@@panzeparod4551 I don’t think the interface is bad. I actually like how simple it is! I just wish they had a few more tools like waveforms and zebras. It’s quick to use but limited! PageOS has so much more to it, so yeah it gets much more pricey for those monitors now.
Thanks for the reivew. I'm stumped on a couple things about the Focus 5, which I own: I've had it for years now... but it's a love hate relationship. 1. The color accuracy is always garbage. No matter how much I fiddle with it, or reset it to the factory settings, it never looks anything like it does on my a7siii screen or viewfinder. There for I always have to refer back to my camera screens to set WB if I'm doing so by sight (which I do 99% of the time). 2. Similar the the color issue, depending on the brightness setting of the Focus, the highlights appear washed out completely on the monitor, when they do NOT and ARE not on the camera screens. There for, I can never rely on the Focus monitor to, well, monitor my exposure and get an accurate representation of what is really going on in camera. 3. Again, same type of issue- Zebras. When I have zebras enabled, they shift based on the brightness of the Focus screen, when nothing else changes in cam, as far exposure settings go. The zebras do NOT match my in-cam zebras at all, even if set to similar values. There for (you guessed it!), I have to refer back to my camera's tiny screen to get a real reading of what's going on with my zebras / exposure. This is why I have given up on this monitor, and just rely on my tiny a7siii built in screen. While I cannot see the image as well because of the size, and cannot frame as intentially or accurately, i can atleast see my readings and get an accurate picture of- color, exposure, zebras, detail. I am honestly stummed as to how many people use this screen affectively and professionally. Please let me know if you have an tips to make this monitor more useful. Am I doing something wrong? side note: when I try to look up a way to calibrate the monitor.. I am left with nothing. They used to sell a calibration tool but don't anymore. I have an expensive X-rite Colorchecker, but unfortunatley this monitor doesn't support it.
Thanks for the reviews. Very helpful but I will say it was a lot of work to watch and keep track of what monitor you are talking about. When the focus on screen say focus in text and the action is use text to say action. I got a headache trying to keep track of which is witch is moving so fast. Just saying
hey chad, does the small action 5 show the histogram levels once connected to the camera? I feel like false color and that is all you really need to expose real quick
you can still see histogram levels on your camera yes! they're just not offered on the Action 5, unless you send a non-clean HDMI signal to the Action 5, then you'll see all of your camera settings.
the Focus lineup was really great and still is! i'm not sure why they got rid of it. but now we've for the action 5 which is much brighter and at least has full size HDMI! hardware all improved, but software gotta majorly simplified
Yeah, Page OS is really great and has so many useful tools. I guess this is meant to be a quick user interface for beginner and intermediate users, especially at the cheap $330 price point. The indie 7 and focus 5 are great monitors so you prob don’t need to even get a new one 😆
@@WojtriX but what are the options under 1000€? Small HD doesnt have anything in this field. The Action 5 isnt an honest contender. Maybe for content creators but not filmmakers.
Where the heck are the zebras, the red frame record confirm, and gorgeous gigantic audio meters from the Focus5..? Holy cow what a downgrade. So disappointing. Just lost much respect for SmallHD. Honestly feels like a rebranded cheapster. Definitely sticking with my Focus. Big miss on this Action SmallHD... Kind of silly this Action 5 even has a touch screen for such minimal controls. And it's less capable than Feelworld or Fotga by far. I'll be looking elsewhere for sure.
Yeah, it’s definitely missing all of the really in depth tools you get with PageOS 5. I’m really liking their new Cine lineup of monitors though, they have everything the Focus does and more, especially better inputs/outputs and brightness. ruclips.net/video/736PRiCmKCM/видео.html
wow! they literally destroyed their niche on the prosumer market… the only reason to buy focus 5 at that price was the OS from the big brothers.. now its no better than any other monitor from china.. maybe even less interesting cuz of the simplistic menu and controls, unlike the chinese products that offer crippled versions of professional tools. what a disappointment..
What do you think of the new SmallHD Action 5? Should it have had PageOS or some other feature you like? lemme know below...
how did they not include waveforms 😂 what a joke
@@adventureproductionz yeah. That’s the one tool I would REALLY have liked on it. I can live without zebras.
Such a bad Interface. Why ?
@@panzeparod4551 software is limited to incentivize purchase of more expensive products
@@panzeparod4551 I don’t think the interface is bad. I actually like how simple it is! I just wish they had a few more tools like waveforms and zebras. It’s quick to use but limited! PageOS has so much more to it, so yeah it gets much more pricey for those monitors now.
Thanks for the reivew. I'm stumped on a couple things about the Focus 5, which I own:
I've had it for years now... but it's a love hate relationship.
1. The color accuracy is always garbage. No matter how much I fiddle with it, or reset it to the factory settings, it never looks anything like it does on my a7siii screen or viewfinder. There for I always have to refer back to my camera screens to set WB if I'm doing so by sight (which I do 99% of the time).
2. Similar the the color issue, depending on the brightness setting of the Focus, the highlights appear washed out completely on the monitor, when they do NOT and ARE not on the camera screens. There for, I can never rely on the Focus monitor to, well, monitor my exposure and get an accurate representation of what is really going on in camera.
3. Again, same type of issue- Zebras. When I have zebras enabled, they shift based on the brightness of the Focus screen, when nothing else changes in cam, as far exposure settings go. The zebras do NOT match my in-cam zebras at all, even if set to similar values. There for (you guessed it!), I have to refer back to my camera's tiny screen to get a real reading of what's going on with my zebras / exposure.
This is why I have given up on this monitor, and just rely on my tiny a7siii built in screen. While I cannot see the image as well because of the size, and cannot frame as intentially or accurately, i can atleast see my readings and get an accurate picture of- color, exposure, zebras, detail.
I am honestly stummed as to how many people use this screen affectively and professionally. Please let me know if you have an tips to make this monitor more useful. Am I doing something wrong?
side note: when I try to look up a way to calibrate the monitor.. I am left with nothing. They used to sell a calibration tool but don't anymore. I have an expensive X-rite Colorchecker, but unfortunatley this monitor doesn't support it.
Hi Chadwin! Love your channel! Does your Focus 5 only have a battery icon /voltage meter options or does it show percentage (10%, 55%, etc)?
I’ve only seen the battery icon on mine. But I’ll have to dive into settings, there might be a setting or update that adds battery percentage.
So, a downgrade.
Thanks for this comparison, my man
Yeah for sure! Thanks for watching 🤜
Thanks for the reviews. Very helpful but I will say it was a lot of work to watch and keep track of what monitor you are talking about. When the focus on screen say focus in text and the action is use text to say action. I got a headache trying to keep track of which is witch is moving so fast. Just saying
hey chad,
does the small action 5 show the histogram levels once connected to the camera?
I feel like false color and that is all you really need to expose real quick
you can still see histogram levels on your camera yes! they're just not offered on the Action 5, unless you send a non-clean HDMI signal to the Action 5, then you'll see all of your camera settings.
I get no signal in playback mode on my limix s5 hdmi connection to the monitor. Any ideas?
Hmm….that’s strange! Is your firmware fully up to date? Their recent update fixed a few HDMI signal issues.
@@chadwin have u experience any signal lost when u using action5 with ur fx3?
Is it me or does it seem like a major disappointment. Smallhd please bring back the focus line lol
the Focus lineup was really great and still is! i'm not sure why they got rid of it. but now we've for the action 5 which is much brighter and at least has full size HDMI! hardware all improved, but software gotta majorly simplified
Awesome video. Thank you
Glad you liked it! hope it helped make sense of the 2 monitors!
Can I select the language for this product? Do you support Japanese?
It would be great with page os… that’s a pity
I have page os in Focus 5 and Indie 7 and can’t imagine not having the options it gives
Yeah, Page OS is really great and has so many useful tools. I guess this is meant to be a quick user interface for beginner and intermediate users, especially at the cheap $330 price point. The indie 7 and focus 5 are great monitors so you prob don’t need to even get a new one 😆
@@chadwin the 2000 nits for the price sounds great
@@WojtriX would you still buy the Focus 5? I mean there are not many other options. I dont like the menus or colors from other brands like Atomos.
@@Milan-cf1xe i hate atomos menu and ergonomics and functions
@@WojtriX but what are the options under 1000€? Small HD doesnt have anything in this field. The Action 5 isnt an honest contender. Maybe for content creators but not filmmakers.
the Action 5 is discontinued, so unfortunate for me....
Did they replace it with something else? I really wanted an action 5 but can't buy it anywhere.. not even second hand 😭
Where the heck are the zebras, the red frame record confirm, and gorgeous gigantic audio meters from the Focus5..? Holy cow what a downgrade. So disappointing. Just lost much respect for SmallHD. Honestly feels like a rebranded cheapster. Definitely sticking with my Focus. Big miss on this Action SmallHD... Kind of silly this Action 5 even has a touch screen for such minimal controls. And it's less capable than Feelworld or Fotga by far. I'll be looking elsewhere for sure.
Yeah, it’s definitely missing all of the really in depth tools you get with PageOS 5. I’m really liking their new Cine lineup of monitors though, they have everything the Focus does and more, especially better inputs/outputs and brightness.
ruclips.net/video/736PRiCmKCM/видео.html
absolute downgrade
wow! they literally destroyed their niche on the prosumer market… the only reason to buy focus 5 at that price was the OS from the big brothers.. now its no better than any other monitor from china.. maybe even less interesting cuz of the simplistic menu and controls, unlike the chinese products that offer crippled versions of professional tools. what a disappointment..