Which external monitors work best for the Sony FX3 cinema setup?

Question

ive got this big wedding shoot in like two weeks here in Austin and the tiny FX3 screen is just killing me so im trying to find a solid monitor before then. im torn between the atomos ninja v and the portkeys lh5p ii... my logic was that the ninja is basically the gold standard and i could record prores raw if i wanted to but then i saw the portkeys has that built in camera control which sounds amazing for focusing and changing settings on the fly. my budget is capped at like $600 so i cant really do both. i just dont want it to overheat or lag while im mid ceremony... which one handles the fx3 better long term?

WilliampUnozy · Accepted Answer

Honestly go with the Atomos Ninja V 5-inch 1000nit 4K HDMI Recording Monitor!!! im still learning the ropes but this thing is a total rock and fits your budget perfectly. The Portkeys LH5P II 5.5-inch 2200nit Camera Control Monitor has cool features but I love how safe the Ninja feels...

prores raw is amazing

doesnt overheat easily

super reliable You wont regret it!!

ANSWERS_999 · Answer

just saw this and honestly, you are totally overthinking the recording part! the fx3 already does incredible internal 10-bit, so spending your whole budget on a recorder is kinda overkill for a wedding. you need brightness above everything else for those outdoor texas ceremonies! i absolutely love the Feelworld LUT6 6-inch 2600nit Ultra Bright Monitor. it is insanely bright and way cheaper than the portkeys... you can literally see everything even in direct sun without a hood. if you want to save even more money and still get a fantastic screen, check out the Desview R6 UHB 5.5-inch 2800nit 4K HDMI Monitor. it's a total beast for the price and handles the heat surprisingly well! honestly, spend the leftover cash on some extra Sony NP-F970 Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery Pack spares because these high-brightness screens eat power like crazy. stay cool out there!

Cvety_xaEt · Answer

Austin in two weeks is gonna be a literal furnace, so you really need to be careful with heat management on that FX3 rig. Honestly, I would suggest skipping external recording for a wedding. The FX3 handles 10-bit 4:2:2 internal perfectly, and adding an Atomos just creates another failure point and more heat for your hand to deal with. You want a monitor that is strictly for viewing. The Portkeys control is okay but can be finicky during a live event. I wouldnt trust it when things are moving fast. If you want something that wont break the bank and actually stays visible in that Texas sun, consider these:

Feelworld LUT7S 7 inch 2200nit SDI/HDMI Monitor

Its cheap, leaves you money for extra batteries, and 2200 nits is the bare minimum for outdoors.

SmallHD Action 5 5.5-inch 2000nit HDMI Monitor

Much better UI and more reliable than the budget brands. Just make sure to grab a decent Kondor Blue Braided High Speed 4K HDMI Cable because the cheap ones will definitely flake out on you if they get bumped. Also, be warned that these high-bright screens eat through Sony NP-F970 Rechargeable Battery Pack units like crazy. If you dont have a big supply of those, you're gonna be in trouble by the reception. Stick to a simple, bright display and let the FX3 do the heavy lifting internally.