Windows Laptop as Field Monitor -- 720pn

[TWJP]

Hey all ---

I'm directing an indy horror short this Friday (the 13th!), using the HVX200A in 720pn.

I was planning to use my laptop as a field monitor by using CS3's On Location... but just found out that this is impossible when in 720pn mode with the HVX.

Is there a cheap way that I can still use my laptop as a monitor? Maybe a cheap USB 2.0 video capture card that I can view the streaming footage from? I don't HAVE to see it in full 720 res... it can be down-resed as long as i can view it at close to full-screen at a decent quality.

I have a small portable DVD player I can use as a last resort, but the resolution/brightness is pretty horrible.

Thanks!!

[dregenthal]

OL will work fine in 720p . . . just not 720pn. But, the software is intelligent and removes the appropriate frames so what you end up with is what you are looking for (I think). Basically, what I am suggesting, is that you can shoot 720p and will not have the same storage overhead issues you would get when shooting to the P2 card.

Gawd I hope this makes sense (and/or addresses your concern/question) . . .

[TWJP]

Haha, it does in fact make sense.

My only issue with shooting straight to the laptop is that the firewire connection is just so damn loose. It doesn't help that my laptop has a 4-pin input as well. If I so much as look at it the wrong way, it disconnects. :-)

[Dick Campbell]

I always gaff tape my firewire to the camera and the laptop. Someone on the forum also makes a rubber holder that locks down the 4 pin on the camera using the headphone jack.

[Barry_Green]

If you really wanted to use 720pN to the cards, and were okay with SD monitoring on the laptop, you could get something like a Canopus analog->DV converter and run the s-video output to that, and the firewire output to OnLocation.

It'd probably be easier to just use 720P mode instead though.

[TWJP]

Thanks for the advice, guys. :)

I'll look into the canopus box.