Used SmallHD FOCUS 5" On-Camera IPS Touchscreen Monitor with Daylight Visibility

2020-11-01T18:34:41

This screen is trash, you can't see anything during the daytime even at max brightness. The screen has a slight delay so it's definitely not for fast action shots. Very disappointed with this product. SmallHD failed big times on this one. I won't even bring the hdmi cable issue, you either buy flimsy the one smallhd sells, which is also terrible quality, or you trim or sandpaper already existing ones because the connection has such a tiny space, nothing fits in the port other than the skinny original cable.

Aram K.

2020-08-24T09:47:10

Monitor provides super bright daylight ViewSonic and sharp display. Lots of in monitor features and last on full day shoots on just one battery! Great purchase and will buy another in the future.

SCOTT N.

2020-08-19T05:28:55

Its simple and does a great job for the price, being able to pre load LUTs is awesome.

AUSTIN W.

2020-07-16T15:52:19

Love the monitor itself, but the micro HDMI port is so narrow that it really only fits the SmallHD brand cables, which I have had to replace twice, since they are not very robust quality (both stopped working under normal working conditions, likely due to cheap wire connections). I would much prefer to use a coiled HDMI 90-degree cable, like that of the Atomos Ninja variety, or really any cables of my choosing, but the port will not allow all the other cables I have tried.

Patrick N.

2018-12-06T09:00:37

Works well. Use to use. I can load custom LUTs, Focus Peaking, zebra, etc. Great little monitor. Light, small, really bright.

NATHAN C.

2018-08-08T19:25:04

Screen size is just the what you need very viewable in sunlight

KILO G.

2018-08-03T12:51:44

I've used an own a wide array of monitors both from SmallHD (the 502 and the 701) and Atomos (Shogun and Ninja Blade), and a Blackmagic Video Assist. I personally think the 5-inch form factor is where it's at as a balance between weight and usability. The SmallHD Focus is daylight viewable, has an amazing screen, and navigating with touch controls is like a dream. I use the Focus paired with an a7SII mainly for wedding and event coverage and it's perfect for quickly being able to know my color balance is accurate and my focus is on point. For larger corporate projects I hook it up to my FS5 with no issues to speak of. All of the little features of it really add up to something extraordinary that makes me end shoots with a renewed sense of confidence.

Andrew G.

2018-07-23T11:59:45

The battery and charger are awful. It takes about 8 hours to charge. Rediculous. Even ufo abductions happen in seconds

Arthur F.

2018-06-20T13:21:13

It is very usable in sunlight and it comes with a screen protector. It is well built.

Brian M.

2018-06-07T08:31:57

I love the overlays that you get with this. I bought this for my FS5 and FS7.

JONATHAN L.

2018-04-12T11:20:54

I've been wanting to have a monitor for 6 months now. Been watching a lot of videos online to see "cheap" monitor alternatives. Then one day I've shot with someone with small HD and i immediately fell in love. The build quality is superb. The monitor is responsive and bright. Im using it now for my a6500 (can power and prolong its recording life too), A7RIII and A7III. I am so happy I didnt went for a cheap ones and invested into a REAL MONITOR.

Harold A.

2018-02-11T06:39:17

I had wanted one of these for years but they always seemed directed toward video. When the Focus was introduced I was on board immediately and have been pleased. My first use was a very difficult shot that required the camera to be just inches off the desert floor. Lying prone among the cactus was impossible, but the focus let me compose and shoot with ease. On multiple occasions now, I have been able to compose with ease when using the viewfinder was difficult, especially when shooting high on an elevated tripod. Shooting the blood moon recently made the whole experience go smoothly. I had occasion to ask for technical advice recently, and Small HD were immediately responsive. My only complaint, and the reason for only four stars, is the unavailability of any owners/users manual. There is a small cheat card included, but detailed explanations of the product and its adjustments are unavailable. When I asked about this a year ago, I was told a manual was "in the works". When I asked just last month I was told a manual was "in the works". I think that because Small HD provides a lot of products to the professional community, there is an assumption that most people would know how everything works. There are many features I have toyed with, trying to understand their uses, but I have never felt I have fully exploited all this little gem has to offer. That being said, I recommend this product without reservation.

FRANK K.

2018-01-18T07:48:28

When using peaking on the Small HD Focus "5 you get a consistent static flicker ever couple of minutes while recording 4K I will do more testing with setting but so far but this problem is consistent. This doesn't affect recording to the SD card so I will deal with it hoping that a firmware update will fix this soon.

Jason S.

2018-01-03T16:15:04

At first I was a little sceptical about spending money on a monitor when I could think on another lens, etc. But found myself looking my productions with new fresh eyes. Finally being able to see details that I normally skipped or wished to be ok, since sony's monitors are not that good in sun light. Also the amount of tools included give a lot of confidence when shooting resulting in better films, less color correction in post, not losing takes due to out of focus, etc. In terms of the product quality, i have nothing bad to say about the product yet. Everything works as expected, the brightness and touchscreen works great. Totally recommend this monitor.

Emily M.

2017-12-26T08:04:38

This is an amazing addition to my Sony a6500. Not only do you have a better screen to look through, you get just about double the battery life for your camera. Super clean images, touch screen is great and all the accessories that come with the kit for an excellent price. SmallHD will be the monitors for me from here on out.

Douglas V.

2017-12-22T17:30:11

I received my SmallHD Focus a week ago and took it on vacation with us so I can shoot video during our family vacation. I got it out of the box, plugged in the battery and started setting it up right away. It was really easy to set up and start filming. I use a Sony a6500 and it works great for both video and still photography. Works great for run and gun video. The screen is bright enough to see outside in the day. I would highly recommend the SmallHD

Erick H.

2017-12-21T10:54:11

I no longer have to worry about my Sony A7sii running out of power now that I have this SmallHD Focus. Would be great if there was a easy tutorial on calibrating the monitor and settings to match my Sony display.

joey m.

2017-12-07T07:44:17

I've owned a few Small HD products and this one is a great value for the price. I actually prefer the Focus to my 501 w/ sidefinder. Bright screen thats perfectly good for daylight shooting outdoors.

Yves T.

2017-11-30T08:50:50

This is a fantastic Monitor to have on set. You will have a wonderful time browsing thru all of the on screen touch features. I highly recommend it and for the price - It's Perfect!

MIGUEL T.

2017-11-16T14:53:09

I recently purchased a GH5 hybrid Stills video camera. Coming from a proper ENG style video camera it was a huge change. One of the areas that all mirrorless and really DSLR camera need help is in the monitor/viewfinder. These camera are capable of solid images but slim in features in some areas. Nothing as frustrating as trying to get focus in 4k on a 3" touch screen. The Focus just makes the whole shoot less stressful. Decent size, lots of tools and good brightness. Your life just got a little better.

Allan C.

2017-11-16T09:18:48

Everything I could have hoped for in a reasonably priced monitor.

Ryan Y.

2017-11-05T08:02:21

I really like the customizable presets that you can access by swiping the screen. No fumbling for buttons. The high degree of customization is very useful. For example, using the continuously variable sensitivity of focus assist, I can precisely dial in the focus assist in flat lighting conditions when shooting subjects with not much texture. Then in high contrast situations I can dial the sensitivity back. This monitor is a great addition to my collection of video tools.

Paul H.

2017-11-03T11:43:12

Overall a good monitor with most of the features that people will find themselves using on a regular basis. Low weight and appears to be made of good quality plastic. Can feel a bit top heavy with an NP750 battery, so I may pick up a couple NP550 to reduce the weight a little more. Being able to power my camera from the larger battery is a noticeable advantage. Bracket is a bit different, but works well enough & is a decent option when you don’t run a cage. Would like to see a swivel for the base so it could rotate as well as tilt. Overall a good package when bought together as a bundle. What makes this a 5-star product is the OS. Very quick to use and adjust. Being able to swipe through several pages of info quickly is very intuitive. More importantly, I believe it is much easier/faster than turning different settings off/on within a page. Duplicating a preferred format across several pages, then having alternate settings on each page makes it much easier. I believe this would also encourage new users to view/use a wider variety of tools than if they had to individually activate them.

William M.

2017-10-09T09:25:24

Does everything you need.

Allendale C.

2017-09-01T07:55:21

Use multiple tools at once. Bypass preview LUT option for the scopes. Same tools as SmallHD's other models. Super bright. The SmallHD Focus is snappy, responsive and has every tool I expected and more. Evey tool size and opacity can be customized. You can have multiple pages of tools and switch between them with just a swipe, instantly. You also can load your own LUTS on an SD card. The last "surprise" feature that I thought was really great was the ability to grab screen captures and overlay an image to line up a shot with a previous. I bought the larger AB Sony battery and the Sony two battery charger. So far it looks like I'm going to get about 3 hrs on the included battery with my 5D Mark IV and about 5 on the larger 6600mah. My only disappointment was the discovery that it doesn't swivel horizontally. I thought that unit did that but it must have been the competitor's bracket. Still, very satisfied.

MEDIA I.

2017-07-26T08:56:29

Wonderful using two fingers to zoom in on the picture, get focus and then zoom it back out. No more wondering if you're in focus or not!!!! Love it!!! Picture seems bright but I have not used it out in direct sunlight yet.

TIM L.

2017-07-25T09:13:17

I've been using this monitor for several weeks now and I love it. It's easy to use, bright, and clear. I've used it mounted on my GH5, a Canon 100MkII, and a Ronin rig and it's been great for everything. I highly recommend the Focus. It's definitely the best monitor at that price point.

Stephen S.