Best camera monitor and accessories for outdoor & field shoots

Filming outdoors comes with its own challenges. One moment, the lighting is perfect, and the next, the sun overwhelms the camera monitor, making it difficult to see the finer details. Rapidly changing weather conditions call for portable, lightweight and durable gear. And when you’re spending several hours waiting for the perfect shot, battery life is critical, especially when shooting in remote locations.

That’s where an external monitor makes all the difference. With high-resolution displays and ultra-bright screens, they combat glare, so you can view images clearly in different lighting conditions. For capturing landscapes, wildlife, live events, or documentary footage, an external monitor provides a brighter, sharper view of your images, making it easier to get exposure, focus, and composition spot-on.

Choosing the right monitor for outdoor filming

Atomos has a range of ultra-bright monitors and monitor-recorders, specifically to tackle the challenges of filming outdoors.

The Shinobi II 5-inch monitor features touch-to-focus and camera control for improved accuracy when filming on-the-go.

For monitoring and recording, the Ninja 5-inch monitor-recorder captures footage in high-quality formats, including Apple ProRes RAW and H.265. It delivers professional results while acting as a reliable backup to safeguard footage.

Both displays allow you to see footage clearly, even in outdoor environments. Their lightweight, durable design makes them easy to mount onto rigs and handheld setups, for a reliable and budget-friendly solution for field-based monitoring.

If you need a larger screen for detailed monitoring, the 7-inch Shinobi is an excellent choice, giving you an expanded view while remaining compact enough for outdoor use. Likewise, the 7-inch Shogun Ultra comes with built-in recording and cloud connectivity.

Essential accessories for your workflow

Choosing the right accessories makes a huge difference to the performance and usability of your monitor. Atomos provides a range of purpose-built accessories designed to support you in the field.

Sun hoods: Atomos sun hoods help minimize glare, so you can see your footage clearly, even in direct sunlight.

Camera mounts: Atomos camera mounts provide sturdy and reliable support, making it easy to combine your monitor with DSLRs, cinema cameras, or handheld setups.

High-capacity batteries: Atomos high-capacity batteries make sure your monitor stays powered throughout the day, eliminating the need for frequent recharges.

Accessory kits: Atomos accessory kits come with all the essential tools you need to keep your equipment secure and organized.

Explore how creators use Atomos for live streaming

Read how Ninja’s 8K ProRes RAW recording captured stunning high-resolution wildlife footage

Read how Shinobi played a key role in wedding filmmaking

Read how Ninja and camera to cloud technology simplified on set production of TV series ‘Bauer Sucht Frau’

Read how Ninja and Shinobi withstood Patagonia’s harsh climate to document the region’s rewilding efforts

Learn more in our recommendation series:

How to choose the right camera monitor for you

Best camera monitor and solutions for live streaming

Best camera monitor and solutions for multi-camera shoots

Best budget camera monitor