Quick take: Shimbol's TP Mini is a wireless HDMI video transmitter that costs about $80, and it actually works. Setup is plug-and-play with no channels to configure, latency is rated at 70ms, it runs on cheap Sony NP-F batteries, and I held a strong signal past 200 feet under power lines. For solo filmmakers who need to frame and check focus from in front of the camera, it's a really cost-effective tool.
The Solo Filmmaker Struggle
Being a solo filmmaker or content creator is hard. Say you want an overly complicated opening shot on the Fujifilm 200mm F2 because it looks cool. With the camera 30 or 40 feet away, you can't see how you're framed, flip screen or not. And the last thing you want is to shoot an entire video and find out you were out of focus the whole time.
An Affordable Wireless Solution
A company I'd never heard of, Shimbol, asked if I wanted to test its wireless video transmitter. I've used these on live events as a roaming camera, and I've thought about buying one during Black Friday sales, but they're usually a couple hundred dollars and don't get much use. This one is under $100, which is crazy.
I love testing cheap gear because it shows how far tech has come. Anyone can say a $10,000 setup is still good. A wireless video transmitter under $100 that actually works is the impressive part.
Setup and Specs
Simple setup: Connect your camera to the transmitter with an HDMI cable, connect the receiver to your monitor the same way, turn both on and they sync automatically. No channels, no multi-link settings.
Works with phones too: I tested it with the Accsoon SeeMo, which turns your phone into a monitor, and it worked just as well as a real recorder like the Atomos Ninja V.
Latency: Rated at 70ms. That's fine for framing and rough focus pulls with something like a Tilta Nucleus kit, but I wouldn't pull critical focus with it.
Power: Sony NP-F batteries, which are cheap, and there are USB-C rechargeable versions, which I use on most of my gear.
Rated range: Up to 600 feet.
Creative Benefits for Solo Shooters
With the monitor next to me, I could frame myself on my X-M5, step into position and nail dramatic shots that would otherwise take 500 takes, unless you're on an ultra-wide right next to the camera. I could also confirm the Fuji was tracking me, and it kept me in focus surprisingly well, even close to minimum focus distance.
Long-Distance Stress Test
Outside, I walked backward down my street while watching the feed. At around 100 to 120 feet, the signal was still strong. At close to 200 feet, under a bunch of power lines, the transmission was still going, with only slightly more latency than the rated 70ms. My earlier test reached about 220 to 250 feet with good signal and latency, so 600 feet might be possible.
Realistically, I'll take 50 feet. Once you're 60 or 70 feet from your camera, you'd better have someone watching it, or someone is going to walk off with it. Also, my neighbors now think I'm even weirder.
Final Thoughts
I've used it for about a month with no issues. If you want a wireless HDMI transmitter so you can shoot yourself on your good camera, this is a really cost-effective option that sets up fast and just works.
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