more info on focusing and production monitors please?

[michaelcorvin]

okay,
i've been reading up on moving to the HVX and i know that one thing i want to own, not rent, is a small production monitor that i can attach to the camera or near the camera and use for focusing. i don't feel that the panasonic 17 inch would fit into my run and gun production workflow, though someday i'd like to get that too. DVC rack is not an option because of the tether. in barry's focusing sticky, many people make mention of the marshall V-R70P-HDA, which only has a resolution of 800x480. Barry also mentions that the focusing capability of the marshall is about the same as EVF with focus assist + DTL on the HVX LCD especially since you can't use EVF and focus assist on the marshall. really? are there any other options? any announcements in the wind for a portable 7-9" HiDef monitor that won't cost me four grand? i'll likely be shooting 720p for the most part. would the marshall be any use for 1080?
i guess i'm leaning toward the marshall with the nebtek mod for panasonic batteries, but if it's not gonna help me that much then what's the point? anyone out there do a lot of run and gun HD shoots where you rarely have time to set focus markers? what are you using? your superior depth perception to judge distance on the fly? that guy kenn michael just posted a rad video and he only used focus assist, but is he in the majority on that?

also, varizoom has what looks like a comparable monitor to the marshall.
http://www.varizoom.com/products/monitors/s1080df.html
anyone heard anything on that?
thanks.

-michael velasquez
__________________
http://www.e3productions.com/
We're not losers, we're artists.

[Justin Reade]

i am shooting a short film right now and using the Marshall. I mean, there comes a point when over-intellectualizing the issue becomes a monetary downfall. you DEFINITELY need a monitor for visualization/focus/and elimination of boom shadows, etc. from the corners (which are generally obscured and difficult to evaluate on the HVX LCD), but you don't need like the highest end plasma equivalent of a field monitor.

I have bad vision and i'm telling you the marshall is just great. something bigger than the LCD is GREAT. do yourself a favor and don't spend thousands for something like that, unless you have the bread to dole out. the marshall works great in my opinion, regardless if IN THEORY its the functional equivalent of "EVF with focus assist + DTL on the HVX LCD especially since you can't use EVF and focus assist on the marshall." I mean, there comes a point when you have to trust your eye and not a textbook -- not to disparage barry in the least bit...

[peter orland]

[quote=michaelcorvin]
http://www.varizoom.com/products/monitors/s1080df.html
anyone heard anything on that?
thanks.

Hi Michael.

The Swit monitor you have listed from varizoom is very similar to the Marshall visually, so much so that it would make very little difference which one you purchased. The Swit is 8" and has both digital and component inputs (not that that helps with the HVX but...) and comes with a hood and case. The Marshal is 7" and you have to choose either digital or component model but has blue gun and larger user base.

Thanks.