In the last year or so we have started to see a lot more affordable monitors with integrated wireless video transmission systems come to market.

The latest one is from Shimbol and it is called the ZO600M. If you are not familiar with Shimbol they are a relatively new company that is making wireless video systems. I reviewed their ZOlink 600 Wireless Video System last year on the site.

Please note that the ZO600M I was reviewing was a pre-production unit, and there are a few firmware bugs that still need to be ironed out.

Concept

The ZO600M is a 5.5″ wireless monitor that has the unique ability to be used as either a TX or an RX unit. If you use it as an on-camera monitor you can transmit images to multiple other ZO600M units, ZOlink 600S TX/RX units, and mobile devices.

I like the concept of being able to mix and match Shimbol wireless components depending on what your needs are.

The whole philosophy behind the ZO600M is convenience. By integrating wireless into a small-sized monitor you take away some of the pains of traditional wireless monitoring. By keeping things simple, it allows filmmakers to spend more time actually creating, instead of worrying about equipment.

Having a small, lightweight hybrid monitor/wireless solution makes a lot of sense for solo shooters or small crews. Being able to provide a wireless monitor to a client, director, or anyone else you happen to be working with can be a big help. Having to build up a director’s monitor from scratch often requires lots of different components and multiple powering solutions. It is far easier to have an all-in-one solution, but the caveat is that with most systems you are locked into using one brand of wireless.