Portkeys releases BM5IV and BM5IV WR 5.5in monitors, launches CINENORM OS

Portkeys has released the latest versions of its flagship on-camera monitor range in the shape of the BM5IV and the BM5IV WR. It’s also released the new CINENORM OS that powers them while it’s at it.

Portkeys makes some very cheap monitors that give you plenty of bang for your $100 or so, but the main interest with the company’s range is slightly higher up than that. Its flagship BM5 series is an interesting mix of features and competitive pricing that has got a fair bit of attention over recent years, and the fourth generation iterations, the BM5IV and the wireless BM5IV WR, don’t look like they will disappoint.

Both are 5.5in and house their impressive Full HD 2000 nit displays in a ruggedised aluminium housing. Viewing angle is 178-degrees. The hardware has been overhauled for this new version with the addition of an HDMI output to the 3G-SDI in/out. That usefully enough enables them to support up to 4K DCI at 60p.

Here are the highlights:

• 5.5″ 2000Nits 4K60P HDMI& 3G-SDI wide color gamut camera control monitor
• Built-in CINENORM OS, brand new user interface & user experience.
• Supports up to seven custom pages, adapt to different shooting scenes and roles.
• False color, ARRI false color, user false color, and LOG false color.
• User calibration, the user can import two sets of custom color calibration files, no need to send the monitor back to the factory for calibrating.
• Split-screen monitoring, switching PBP, PIP, and H2V cropping mode freely.
• User configuration store and loading; settings of the monitor can be saved to a USB drive and imported into the same model monitor.
• Professional monitoring features, such as Peaking, Zebra, Luma Waveform, Luma Histogram, and more. 

The BM5IV WR adds wireless control of ARRI, RED, SONY, Nikon, Canon, Panasonic, and BMD cameras. It also raises the price to $749 from the base $599 for the BM5IV.

CINENORM OS

The new CINENORM OS, first previewed at NAB, comes pre-installed (as an aside, it’s also available as a free update for anyone using a BM7 II DS). It can support up to seven custom pages and each can be preset with monitoring tools. That means users just need to swipe left or right to quickly switch and select pages, letting one monitor swiftly adapt to the different needs of various roles and scenarios within the crew.

The UI has been totally rewritten to provide a less idiosyncratic experience than before and more than 80 camera models from 8 different brands can be controlled (add Z Cam to the above list). New features include allowing users to generate LUTs using their own color calibration method (or the official Portkeys calibration method). This can then be imported into the monitor via a USB stick, allowing color calibration without sending the device back to the factory.

tl;dr

• Portkeys has launched the BM5IV and BM5IV WR on-camera monitors, featuring 5.5-inch Full HD 2000 nit displays in a rugged aluminum housing and supporting 4K DCI at 60p.
• The new CINENORM OS allows users to create up to seven custom pages with various monitoring tools, enhancing user experience and adaptability for different shooting scenarios.
• Key features include advanced monitoring options such as false color, user calibration, split-screen monitoring, and professional tools like Peaking and Luma Waveform.
• The BM5IV WR variant adds wireless control for multiple camera brands, priced at $749, while the base BM5IV retails for $599.