GH4 Best 5-7" monitor for under $300?

refocusedmedia

refocusedmedia

Veteran
I'm just now looking into getting one, and I'm finding it difficult to find info on which monitors have been confirmed working with the GH4's various formats. Also, I'm completely ignorant as to how the GH4 handles monitoring in VFR or 4K modes -- does it output a standard 1080p signal over HDMI when mirroring or doing playback? If so, then theoretically any monitor that handles a 1080p signal should work, right?

Any insight or help or suggestions would be much appreciated, thanks!
 
In terms of image quality the best I've seen from low cost monitors are the MustHD M601 and M701 models.

The GH4 allows you to control whether the 4K image is down converted to 1080 for the HDMI port. ( I haven't tried out the VFR feature yet, but I think it works the same way )
 
Ok, just read up on the downconvert option for 4K, so that's good to know. If my research is correct, the VFR is in a 24p or 30p container, so that should be outputting a normal HD signal when monitoring as well, right?
 
I have a good friend and colleague who just bought the 7" version of the MustHD. Him and I both have had Lilliput monitors in the past and he said the MustHD was a night and day difference. Better build, far superior menu options and greater image adjustment control. He was able to match the MustHD to a very close look to the LED screen on his GH4.

The resolution difference of the MustHD (1280x720) vs the Lilliput he had (1024x600) is better but the big quality difference was the contrast and clean image the MustHD has. Now a newer IPS Lilliput monitor may be much better as well but the MustHD really tries to add pro features like the HDMI cable lock and great menu control.

By the way the external remote for the MustHD can be programmed for any of the menu options and is a nifty little tool to have so you don't have to always touch the monitor. My friends set one of the buttons to 1:1 pixel mode so he can quickly check focus. By the way this feature alone is better than the Lilliput. Both have this feature but the Lilliput screen goes blue for five seconds while the MustHD switches almost instantly.

Considering I don't use an external monitor as much I was never really planning on upgrading from my Lilliput but based on his feedback I am really considering getting a MustHD now. Still not sure how often I will use it but it really is a much better monitor.
 
I got the VS-3 from Aputure Imaging because it has a built in histogram and I HATE how the GH4's histogram times out. The VS-3 also has 16:9, 1.85:1 and 2.35:1 frame guides and HDMI loop through along with peaking and the other standard stuff. The frame guides are important to me because I am often asked for widescreen output. The HDMI loop through is handy because it eliminates a splitter to send a signal to the wireless video transmitter for the director's monitor. An added bonus is it has a powered mini USB port that will power the Paralinx transmitter. A Sony NP-F970 battery will power the monitor and Paralinx for about 2 hours. I have been very happy with the purchase.
 
MustHD also makes a 5.6" with 1280x800 IPS that's a bit lighter I see. I am trying to go as light as possible, if possible.

So far a used Lilliput 664 looks promising, or a new Marshall CT5 or CT6.
 
To me, a monitor must have waveform, zebras, peaking etc. - I am a bit surprised that people strongly recommend a monitor, and then it transpires that the monitor doesn't do these basic functions. Weird. Anyone know of a under $500 monitor that has such basic functions and also decent resolution, brightness etc.?
 
OldCorpse said:
To me, a monitor must have waveform, zebras, peaking etc. - I am a bit surprised that people strongly recommend a monitor, and then it transpires that the monitor doesn't do these basic functions.
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Waveform is not a basic function, so it will be a rare thing to find it in a low cost monitor. ( two years ago I paid almost $800 for a Marshall V-LCD70MD monitor, just to get something half decent with a waveform display )

OldCorpse said:
Anyone know of a under $500 monitor that has such basic functions and also decent resolution, brightness etc.?
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Most of these features ( no waveform, monochrome edge-outline focus peaking ) are available in the MushHD M601 and M701 monitors I mentioned previously.

For me the main reason for using a field monitor is to see a large sharp image with good color ( so I can frame an focus properly ) that is reasonably accurate in terms of exposure. ( everything else is non-essential, but nice to have )
 
OldCorpse said:
To me, a monitor must have waveform, zebras, peaking etc. - I am a bit surprised that people strongly recommend a monitor, and then it transpires that the monitor doesn't do these basic functions. Weird. Anyone know of a under $500 monitor that has such basic functions and also decent resolution, brightness etc.?
Click to expand...

Can you see where you are walking with you nose so high in the air? ahhaahahha!

The GH4s lCD is incredible. I got this second monitor for an ac to pull or for a director to look at. For $230 and giving my old 60d batteries purpose, it can't be beat. Just my 3 cents.
 
refocusedmedia said:
Does it work in all modes? Does it work for VFR? Any playback issues?
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It works for the C4K 24 perfectly. I was worried about that setting. From the little I have tested the monitor, it has been a dream to use.

I'll test it for VFR and playback tonight.

I also grabbed the right angle micro-hdmi to hdmi made by atomos. A must have IMO.
 
refocusedmedia said:
Does it work in all modes? Does it work for VFR? Any playback issues?
Click to expand...

Larry, this Marshall Electronics M-CT508 5" monitor is only 800 x 480 resolution. I have something similar of the same res from SWIT. You do not want this for a 4k camera even though its downressed to 1080. Get at least those at 1280x800 or nearer.

It would be hard to gauge focus sharpness on a monitor this type, especially when you planned to get fast lenses for shallow dof.

It was ok to use these 800x480 monitors when using it with older canon dslrs like 5D or 7D or your old 60D as they were soft to start with. But with a 4K camera, it would be a bad investment. Stick with a monitor that at least has HD native res.
 
Ted, thanks for your input. We still need to get together sometime.

My plan was to have it close to the eye.. like a little further back than the Zacuto Gratical EVF. Do you think that would help or do you still feel that it wouldn't be sufficient?
 
No Larry, a low res monitor will not be sharper when held close to your eye. It will just show you the pixels/lines.
My 800x480 was side by side with a smallHD 5.6" monitor at 1280x800 and the small hd was clearly sharper. With an 800x480 res, what you think is sharp will come to bite you when you view it on a large monitor in post.

Just go for a higher res monitor even if it doesnt have the bells and whistles, like peaking, zebras and such because the GH4 has these and it is relayed to your external monitor.
 
I don't care about bells & whistles, I care about weight more than anything or rather, the lack thereof.

So basically I need to find the lightest 7" monitor with 1024x600 or 1280x800 resolution that works with all GH4 modes.
 
refocusedmedia said:
MustHD also makes a 5.6" with 1280x800 IPS that's a bit lighter I see. I am trying to go as light as possible, if possible.

So far a used Lilliput 664 looks promising, or a new Marshall CT5 or CT6.
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I am considering getting the 5.6" version as well for the small size. Only concern is the lower contrast rating compared to the 7" version. Can be a big deal when trying to judge quality. I may still get the 5.6" because I already have a crappy Lilliput that is 7" and it is very big and very heavy.

In terms of screen type make sure you get an IPS screen. This screen type is vastly superior to regular TFT LCD displays like the older Lilliputs use. MustHD uses very high quality IPS panels (same display technology used in iPhones and iPads).

Also keep in mind no monitor manufacturer builds their panels. They all OEM them from a handful of manufacturers. This is true for SmallHD and others as well. What makes certain monitors stand out is which OEM panel they use and how well they implement features into the software. For all I know SmallHD and MustHD could very well be using the exact same OEM panel since they have identical specs. I'm talking about the IPS version of SmallHD and not their OLED versions.

Personally I'm not a fan of the OLED SmallHD monitor because it gives false blacks. Sure it looks super contrasty but thats not exactly how your video looks. IPS to me seems to be a bit more realistic and accurate.

One last thing about the 5.6" version. It only has 6 bit color compared to the 7" version which is 8 bit. This means the 7" is a lot more accurate at displaying color.
 
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refocusedmedia said:
So basically I need to find the lightest 7" monitor with 1024x600 or 1280x800 resolution that works with all GH4 modes.
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Yes, also there might be smaller ones than 7", and be sure it works in ALL modes especially those in 4k or UHD. My old SWIT monitor for instance, does not work in 4k/UHD at 24P only at 30P. I would think that most current monitors would now take in HD and FullHD at various modes but its still best to know for sure before making a purchase.
 
Thomas Smet said:
Personally I'm not a fan of the OLED SmallHD monitor because it gives false blacks. Sure it looks super contrasty but thats not exactly how your video looks. IPS to me seems to be a bit more realistic and accurate.
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This is also my observation with the older smallhd 5.6". That the colors I see were not right, though it might not have been calibrated, I'm not sure.
 
One other thing to point out about the MustHD. It actually works with native 24p HDMI output. Some monitors can only take in a 60i signal. MustHD like the SmallHD will take in native 24p. Lilliput I believe limits the input formats.
 
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