Camera crews shuffle a lot of paper. A printed lens chart goes on the body, a crew list gets folded into a pocket, and notes end up scribbled on the back of a call sheet. Barcelona startup Offbit wants to replace all of it with a single small e-paper lens chart that lives on the camera.
As reported by CineD, Offbit has announced the M1, an e-paper display that replaces the printed lens chart on the camera. It shows lens data, crew names and notes. A free iOS app controls it, and an Android version is in development.
What the M1 shows and how it is set up
Crews prepare everything in the app first. Lens setups, crew and notes are organized, then sent to the M1 over Bluetooth, so the e-paper lens chart is ready before the crew arrives on set. According to CineD, Offbit says a project takes minutes to build. After that, the device stays on the camera until something changes.
The app includes a database of more than 2,500 lenses and accepts custom lenses, so every e-paper lens chart can match the glass in the bag. It works offline and requires no account. A connection is needed only for app and firmware updates.
If the idea of e-paper replacing printed information appeals to you, Bigme’s 13.3-inch e-paper monitor with a 60 FPS refresh shows how far the same display technology is being pushed for desk work.
Three buttons along the top edge switch between the LENS, CREW and NOTES pages. The LENS page works like a camera lens chart, listing focal lengths, each with its T-stop and close-focus distance. The CREW page shows names, roles and departments.
The app can scan a call sheet PDF and sort names into departments. The NOTES page is free-form, suited to shot notes, walkie channels and the day’s plan.
Offbit makes the case against paper directly. “Camera departments still run on paper: lens charts, crew lists folded in a pocket, notes scribbled between takes. On crews of around 30 people that change every week, even names slip,” the company says. The M1 is meant to present the same information in a more compact and consistent form.
The e-paper lens chart: hardware, battery and mounting
The M1 uses a 3.1-inch black-and-white e-paper screen with a 320 x 240 pixel resolution. A matte Gorilla Glass cover with an anti-reflective finish sits over it. Offbit says the screen stays readable in direct sunlight.
The housing is CNC-machined from 6061 aluminum with a black anodized finish. The device measures 85 x 60 x 10 millimeters (3.35 x 2.36 x 0.39 inches) and weighs 71 grams (2.5 ounces). Its 450 mAh battery is rated by Offbit at up to three weeks per charge. That figure is a manufacturer claim, not an independent test.
The M1 charges over USB-C, with an input listed at 5V / 1A. CineD reports that the box does not include a USB-C cable. It does include eight Velcro loop strips and a welcome card.
The M1 has a flat back that attaches with Velcro. Cameras without a flat surface need the M1 Backplate (M1-BP), an aluminum plate priced at €35. The plate has two 1/4-20 threads and one locking 3/8-16 point. It mounts to a cage, a magic arm or a monitor.
Lens data is only half of the camera-kit story, so readers thinking about glass in the bag may also want to see Sigma’s three new Aizu Prime lenses, which show what the lens database is meant to track.
Controls and the patch gallery
A long press on the center button opens the patch gallery. It holds up to 25 custom images, such as production logos or crew photos. The app converts each image into a bitmap, and users switch between patches on the device itself. A fourth button on the left edge handles pairing and settings.
Bernat Eguiluz, a working cinematographer and Offbit’s founder, puts the benefit in practical terms. “M1 saves prep time, but the real difference is on set: lenses, crew, notes and the shooting plan, all in one place. You stop looking for the paper that went missing.”
Price and availability
The M1 costs €199 including VAT. Pre-orders open on November 11, 2026, at 11:11 CET on Offbit’s website, and buyers pay in full at checkout. NoFilmSchool gives a rough dollar equivalent of $222.51. Offbit has not announced US dollar or British pound prices.
The first batch is limited to 100 units, with a maximum of three per person. It ships in December 2026 to Spain and the rest of the EU. The UK, the US and other markets are planned for spring 2027. At the time CineD wrote its report, B&H and CVP did not list the M1.
The limits are clear. The M1 is Offbit’s first product, and the first batch of this e-paper lens chart is small. The app runs only on iOS for now, so crews with Android phones cannot use the device yet. The screen is monochrome, and the battery figure has not been independently tested.
Still, the core idea is simple. Crews currently stake their workflow on paper that can go missing. A monochrome screen that holds an e-paper lens chart, a crew list and a day’s notes in one place addresses that gap directly. Whether it earns a spot on a camera depends on how it performs through a full shoot week.
Sources & Links
Source: petapixel.com
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Offbit M1 e-paper lens chart cost?
The Offbit M1 costs €199 including VAT. Pre-orders open on November 11, 2026, at 11:11 CET on Offbit’s website, and buyers pay in full at checkout.
What information does the Offbit M1 display show?
The M1 has three pages switched by buttons on its top edge: LENS, which lists focal lengths with T-stop and close-focus distance; CREW, which shows names, roles and departments; and NOTES, a free-form page for shot notes, walkie channels and the day’s plan.
Does the Offbit M1 work with Android phones?
Not yet. The companion app runs only on iOS for now, and an Android version is in development, so crews with Android phones cannot use the device yet.
How long does the Offbit M1 battery last on one charge?
Offbit rates the 450 mAh battery at up to three weeks per charge. This is a manufacturer claim and has not been independently tested.
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