Offbit M1 replaces paper notes on film sets
The Offbit M1 is a compact e-ink display for film sets that stores information about lenses, cameras, crew and notes.
The compact e-ink display stores information about lenses, the crew and shoots without an internet connection. Preorders at €199 open on November 11, with deliveries of the first batch available in the EU in December.
Offbit M1 moves a film crew’s working notes from paper to screen
Barcelona-based startup Offbit has introduced the M1, a compact e-ink display for film production. The device is designed as a digital replacement for the paper lens charts typically placed on cameras. It helps store information about camera configurations, lenses and settings, as well as crew lists and notes.
Paper remains a familiar tool for film crews: lens charts, crew lists kept in pockets and notes jotted down between takes. According to Offbit, on sets with around 30 specialists whose lineup may change every week, it’s easy to forget even the names of new colleagues. The company expects the M1 to bring this information together in one compact, more organized format.
App and offline operation
The M1 is controlled through an iOS app. Users can add cameras, lenses and shooting parameters, organize data by crew member and leave notes. An Android version of the app is still in development.
The built-in database contains more than 2,500 lenses, but users can also add their own. The M1 requires neither an internet connection nor an account: connectivity is needed only to update the app and the device’s firmware. Data entered in the app is sent to the display via Bluetooth.
Offbit expects the M1 to help reduce setup time, but considers convenience on set especially important: information about lenses, the crew, notes and the shooting plan is all stored in one place. As company founder Bernat Egilus, a working cinematographer, notes, this saves the crew from having to search for misplaced paper notes.
Body, screen and controls
The M1 is made from milled aluminum and has a matte black finish. It can be attached to a camera with Velcro. An additional backplate is available if the camera body does not have a sufficiently flat surface.
The device measures 85 × 60 × 10 mm and weighs 71 g. Its e-ink screen measures 3.1 inches diagonally and has a resolution of 320 × 240 pixels. The display is protected by Gorilla Glass.
Three buttons on the top edge switch between sections containing lens information, crew details and notes. A long press of the center button opens the Patch Gallery. It can hold up to 25 user images, such as production logos or photos of crew members. Another button on the left edge handles pairing and settings.
Electronic paper typically uses little power. According to Offbit, a single charge lasts for several weeks. The company also expects the screen’s information to remain easy to read in a range of conditions.
Preorders and delivery dates
The first batch will be limited to 100 units. Preorders at €199 open on November 11. Deliveries of this batch will begin in December, but it will be available only to buyers in EU countries.
A global launch, including the UK and US, is expected in spring 2027.
