DELL 2405FPW computer monitor for HD field monitor?

Steve55

Active member
Can anyone advise on this?

If I buy a DELL 2405FPW computer monitor, which accepts component inputs, will it be a native/true HD/HDV monitor for use in the field i.e. plug Sony Z1 (in HDV1080i mode) or Panasonic HVX200 (in DVCPRO50 HD mode) into it.

I was going to buy a small field monitor to aid in focus/white balance/exposure/composition.

When people say to buy a proper HD field monitor, does the DELL 2405FPW count?

Is it simply down to the pixel count of the monitor as the DELL does 1300x1920, I know HD is 1080x1920, so what happens to the extra 220 horizontal lines that the DELL monitor has, do they end up as black i.e. letter-boxing?

Any advice on this and/or recommendations for field monitor for working with HDV and HD.
 
What monitor would you suggest? Anything under $2,000 that would work in the field but could also work in the studio.

We are a small production company and don't have a ton of money to throw at hd, so if we had a monitor that could work for both it would really help us out.

What kind of specs should we be looking for in an HD monitor, field or studio?

Thanks
 
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I am really looking at the Gateway. I'm taking my camera to Office Depot tomorrow and hooking up to one to check it out. But this one is at the top of my list right now.
 
Funny how Andrew Lock recomends the Dell in his book "How to Shoot, Edit & Distribute HDV". And he recommends it as a 'field' monitor????
 
Barry_Green said:
The Dell is a lousy monitor for video. Excellent computer monitor though.


Come on Barry, you know you can't make a statement like that without telling us WHY you think the Dell is a bad monitor for video.

It has few controls, but with the controls within the video card software, like catalyst for ATI, do you need external controls?

I am waiting for the release of the Dell 2407 myself.
 
2405 isnt that bad - doesnt show the full capabilities of the HVX or other HIDEF stuff but hey, it works and its cheap.
 
I have them both. I use the Gateway in a Pelican case and a shade box for outdoor. The Dell is better than the Gateway but is much bigger and heavier. I think it looks great when fed HD with a proper cable run to it. I use it in my edit bay and have rented a $10,000 monitor to check the output of a delivery master and the Dell looked pretty darn good up against it. Granted, it's no $10,000 monitor but it's more than a good choice in my opinion. And whats this about no controls??? It has a full compliment on the lower right hand side. I recently got the I-O Data longer componet cable. The Gateway really suffered and I lost the kluge in the color bars, but the Dell had plenty of umph left and the color bars were sharper, brighter and cleaner. I go way back with Faroudja and they make good stuff. But, the Dell is native 1920x1200, Gateway is 1680x1050. I don't kknow where you pay the same price and get better. Mine was $849 at Dell on sale. Must say though, the Gateway comes alive when used as the viewing monitor full screen with Final Cut fed DVI-D and we've rigged a battery power source for the Gateway that the Dell just chews up! Don't mean to contridict Barry as I've really come to respect his knowledge and want him as an ally, but my experience is different.

Don Wilson
AmericanaMediaInc.com
 
The Dell is a great monitor but it is a bit cumbersome and doesn't make ya want to load it up all the time. The marshall is a sweet little monitor but pricey.. and I'd like to check out the Panny one but that's quite out of my price range now...
 
Used the Panny on Nascar races earlier this year and we loved it!! It will be our next monitor after the person controlling the budgets (my wife) gets tired of my complaints and pointing out the problems with ours and I buy her something shiny!!

Don Wilson
 
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