ARRI and SmallHD Monitor Overlay License for Live Lens Data
ARRI and SmallHD have introduced a new Monitor Overlay License that places live lens data directly on compatible SmallHD monitors when used with ARRI's Hi-5 and Hi-5 SX hand units. Available now through the ARRI online shop, the license is built to remove external overlay boxes from the chain and give focus pullers a more direct view of focus, iris, zoom, and distance information on the display they already rely on.
That matters because this is not just another overlay utility. It is a workflow decision. By pushing ARRI lens metadata straight into SmallHD's PageOS 6 platform, the system reduces rig clutter, cuts extra failure points, and keeps critical lens information in the same visual field as the image. For 1st ACs and camera teams, that kind of consolidation can make a real difference in speed, clarity, and confidence during demanding setups.
What the license adds
The Monitor Overlay License brings several practical tools to compatible SmallHD displays:
- Focus value and focus scale with independent visibility controls
The connection can be made via USB-C (with OTG) or through a 4-pin Lemo serial connection from the Hi-5 or Hi-5 SX to the monitor. According to the announcement and ARRI's Tech Talk, confirmed supported monitors include CINE 5, CINE 7, CINE 13, Ultra 5, Ultra 7, Ultra 10, 703 Ultrabright, 1303 HDR, and ARRI CCM-1.
Why this matters on set
For camera crews, the appeal is straightforward. Instead of splitting attention between a hand unit display, a monitor image, and external overlay hardware, focus pullers can keep the relevant data on a single screen. That lowers cognitive load and simplifies the physical rig. It also reduces the need for additional boxes, cables, power draw, and troubleshooting.
This release is especially relevant for productions already working in the ARRI ECS ecosystem and using SmallHD as a monitoring standard. In those environments, software-level integration is usually more valuable than another piece of hardware. It is one of those upgrades that does not look flashy on paper, but can meaningfully improve the day-to-day reliability of a camera department workflow.
ARRI says the overlay tool was developed with working focus pullers in mind. Christine Ajayi-Scheuring, product manager for Camera Accessories at ARRI, said the company is focused on solutions that improve real-world workflows. On SmallHD's side, product manager Matt Eidenbock described the integration as the first Add-On within PageOS, framing it as part of a more scalable monitoring platform that can support custom workflows.
Pricing and positioning
The license is priced at €680 before local taxes and is available immediately. That is not an impulse purchase, but in the context of professional productions already built around Hi-5 systems and premium on-set monitoring, the value proposition is clear. This is less about adding a novelty feature and more about tightening a core job function for focus pullers and camera teams.
It also fits a broader shift in monitoring technology, where software-driven overlays and OS-level tools are replacing older bolt-on approaches. If you want more context on how display expectations are evolving at the high end, Boland Unveils 4K HDR QD-OLED Monitors for Elite Film and Broadcast Production tracks the push for more specialized on-set displays. For a wider workflow view, The Complete Guide to On-Set Monitoring and Video Village Setup is the stronger evergreen companion piece.
Bottom line
The new ARRI and SmallHD Monitor Overlay License is a practical camera department upgrade. It gives Hi-5 and Hi-5 SX users a direct path to live lens data overlays inside PageOS 6, removes the need for external overlay hardware, and offers the kind of customization that matters in real production use. For focus pullers, DITs, camera assistants, and rental houses supporting ARRI-centered packages, it looks like a meaningful improvement rather than a marketing-only add-on.
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