Why the All-New SmallHD Cine 18 Is an Instant Classic

This SmallHD Cine 18 is a 4K powerhouse that is perfect for both documentary and narrative work, especially when time and space are both in short supply. You can grab one right now for $5,999.

And here are a couple of reasons why you should.

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The SmallHD Cine 18: Specifications and Features

The SmallHD Cine 18 is a high-bright monitor that can pretty much go anywhere you want to stick it. The 18-inch edge-lit LCD renders every shot beautifully, and it feels huge, perhaps because you'll often find yourself holding it in your hands.

With that being said, though, it never feels oversized or cumbersome—it weighs 12 pounds, which might sound like a lot to some. It feels a lot lighter than you might think. It comes complete with its own 4K HDMI cable, a 24-volt power supply line, and a SmallHD screen cloth. 

Is the Cine 18 worth it? Well, we like it a lot. Here are a few quick tech specs to consider:

• Screen Size: 18.4in (46.7cm)
• Resolution: 3840 x 2160 4K
• Brightness: 1100nits
• Color Depth: 10-bit (8+2)
• Gamut: 100% Rec. 709
• SDI: four 12G-SDIs in, four 12G-SDIs out
• HDMI: one HDMI 2.0 in, one HDMI 2.0 out
• Power Input: one 4-pin XLR

The Cine 18's unibody smart chassis housing can be largely attributed to the durability factor that the display offers your shoot.

You'll find more than a few attachment points, including a dovetail mounting rail across the back, stick mounting points along each side, and the essential cheeseboard below. There's also the handle located conveniently at the top, although we wouldn't recommend hanging it up like a madman using this feature.

The Cine 18 fits snugly between two other popular SmallHD products, the Cine 13 and the Cine 24. We can definitely recommend it against the latter if your budget is limited, especially if you often find yourself shooting in a remote setting.

Some Highlights to Consider

This hot-swappable, daylight-viewable device is tough as nails and will likely be an attractive package for any DP, camera operator, or AC looking for a new workhorse, all-purpose display. Sturdiness is one major selling point here, but that's not all that the Cine 18 has to offer.

A Rich, Portable Image

The Cine 18 cuts no corners in terms of picture quality. It's easy to calibrate and adjust and comes with a host of presets that can all be tailored to match exactly what you need, including a 4K HDR toolset. While it's a great candidate for your stand-mounted video village display, it also excels as a carry-around monitor for precise work between takes.

Credit: SmallHD

We found that we were able to run around like a maniac while holding it at arm's length. If somebody weaving quickly through the scene needs a razor-sharp eagle's eye perspective during the shot, this is one solution that you might want to try out.

Even production designers might love to have this thing on hand—you'll be able to tote it as you move throughout the set without ever taking your eyes off of the actual shot itself.

Smart Focus and Exposure Assistants

This video display runs off of the PageOS software platform—you'll find tons of helpful extras like frame guides and tools to help you keep each shot crisp.

There's also SmallHD's Livegrade integration at your disposal. On-set colorists and DITs, rejoice! Everything available through this package has been updated to the latest that the brand offers for this release. If you're already a SmallHD enthusiast, you'll find all of your favorites newly improved.

Great for Day or Night

If clarity is your aim, the Cine 18 is unlikely to disappoint. This makes it great as a focus-pulling assistant—nothing gets past this super-sharp display, and it makes following the subject an absolute pleasure.

Bright lights, sun glare, and anything else capable of obscuring your view are all outclassed by this slick little number. If it's go-time, you'll be able to use this pristine viewport as your eyes.

The SmallHD Cine 18 Monitor: Sleeker, Brighter, and More Durable Than Ever

Gone are the days of knocking around a full-sized monitor while you're trying to shoot. The same goes for going without a convenient viewport for video village when you're running the gun—this perky device is suitable for any person on your crew that needs their eyes on the scene.

We consider the Cine 18 to be a true best-of-both-worlds type of situation. The Cine 18 comes to us as a result of a lot of real user feedback, and it definitely feels that way. It's an immensely powerful display, made by filmmakers and for filmmakers.

No Film School's complete coverage of NAB 2022 is brought to you by Blackmagic Design, Atomos, and Creative Solutions (makers of Teradek, Wooden Camera, and SmallHD).