Desview has launched one of its latest flagship field monitors, and with it, the long list of specs you expect to find if you are familiar with any of its past models. It is the new Desview R7III 7″ Touchscreen Camera Field Monitor and it seems to be worth every bit of its price.
Coming at you with some notable upgrades and enhancements, this is a model you may not want to miss out on. It has everything the previous R7II had to offer, while expanding upon some of its strengths. Such as the many ways you have to power it. Giving you options and not tethers that can create handicaps.
The very first enhancement you see when opening the package is that the company did away with the drawstring bag and replaced it a semi-hardshell case. Adding a lot more protection during travel and additional space to store all of the accessories.
Something it has a lot of as you have most everything you’d need to get you started. Everything but a battery source (where it plugs into or plugs into the back). It even comes with a USB drive so that you can easily load your LUTs. Although there wasn’t one inside ours for some odd reason, it is listed as included on the site and it comes with the other models so that might have been a conveyor belt mishap.
The storage compartment in the case does have room for everything that comes with the monitor. So you won’t find yourself forgetting anything behind unless you failed to pack it yourself.
Beyond that, it comes with a regular HDMI cable as well as a Micro HDMI. So that it includes as many camera options as possible, right out of the box. It has a cold-shoe adapter so you can adjust the angle of the monitor, as well as an allen key for adjustments.
It comes with a dedicated power cable that features a 2-pin LEMO connector (monitor) on one end and a D-Tap connector on the other (your chosen power source). Just one of a number of ways of powering the monitor and definitely the most reliable.
Beyond that, there are some very basic instructions and a microfiber cloth for wiping the screen with when you get too many fingerprints on it. The instructions lack some depth as they only offer the most basic of information such as inputs/outputs and specifications. However, it is likely that the full instructions are located on the thumb drive that normally comes with it (like Desview models in the past). Thankfully, we know our way around their field monitors just fine.
The monitor features corners that are protected by durable rubber to guard it against bumps and other mild forms of impact. These corners also offer slightly raised protrusions in the plastic running around the display, so that you can place it on a clean flat surface without having to worry about the screen getting scratched.
This makes for a much better design since most of the models in the past didn’t offer any protection for the screen, sides, or corners. Forcing you to invest into a silicon cover (if they existed for your model). In this case, you don’t need any of that. You don’t even need a hood since the screen is so bright.
The bottom of the unit features a number of connections. Including a threaded input for a small tripod or a cold/hot shoe adapter. The latter of which comes in the box, allowing you to make use of it for mounting to your camera or rig while giving you up/down tilt control.
You get a headphone output so that you can monitor audio that’s coming down the HDMI connection and out the HDMI out to whatever you are recording to. This is for if you are using a record deck of some sort and not recording directly to the camera itself (Note: like most affordable monitors, this model does not offer internal recording). Of course, you are likely using your camera or record deck to monitor with, but you have this option in case your source of record does not.
There is a DC output (8V) that can be used to power certain cameras that support such a connection, allowing you to daisy the screen and camera to the same power source. Most cameras are powered by a battery, forcing you to invest into a dummy battery adapter to make use of something like this. But there are models that offer DC on the other end. You just have to make sure it matched the size of this output. There are also camera that offer alternative power connections, so this just expands your options.
There are two USB connections, including a USB-A for connecting a thumb drive to and loading LUT information and a USB-C which can be used as an alternative source of power to the screen. So if you have a power bank or V-Mount plate/assembly that offers USB out, you can make use of this.
On the right side of the monitor (when facing the screen), there is its own dedicated DC input that makes use of that 2-pin LEMO connector. This offers a nice snug connection that can’t accidently be bumped or pull out.
In order to disconnect it, the collar of the connector is spring-loaded. Forcing you to have to slide it up in order to release it from its connection. Making for a much more secure connection that the normal DC ports of previous models.
The other end of the cable has your typical D-Tap connection for V-Mount setups or similar that support it. If you don’t make use of D-Tap for anything, then that previously mentioned USB-C port would be the way to go.
The left side of the screen features your two HDMI connections. Your in is coming from your camera and the out is running to your external recording solution (ie, record deck) if you are using one. Else, you likely aren’t using the output for anything. Except maybe an HDMI wireless transmitter if you are feeding back to a video team running additional equipment. We do that from time to time if we are switching between cameras and recording everything to a singular external source.
In the center, you’ll find another thread input in case you are using an arm or similar solution to mount your screen. It does not come with one, so you’re on your own there (which is quite common).
The final side (top) contains your power button and three custom function buttons. Allowing you to save your settings to multiple scenarios that can easily be switched between. This is pretty straight forward and it is a little easier to turn this one on as well (a lot of their newer models are like this). There are no special patterns for turning it on with the button. Just a long press to turn on and a long press to turn off.
We do like the power button of the R7II better but that is more about aesthetics than function. We just think the previous button looked more appealing vs the more basic approach to this one. This one feels more “prototype” and not “final product”. This is just personal opinion through and does not affect the score at all as there is nothing really wrong with it. We are just snobby at times about the simple things.
Then you have the back side of the monitor. Just when you thought you had enough ways of powering the camera between its special connector or the USB-C port, you also have the option to go wireless (power-wise) by using Sony NP-F type batteries. You get two slots, giving you more of a boost over the typical single slot you find with most models (including the R7II, which also only had one).
So you have plenty of options when it comes to power depending on any given scenario. Personally, we like to plug into more dependable sources via cables. Camera batteries have become a lot more reliable over the years, but past PTSD from the older batteries that lost their memory too quickly leading to lesser charges have us paranoid usually to go that route. So we use V-Mount or comparable solutions for everything.
Then you have its awesome 7″ IPS screen with it’s 2800 nits of brightness, with HDR, 10-Bit, 100% DCI-P3 color space, and 178-degree viewing angle. The result is a crisp and colorful image that is both detailed and incredibly accurate without having to change anything.
Of course, you will likely find yourself tweaking a little. Especially if you are using this in between the camera and your source of record.
Performance
The screen itself is 1080p, but it can receive and pass on signals up to 4K@60. This is fine for a screen of its size as any resolutions beyond 1080p isn’t going to gain you much as it likely won’t be too noticeable. Which is the same reason most phones and other small-screened devices are still 1080p (outside of flagships).
Everything looks so nice and the minimal (to no) adjustments to match what the camera is seeing, is great. This is assuming you have dialed everything in already from the camera. If you prefer to adjust things from the screen, then you can set your basics and then use the screen for everything else.
The fact that the screen is touchscreen is an even bigger bonus. This is a must have with any field monitor these days. Nobody wants to bounce around between buttons as they make their way through menus. Touchscreen is much faster and efficient. And it is so smooth on this model, with shortcuts to screen brightness and volume by sliding your finger up or down on either the left side or the right. Or pinch to zoom.
You have so many tools at your disposal, like Zebra Lines, Waveform, Vectorscope, Histogram, False Color, Peak Focus (which is very bright and noticeable unlike some models out there), and many other options to pick from within its dense (but friendly) menu system.
You can choose which of these tools to display on the screen at all times or remove them as needed. It displays audio meters as well so you can visually monitor your audio levels as you go.
Our Conclusion
This makes for a versatile and mostly durable solution that just about any consumer, prosumer, or professional would enjoy having in their inventory of gear. If you are looking for something powerful without breaking the bank, this is a solid go-to option to get the job done.
The company clearly looks to be taking on companies like Atomos, while competing strongly against the other affordable options out there. Making it our second favorite name to Atomos (which says a lot). In fact, we could only recommend Atomos if you are dedicated to the name or require the option to record content from the monitor as well. For everything else, Desview seems to be getting the job accomplished for less.
Like everything else in the world, it has gone up in price, sadly. Moving from $249 to $289. However, it does offer a little more robustness and versatility. Not to mention the new case. This helps to justify this and doesn’t affect the score much at all for us.
Currently (at the time of writing this), it hasn’t made its way to most retailers just yet outside of AliExpress. But you can find Desview’s other products via Amazon here and can likely expect this one to hit Amazon too in the near future.
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