The SmallHD DP7-PRO OLED field monitor provides accurate color, rich blacks and an OSD/Scope system delivered through touch screen that will knock your socks off!
DP7-PRO OLED Overview
Let's take a look at the top features of the SmallHD DP7-PRO OLED field monitor:
First, it's OLED. Other than the casual visual comparisons that I've done between other LED field monitors and this SmallHD OLED colleagues Adam Wilt and Art Adams have written some amazing technological articles here on ProVideo Coalition that describe how OLED is far superior. Follow those links and read their articles – they're truly enlightening.
OLED works the opposite from LCD in that it's actually projecting RGB light directly instead of using masks and colored filters from white light to create an image. Black is actually black because there is no light emitting in that space, instead of an LCD mask blocking light, which looks more like a dark gray than black.
But for a quick glance from SmallHD's website for comparisons, it's easy to see how much clearer and brighter the OLED technology is – even in daylight.
Customizable 3D LUTS can be uploaded though an SD Card directly to the DP7-PRO. You can create your own LUT with DaVinci Resolve Lite or Adobe SpeedGrade and save them to an SD card which can be imported into the DP7-PRO so you can preview how a shot may look in the end – which is great when the client is on set.
Here's an in-depth video from SmallHD that shows how you can access the menus on the DP7-PRO and select the LUTs you wish and how to assign the Smart Keys to access them quickly:
Portability and power are key to a good field monitor and the DP7-PRO OLED is no exception. The model I've been testing has a V-mount plate on the back which I've been able to use my 11000mAh V-mount battery to power it almost exclusively as its so convenient and efficient. I've found that I can run this field monitor all day during studio or remote shoots and it barely uses up 50% of the battery power. And of course it comes with an A/C power adapter as well.
Here's a shot of my Sony EX3 on location with the DP7=PRO OLED monitor running off of a V-mount battery:
Specs from SmallHD Website:
| resolution | 1280×800 |
| luminance | 250 Nits (Will appear brighter due to high contrast) |
| diagonal | 7.7in |
| color gamut | 100% |
| contrast ratio | 10,000:1 |
| color depth | 8bit |
| viewing angle | 80º/80º/80º/80º |
| interface | 2 Scroll Wheels + Touch Screen |
| dimensions | 7.3in x 5.1in x .9in |
| weight | <1.2lbs |
| power consumption | 10 watts |
| inputs |
2 x SDI(BNC) 1 x HDMI (With Lock) 1 x Composite(Hirose Breakout Cable to BNC) 1 x Power(Input voltage 10-24v DC—locking Hirose connector:4pin) 1 x Stereo line in 4-pin Hirose *future firmware 1 x Mini-USB(for Firmware updates) 1 x Battery Input(4-pin Molex connector for battery plates) 1x SD Card Slot |
| outputs |
1 x SDI(BNC) 1 x HDMI 1 x 1/8” Mini Head phone Output *future firmware 2 x Built-in speakers *future firmware |
| sensors |
4 x Proximity sensors on front (for detecting users hands for intelligent menu assist) 1 x Accelerometer (Horizon indicator) 1 x Temperature sensor (to sense internal temp of DP7 to avoid potential damage in extreme situations) |
| user interface | 2 x Ergonomic scroll wheels in each top corner |
| physical |
5 rugged 1/4”20 thread points on all sides All ports recessed for protection 2 x Tally Indicators |
| signal types |
HDMI SDI Composite |
|
x-port accessory slot |
No |
| scopes |
Waveform (PIP, Full Screen) Vectorscope (PIP, Full Screen) RGB Parade (Full Screen) Histogram (PIP, Full Screen) |
| focus assist |
Intensity Adjustment Highlight Color Select Background: Color/B&W |
| zebra | 2x User selectable ranges |
| false color | Industry-standard scales + on-screen guide |
| frame guides |
Aspect Crosshair Crosshatch User-Defined |
| color controls | Yes |
| color bars | Yes |
| blue only | Yes |
| ui lock | Yes – Physical switch |
| smart keys | Fully customizable |
| ui | Help Text prompts |
Oh – and did I mention that the DP7-PRO OLED isn't made with cheap plastic?
(not that I'd actually try this test myself) 😉
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My God it's Got Scopes… and More!
It's no secret that I shoot a lot of green screen – mostly portable setups, and that's why it's imperative to get the shot right the first time as it's nearly impossible to go back and re-shoot if you're off on your lighting. And the only real way to measure your green screen lighting is with a through-camera scope to be sure your lighting is even and your camera's exposure is correct for the scene you're shooting.
When you're on a remote client location shooting a green screen of their CEO in their boardroom, chances are you won't have the luxury of bringing a ton of gear with you to scope your shot before hand. Having the built-in Vector Scope, Waveform Monitor and RGB Parade in the DP7-PRO OLED field monitor really help you dial in your setup before you have to bring your talent in.
The quick access customizable touch screen menu items let you quickly turn off/on any of the scopes so you can make adjustments to your lighting and camera settings on the fly.
Assigning the quick menu items and how the scopes are presented on screen (size, color, opacity) are easily accessed through the scroll wheels. Then it's a simple tap/touch of the screen to turn them on/off during your shoot.
I've found it helpful in the studio as well even when I've connected to the Blackmagic UltraStudio 4K to my laptop running ScopeBox as I can monitor different scopes on each device. I can also verify the validity of the DP7-PRO OLED scope by checking how close it reads compared to the ScopeBox or the Blackmagic UltraScope software from a Blackmagic Cinema Camera.
I've really grown to love this field monitor and not looking forward to sending it back. If you need accurate color on-set and rely on getting data in your face on the shoot, then even an MSRP of $2299 it's definitely worth every penny. It could very well save you a lot more in re-shoots and frustration in post in the end.
For more information about the SmallHD DP7-PRO OLED field monitor, visit their website. You can order the DP7-PRO OLED through Adorama, along with many other accessories available from SmallHD.
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Jeff Foster is a published author of several how-to books and training videos in the motion graphics, animation and video production industries and is an award-winning video producer and artist. Visit his web site to learn more about his training methods, tips & tricks at PixelPainter.com