PortKeys has been an interesting company to follow in the camera accessories landscape. Known for its line of budget monitors, the company has put out solid budget products that have helped creatives rig out their cameras for low-budget productions. (If you're not sick of me saying budget yet, just wait.)
Now the PortKeys PT6 Livestreaming Assist Monitor has been released, which offers livestreaming assists while not breaking the bank. While it won't stream your video from the monitor itself, the built-in tools will help you prep an image for streaming. Let’s take a deeper look to find out what that means.
It's All About the Hardware
The PT6 is a 5.2-inch, 1920 x 1080 P3 color gamut IPS monitor with 600-nit peak brightness and a 1500:1 contrast ratio. While it's not a perfect 1:1 when compared to offerings from SmallHD or Atomos, the PT6 is still packed with features at a fraction of the cost. This leaves you with more money for things like lenses, accessories, or just more extra money in your pocket.
Video support is offered up to 4K 30p (4096 x 2160 at 24Hz) and can display 100% P3 and Rec.709 in 10-bit. Unfortunately, we're not clear if this is true 10-bit or 8-Bit+FRC like the PT5. According to our sources, all signs point to the PT6 being true 10-bit, which is a likely change.
100% CoverageCredit: PortKeys
There is an HDMI input and output, which can put out a 1920 x 1080p60 signal at 60Hz. Tools include 3D LUT support to 17grid, anamorphic squeeze with fine squeeze control, and UI from the camera. It also has all the bells and whistles you'd expect—Zebras, Luma Histograms, and false color.
You can even convert your image to grayscale to make it easier to see focus peaking. To power the unit, creatives have the option to use the DC barrel connector or either a Sony NP-F or Canon LP-E6 battery.
Battery and PortsCredit: PortKeys
One other really interesting feature is the Stretch Legs option.
What does that mean? Well, you can literally stretch the legs of your subject when shooting vertically and outputting to social media. Why? Well, you kind of have to see it to get it, which you can check out here:
How Does Livestreaming Work?
Well, it doesn't. The PortKeys PT6 doesn't actually stream your video source, but it provides a set of tools to get your image ready for streaming. This can then be outputted to a device that sends your signal to the web and beyond.
According to PortKeys, you only need a livestreaming box (like the Blackmagic Web Presenter 4K or HD), to get going. The PT6 will handle all the image prep, such as baking in the LUT and adjusting tint.
Credit: PortKeys
Should Creatives Consider It?
Creatives looking for an affordable monitoring solution that supports up to 4K 30p, 3D LUTs, vertical monitoring with Stretch Legs, and livestreaming assists should really consider the PortKeys PT6. It will not be the most robust tool in your kit, but it's lightweight, silent, and packed with features that will have your production ready. It does the job for 90% of your 5-inch monitoring needs.
And it only costs $169. That's like a ticket to Disneyland. For that price, you should at least have one in your kit for small builds, stunt work, or emergencies.
PortKeys PT6 5.2" Monitor
- 5.2" 1920 x 1080 Touchscreen Display
- 4K30 HDMI Input
- 1080p60 HDMI Output
- 3D LUT Output, UI Output
- 100% DCI-P3 Color
- 600 cd/m² Bright/1500:1 Contrast Ratio
- Vertical Output with Stretch Feature
- Anamorphic Output, Brightness, Tint
- DC Input, USB-A Output Port
- Customized Peaking & Cropping
- Sunshade & Tilting Shoe Bracket
- L-Series & LP-E6 Battery Support
While it's not the perfect solution to get your video single streaming out of the box, the PT6 is a great addition to a pipeline. With live production, streaming, and camera-to-cloud now the official future of production, PortKeys has found a niche, and it's sticking to it.
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