Portkeys has announced its new LH7C, a lightweight and feature-rich 7″ on-camera monitor that offers camera control capabilities. As well as having HDMI input/output ports, wired camera control can now be done via a new TA03Y USB-C/HDMI two-in-one cable.
Key features
- 7-inch, 10-bit (8+2 FRC) panel with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 and a 1000:1 contrast ratio.
- Daylight-viewable with a maximum brightness of 1,000nits.
- Supports input resolutions up to DCI 4K at 30P and 1080P60.
- Powered by MOVNORM OS.
- Professional monitoring tools: Waveform, Anamorphic, Peaking, ARRI False Color.
- Four user-assignable function buttons.
- Built-in Sony NP-F style battery plate. Low power draw of only 8W.
- Customized peaking range (Peaking Frame).
- Custom JPG picture custom freeze frame.
- Custom rectangular image crop.
- Lightweight: only 245g/8.6oz.
Display
The Portkeys LH7C features a 7.0” LCD touchscreen with a claimed brightness of 1,000nits, a contrast ratio of 1,000:1, and a viewing angle of 170°. The resolution of the screen is 1920 x 1080, and it provides 100% coverage of the Rec.709 color space.
The LH7C utilizes a 10-bit (8+2 FRC) panel that Portkeys claims ensures accurate color reproduction and eliminates banding. 10-bit (8+2) is commonly used on smaller-sized, affordable monitors. In saying that, you should clearly know that no panels with true 10-bit color exist in this size. Instead, everyone just uses dithering to achieve the 10-bit target. 10-bit (8+2) is pretty much imperceptible to 99% of people
FRC stands for Frame Rate Control Technology, and an 8+2 FRC panel is basically a way of trying to approximate the color reproduction of a true 10-bit panel. A true 10-bit monitor can display 1024 shades of color, whereas a 10-bit (8+2 FRC) panel can only truly display 256 shades. So what a 10-bit (8+2 FRC) panel does is artificially create in-between shades of color by quickly shifting the pixels to go between certain shades of colors.
For example, you would show the main shade of one color for 75% of the time and then another one for 25% of the time. This creates an illusion for the viewer that they are actually seeing more colors than what can actually be displayed.
8+2 FRC can be very hard to distinguish from an actual 10-bit panel. As I already mentioned, most people couldn’t tell the difference between an 8+2 or a true 10-bit display.
Wired Camera Control
The LH7C enables wired camera control for select Sony, Canon, and Panasonic models using the new TA03Y USB-C/HDMI combo cable that is included with the monitor.
The TA03Y is an ultra-thin (2.5 mm diameter only) two-in-one video and camera control cable supporting resolutions up to 8K. It features HDMI and USB-C connectors on the camera side and a single HDMI connector on the LH7C side, combining video and camera control in a single cable.
The LH7C supports the operation of various Sony, Canon, and Panasonic cameras. It is compatible with well-known models, including the Sony FX3/FX30, the A7S III/A7 IV/A7V/A9 III mirrorless cameras; the Canon EOS R1, R5 Mark II, R6 Mark III; and Panasonic S1/S1R and S5II/S5IIX.
Once connected, users can adjust key camera parameters directly on the LH7C touchscreen, including ISO, aperture, shutter speed, white balance, AF mode, and recording. The LH7C also allows users to change the focus area with a tap on the screen
Currently only available for Sony users, the Portkeys LH7C introduces a new autofocus feature: Focus Tracking Frame. This feature allows users to select and move the camera’s tracking frame box directly on the monitor’s touchscreen. Other brands will be supported in the near future via a free firmware update.
Size & Weight
The LH7C measures 17.6 x 10.3 x 1.8cm / 6.93 x 4.08 x 0.72″ and it weighs 245g / 8.64 oz. This makes the LH7C one of the thinnest and lightest 7-inch monitors available.
Inputs & Outputs
Unlike a lot of monitors, the Portkeys LH7C has its HDMI input and output ports located at the bottom of the monitor. The monitor supports input resolutions up to DCI 4K at 24P and 1080P60.
There is also a 3.5mm headphone output and a USB-A port that allows users to load up to 20 custom LUTs into the monitor and save freeze-frame images onto the included mini USB stick.
Power
The LH7C has a low power draw of only 8W and can be powered via the built-in Sony L-Series battery plate or via the DC 7-24V 5.5mm barrel connector at the bottom.
Mounting Points
The LH7C comes with multiple 1/4”-20 mounting points with anti-twist grooves at the bottom, left, and right sides. It is nice to see multiple mounting points, as a lot of affordable monitors only come with one. Portkeys also includes a 360 ball mount in the kit.
User Interface
As well as having touchscreen capabilities, the monitor has four user-assignable function buttons on the top, as well as a main menu/UI lock switch, a power switch, and a battery release button.
The LH7C runs on MOVNORM OS, and it includes monitoring tools such as:
- Log Stops: unique to Portkeys monitors, this advanced exposure-monitoring tool uses the camera’s light-stop data. The LOG signal is automatically identified and divided into multiple exposure level zones. Each exposure level can be displayed in a customized mode (false color or zebra) and enabled or disabled. The current version supports Sony LOG auto-recognition matching. LOG auto-recognition matching for other brands will be updated in future firmware.
- 3D LUT monitoring with HDMI output capabilities. Up to 20 custom LUTs can be loaded via the USB-A port.
- Anamorphic image de-squeeze with 10 standard aspect ratios, including 1.33x, 1.5x, 1.8x, and 2.0x, as well as custom ratios from 0.25x to 4.0x.
- Freeze Frame feature: allows users to save a frame to a USB stick and compare it with the current image signal.
- Vertical extension: when shooting in portrait mode, the lower section of the image can be elongated. The stretch leg tool can also be output through HDMI.
- Focus tools include peaking, custom peaking frame, and gesture zooming functions.
- Image analysis and exposure tools, including RGB and Luma Waveform, Luma Histogram, Zebra, and customizable False Color with 13 different colors, including ARRI False Color.
- Framing tools: crosshair, check field, guides, grids, rectangle crop.
- Audio meters.
- Monitor adjustments: backlight, contrast, color temperature, sharpness, chroma, brightness, tint, HDR/HLG, and image flip (H/V).
Pricing & Availability
The Portkeys LH7C comes with a safety box, sunshade, MH-2 coldshoe mount, mini USB stick, screen wipe, two screen protectors, and the TA03Y video control cable.
The Portkeys LH7C is now available for $249 USD.
Specifications
