Solution for Monitor: Converter Box

Solution for Monitor: Converter Box

  • Yes, if priced right

    Votes: 20 100.0%

  • No

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    20
soren k jensen

soren k jensen

Well-known member
Affordable onboard monitoring appears to be the most sought after item these days. I have contacted www.shootview.com, to hear whether it is possible to develop a product that will help those of us on a budget. I am now looking into how a converter might be designed and which functions you guys think are need to have and nice to have, respectively.

I envision a stand alone downconverter with a special feature. Conversion can be from HD component to SD component and composite, to allow use of the cheaper monitors. The feature is to be a switchable pixel by pixel function, like the one found on the new Marshall. Basically it is similar to the focus assist view on the HVX.
http://www.lcdracks.com/monitors/v-r84dp-hda.htm
-check the user manual pdf found on the page for a description:
http://www.lcdracks.com/monitors/pdf_pages/instruction_sheets/V-R84DP-HDA_UsersGuide.pdf

Please poll: are you interested, Yes or No?

Please let us know if this is interesting. What formats do you need coming out of the box? Which input formats do you need? Is 12V power preferred? Is color necessary or is B/X okay, since focusing might be the most important? What is an acceptable pricing, etcetera, let us know.

Best, Soren
 
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I'd like to see decent to accurate color reproduction and an easy switch to the pixel
by pixel mode made as cheap as possible but at least 50% cheaper than a marshall
 
I second that. These small monitors are way over-priced (probably because the market right now is so specialized). My main reason for not wanting to go the cheap LCD + converter route was power. I didn't want to have to power the LCD AND the converter AND have the extra mess of cables running about. The simpler the better.

For what it's worth if you're going for the cheap higher res LCDs, they mostly (for now) accept computer VGA signal. If the converter can go from any flavor of component (480p, 720p, 1080i/p) to whatever VGA connection the monitor needs, then you’d be set. It would also be able to then work with larger screens such as a 17" or 20" PC LCD which would make it more useful. I guess that means customizing the output for different screen resolutions...

To me you almost need to develop the converter for a specific monitor (like the Xenarc that has been mentioned on these boards). That way the converter can be designed to mount on the back of it you could ALMOST forget it's there (which would be ideal). Also portable power is a must. But perhaps that's just me. This is a setup you're going to be packing/unpacking, setting up/tearing down over and over and the more plugs and power supplies there are the more annoying it is going to get after a while.

Oh, and if it worked really well at multiple resolutions I'd consider it a good buy at $200 (power not included).
 
yea, so $200 sounds good... then you can spend $500 on the monitor and you are hitting the 1/2 marshall mark...
does $500 soun enough for good color? I havent read up enough on monitors yet but it sounds like it should be enough...
 
I'd be in. I'll need to pick up a monitor soon and was hoping to not have to get the Marshall. It's nice... my bro has it, but it's really overpriced for what it is.... Some company would make a killing if they could get a monitor/converter combo or whatever for as US states around 600-700 bucks. I'd be in for sure... I also know that the vidled people make a panny battery to 12v converter that looks nice.

Bring it on.. and make it soon because there has to be someone out there with an alternative in that price range. I mean shoot it's only 800 x something and that's a lot to pay for that.
 
Now that you mention it, $600-$700 is what the Marshall SHOULD cost... It's great, but look at what that money can buy these days.... A 32" LCDTV for example. Perhaps not the best of them, but still you get the idea.

I still think it's just the market has been specialized for it - only higher end camera ops were buying them because only higher end camera ops were shooting in HD. Now that HD has exploded on the market hopefully products like this will be able to sell more and thus reduce prices. Too late for me, though…
 
i still would like to find a true HD compact monitor that is sub 1000 range. its unbelievable that you can get an HD 30" for less than a 7" SD LCD. and the marshall is only 480, so even it is an overpriced SD monitor. Why hasnt any company released something? it would sell like condoms on prom night!
 
I don't understand why people assume the Marshall should cost $600. If it could it would, someone else would be making it.
Nebtek is trying to do their own version right now and they are months behind because of R&D issues. They assume cost will be about the same.
 
All I want is good color... if it were a decent focus guide when in "normal mode" that's a plus... give me good color and the pixel to pixel button.
Can such monitor be found for $500?

Soren, can you guys get the box to cost $200?
 
You don't need an HD monitor for color only.

If you want good color only then you are best off with a good old fashioned 8" SD Sony field monitor like an 8044. In fact if you don't care about resolution you could get the one with less resolution for cheaper - hell go for the 5".


The color is accurate and in fact way better than a Marshall or even a 17" Panasonic whose color rendition sucks by the way.

I've heard it said that you need something with HD color space, but from my experience that's irrelevant.
Those monitors are very reliable.

Of course that's still a grand new. Look for the lower res one - sorry i don't know the model #.

A Marshall is not good for color anyway its only good for resolution and not so great for that. HD monitors are very expensive unfortunately.

Maybe you should look into DVRack.

Lenny Levy
 
I actually just purcaced DVrack... it doesn't work! but I bought it... those guys from SoftCrap who "protect" DVrack for SeriousMagic and not Adobe messed up and now the thing won't instal in my laptop...

I don't want an HD monitor... just something bigger with the highest resolution without sacrificing color and for focus a Focus Assist-like function...

$700 well spent is what I want... I don't want $1300 spent just ok. The Marshall is great but too pricey right now and not worth the extra $600 which could get me so many things... I'd rather compromise now hope to be able to buy a full HD mountable 7 inch good-color LCD with all the imputs for that same tag in a year... now this is not be an educated projection of what will be available but I'd say it can't be that far off, and by then I'll be able to spend the cash
 
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Pixel by pixel anyone?

Pixel by pixel anyone?

To me, the most important feature is the switchable pixel by pixel function for focusing. Am I alone in this?
Best, Soren
 
No, no I agree with you... everything else is secondary...
The benefit I am going for is a bigger screen for Focus Assist, then color, then full rez... go down the line in that order and stop when you get to $600-700
 
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