A1 and monitor help

S

SamKam

Well-known member
Anyone have good advice on a monitor to use with the A1? I need to be able to accurately judge the picture qualities and wonder whether the computer LCD's I have can do the job. (I have 2 Samsung SyncMaster 940bx monitors, resolution is 1280 x 1024) I find it difficult to accurately judge what I'm getting from the camera lcd, much more difficult than it was in sd. My thought was to get a camera field monitor - like the Marshall 7" - that I could use at the studio and on the camera. I guess I'm looking for a monitor to help me gauge what I'm getting, so as to limit the surprises in post.
Any thoughts?
 
I've been wondering the same thing and after reading around it seems like the consensus is for portable camera mounted work the Marshall or the new Varizoom SWIT is what you want. Seems like neither are perfect for color reproduction but decent for focus and exposure. If you're in a studio environment where you can plug the power in then people are using the Dell 2405 monitor.
 
I've read so many posts on so many forums about this that they all blur together, but the consensus seems to be overwhelmingly for the Marshall, with the overall sentiment that it is great for focus, very good for color. Do some searches, the stuff on the varizoom is much less flattering. Eventually I'll go with the Marshall.
 
To me the most important aspect to consider is the colour reproduction from your monitor. If you want to cheap it a bit, just make sure your monitor is can deliver accurately.

Dont focus by your monitor, sure it can be a reasonable reference. But the A1 has a distance meter, get out the tape measure, check distance, set your focus. I have found the A1 to be spot on with this.

If you use a 35mm adapter, different game, but I would still recommend accurately measuring the actual distance.
 
ncje said:
To me the most important aspect to consider is the colour reproduction from your monitor. If you want to cheap it a bit, just make sure your monitor is can deliver accurately.

Dont focus by your monitor, sure it can be a reasonable reference. But the A1 has a distance meter, get out the tape measure, check distance, set your focus. I have found the A1 to be spot on with this. .
Click to expand...


Most of the time, I'm shooting available light, verite doc stuff, and I like to be as inconspicuous as possible, so I don't use a shoulder rig or monitor while shooting (there will be some exceptions in the coming year). I have to grab focus on the fly and so far haven't had a problem. The issue has been accurately judging color values, grain and contrast. I know I need to get to the point where I can translate what I'm seeing on the camera's lcd with what is going on the tape. Question is, is there a monitor I can use to review footage AND connect to the camera (at times) that will help me do this?
 
I'm a little bothered that we are even having to have this discussion.
I love my new XH-A1; almost as much as I loved my DVX-100 when it was new.
I loved the XH-A1 more, until today when I needed to copy tape to tape and my Panasonic AG-DV1 wasn't working. I grabbed the XH-A1 to use to record and used my Panasonic PV-DV953, 3 chip mini cam to playback. I was looking at the Canon 2.8 inch WIDE screen LCD beside the 3.5 Inch 4:3 Panasonic LCD and got really P.O.ed at Canon for short-changing us in the LCD department. I guess Canon engineers have really good eyesight. The GL2 only had a 2.5 inch LCD, BUT in 4:3 that's a lot more effective than a 2.8 inch 16:9 LCD.
Anyway, I won't rant, but now I see that my inexpensive ($3500), streamlined documentary shooting HDV camera just became a $4800 clunky eyesore with a 7" Marshall stuck on top of it because I can't see well enought to focus with the stock LCD.
P.S. To ncje, next time I'm shooting documentary footage of motocross racers or cowboys roping steers, I'll be sure to ask them to stop for a moment while I run the tape measure. :-)
(Actually your idea will work really well for interviews. Thanks.)
 
I just read about a 8" sony 16x9 lcd portable dvd/cd player with a/v OUT for $199. It's very sleek. I'm workign on getting some more details, I think will be a great choice for portable monitor usage. It also has detailed color/brightness adjustments.
 
Randolph said:
P.S. To ncje, next time I'm shooting documentary footage of motocross racers or cowboys roping steers, I'll be sure to ask them to stop for a moment while I run the tape measure. :-)
Click to expand...

LMAO good luck with that :P But seriously, is it possible to get to the track before the meet, measure out where you will shoot from make notes, then on the day shooting at x position goto focus point a, shooting at y position goto focus point b and so on.
 
Randolph said:
OK. I mentioned a Marshall for $1300 and now I'm confused (not an uncommon condition).
What is the difference between the Marshall V-R70P-HDA HD/SD at http://dvcreators.net/lcd-monitors/
for $1369 and the Marshall V-R65P-HD at B&H for $3099.95?
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=2199&A=details&Q=&sku=339307&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation
Click to expand...

The cheap one has only HD SDI input/output. The more expensive model has the whole shooting match of inputs including analog component, making it useful for the Canon without SDI.
 
SamKam said:
Anyone know whether this would suffice?:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=Search&A=details&Q=&sku=394536&is=REG&addedTroughType=search

Not on the camera, obviously, but for the studio.
Click to expand...

Since it's a 4:3 form factor, 16:9 HDV would be letter-boxed and would probably be equivalent to a 7" widescreen monitor. The price looks good until you notice that it only has composite input unless you buy the OPTIONAL component and SDI interface cards. I wonder what those cost?
 
ncje said:
LMAO good luck with that :P But seriously, is it possible to get to the track before the meet, measure out where you will shoot from make notes, then on the day shooting at x position goto focus point a, shooting at y position goto focus point b and so on.
Click to expand...

Thanks again ncje. I had thought of that (honest....really!). Similar to still photo technique where I pre-focus on a point where I know the racers are going to pass and then wait for them.
Since the race footage is mostly B-roll to cover interviews, I can shoot autofocus and cut around the focus hunting.
Funny, the auto focus on my DVX-100 rarely lost focus on a moving subject unless something passed in front of it. Both my HVX-200 and the A1 seem to just decide to look for a better focus in the middle of a camera move.
 
Mirezzi said:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=Search&A=details&Q=&sku=391161&is=REG&addedTroughType=search

There's a $1349 Marshall with Component in/out. That's probably what most A1 users buy.
Click to expand...
Better price, BUT. Holy Heart-Attack Batman! $190 for a battery and $550 for a charger?

Also I just looked up the weight; 1.8 lb. for the monitor and 1.2 lb. for the battery. That's 3 more pounds sitting right behind the lens on my beautiful, light weight, 4.5 lb camera. I think I done been barkin' up the wrong tree. Maybe I need telescopic spectacles to use to see that itty bitty LCD screen.
 
Last edited:
I believe you can get a modification done to the Marshall by Nebtek that will enable it to use cheaper battery. It's done by the store for you for an extra price I think. I forgot which store will do it for you but maybe someone here knows.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top