At IBC 2024 in Amsterdam, I caught up with SmallHD to have a look at their new Ultra 10 which is claimed to strike the perfect balance between screen size and portability. It features a 10-inch Ultra-Bright Monitor designed to adapt to any production scenario.
The Ultra 10 is being targeted at precision focus-pullers, pursuit vehicles, directors, DITs, and anyone who wants a full-featured Ultra-Bright monitor in a rugged, highly portable form factor.
It has 2000nits of brightness, 6G-SDI architecture, a lightweight, impact-resistant, IP54-certified form factor, and more ways than ever to customize your PageOS workflow via touchscreen, joystick, large tactile buttons, and new multi-function knobs.
The resolution of the screen is HD and it doesn’t have as many inputs or outputs as you would find on its bigger brother the Cine 13.
Key features
- Max Brightness: Up to 2000nits
- Camera Control: ARRI, RED, Sony
- 4Kp60 End-to-End Workflows: 6G-SDI
- Resolution:1920×1200
- Weatherproof Rating: IP54
- Multi-Function Tactile Control: Knobs
QD-LED Edge-Lit LCD Panel Technology
The Ultra 10’s LEDs are built into an edge-lit panel stack that diffuses and focuses the light through a quantum-dot film. SmallHD claims that this ensures incredible brightness, excellent image fidelity, ultra-pure color accuracy, and the highest tolerance for color uniformity.
Ultra 10 + Teradek Bolt 6
There is another version of the Ultra 10 that will be available soon that features a built-in Bolt 6 unit. This will be able to utilize the clear airwaves of the newly-open 6GHz spectrum, with RX models that are compatible with any Teradek Bolt 6, and backward-compatible with any Bolt 4K system in 5GHz mode.
Designed to Withstand the Elements
The Ultra 10 features a rugged, shock-resistant chassis designed to withstand production and environmental rigors alike, and it features an IP54 rating (defined as protected against harmful dust and water spray from all directions).
All electronic components are cap-sealed to protect against dust and water. the shock-absorbing bumpers withstand most drops, tumbles, and impacts. The Ultra 10 can safely operate in extreme temperatures from 0º-40ºC.
PageOS
The Ultra 10 runs SmallHD’s latest PageOS. Some of the features include:
- Look-Around Camera Control: View and adjust crucial camera-control functions and PageOS tools at the same time with a camera-control interface anchored to every page.
- Multi-View: SmallHD has added the powerful Multi-View tools from its 4K Production Monitors to Ultra 10. View two camera feeds and use multiple tools pages on screen at the same time, side-by-side.
- Teradek RT Integration: View critical lens, focus, iris, and zoom data on your monitor. Quickly create, edit, and delete visual marks on the focus scale, set on-screen limits, and even pinch-zoom the scale.
- Custom Function Buttons: Easily accessible physical buttons give you full control of the monitor, even when you’re wearing gloves. Assign workflow shortcuts for software tools, switch inputs, adjust display brightness, and more.
- Knob Functions: Four customizable encoder knobs let you change PageOS tools and settings on the fly with capacitive touch, long-push, short-push, and rotary functionality.
Optional Accessories
- Camera Control Licenses for RED, ARRI, and Sony VENICE.
- ARCA Rail
- Sunhood
- Camera ID & Tally Light
- Micro Battery Plates
- Ultra QR Monitor Mount
The Ultra 10 Sunhood connects to the monitor in seconds with a powerful array of integrated magnets. It requires no tools for installation or removal and provides total panel protection when closed.
Price
The SmallHD Ultra 10 retails for $4,499 USD, although B&H has it listed for $3,999 USD.
$3,999 USD is a lot of money to pay for a 10″ HD resolution monitor, considering the larger 4K Cine 13 is only $700 USD more. The SmallHD Ultra 10 is a lot more niche than the Ultra 7 and Cine 13 and it is being targeted for specific use cases that I previously mentioned in the article.
