Field Monitors: A Comprehensive Look at the Hollyland Pyro 7
The market for field monitors has exploded recently, offering a wide array of choices to suit every budget. From stripped-down, basic models to sophisticated options with wireless transmission capabilities, the selection is vast. In this review, we’ll be taking a closer look at one of the latter: the Hollyland Pyro 7.
The Pyro 7 promises a great deal, boasting an extensive feature list designed to appeal to a broad spectrum of users. It offers both transmission and receiving functionality, a full suite of shooting assistance tools, multiple input/output options, diverse powering solutions, and much more.
Having used numerous field monitors over the years, I’ve developed a good understanding of what works well. However, the Pyro 7 presented an intriguing challenge, and I was keen to see if it could compete for the top spot. Ideally, the best field monitors should be lightweight yet durable, bright enough for outdoor use, equipped with suitable inputs for various camera setups, and offer features like focus assist, false colour, anamorphic de-squeezing, and easy rigging. Given that a field monitor in this price range represents a significant investment, it needs to deliver on its promises, especially with more budget-friendly options rapidly closing the gap.
Hollyland Pyro 7: Key Features
- Screen: 7-inch, 1500 nits brightness
- Inputs: SDI, HDMI (loopable)
- Range: Up to 400 meters
- Power: DC, V-mount plate, or NPF plate
Hollyland Pyro 7: Pricing
The Hollyland Pyro 7 is available for approximately £509 for a single unit. Bundles including transmitters, side handles, and other accessories are also available at varying prices, roughly double the cost of the single unit. While not the cheapest option on the market, it’s also not excessively expensive.
Build Quality and Handling
The first impression of the Pyro 7 is defined by its weight and feel. The alloy shell provides a reassuring sense of robustness, yet the monitor weighs only 570g. Even with the addition of batteries and antennas, it remains relatively lightweight, making it comfortable to use for extended shoots, whether mounted on a camera or handheld. While direct camera mounting is possible, the inclusion of 1/4-20 mounts on both sides and the bottom allows for easy attachment of side handles or tripod mounting, making it suitable for use as a handheld assistant or director’s monitor.
Using the tripod mounting method proved particularly useful for wireless focusing, freeing up hands for other tasks. The Pyro 7’s impressive brightness of 1500 nits ensured excellent visibility even in bright sunlight. However, reflections could be problematic at times, and the absence of a sun hood in the box felt like a missed opportunity, especially considering that many budget monitors include one.
Powering options are versatile, with support for a dual NPF plate (which I used), a V-mount plate, a G-mount plate, and DC input with a threaded locking mechanism.
Despite its compact design, the Pyro 7 offers a generous selection of ports, switches, and buttons. These include SDI in and out, HDMI in and out (both loopable), a USB-C port (its capabilities beyond RTMP streaming were unclear), and an SD card slot for loading LUTs and recording.
Physical controls are straightforward but effective, featuring a sliding power switch (preferable to the press-and-hold type) and two programmable function buttons. A 3.5mm headphone port and threaded mounting points for the antennas are also included.
Overall, the build quality is exceptional. The SDI and antenna points are recessed or guarded to prevent damage, the buttons offer satisfying tactile feedback, and the battery plate feels remarkably secure.
Performance and Functionality
The Pyro 7 performs admirably as a basic field monitor. The menus are clean, intuitive, and highly responsive, which is crucial given that it relies solely on touch-screen control. While some users may miss physical buttons or encoders, their increasing redundancy makes their absence less of a concern. The icons and options are sufficiently large for easy navigation, even for those with larger hands, and are well organised. The inclusion of submenus for more detailed control is a welcome feature, allowing for both quick, general adjustments and more granular customisation.
While the screen’s brightness is more than adequate for use in bright sunlight, effectively mitigating reflections and glare, the inclusion of a sun hood would have been a valuable addition.
The display is not only bright but also boasts Full HD resolution, exceptional clarity, excellent colour rendition, and impressive contrast. The ability to load 3D LUTs further enhances its versatility, alongside a comprehensive suite of shooting aids. These include standard features like zebras, false colour, and peaking, as well as more advanced tools like waveforms, histograms, and even a vectorscope. All of these tools can be customised to individual needs and assigned to the function buttons.
For users employing anamorphic lenses, all standard de-squeeze ratios are supported, and custom settings can be created. Composition aids and guides are also included.
The display can be mirrored and flipped, which is invaluable for shooting in awkward positions.
The SD card slot, typically used for loading LUTs, can also be used for recording footage (limited to 40 minutes of MP4). It can also capture screenshots, which can be overlaid on the incoming signal to ensure continuity when resetting scenes.
These features, combined with the robust build quality, would be sufficient to recommend the Pyro 7, but its wireless capabilities elevate it even further.
Wireless Transmission
While numerous wireless transmission systems exist, the Pyro 7 stands out for its impressive range (up to 400 meters) and low latency (approximately 60ms). This is achieved through a combination of dual bands, automatic channel hopping, and the option to choose between HD mode (constant bitrate of 11 Mbps) and smooth mode (reduced bitrate, minimised latency). This ensures a strong and reliable signal suitable for a variety of applications. The 60ms latency is fast enough for most uses.
The system’s adaptability is particularly appealing. The Pyro 7 can connect to two other Pyro units, as well as two mobile devices running the Hollyland app. This allows for scalability as production needs evolve, with the ability to add additional Pyro units as required.
The ability to switch between incoming signals from two cameras is another valuable feature that enhances the Pyro 7’s versatility.
Final Verdict
For anyone seeking a high-quality, daylight-viewable field monitor with a comprehensive range of features, the Pyro 7 is an excellent choice. It offers easy rigging, a comprehensive suite of shooting assistance tools, intuitive menus, and exceptional build quality. While the included accessories are minimal, the Pyro 7 offers excellent value for money, even before considering its wireless capabilities.
Pros:
- Comprehensive feature set
- Thoughtful design
- Solid performance
- Robust build quality
- Reliable wireless transmission
Cons:
- Limited physical controls
- Sun hood not included