I have been have mixed results with my LS3 and more so when I hire a cam op. I have a few experienced cam ops that I have been using for a while and I see they struggle sometimes to get exposure spot on with the cam in full manual.

Have any of you tried out external monitors with better success? I just ordered to cheapos and they will be here in a couple of days. I was curious and figured that since the HDMI output 4.2.2 10bit I could get a descent view for exposure variations. I plan to grab the Atomos Inferno so that I can record 4K 60fps 4.2.2 10bit but in the mean time I wanted to satisfy my curiosity and see what this little experiment will produce.

I just got lucky and bought a super cheap Atomos Ninja Assassin, and so far it's been a great help. That said, I never had any issue with exposure and focus on the camera its self.

I mainly got the monitor because I'm filming more and more interviews solo, so this way I can have it on a tripod between me and the talent and glance at it to check various things. I'm also planning on recording with the LUT baked in to save time in post - I know I'm going to put it on anyway, so let's just skip a step.

I do think this is a hard camera to just pick up and go. You definitely need some time to get to know it, but having a reliable monitor will definitely make that easier for any op.

If you like, I'm going to shoot some test stuff on Wednesday, so I can put up some comparisons. Let me know what you'd like to see out the recorder (LUT baked in or not etc.) Unfortunetely I have missed out on that 4K50p, but it's not something I NEED, and the 1080 50p through the monitor will stand up for sure, at least for another few years at least.

This is what I use:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01CQD5RD8/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Nice monitor for the price, clients like it and it has a number of exposure and focus assist functions that do help. I find that flesh tones get a little neon towards higher luminance levels but it's so much better than the LCD that I have it in the kit at all times. Battery life is good as well.

I've used an external monitor with the LS300, but found it useful only for framing and manual focus. For foolproof recording in the field, I recommend using J-Log1 exclusively, as its user controls are limited to setting ISO, white balance, and exposure. The most reliable way I've found to set exposure is by presetting the zebra to Bottom: 95% and Top: OVER. This enables you to see exactly where overexposure occurs, regardless of monitor brightness settings. The histogram is useful for confirming zebra readings and monitoring shadow exposure. I ignore the so-called spot meter, its percentage readouts are completely unreliable.

I only use an EVF with the LS300... Usually a Gratical X, to which I've added scopes and peaking. But occasionally the Z-Finder Pro, which is considerably cheaper (and I actually prefer, I like the bigger screen).

I've found that the secret to good exposure is learning whatever viewing device you're using through experience (although the built in LS options do suck)... Sticking an operator who is unfamiliar with the LS is a mistake... Give him the camera for a few days and if he's any good he'll figure it out.., That's what I do...

This is what I use:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01CQD5RD8/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Nice monitor for the price, clients like it and it has a number of exposure and focus assist functions that do help. I find that flesh tones get a little neon towards higher luminance levels but it's so much better than the LCD that I have it in the kit at all times. Battery life is good as well.

I bought a Feelworld FW760 to use with the LS300 and I like it. Hard to beat that price for a monitor that can accept a UHD signal.

Funny that this thread comes out and I just finished an On Camera Monitor comparison: http://go.spaceage-llc.com/OnCamMonitors. I've rented and used the Atomos Ninja Inferno for a video shoot with the LS300 and I love it. I would have trouble choosing between the Ninja Inferno and the Blackmagic Design Video Assist 4K, especially after the recent firmware update for the Video Assist 4K which added some nice features.

I would have trouble choosing between the Ninja Inferno and the Blackmagic Design Video Assist 4K.

Really? I tried a Video Assist 4K before buying my Ninja - not the Inferno, but the software/usability is the same. I much prefer the Atomos. Recording straight to HDD or SSD instead of BM's recommended SD cards is actually a lot cheaper, and easier to use, I'd happily edit straight off the SSD if I need to, but would worry about that with SD. The menus are nicer to navigate and you don't have to worry about remember which 'gesture' does what to get which menu up. All that and then being able to record with a LUT baked into an image if you want makes it a much better choice in my opinion.

Atomos is also quieter with the fans, lighter, and even though the screen is the same size, the Atomos is physically smaller, although a little wider.

Ok fellas I have made some adjustments to the LCD Screen to match my footage. It was off and I can see now why I was hitting and missing with exposure.

I got a 7" Monitor and I attached it to the LS3 and went outside to shoot. I found that the LCD screen was darker than the footage shot. How did I compare you ask? Good question! Outside in shot in Jlog1. I shot the grass, my truck, houses with the sky on the frame, houses without the sky in the frame... I took that footage inside and loaded it into PP. I first matched the 7" monitor with the footage in PP (I will list those settings down below for those interested). Then I matched the 7" monitor with the LS3 LCD screen. In Jlog1 the colors are a bit washed and that is to be expected. The monitor was connected via HDMI and when I switched to Log I saw the profile in the 7" monitor change as well. Here is what I found though. The HDMI has a better color output than what the LCD Screen shows on the LS3. The grass looks more to the green side in the footage in PP, but the grass on the LCD screen has more of a yellow tint which gives a bit brownish look. So I matched the LCD Screen with the Monitor and then verifying it by comparing to the PP footage I made these adjustments:

**The Time Code On LS3 Playback Allowed Me To Match The Same Frames In PP**

LS3 LCD Screen Adjustments
LCD Bright: +1
LCD Contrast: +1
LCD Backlight: -1

Monitor - Viltrox 7" DC-70 HD
Picture Mode: User
Contrast: 33
Brightness: 67
Saturation: 50
Sharpness: 50
Backlight: 70
Color Temp: User
Red: 128
Green: 121
Blue: 128

There was nothing I could do about the color tint on the LCD screen but I was able to accomplish what I set out to do. I found variance from the actual footage and the look of the LCD screen and was able to make the adjustments in Jlog1.

In 709 the colors are very close to a exact match with these settings. I will put together a video and try to show the differences from default settings and then to the adjustments.

I'm shooting a wedding today and I have confidence to shoot in Jlog and will see how things turn out.

Update: DO NO, I WILL SAY IT AGAIN, DO NOT GET THE VILTROX DC-50 TO USE WITH YOUR CAMERA. ONE MORE TIME - DO NOT GET THE VILTROX DC-50 TO USE WITH YOUR CAMERA. Although it does show what is in the frame, I believe that is the only use that it has along with peaking. Peaking seems to work exactly as the LS3 peaking. Color is way off and you can not adjust it back into place. The Monitor is a SD quality and will not give you the what you are looking for.

**The Time Code On LS3 Playback Allowed Me To Match The Same Frames In PP**

LS3 LCD Screen Adjustments
LCD Bright: +1
LCD Contrast: +1
LCD Backlight: -1


Just an update:
I shot a wedding with these settings last weekend and I did not miss all. My exposure was on point. I shot in low light where I needed to break out some light. I also shot outside during bubbles and remote pics.

One of the reasons I looked for a monitor with False color was to help with exposure. It makes the world of difference for me.

I recently did a quick video with my LS300 but did not have my Feelworld monitor with me and was just using the LS300 monitor and not only was the exposure off but the focus was soft. I'm really hoping they there is an upgrade that improves the monitor.

Hi Aaron,

I seem to have pretty good results using a cheap Feelworld 7" 1280p field monitor, but I've definitely noticed some exposure weirdness, curious if you or anyone else have run into this:

When I open/close the Menu, the exposure changes on the field monitor (hdmi out).

I always have my Ls300 set to JLOG1 and under LCD/VF settings at the very bottom, I disable the "LCD/VF 1D LUT" setting. This setting applies a LUT to your viewfinder preview. I find it more difficult gauging accurate exposure with the LUT applied to the viewfinder. Strange thing is, the HDMI output doesn't seem affected by the "LCD/VF 1D LUT" setting, unless the menu is opened. This might be a bug for JVC.

I opened the MENU repeatedly, and could see the LUT being applied and disabled over and over on the field monitor, but with no change whatsoever on the camera's LCD screen. Weird. It seems that the 1D Lut is ALWAYS applied to the HDMI output, unless you have the menu open. I also have my menu set to show over the HDMI (for using an evf). Anyone else messed around with the 1D LUT setting?

I'm sorry I would not be any help in this matter because I do not use the VF. I use the LCD Screen. I find the VF way to small for me to even use. I wish it had a monocular type of view that would make the VF larger.

I don't use the VF at all, either. This setting applies to both the VF and the LCD, and I'm referring to the LCD screen. (I haven't tested this at all on the VF.)

I use the VF when using an external monitor to conserve battery life. Frequently the client watches the external monitor and it's disruptive if I use the exposure assist functions that comes with the monitor. Using the LCD and an external drains the battery faster so I use the VF to take momentary glances to see if the zebra stripes have changed.

Really? I tried a Video Assist 4K before buying my Ninja - not the Inferno, but the software/usability is the same. I much prefer the Atomos. Recording straight to HDD or SSD instead of BM's recommended SD cards is actually a lot cheaper, and easier to use, I'd happily edit straight off the SSD if I need to, but would worry about that with SD. The menus are nicer to navigate and you don't have to worry about remember which 'gesture' does what to get which menu up. All that and then being able to record with a LUT baked into an image if you want makes it a much better choice in my opinion.

Atomos is also quieter with the fans, lighter, and even though the screen is the same size, the Atomos is physically smaller, although a little wider.

You were/are right. I bought the Video Assist 4K for my church and after using it extensively for 2 months I've believe that the Atomos line is just better in many ways. When I finally go to buy my own monitor I will be getting an Atomos Inferno.

I use an Atomos Ninja Blade with my LS300. I bought the Blade when I bought a Canon C100 Mk1 some years back. I sold the C100, kept the Blade and Zacuto C-Shooter rig and use it with my LS300. I primarily shoot HD and record HD to a 256GB SSD in the Blade. I record internally to SDXC 128GB cards as a backup to the Blade. I use the Blade's video scopes for setting exposure and color balance. I use the camera's LCD for focusing. I have user button 8 on the handgrip set for expanded focus and user button 7 set for focus assist. Attached is a photo of my rig.

Recently a client wanted everything recorded to rented Atmos Shogun Flames so I received some experience with the device. The Flames were connected by SDI to our cameras, a combination of LS300s and HM600s. Really, really nice recorders. If I get some more work I might get one.

However I ended up leaving the LCD open while filming the live events as accessing things like zebra stripes and focus assist was much easier with the function buttons on the body of the JVC cameras than the touch screen of the Flame which obscures the image while you are bringing up the menus. Not entirely convenient while filming an hour long concert.

The image is very nice but I was surprised how close it was the Feelworld monitor I posted a while ago in this thread. The same sort of saturated color with flesh tones. I didn't have time to do a side-by-side comparison but it struck me as a surprise.