As a veteran video assist operator on South Africa, we use the big names in the front row of production: Small HD, Teradek, Arri, Sony Venice and RED. The SmallHD 7” is the go to directors wireless. It is linked directly to the camera.
The issue comes in that for playback, the director needs to go back to his big monitor to review shots. A year ago, I bought the Mars 4K transmission kit with the 5” handheld to see what it was like as a product. Yes, there’s compression, but not visible on a 5” high bright screen. Yes there is delay that would affect live focus, but it does not matter to a director looking down at the screen.
I have put out both monitors on my last 20 commercials, and within the first few hours of shooting, the director gravitates to the Mars. It’s light, has a wrist strap, frees up his other hand to direct, use his iPad, or whatever. And he has playback, without having to go back to his main station. It really has been a game changer. This frees up my SmallHD, with direct feed from camera, for the DP, who puts it on a stand with his iPad to control the camera. It’s a double win! I’ve had nothing but great responses from some of the best DPs in the world. Great picture, bright, shsrp and light. The NPF battery gives 5 hours of operation time.
The fact that the monitor is a transiever means you can’t bang it on an A7 as an operator and get a feed wirelessly with no extra kit.
I’ve also found that continuity love it too. What my TX on the back of the directors monitor, hd has the 5”, and continuity uses the HollyView app on her iPad, to record her own clips, take screen shots and make notes.
I think the app could developed further, and look forward to that…but all in all, it’s great bang for buck in this application. Highly recommended.