Accsoon has officially launched its new M1 UVC to HDMI device which gives users the ability to turn their Android smartphones into a monitor. You need to be very aware that the M1 only works with Android smartphones, it is not compatible with iOS devices.
Most smartphones feature pretty decent displays and if you already own one then utilizing it as a monitor can make a lot of sense. The way it works is that you use an HDMI to HDMI cable from your camera to the M !. The M1 then converts this signal and passes it via a USB-C to USB-C cable to your smartphone.
You can combine your Android smartphone with the Accsoon SEE app to enable a full suite of monitoring tools. These tools include waveform, magnification, false color, histogram, focus assist, etc. Accsoon SEE supports Android 8.0 and above.
You also have the ability to live stream video from the phone to YouTube, Facebook, and other social platforms using the phone’s internet connection.
The other benefit of the M1 is that you can power your phone (and your camera with the right cable) using Sony NP-F type batteries. This is handy as smartphone batteries can drain very quickly when viewing video.
The Accsoon M1 weighs 75g / 2.65 oz, although you need to factor in the weight of a Sony NP-F battery. It has a 1/4 20 mounting hole for attachment to a camera’s shoe mount via standard monitor mounts. There is a cold shoe mounting design on the top of the Accsoon M1 which allows you to connect other accessories such as a light, microphone, wireless receiver, etc.
The Accsoon M1 was designed to support as many Android phone models as possible. The clamping mechanism supports phones between 65mm and 90mm wide. This means the vast majority of Android phones can be mounted, often while being kept in their protective cases.