External monitor

Definition

An external monitor is a display device that is connected to a camera or video equipment, allowing filmmakers and journalists to view their footage in real time with improved size, resolution, and color accuracy compared to the camera's built-in screen. This tool is essential for precise framing, focus, and exposure settings during shooting, enhancing the overall production quality. It can also offer additional features such as waveform monitoring, histogram displays, and LUT (Look-Up Table) support to assist in post-production color grading.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. External monitors often come in larger sizes than camera LCD screens, providing a better viewing experience for precise adjustments during shooting.
2. They can connect via HDMI, SDI, or other cables, depending on the camera's output capabilities, making them versatile for different setups.
3. Some external monitors feature touchscreens that allow for easy interaction with settings and focus peaking for more accurate focus adjustments.
4. External monitors can also display critical information such as frame guides, safe areas, and audio levels, making them valuable tools for cinematographers.
5. Professional-grade external monitors often support high dynamic range (HDR) content, which allows filmmakers to see a wider range of colors and brightness levels.

Review Questions

• How does using an external monitor enhance the filmmaking process compared to relying solely on a camera's built-in LCD screen?
  • Using an external monitor greatly enhances the filmmaking process by providing a larger and often higher-quality display compared to a camera's built-in LCD screen. This allows filmmakers to achieve more accurate framing, focus, and exposure settings during filming. Additionally, many external monitors include features like waveform monitoring and LUT support that help improve image quality and assist in post-production workflows.
• In what ways can the features of an external monitor contribute to achieving better color grading during post-production?
  • External monitors equipped with LUT support allow filmmakers to preview how different color grades will look on set. By using an external monitor's histogram and waveform monitoring features, cinematographers can ensure that they are capturing footage with proper exposure and contrast. This preparation helps streamline the post-production process as the footage is more likely to require fewer corrections if it is well-exposed and correctly colored during shooting.
• Evaluate the impact of external monitors on the workflow efficiency of a film crew during production.
  • External monitors significantly improve workflow efficiency by enabling real-time collaboration among the film crew. With a larger display visible to multiple team members, directors and cinematographers can communicate more effectively about shots, focus points, and compositions. This collaboration reduces the need for repeated takes due to miscommunication or unnoticed framing issues. Moreover, the advanced features of external monitors help identify technical problems earlier in the filming process, thus minimizing time lost in post-production.

Related terms

Camera LCD: The built-in liquid crystal display on a camera that shows the live view of what the camera is capturing, but usually offers limited size and quality compared to external monitors.

Waveform Monitor: A tool used in video production that displays the brightness levels of an image in a graphical format, helping filmmakers ensure proper exposure and avoid clipping highlights or shadows.

LUT (Look-Up Table): A mathematical formula used in color grading to map one color space to another, enabling filmmakers to apply specific color corrections and creative looks to their footage.