With the many brands and product lines available for external monitors, such as those made by Atomos and SmallHD, finding the best bang for your buck on-camera monitor usually poses its own challenges.
Fortunately, a small company that goes by the name of SWIT has recently introduced another appealing offering – the S-1053F field monitor. The unit is so feature-packed that it’s worthy enough to compete with more established products such as the SmallHD Focus. So, without further ado, let’s take a closer look and see what the SWIT S-1053F actually has to offer for the price.
In a nutshell, the on-camera monitor boasts an LCD panel with LED backlight and 1920×1080 native resolution, 400nits brightness, and a contrast of 1000:1 while providing an excellent viewing experience that enables users to check and evaluate shots with ease. What’s more, the 5.5-inch display is also optically bonded. This means that the LCD is fused directly to the front glass, resulting in better contrast and less condensation and mirroring reflections.
The all-metal housing of the S-1053F, on the other hand, is extremely sturdy and well built, some saying that it’s even more so than the SmallHD Focus. Besides the durable design, the newcomer also features function buttons on the top and a mode dial for easy menu navigation on the side, allowing for quick access to various settings and adjustments.
On the back of the unit, you’ll find a locking HDMI input, in addition to an SDI input and output for passthrough capabilities. There is also a micro-USB port available for firmware updates.
Besides having a handful of options for camera inputs, the SWIT monitor also provides multiple options when it comes to powering the camera. With the S-1053F, you have the ability to use your own battery plates, whether it be a Canon LP-6, Sony NP-F mount, or any other battery type.
In terms of features, the S-1053F is packed with everything a professional filmmaker would expect. Not only does the monitor have the essentials such as magnification, peaking, zebras, markers, focus assist, and false color, the S-1053F even contains features normally found on higher-end rivals. This includes support for Look Up Table and various color scopes. Besides that, the monitor includes a foldable sunhood, an AC-DC lockable power adapter, and carrying case.
SWIT S-1053F On-Camera Monitor Highlights
- 5.5″ LCD, 1920 x 1080 full HD
- Optical bonding LCD panel
- Metal housing, thinner, and robust
- Peaking focus assist (dual color)
- Timecode, H/V delay, AFD, and scale markers
- F1-F3 functions: Input source switch, max backlight, waveform, info display, color temperature, timecode, zebra, vector, audio meters, histogram, false color, AFD, H/V delay, R/G/B/Mono, scale markers, color bar, audio alert, peaking focus assist, aspect ratio, scan mode, zoom mode, mute, freeze frame, flip
- Lockable HDMI connector
- Compatible with Canon LP-E6 battery and SWIT S-8PE6 battery
- Structure and power pins ensure a stable and reliable connection
- 5.5mm DC plug
- Sunhood and carrying case included
While the S-1053F may come from a brand with a more discrete reputation to companies like SmallHD, the SWIT’s product delivers some of the best performance in regards to field monitors. Not only are the images clear and easy to view on the optically-bonded screen, but the vast feature-sets embedded in the device provide users with all the tools necessary to compose the perfect shot.
[source: ProAV TV]
B&H Order Links:
SWIT S-1053F 5.5″ Full HD Waveform LCD Monitor with S-7003E Canon LP-E6 Battery Plate
SWIT S-1053F 5.5″ Full HD Waveform LCD Monitor with S-7003F Sony NP-F Battery Plate
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