Field Monitor for Camera Is Now on Android: Your Phone or Tablet Is Your Field Monitor
Plug in a UVC capture card and check focus and exposure on a bigger screen, with focus peaking, false color, scopes and LUTs.
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A camera’s flip screen is small, and it’s hard to judge focus on it in bright sun. A dedicated on-camera monitor fixes that. But it can cost hundreds of dollars, and it’s one more thing to mount, charge and pack.
You probably already have a bright, sharp screen in your bag. Field Monitor for Camera turns it into a field monitor. As of today, the app is available on Google Play for Android phones and tablets.
The App Store version for iPad and iPhone is coming soon.
How it works
Field Monitor shows the video your camera sends over HDMI, with the monitoring tools filmmakers rely on. Here’s the setup:
- Camera. HDMI out from your mirrorless camera, cinema camera or camcorder.
- UVC capture card. A small HDMI-to-USB capture card brings that signal in over USB. These are the low-cost cards people buy for streaming. They don’t need drivers or an app of their own.
- Your Android device. A phone or tablet with a USB-C port that supports USB host (OTG).
Plug everything in, tap Find adapter, and your camera’s picture is on screen.
Using a USB (UVC) camera? Plug it straight in. You don’t need a capture card.
Nail focus before you roll
Focus mode is for the moment before you press record. Focus peaking outlines the sharpest edges in one of five colors, and you can adjust the sensitivity. To check critical focus on eyes and fine detail, punch in 2×.
Read exposure like a pro monitor
Exposure mode puts the exposure tools in one place:
- Zebras flag highlights before they clip.
- False color maps brightness to colors, with a legend on screen so you don’t have to memorize the scale.
- Spot meter: tap anywhere on the picture to read the level there.
- Waveform, histogram and vectorscope run live in a corner of the screen.
Frame for the final delivery
Framing mode gives you rule-of-thirds, center-cross and safe-area guides. It also has aspect masks from 16:9 to 2.39:1, anamorphic de-squeeze, and mirror or flip for rigs and gimbals.
Two more modes cover the rest of the shoot:
- Clean shows just the picture, with nothing on top.
- Director View locks a clean picture so you can hand the device to a director or client without them changing anything. Two fingers unlock it.
Shoot log, monitor in Rec.709
Log footage looks flat and gray on a monitor, which makes it hard to judge the shot. Field Monitor includes built-in log-to-Rec.709 LUTs, so the picture on screen looks closer to the final grade. It covers:
- Sony S-Log3
- Canon C-Log3
- Panasonic V-Log
- Fujifilm F-Log2
- Nikon N-Log
- DJI D-Log
- ARRI LogC3
- Blackmagic Gen 5
You can also load your own .cube files.
More that helps on set
- Camera profiles: ready-made setups for log, anamorphic and vertical shooting, or save your own.
- Audio meters: listen to the camera’s audio, with a level meter for each channel.
- Remembers your setup: your tools and settings are still there the next time you open the app.
Free to start, Pro once
Field Monitor is free to use, with free monitoring time every day. The free version includes focus peaking, punch-in, zebras, the spot meter, guides and 16:9 masks.
Field Monitor Pro is a one-time purchase, not a subscription. It adds:
- Unlimited monitoring time
- False color, waveform, histogram and vectorscope
- LUT preview, including your own
.cubefiles - Anamorphic de-squeeze and every aspect mask
- Director View and saved camera profiles
What you need
- A UVC HDMI capture card for cameras with HDMI out, or a USB (UVC) camera
- An Android phone or tablet with USB-C that supports USB host (OTG)
- A USB-C cable or adapter that carries data
One thing to know up front: phones and tablets don’t have an HDMI input. Field Monitor can’t turn a USB-C port into one, so HDMI always needs a capture card. Capture cards, video formats and USB support vary from device to device, and HDCP-protected video may not display.
Try it on your next shoot
If you have an Android phone or tablet and a capture card, you already have most of a field monitor. Download Field Monitor for Camera, plug in, and check your focus and exposure on a bigger screen.
Want to see every tool before you install? Visit the Field Monitor page.
Questions, or a capture card you’d like us to try? Email us at [email protected].
Frequently asked questions
Is Field Monitor for Camera available on Android?
Yes. Field Monitor for Camera is available now on Google Play for Android phones and tablets. The App Store version for iPad and iPhone is coming soon.
Can my phone show my camera with just a cable?
Not over HDMI alone. Phones and tablets do not have an HDMI input, so you need a UVC capture card between the camera and the USB-C port. USB (UVC) cameras plug in directly.
Which capture card should I buy?
Any UVC capture card that works without drivers. Video formats and frame rates vary by card.
Is Field Monitor Pro a subscription?
No. Field Monitor Pro is a one-time purchase that unlocks unlimited monitoring time and every Pro tool.
Why is my picture black?
Check that the camera is sending HDMI, that your cable carries data, and that the camera is not outputting HDCP-protected video. Some cameras need HDMI output turned on in their menus.
