The Poor Man's External Monitor Alternative (Poverty Rig)

The Atomos Ninja V is an external video monitor and recorder that delivers all your hopes and dreams. Unfortunately, it costs several hundred dollars. So, here's what I do instead.

By the way, you should check out Steph Davis at

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520

[matthewlivingston]

Awe. I thought you had figured out a way or found a product that records externally in higher codecs like the Atomas. haha

[NorthShoreBronco]

Ha, was just trying to decide what to do with my old phone once my new one comes in tomorrow. This is perfect. I run a Fuji XT3 but i'm pretty sure theres an app for it. Going to go download it now.

[Steph_davis]

Haha yes!!!! Welcome to the poor man's club my friend.
Also appreciated the George Costanza moments 👌

[DerbJd]

Peter McKinnon Incoming Call... lol "Pwattsup!"

[JayRazor]

I need the external recording for my a7iii tho

[TrainMePlease]

The imaging edge app makes you lose face detection. Is that not important?

[Bill-NM]

James, like the video, I'm a new subscriber. I love the idea of "poverty rig", that's just the advice/information a lot of people can really use.

Just wanted to say though... :)

That you are comparing apples to oranges...the Atomos also RECORDS (and of course has many other excellent functions) where the used cell phone is just a monitor (OK, with some camera control)...when compared apples to apples, a person can buy a decent monitor for less than $150 - and even less than $100. Of course that's still a LOT more than free, but it's pretty reasonable considering a person doesn't have to deal with wifi connections, the wifi delay, the small (dim?) screen of the phone, etc.

Or maybe use the phone right next to you for the control aspect, and place the dedicated monitor on the camera.

[gregwaugh]

Great idea. Does chew batteries though having both on wi fi.

[ragethesystem]

Are there quality external recorders that aren’t a monitor? I just want to bypass the 30 min recording limit on my Sony. I have no prob using the phone solution for a monitor.

[LucasAres]

hahahaha "My wife told that i don't have a budget for this" hahahhahaa

[AdventuresInVideo]

Gerald Undone is hidden somewhere in this video. Can you find him?

[PhillipRPeck]

This is a great tip. Although, it's worth clarifying that there are lots of monitors that don't record which are much cheaper than a Ninja V. For instance, the Atomos Shinobi. Still, several hundred dollars, but several hundred dollars less than a full on monitor/recorder. And there are even cheaper/older/used options out there, too

[RodosDay]

WOW afeature you've got since EVER in panasonic camaras

[luisoliveira.]

Great vid mate. I use this for about 2 years now, but that brings a major downside to me. The app cannot accept PPs! Really frustrating to me.

[achraftarik]

4:4:2 and 4:2:0 are chroma subsampling rate and have nothing to do with number of colors, you were basically talking about 8bit ( =16.8M) and 10bits( =1.07M). also the main reason of purchasing the Atmos ninja V is to record externally and not to monitor yourself. and that's that, unfortunately can't do in your phone.
so yeah we still need the atmos after all 🤷‍♂

[heyitslandry]

God bless you (for this video) 😂 great tip!

[GuiSchwertner]

For my purpose this doesn't work. Thought I was gonna get an external recorder alternative on this vid :p

[real]

James you need to answer Peter McKinnon’s call ... :)

[berlincoachdrivergoescreat]

O.k. ... now here is my trick for the even poorer fellow ... (spent it all on prime lenses) ( don´t have a son with a new smartphone) ... get a cheap UV filter and it works as a mirror (!). I can actually see myself in mine ( i. e. in my lens) and that way I can stay centered in the picture frame. Also you are actually looking where you should be, instead of at a monitor or at a flipout screen.

[JasonLorette]

I film on my iPhone 11 Pro, wish I could figure out how to do this with my iPhone 7+ as the monitor. :p