Feelworld, a Shenzhen-based company who’s name I assume is derived from the fact that they produce touch screen monitors, has had a lot of interesting and enticing offerings hitting the display market lately.
With various models loaded with professional features, in sizes ranging from 4.5 – 21.5”s, Feelworld is really taking the low-mid tier price range for production displays by storm. Just a few years ago it was impossible to find a field monitor that offered the tools, quality, clarity, and brightness that Feelworld promises.
But does the Feelworld LUT6S live up to the specs or would this $389 ultra-bright monitor crumble under the stresses of a production environment? Fenchel & Janisch walks us through the positives and negatives of what sounds like the on-camera display we’ve all been waiting for!
Feelworld LUT6S Key Features
- 2600nit Daylight Viewable
- Up to 4K 30P Input
- Full HD 1920 x 1080
- 160° viewing angle
- IPS Touch Screen Panel
- SDI IN/OUT
- HDMI IN/OUT
- Auxiliary Power Out
- Professional Tools
- RGB Parade
- VectorScope
- Histogram
- Focus Peaking
- False Colors
- Zebras
- Anamorphic Mode (1.25x, 1.33x, 1.5x, 2.0x)
- Image Zoom
- Image Flip
- Price $389
We’ve talked about Feelworld’s monitors several times in the past, and even recently covered their LUT7S monitor, which as the names suggests is the 7” bigger brother to this 6” LUT6S.
The most enticing and attractive feature we see coming out of this company is the fantastic high-brightness capabilities. At 2600nits these displays are bright enough to be viewable in direct sunlight without the use of a sunhood (but using one helps a lot with glare).
The size of this monitor isn’t something we see very often. At 6”s, it is just the right size to assist with focusing and framing without dominating the entire top of your rig.
Often 5” monitors are just a little too small, and 7” monitors can really get in the way if you’re moving quickly and portability is key. This should fit in very nicely as an on camera monitor for solo shooters who are on the move.
If you didn’t guess it from the name, the Feelworld LUT6S comes pre-loaded with standard LUTs for Sony, Canon, and Panasonic and it features an SD card slot for loading in custom, user generated LUTs.
When you’re filming in log, the last thing you want to do is monitor uncorrected footage – you’ll end up with funky exposures, off white balance settings, and noise you didn’t even realize was there. In 2020, a monitor with LUTs is a must.
INPUTS and OUTPUTS
The Feelworld LUT6S can accept and passthrough a video signal of up to 4K 30P through its HDMI and SDI inputs. It also has a 12v DC input for powering the monitor through an adapter or v-mount on your rig, and a 6v output to power your DSLR or mirrorless camera (dummy battery adapter required).
Touch Screen Panel
All of the setting on the monitor are accessible through either the Menu dial on the top of the monitor or by double tapping the touch screen. A neat feature of the LUT6S is the touch screen can be turned on or off via a button on the top left.
This is especially interesting to me, a camera operator who always accidentally bumps into his monitor on a busy set. The menu system is well laid out, with all of the features available quickly and easily with a simple press on the seemingly very responsive touch screen.
Professional Tools
Feelworld has loaded all the standard tools you would expect in to the LUT6S (RGB Parade, VectorScope, Histogram, Focus Peaking False Color, Zebras, etc) but as the reviewer points out at the 2 minute mark, the claim that this is a proper HDR monitor isn’t verifiable.
This isn’t a proper REC2020 monitor, and though it may be displaying some version of an HDR image, there is no official details on what the specs for that actually are – or at least not yet.
Startup Time and Build Quality
From a distance, this monitor looks to be nearly perfect, but perfection is merely an illusion. Feelworld has spec’ed out a pretty awesome little monitor here but it has some serious shortcomings in its startup time and built quality.
The startup time of the Feelworld LUT6S is rather long at around 10 seconds. This might not pose much of a problem if you’re leaving the monitor on most of the day and running off of big batteries, but for quick setups, 10 seconds is an eternity. And, the build quality doesn’t sound too fantastic either.
The LUT6S is constructed mainly of cheap plastic, and having had experience with monitors in this price range before, I would bet a pretty penny that this sucker wouldn’t survive a standard drop test – let alone the rigors of a fast paced production environment. By my estimation, this monitor is placed best with a solo shooter who’s work is fairly light or in a studio environment.
Summing It Up
It is tough to say if I could recommend monitors in this price range for professional filmmaking, where faulty equipment could make or break an expensive shoot day. They offer a lot for a small price, but film sets are generally better suited for rugged equipment.
If you treat your equipment well, this monitor should be absolutely fine for your needs but if you’re projects require lots of setups and location changes, you’re going to want something a bit more high-end.
A high-brightness, day-light viewable monitor is a real steal at $389, and as an owner of a similar 2600nit monitor myself I can tell you that the freedom you get from having the ability to easily view your screen in a bright environment is something that I wouldn’t trade for anything.
[source: Fenchel & Janisch]
B&H Order Link:
FeelWorld 6″ HDMI Touchscreen On-Camera Monitor
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