29Jul Ruige 5″ TL-S500HD Monitor
Small LCD monitors are the rage these days. Ruige’s 5″ TL-S500HD monitor has a few features that aid specifically Canon DSLRs. Most Canon cameras will change resolution when going into record mode, and you also lose your zoom focus ability. The Ruige does not drop resolution when going into record mode (you get to use the full screen), and you can zoom in (with optional Ruige Zoom trigger) while you’re recording. Helpful to get accurate focus while the camera is rolling. Also available is a unique HDMI lock to prevent the cable from slipping off – a common problem. Since HDMI can carry audio, you are able to monitor audio through the Ruige headphone port. Also comes with focus peaking (another aid to help focus).
Ruige 5″ TL-S500HD HDMI LCD Monitor
July 29th, 2011 at 12:41 pm
Are there other places to find this monitor with the optional HDMI out included? Thanks!
July 29th, 2011 at 12:55 pm
I was kind of lukewarm about the Lilliput monitors and the Smalls were still kind of pricey, even after dropping in cost, but this looks like a great low-cost option. And I have Canons so I might have to pick one up.
July 29th, 2011 at 1:05 pm
Thanks for posting this Emm! Earlier I was asking about your opinion which would be right choice for the first monitor.
I have been looking after these Ruige monitors, mostly those earlier versions 4.8″ models. Seems like they have now made a new one. I don’t see many new things here and if I have understood correctly same functions are already in the earlier versions. Also those expensive models (TL-480HDB and TL-480-HDC) have many inputs/outputs (HDMI in and out, SDI in and out and composites). Those models have also free shipping!
My point is, what do I get more in this new 5″ model? Nothing better I think. Or maybe should wait some time and Ruige will release like 4 different 5″ models also with different input/output options or something…
July 29th, 2011 at 1:08 pm
Wait so it keeps full HD output when recording with the T2I? If so I know what I am buying!
July 29th, 2011 at 2:11 pm
@Temu – Nothing wildly new but price is a bit cheaper. Some less features like all those random connections.
July 29th, 2011 at 2:12 pm
@Austin – It is not HD resolution. Its 800×480, most monitors of this size are. What it does is scale Canon video so you can use the whole screen area during live view and recording.
July 29th, 2011 at 2:31 pm
Now I wonder how this compares to the SmallHD DP4
July 29th, 2011 at 2:36 pm
@getem – The DP4 has HMI pass through, false color, a bit smaller, better pixel density, and optional vf. More money, but a whole different animal.
July 29th, 2011 at 3:24 pm
But, speaking of DP4, do I need viewfinder if I have hood? I mean is it hard to focus on 5″ of Ruige?
July 29th, 2011 at 5:30 pm
hey emm, thanks for this great post!
So..which one would you recommend? the DP4 or the Ruige one?
I like the EVF-funktion of the DP4 alot, although I dont really use a VF when I record..
Thoughts?
July 29th, 2011 at 6:23 pm
@danny – The DP4 can be purchased without the EVF. If you can consider the price on the DP4 go DP4. For others who are on the budget, the Ruige looks good.
July 29th, 2011 at 6:24 pm
@Nikita Pavlov – A hood is helpful, but in bright sun full on VF is even more helpful. If you’ve been managing this whole time without either, then you probably won’t miss the VF.
July 30th, 2011 at 2:03 am
Emm…here’s one for you… Ruige 5″, Sony CLM-V55 or Ikan VL7? Anything else competes in the sub $400 thats including Peaking? And by the way, I think this would be a great “shoot-out” between these three.
July 30th, 2011 at 6:06 am
@Tony Maceo – Seeing how the VL7 is a larger monitor, I guess we should mention the VL5, seems to fit better in this scenario.
July 30th, 2011 at 7:37 am
An interesting find indeed.
I soon will be buying a small monitor and do not have the budget for a smallHD or Zacuto.
At around a 300 dollar budget I wonder how this hold up to its competitors
July 30th, 2011 at 2:59 pm
We use a SmallHD DP4 monitor and a
lilliput, they are both great monitors, the Lilli price is a steal but it does not give us the options we need, like when we shoot anamorphic we need have control over the aspect ratios, also the build quality and the software is far superior, however for normal shooting the Lilliput handles fine for framing & focusing.
July 30th, 2011 at 3:59 pm
I believe the last version of Magic Lanter for T2i fixes the change of resolution problem…
Am I wrong?
July 30th, 2011 at 8:40 pm
@martin – I’m pretty sure ML doesn’t fix the output issue with the t2i
August 4th, 2011 at 2:33 am
Do you guys know if the VL5 will compensates for resolution switching found on the Canon 5D when you press record? What is the proper term for this on the Ikan website?
August 28th, 2011 at 1:30 am
So I just got this monitor and it drops to 480p when recording in camera mode on my 5D?? I also can’t zoom in while recording. Do I need to have the newest 5D firmware or am I missing something? Pretty bummed this didn’t do what it was advertised to do.
August 28th, 2011 at 7:42 am
@theshooter – The camera drops to 480 during recording. There is no firmware to correct this. The monitor should be able to use the full screen though.
September 16th, 2011 at 7:16 am
so you have to record at 480p to use this?
September 16th, 2011 at 8:19 am
@mhl – The Canon 5D Mark II will drop the HDMI output display to 480 during recording. The processor can’t keep up. The camera will still record 1080HD to the card.
September 16th, 2011 at 11:27 am
thank you for your reply.
So is this the same for the 7D?
September 16th, 2011 at 11:41 am
@mhl – The 7D is the only Canon DSLR so far that will maintain 1080HD output during recording, because it is the only camera with dual processors.