The perfect HD on camera monitor for the HVX200?

Has anyone tried the Marshall V-R70DP? It seems to be the same physical lcd as the HDA version but it lacks HD input, which seems alright as the 480x800 lcd is SD. Assuming the panel is the same it boils down to who has the better scaler Marshall or Panasonic. At 500 dollars cheaper it's worth looking into.
 
There's a definite and marked resolution improvement using the component HD inputs vs. the composite (SD). The res improvement is very similar going HD through the component to VGA adapter and cheap 480x800 monitor. One thing I am very sure of after doing these tests, is that the HD feed to either monitor would be far better for focus assist than the SD composite feed. Just based on my res chart pics viewing the feeds "live", I'd say the HD feed picks up 150 to 200 lines of resolution over the SD feed.

That varizoom SWIT looks good. A few dvinfo posters have tried it and seem to like it. I guess now we need a Marshall vs SWIT test.
 
Varizoom/Swift, the lack of Panasonic/etc battery mount not going to appeal to some, if you had planned on using existing battery inventory and charger(s). I can not figure out the difference between the 2 models offered on the Varizoom site. Better price and package offered over Marshall, hopefully a bit of healthy competition will ensue, benefiting us, the purchaser. I am holding off as long as I can before committing to one of these. Resistance is (becoming) futile.
 
HD feed to either monitor would be far better for focus assist than the SD composite feed. Just based on my res chart pics viewing the feeds "live", I'd say the HD feed picks up 150 to 200 lines of resolution over the SD feed.
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SD feed to a 200$ monitor and at that price will it be any better than the hvx LCD ?

iam expecting my hvx sometime next week. i have prettymuch sold everything to get it and now i am in the lookout for a cheap portable monitoring solution especially for focussing as i cant afford the marshall or any other brand that costs anything above 300$.

how about using a small 6" B&W Tv which we get it for around 20$. will it be better than the LCD of HVX for focussing.(not for color monitoring though)

any thoughts/suggestions

thanks
krishna.
 
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krishna babu said:
SD feed to a 200$ monitor and at that price will it be any better than the hvx LCD ?
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NO! Probably worse.

krishna babu said:
iam expecting my hvx sometime next week. i have prettymuch sold everything to get it and now i am in the lookout for a cheap portable monitoring solution especially for focussing as i cant afford the marshall or any other brand that costs anything above 300$.

how about using a small 6" B&W Tv which we get it for around 20$. will it be better than the LCD of HVX for focussing.(not for color monitoring though)

any thoughts/suggestions

thanks
krishna.
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You will pretty much be throwing your money away if you buy something in that price range as it will not be better than the LCD with focus assist.
Something I find useful apart from having the EVF detail on and using the focus assist is to set the view finder to B&W. It is easier to get focus in B&W and then you can always check your color on the LCD.
 
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Something I find useful apart from having the EVF detail on and using the focus assist is to set the view finder to B&W. It is easier to get focus in B&W and then you can always check your color on the LCD.
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oh yeah, EVF ... how did i miss that. you are right ozduc.

thankyou
krishna.
 
Marshall VS Swit.
Went to B&H. Bought em both. Returned the Swit. The Marshall looked better, and more importantly was much clearer off axis. If your cam doesn't output HD don't get the marshall. I found the image of the s-vid input on the marshall to be on par with the HVX lcd.

Keep in mind I wanted to like the Swit more. The convenience of Panasonic batteries is great and the price is more realistic. I calibrated both monitors and sadly it was no contest. It was plainly obvious, Marshall won. Good Luck.
 
What is the focusing ability of the SWIT...

I can tell the general feeling is that the marshall is better. But surely the most important question is 'can you focus the camera acurately -with/without a 35mm adapter and the SWIT...?'
 
Hey guys, I just got this bracket made and I've attached my laptop to it to use DV Rack. Let me know what you think? I still have to get a noga arm or something so I can attach it to the side of the camera or clamp it on the tripod. Any suggestions as to what arm to get. (model) I saw b+h and they have a bunch of different models?? the bracket has a 1/4-20 screw mount on the back and the bottom. and my base plate (redrockmicro) has 1/4-20 screw mount on the side as well as a larger one. (not sure of the size)
 

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thats a damn good idea,
the whole setup seems to be quiet heavy. is it ok to put that weight on the handle ? what laptop is that. i heard there is a delay in the display when using dvrack ? is that true ? is it acceptable ?

thanks
krishna.
 
Laptop, External drive, and bracket = 6.5lbs. about what the panasonic (4.4lb) with a battery would weigh. still a little heavy for the handle. that is why I'm getting the noga arm.
There is a slight delay from DV Rack. about 1/4sec to 1/2sec. I still haven't tried it in the field so as far as acceptable, not sure. plus once I get my follow focus, the it might serve as a focusing device to set the marks on the follow focus. then the focus puller can just look at marks and not so much at monitor.
Anyone else using DV rack to focus???? how is it working for you guys?
 
Supplement to SD monitor

Supplement to SD monitor

This thread is about good but 'cheaper' monitoring. So I have started a poll and thread about a converter that could make this possible. Please go to http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=83898 if you'd like to chip in on the necessary features of a converter that will allow this, including a pixel by pixel function like the HVX focus assist.
Sorry to kinda hijack, but it's very related.
best, soren
 
siniarch said:
Anyone else using DV rack to focus???? how is it working for you guys?
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Hi siniarch. I am using DV Rack for focus, it is good, yet not as easy to move around as say a Marshall would be (don't have one yet). I actually prefer to monitor component out of the HVX to the Dell 2405, even with the noise/crawling from the bad A/D inputs. Maybe it is the large Dell screen that looks better than my 17" laptop, especially when dealing with focusing the narrow band that an adapter provides. Dell not as portable as a battery powered laptop/DV Rack.

Only concern for me is the firewire latency with DV Rack, especially when doing a fast pan/tilt move. Used in combo with HVX LCD, I probably can get around this. I need to commit to doing the flip hack. I am still learning this combo of tools.
 
Lugging a laptop

Lugging a laptop

Hi Christopher,

I am weighing a Marshall against a Macbook Pro. Do you find it realistic to use a laptop as an onboard monitor when not on sticks? -I use monopod a lot, and have a Steadicam Flyer. When I don't use the Flyer arm, I still carry the vest, and use it to lift the HVX with an elastic band, so I combine handheld with some support. That makes me consider using the Macbook as monitor with DVRack or Scopebox, rather than the Marshall V-R84DP-HDA, (because this model has pixel to pixel function for focusing). Any opinion?
 
Hey soren, I can't really comment about a Macbook Pro, I am all PC based here. Some other threads may inform you about the ability to run DV Rack (assuming that's your intention) with a Macbook Pro.

From a PC perspective, I am not really in a position to compare my 17" laptop running DV Rack to a Marshall. I am not aware of any camera rental companies near me that have a Marshall to test. After seeing my brother recently purchase a portable 7" DVD player, I was surprised at how small the screen appeared to me. I have been spoiled of late with pixel for pixel 1080p24 with DV Rack full screen (alt+enter), my laptop has a 1920x1200 screen. I am kind of waiting for NAB 07, hoping something new will be released, something with more resolution, small, light, etc, or for the price of a Marshall 7" to drop (dreaming). For me, I have time to kill, as I may be some months away from a project coming to fruition. I definitely want a portable monitor in due course. waiting, waiting... Sorry, not a lot of help in this response.
 
Prompter Monitor

Prompter Monitor

I think you're on to something but not what you think. That laptop would make a great prompter monitor but that setup/handle wouldn't last a day in the field. A half second delay is too slow for anything other than a lockoff. The macbook pro wont work because the screen wont go notebook style. Cheap hi res LCD's are the key. If someone could develop a small solution that provided 12v power and scaling you'd be in business.
 
I am on to something... ya follow? ;-)

I am on to something... ya follow? ;-)

Hi guys, two things:
1. The Macbook Pro as additional monitor idea I intend so complement with either the onboard lcd, or the addition of my SD composite lcd from my Steadicam Flyer. Lcd takes care of framing, MBP takes care of pixel by pixel focusing and image control. This stuff would never go on my handle, I have an aluminium cage. So I'll try it out to see if it may work. For handheld I'll combine it with my Flyer vest and elastic/bungy rope to take the weight off.

2. Scaling and 12V: I am discussing the development of just such a thing with a good company, http://www.shootview.com/ . They say it can be done, and don't need to sell 'a lot' of units to justify developing the box.
Please see this thread: http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=83898
-I just don't understand why so few people seem to be interested in the poll, to me it is just what we are looking for, and it can be done! :crybaby: :dankk2:
 
We'll be releasing 12V rails mounted power shortly (7mAh, 4 Pin XLR), and as far as scaling, one of the cheap component HD to VGA adapters will allow the conversion of HD to VGA. Based on my tests, this provides the same resolution as the marshall on the cheap 480x800 LCD (with VGA inputs) that I tested. There's no question I'd rather look at the Marshall (far less noise), but for inexpensive focus assist, the cheap solution would work just as well.

After testing a few solutions, I'd make the following recommendation for folks looking to spend less than $1500 US on an HD monitoring solution.

1. For professional use, get the Marshall HD 7". It's robust, has all controls external, has outputs, and has the bulletproof 4 pin XLR interface for power. It does not, however, have any better raw resolution than the 480x800 screen tested below...it's just a lot cleaner. The issues with the cheap solution would become tiresome if you were using the external monitor a great deal.

2. For budget solutions, get a 480x800 screen with VGA input. Convert HD to VGA using an HD->VGA adapter. You'll definitely have more cables to deal with, and you'll likely need a 12Volt and 6 volt power source (easy to use one 12V for both) but it'll be well under $250. For what I paid for the Marshall, I could have bought six of the "cheap" solutions.
 
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