Portkeys announced the release of its new product, the Portkeys LH7C. This high-performance 7-inch touchscreen monitor features enhanced wired camera control capabilities via the new TA03Y USB-C/HDMI combo cable, providing superior flexibility and precision on set. Building on the success of the LH5C, the new LH7C boasts improved brightness and a larger display, all housed in a lightweight design.
The Portkeys LH7C features a vibrant 7.0-inch LCD touchscreen boasting a high brightness of 1,000 nits, a 1,000:1 contrast ratio, and a wide 170° viewing angle. With 1080P (1920×1080) resolution, 100% Rec.709 color gamut coverage, and a 10-bit (8+2 FRC) panel, the LH7C delivers accurate color reproduction and eliminates color banding, making it a reliable choice for rigorous monitoring on set.
What is the Portkeys LH7C ?
The LH7C stands out as one of the thinnest and lightest 7-inch monitors on the market, measuring just 17.6 x 10.3 x 1.8 cm and weighing 245 g, making it up to 30% lighter than competing products. Its slim design allows it to be easily integrated into various camera rigs without compromising performance or durability. Designed with versatility in mind, all of the LH7C’s input and output ports are located on the bottom of the monitor. These include HDMI input and output ports that support input resolutions up to DCI 4K (24P) and 1080P60. In addition, it features a 3.5 mm headphone output jack and a USB-A port, allowing you to load up to 20 custom LUTs onto the monitor and save still images to the included mini USB memory stick.
This large monitor’s power consumption of just 8W is powered by a Sony L-series battery plate built into the back or by a DC 7-24V 5.5mm barrel connector on the bottom.
Monitors need to be as versatile as possible, and the LH7C features multiple 1/4-inch-20 mounting points with anti-twist grooves on the lower center, left, and right sides, allowing users to securely mount the monitor anywhere on their camera rig. The LH7C also comes with a 360° swivel ball mount.
Monitor buttons
Finally, the top of the monitor features four user-assignable function buttons, a main menu/UI lock switch, a power switch, and a battery release button.
The LH7C features “MOVNORM OS,” a minimalist and user-friendly interface developed by Portkeys, and includes advanced monitoring tools such as the following:
- LogStop: Portkeys monitors utilize advanced exposure monitoring tools that leverage camera light data. The LOG signal is automatically identified and divided into multiple exposure level zones. Each exposure level can be displayed in a customized mode (false color or zebra) and enabled or disabled. The current version supports automatic recognition and matching of Sony LOG signals. Support for automatic recognition and matching of third-party LOG signals is planned for a future firmware update.
- 3D LUT monitoring with HDMI output. Up to 20 custom LUTs can be loaded via the USB-A port.
- Anamorphic image desqueeze function supporting 10 standard aspect ratios, including 1.33x, 1.5x, 1.8x, and 2.0x, as well as custom ratios from 0.25x to 4.0x.
- Freeze frame function: Allows saving frames to a USB memory stick and comparing them to the current video signal. This function is particularly useful in stop-motion photography.
- Vertical Expansion: When shooting in portrait orientation, the bottom of the image can be stretched vertically. The Stretch Leg Tool can also output via HDMI.
- The focus tool includes peaking, custom peaking frames, and gesture zoom functionality, making focusing easy.
- The image analysis and exposure adjustment tools include customizable false colors with 13 color options to choose from, including RGB and Luma waveform, Luma histogram, Zebra, and ARRI false colors.
- Framing tools: crosshair, check field, guides, grid, rectangular crop.
- Audio Meter
- Monitor adjustments: backlight, contrast, color temperature, sharpness, saturation, brightness, hue, HDR/HLG, and image inversion (H/V).
Wired Camera Control
Portkeys offers a wide range of monitors with wired and wireless camera control capabilities. The LH7C allows wired camera control for select Sony, Canon, and Panasonic models using the new TA03Y USB-C/HDMI combo cable included with the monitor.
The TA03Y is a slim (2.5mm diameter) 2-in-1 cable for video and camera control that supports resolutions up to 8K. It features an HDMI connector and a USB-C connector on the camera side, and one HDMI connector on the LH7C side, integrating video transmission and camera control into a single cable.
The LH7C is compatible with various cameras from Sony, Canon, and Panasonic. It is compatible with major models such as Sony’s FX3/FX30, A7S III/A7 IV/A7V/A9 III mirrorless cameras, Canon’s EOS R1, R5 Mark II, R6 Mark III, and Panasonic’s S1/S1R, S5II/S5IIX.
Once connected, users can directly adjust key camera parameters such as ISO, aperture, shutter speed, white balance, AF mode, and recording settings on the LH7C’s touchscreen. The LH7C also allows users to change the focus area with a simple tap of the screen, reducing the need to use the camera’s physical buttons. Currently only available to Sony camera users, the Portkeys LH7C features a new autofocus function called “Focus Tracking Frame.” This function allows users to directly select and move the camera’s tracking frame box on the monitor’s touchscreen. Support for other manufacturers’ cameras is planned for the near future via a free firmware update.
The Portkeys LH7C comes bundled with essential accessories, including a safety box, sunshade, MH-2 cold shoe mount, mini USB memory stick, screen wipe, two screen protectors, and a TA03Y video control cable.
The Portkeys LH7C is currently available for purchase and will be shipped immediately to authorized retailers and distributors. For more information, please visit the Portkeys website.
