs:
  The Cine 7 offers HDMI, SDI, and USB-C inputs and outputs and versatility with other film accessories. 
• Focus assist and peaking:
  The Cine 7 includes focus assist and peaking features, which are handy for cinematographers and assistant camera operators. 
• False color and zebra overlays:
  The Cine 7 offers false color and zebra overlays, which can help you to achieve correct exposure levels quickly and easily. 
• 3D LUT support:
  The Cine 7 supports 3D LUTs, allowing you to apply custom color correction to your footage on set. 

Cons

• Price:
  The Cine 7 is expensive compared to other on-camera monitors.
• Limited battery life:
  The Cine 7’s battery life is short, which may cause you to invest in more batteries or alternative power options. 
• No built-in recording:
  The Cine 7 does not include built-in recording capabilities, which can be a deal breaker at this price point. 
• Overheating:
  With frequent use, the Cine 7 often gets very hot, which, when used outside, can cause overheating

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are the top questions and answers about the SmallHD Cine 7 Touchscreen On-Camera Monitor:

My SmallHD Cine 7 Verdict

The SmallHD Cine 7 Touchscreen On-Camera Monitor is an excellent investment for anyone looking to create beautiful visuals and achieve stunning results. With its high-quality display, advanced camera control features, and intuitive functionality, it’s specifically designed for professional filmmakers and videographers. Its compact design, portability, and versatility make it the perfect tool for filmmakers looking to unleash their creative vision.

I’ve loved using the SmallHD Cine 7 Touchscreen On-Camera Monitor on set, impressing directors and clients with its high resolution, high contrast ratio, and wide viewing angles. No matter what project you’re filming, from films to live broadcasts, the SmallHD Cine 7 Touchscreen On-Camera Monitor is an outstanding monitor to help you achieve the precision and accuracy you’ve been looking for.

Additional Gear Reviews and Resources

If you are looking for additional filmmaking gear resources and reviews, here are a few to get you started.

• Zoom H6 Handy Recorder Review
• Using an External Monitor for Filmmaking
• The 3 BEST DSLR Camera Stabilizers for Beginners