Monitor

[Guest]

Is it possible to shoot anamorphic without a monitor?

[Guest]

Well, yeah, it's certainly possible... just not preferable.

Composing for the 4:3/16:9 squeeze issue isn't that big of a deal, you can compose without using a 16:9 monitor, but it's a little annoying not seeing your footage the way it's supposed to look.

The danger is in focusing, without an external monitor. It's *very* tricky to get adequate focus with the anamorphic, and if you don't have a high-resolution CRT monitor to double-check, you may not get satisfactory footage. If you absolutely must shoot without a monitor, I strongly recommend you aim for a shooting aperture of f/8 or f/11 or so. Try to focus at wide-open, and then stop down to f/8 before shooting (obviously this means making sure that your set is lighted brightly enough that f/8 is the appropriate exposure).

[Zoomforce]

Barry, you should register :)

you are right.. focusing with the anamorphic is a nightmare. Would be nice to have a little button on the display that changed it from 16x9 to normal like pro monitors.

[Barry_Green]

I did register a while ago, but the system forgot my "cookie" or something, and I couldn't remember my password. But, I found it in my mail archives, so I'm back up and running...

Focusing with the anamorphic is only a "nightmare" when you're at wide-open apertures, or at the long end of the zoom range. Keep it under Z90, and open up to focus but stop down to shoot, and it's reasonable. Not *ideal*, but reasonable.

[Guest]

If i do get a monitor i want a long long cord to connect to my monitor so i can shoot handheld. What type of connection does the monitor connect to my dvx (rca, s-video, etc.)? Thanks.

Brandon

[Taylor Moore]

What about using a wireless video asst to a 16x9 monitor?

[Zoomforce]

Wireless would be cool... but I have yet to find a reliable good quality wireless video system.. if you know of one let me know

[SirAllen]

Yeah, what do the ENG types use? Like in almost every football game they have their cameras using wireless....would love to know what kind and how much. Knowing an entry level wireless audio system starts at $500 I'd hate to guess what the ones that do video would cost.

[Zoomforce]

that football broadcast stuff and wireless frame-monitoring (for the director) are 2 differnet things. For monitoring the frame, like on stedicams, the wirelss systems are pretty weak. The quality of the signal is so bad there is no way you can monitor exposure etc... at least the ones I have seen. I would absolutely love to find a cheap one that actually worked somewhat though..

[DJClinton]

Hi there,

Would a reasonable sized LCD be adequate or is a carry CRT the go?

Any ideas what resolution the LCD should be to accomidate safe focusing?

Thanks in advance

[Flintstone]

In my opinion, LCD aren't there yet. *CRTs are the way to go for now. *This will obviously change in the near future, but there are some important considerations. *LCDs are not as fast as CRTs, so if you have fast paced action, it might lead you to think that your camera setup is wrong. *Although you can tweak your monitor, colors on LCDs tend to be a bit off compared to a CRT. *And for proper focusing, nothing beats a CRT... for now. Like I said, LCDs are catching up, but if you want something now, prepare to pay the price (Sony's new broadcast LCD line comes to mind).

Another thing, if you wish to capture computer generated material, either by video-out on the graphic card or via a scan converter, LCDs will never allow you to spot flicker artifacts as a CRTs can. *This is important if you are unsure if the video will be shown on a CRT TV or a Plasma screen.

[Zoomforce]

I think the CRT vs. LCD debate ended a few years ago, as TFT's now clearly destroy CRT's. The color is constant, accurate and digital (remember CRT is still analog)

As for frame rates, every single TFt made since 1997 has at least a 65 fps frame rate, which, unless you know how to shoot at 100 frames per second should be good enough for everyone.

All this of course doesnt apply to the $99 cheapo in car tv's you buy at walmart, but those are of course dumbed down as they are only required to support NTSC standards.

[Flintstone]

What about using a wireless video asst to a 16x9 monitor? Just annouced today:

http://www.digitalvideoediting.com/2003/11_nov/news/cw_laird_dvxmtr.htm
http://www.lairdtelemedia.com/products/lairdcam.html#WAVE

Only $495US. Looks kind of awkward though!

[Flintstone]

I think the CRT vs. LCD debate ended a few years ago, as TFT's now clearly destroy CRT's. The color is constant, accurate and digital (remember CRT is still analog)

I went to the Sony Fall show in Montreal last month, and they displayed broadcast CRT monitors (BVM series) along side their new line of LCDs (Luma series), and quite honestly, there is a big difference. I've seen footage on SD monitors and HD monitors alike. Professional CRTs are far better then LCDs. I'm not saying anything about consumer level CRTs and LCDs though. I'm strictly talking professional line here.

The advantages of LCD? Size, weight, and power consumption. Nothing beats LCDs on those items. For now, until LCDs catches up to CRT quality, I'm sticking to good old CRTs. But you are right about the colors; perhaps it's the LCDs that are more on the mark... and constant at that too.

As far as analog goes, well, the input of the CRT monitor is analog, just as the input of an LCD monitor is analog for NTSC/PAL signals. It is the interpretation of that signal that is digital; this is not a true digital-to-digital process, unfortunately. If, however, the signal was digital all the way, then that might be different (such as the case with computer DVI connections). Since I cannot guarantee the target audience in my case, I always assume the worst... analog CRT TVs. CRTs also allow me to preview flicker artifacts when I import artwork into the timeline; something and LCD monitor can’t do.

As time goes by, however, this will likely change, and I will be the first in line to promote LCDs.

[Zoomforce]

"to power the MINIATURE wireless transmitter" They gotta be kidding.. if I can clip it on my belt though, I might buy one. Someones gotta smack them and make it usable with Panasonic batteries.

[Flintstone]

Well, I'd call it miniature compared to my Bell Express Vu satellite dish! ;D

[24Peter]

Was that thing actual size? It dwarfed the GL 2 :o

[Flintstone]

It sure looked like it! :-/