Works great for viewing real-time video capture.
I’ve been around all aspects of video production my entire life, but I just recently started operating the camera myself. I will usually shoot with one of two cameras – my iPhone 12 Pro or my Canon 70D. No matter which camera I shoot with, I have one consistent drawback – no easy way to view what I’m shooting. If there is one thing I absolutely love about technology it’s that it always finds a way to make life easier. INKEE’s Benbox solves my live preview viewing problem by providing a dual-band wireless video transmission to phones, laptops, and tablets. It’s a handy little device that is powerful, efficient, and affordable.
DETAILS
The Benbox is a wireless video transmitter. It sends an HDMI signal via Wi-Fi to the INKEE app. The app is available on a plethora of devices including macOS, iOS, and Android. This wireless signal allows users to use their mobile devices as real-time video monitors. The Benbox accepts up to 1080p60 resolution through a full-size HDMI port. The device can transmit signals up to 328′ away (line of sight). The device itself measures 3” x 3” x 1.5” and weighs only 4 ounces. It’s small enough to fit into a pocket and is easily mounted to a camera using the camera’s cold shoe mount. The Benbox has a built-in rechargeable battery that has a battery life of approximately 3.5 hours. Users can take advantage of the Benbox’s built-in antenna and camera control (depending on the connected camera) as well as the ability to connect to up to 3 monitoring devices at one time. The Benbox is compatible with Sony, Panasonic, Canon, and Nikon DSLR cameras.
Wireless Spectrum | WiFi (5G) + Bluetooth (2.4G) |
Range | 100M (no barriers, no interference) |
Transmitter Power | 17dBm |
Signal Receiving Sensitivity | -80dBM |
HDMI Input | 1080P@60/50/30/24fps 720P@60/50/30/24fps 576P@60/50/30/24fps 480P@60/50/30/24fps |
Port | Video Port USB 3.0A Port USB Type-C Port |
Button | On/Off Button |
Power Consumption | Charge the camera: < 6.5W No charge the camera: < 4W |
Battery | 5V/2A |
App | Support iOS 8.0 and above/Android 6.0 and above |
Operating Temperature | -10º C ~ 40º C |
Dimension | 77mm x 50mm x 36mm |
G.W. | 125g |
USER EXPERIENCE
The Benbox came in a simple box with the logo “INKEE” stamped on the front along with an image of the product. The logos for iOS, Android, macOS, and Windows was also shown on the front of the box. The back of the box has some specs on it. When you open the box, you will find a warranty card, a thank you pamphlet, the transmitter, an instruction manual, and several connector cables that are labeled according to their connection type. There are three ports on the transmitter itself – an HDMI, a USB-C, and a USB-A. There is an on/off button on the top that activates the functions of the transmitter.
The operation of the Benbox is actually fairly easy. Once the Benbox is turned on, it will automatically transmit a wireless signal. At this point, you need to connect an HDMI cable from the Benbox to your camera to complete the connection between the camera and the transmitter. On the receiver end, you will need to download the app that corresponds to your monitoring device. For me, it was an iPad Pro. So, I downloaded the app from the App Store. There is no real set-up for the app and all you need to do in order to connect to the Benbox is to connect to the WiFi network that it is broadcasting. I went to the WiFi settings on the iPad and selected the Benbox’s network. Then I returned to the app. When I started recording with the camera, the image appeared on the screen of my iPad.
I was really impressed with how good the picture looked on the screen of the iPad. There was no lag between the two devices and what I was shooting on the camera was being seen immediately on the screen of the iPad. I love that camera control is actually available through the app, too, but I think I’ll mostly use this device to provide reference monitoring for others while shooting. With that in mind, I don’t want spectators to have the ability to change camera settings while I’m shooting. That’s why I love that camera control is an ‘option’ and not an automatic function of the Benbox.
CONCLUSION
The Benbox is a unique accessory that I think any DSLR videographer should invest in. Its operation is simple and it works flawlessly. I haven’t experienced any issues with it, but I would like it more if it were just a tad lighter. And, while I know it’s impossible and frankly, cost-prohibitive to include all the cables needed for any type of camera that someone might use, I would have liked it if a short HDMI cable was provided for the connection between the camera and the Benbox. I happened to have the cable I needed to complete that connection, but it’s rather long and I would love to be more portable while using this transmitter. Maybe INKEE could offer different packages depending on the camera you are going to use. Even though I might have suggestions on how to make the kit better, I don’t think there is anything ‘wrong’ with it currently. The Benbox is a great device.
For more information, visit in-kee.com and Facebook.
2 Comments
Hey Robyn, love your review however, one question lingers.. you stated at the beginning that you record either from your “ iPhone 12 Pro or my Canon 70D” and that once you received the benbox it worked great. I’m thinking you connected it to your Canon 70D and not the iPhone 12 Pro. Have you tried connecting it to your iPhone while having the video transmit to your iPad?? I would really appreciate a response on that since I only use my iPhone to make videos.
Hello YVes – Thank you for the comment and question. You are correct in your assumption that I only used this with my Canon 70D. I’m not 100% sure if it would work with an iPhone since I don’t know if you can output the video signal you are currently recording with your phone while you are recording. I have not tried using it with the iPhone since it’s really designed for use with DSLR cameras.