Underwater Monitor Kraken 5.5-inch Performance Evaluation
The Kraken 5.5" Ultra-Bright 4K Underwater Monitor**: Your Affordable, Compact Underwater Video Companion
Dive into the crystal-clear world of underwater video with the Kraken 5.5", a budget-friendly, versatile monitor perfect for video enthusiasts experiencing limitations with their camera's viewfinders or LCD screens.
This baby packs all the essential features you'd want in a visualization tool, making the underwater videography experience effortless and enjoyable. With a compact design, the Kraken 5.5" is an attractive choice for video shooters seeking a magnified view without carrying excessive gear.
No need for extra housing, the Kraken 5.5" is universally compatible with any housing featuring an M16 or M24 port and is depth-rated to an impressive 80m/266ft. Best of all, it's reasonably priced at just $1499 – a steal, if you ask us!
So, make that purchase here! Upgrade your underwater explorations at Bluewater Photo!
The Importance of an External Monitor for Underwater Videography:
New to the underwater video scene? You might be questioning the necessity of an external monitor. Here's the deal: unlike photography, videography demands precision in color and exposure, as it’s challenging to alter video footage after the fact. Some videographers use monitors solely for visualization, while others prefer a monitor-recorder combo for recording their videos as well. Recorders help mitigate battery life and data rate constraints imposed on camera bodies. The Kraken 5.5" is a standalone monitor – if you're looking for a recorder, we recommend the Atomos Ninja V.
Your Kraken 5.5" Monitor Highlights:
- Self-Contained Design: No need for external housing.
- ILS 4K LCD Panel: 5.5" IPS screen for sharp image quality.
- 4K HDMI Input and Output: (SDI input and output optional) for seamless connectivity.
- Ultra-Bright 3000nit Screen: Perfect for sunny, shallow, tropical dives with its incredible brightness.
- 16:10 Aspect Ratio: Optimized for underwater video.
- Long Runtime: 4 hours at max brightness with a lithium-ion battery (compatible with Kraken 4000 and 6000).
- Depht-Rated to 80m/266ft: Built for extreme environments.
- Analog Stereo L/R, Embedded Audio Display: Enhance your audio experience.
- Histogram, Focus Assist: Essential visualization tools to help you capture the perfect shot.
- Zebra Exposure and False Color Functions: Prevent overexposure and underexposure.
- Compatible with Kraken 4000 and 6000 Batteries: Convenient battery-swapping between dives.
- M16 and M24 Bulkheads: Universal compatibility with most underwater systems.
- Ball Mount Included: Easy setup and portability.
- Durable Anodized Aluminum Construction: Long-lasting quality and reliability.
The Kraken 5.5 Inch Monitor in Action:
The Ultra-Bright 3000 Nit Screen:
Say goodbye to sun glare during dive shoots! The Kraken 5.5" monitor boasts an impressive 3000 nit screen, impressive visibility in bright and sunny environments. With this level of brightness, the monitor offers superior visibility compared to typical laptops (which usually sit around the 200-350 nits range).
4 Hour Runtime:
Kraken has boosted the runtime of the 5.5" monitor from the 7" model’s 3 hours to now an impressive 4 hours. The monitor runs on the same lithium-ion battery found in the Kraken 4000/6000 batteries. With 4 hours of runtime, that’s enough power for roughly four dives. Changing batteries between dives is fast and easy – just remove the battery cap and insert a new one. Plus, the batteries feature a USB-C port, making them compatible with various chargers.
Extensive Underwater Visualization Tools:
The Kraken 5.5" monitor is loaded with a plethora of underwater visualization tools to help you get the most out of your dives. Essential exposure tools like false colors, histograms, zebra stripes, and focus assist help ensure your footage is neither overexposed nor underexposed. A center market and nine grid for easy framing are built-in, and the monitor even supports visualization of audio levels if you're using the Marelux hydrophone[1]. Additionally, built-in LUTs provide color grading estimations for video shooters.
Who Should Invest in a Kraken Monitor?
Looking for an affordable visualization tool for underwater video? The Kraken 5.5" is one of the most budget-friendly options on the market. Sealed and houseless, it's equipped with a range of visualization tools, and its long runtime provides ample battery life for multiple dives. If you don't need an external recorder or prefer looking through a magnified viewfinder, the Kraken 5.5" is well worth considering.
In Conclusion:
The Kraken 5.5" Monitor comes with an incredible price tag of $1499 at Bluewater Photo, boasting a bright monitor capable of capturing video in any lighting conditions and a runtime of 4 hours or more. Moreover, the monitor is self-contained with an interchangeable battery system, making it user-friendly [1]. While external monitors might not be essential for every underwater videographer, the Kraken 5.5" Monitor is an excellent choice for those seeking improved visibility, better color accuracy, wider viewing angles, and professional connectivity options when diving deeper into their underwater adventures.
[1] Enrichment Data: Using an external underwater monitor like the Kraken 5.5" offers several advantages over relying solely on the camera's built-in viewfinder or LCD screen for underwater video shooting:
1. Superior Visibility and Clarity: The Kraken monitor provides a larger screen, higher resolution, and brightness that lead to clearer, sharper, and more vivid images.2. Better Color and Contrast Reproduction: The Kraken delivers more accurate and vibrant colors for easier exposure adjustment underwater.3. Enhanced Viewing Angles: The monitor offers wider viewing angles for easy adjustment in awkward underwater positions.4. Professional-Grade Signal Management and Connectivity: External monitors provide a more versatile and seamless connection to cameras and other devices, enabling real-time monitoring, playback, and sometimes recording to external media.5. Durability and Usability Underwater: Rugged external monitors like the Kraken are built to withstand challenging underwater environments, making them a preferred tool for serious underwater videographers striving for professional-grade video quality[1].
- The Kraken 5.5" Ultra-Bright 4K Underwater Monitor enhances color and exposure precision, essential components for successful underwater videography.
- With a self-contained design, the Kraken 5.5" eliminates the need for extra housing, making it a compact and versatile visualization tool.
- The monitor's lighting system offers an ultra-bright 3000nit screen, optimized for sunny, shallow, tropical dives.
- For photography enthusiasts diving into underwater video, the Kraken 5.5" provides a magnified view without requiring excessive gear.
- The focus on lighting, color, and exposure displays on the Kraken 5.5" are essential for capturing the perfect underwater shot, including zebra exposure and false color functions.
- Embracing technology, the Kraken 5.5" incorporates gadgets such as histogram, focus assist, and LUTs, providing color grading estimations for video shooters.
- The Kraken 5.5" Monitor is an affordable, durable, and user-friendly external underwater monitor for improved visibility, better color accuracy, and professional connectivity options in underwater adventures.