No Sony Alpha Flip-Screen? No Problem.

If you’ve invested in the Sony Alpha Platform, and you don’t want to compromise your image quality, IBIS, or change cameras for a flip screen - I’ve assembled 4 solutions to help you achieve a forward-facing screen. Supercharge your Sony (or FujiFilm) camera, and long live the flippy screen!

1. The Play Memories App | Free

PROS

-        It’s free
-        It lets you see your LCD display on your phone or tablet
-        You can check your focus if you’re far from your camera
-        You can control your camera remotely using your smartphone or tablet

DOWNSIDES

-        It’s a battery killer on many models
- It’s laggy and crashes often
-        Limited film-modes and settings
-        Image transmission delay
- You’ll need keep your smartphone or tablet connected all the time

I really wanted this to be the answer, but it just wasn’t a viable long-term option.

The Sony A7Sii and A6500 NP-FW50 batteries are tiny, and I need 4 of them to get me through a full-day of filming. I’ve tried using this app a ton, but my battery-life plummets from 60% to 0% in a really, really short time. With my A7S, it’s almost unusable, no exaggeration!!

 -        LIMITED FILM MODES / SETTINGS
In my experience on the A7S, I wasn’t able to use my presets “1” or “2” on the top dial to switch from my saved 24p to 60p, and this meant I couldn’t access my custom cine4 picture profile settings. It was similar to shooting in the Time-lapse app mode, where I was forced to film in some manual or priority mode, and I noticed the entire camera became laggy which brings me to my next point…

 -        It’s SLOW
Both the laggy image delay from camera to smartphone, and the whole setup process. You have to open your phone app, put the camera in the correct mode, and then sync the two.

 -        You need a PHONE or TABLET, all the time.
I actually thought this would be good, because I always had my phone with me. But I quickly realized that I was tying up my phone every time I needed to film, and I when I connected it to my camera Wi-Fi, that would drain my precious phone battery too! Not being able to easily use my phone in between takes was an inconvenience. I was missing a simple solution that was there when I turned my camera on.

 2. The Tilt-Screen Hack | “Free”…

Potentially VERY Expensive if Stuff Breaks

PROS

-        It’s free (unless you accidentally break something)
-        It works better than having no flip-screen
-        It’s cool…

DOWNSIDES

-        The screen isn’t fully visible
-        You’ll have to hold your camera upside down
-        It’s risky and this “FREE” project could become costly!

I’m not endorsing this mod! People have tried it with success, but there are limitations and serious risks…

Once modded, the LCD screen will sit at an angle, which can sort of help you frame your shot, but it’s tilted away from you just enough to drive you nuts (if you’re like me). It’s like looking at your laptop with the screen halfway folded down.  

Don’t Forget, The Screen Will Flip Down which means…

Anything like a tripod or handle will block the view. SO, you have to flip your entire A7SII, A7III, A6300, or A6500 upside down, and mount your camera via the hot shoe. I’d highly recommend a STRONG and STURDY steel top shoe mount, and hope that you securely tighten it each time before you vlog or film. Please people, don’t drop your precious Sony Alpha Camera!!

Whether it be broken-camera downtime or money, there’s a chance that the electronic screen ribbon connector can tear and cost you a pretty penny. This could happen during the mod, or afterwards due to re-current stress that Sony didn’t intend for. Also, attempting this will void your warranty, so be careful if you go down this path and be prepared to order replacement parts IF THEY’RE AVAILABLE. Not all cameras have them: 

Sony A7III – REPLACEMENT RIBBON UNAVAILABLE
Sony A7RIII – REPLACEMENT RIBBON UNAVAILABLE

I can’t afford to risk breaking my one and only Sony Camera so I won’t do this on my own gear, nor would I want to void the warranty on a pricey A7III.

3. External Camera Monitor |
~$200 to $500+

PROS

-        It’s great for production shoots because of the high clarity
-        You can see your focus clearly with the bigger screens
-        Great for checking exposure, especially if it features zebra bars or false colors  
-        Some of the high-end ones plug the battery into your camera for extra juice
-        Lots of bells and whistles are often available like focus peaking, exposure meters etc.

DOWNSIDES

-        It’s pricey
- It’s bulky with extra wires on your camera (not the best for run and gun filmmakers)
-        I’ve noticed that many have an image-transmission delay
-        If it uses a large battery, it adds weight
- If it uses a small battery, it probably doesn’t last very long

I think field monitors have awesome features, but they have a place. And in my opinion, that’s not on the camera that’s in a travel bag, or for the minimalist filmmaker, or the handheld vlogger, or the weekend warrior. It’s a great add-on for production work, but often it’s overkill and a lot of coin for filmmakers who just need to see their exposure, focus, and composition. Which brings me to my favorite option :)

4. The Flip-Screen Mirror
by CAMIROR | $39.99

If you haven’t already noticed the URL, welcome to www.camiror.com! Yes, I designed and made this accessory, and I did it for good reason. I needed a budget-friendly, always-there, lightweight, non-battery draining option that let me vlog or film shots from the front of my camera and this checked many boxes.

PROS

-        It’s affordable
-        It’s super lightweight
-        It looks and feels high-quality
-        There’s no video lag
-        It’s battery-free
-        It stays on your camera (folds into place above your lens)
- You can use it with a stabilizer like the Zhiyun Crane
- There isn’t a compromise in image visibility like the flip-down mod
-        It probably works better than you expect.

Chances are you’ll be surprised how much it helps you set your exposure, focus, and composition!

When I first came up with the idea, I strapped a TINY mirror to a bulky arm I had laying around and even that was a god-send. I used it to line up my shots whenever I filmed an acoustic music video in my apartment. But I needed something more sturdy, permanent, and official-looking for when I was out and about filming.

Which led me to design what we have today, the CAMIROR Flip-Screen Mirror. It’s an all-metal attachment that can be adjusted to give you a clear view of your screen from the front of your camera.

No laggy image, no extra batteries / weight, and when you tilt your screen up, you get glorious 90-degree LCD screen visibility!

FLIP-DOWNSIDES

I’ve been using this attachment for almost one year, and I feel lost whenever I vlog or film without it. However, like any other accessory, it’s not perfect and has its minor drawbacks.

• An external mic can block the view
  so you’ll want to use a mic re-locator arm like the one I created (available in the store), or an off-brand option for the Sony A6400.

• Screen won’t be visible from EVERY crazy angle
  however, the mirror is large enough so you’ll have lots of room to move around and still get full view of your LCD screen.

• You’ll need to protect your mirror
  and keep it covered if you store it in a camera bag. I use the microfiber pouch to keep it protected.

So what’s the ideal option?

If you’re on a camera that does NOT have a forward-facing screen, I can’t stress enough that you need a solution to line up your shots, get your exposure right, and make sure your 4-battery camera hasn’t died on you!

This CAMIROR flippy screen solution is by far my favorite, and it’s why I decided to invest so much of my post day-job time into it. I hope this post helps you decide, and be sure to check out the demonstration video below. Give your Sony or Fujifilm camera the visibility it’s begging for – here’s to better videos!