10 most wanted DIY parts for independent filmmakers

I vote for keeping it in the DIY section.

Many here don't have an HVX or DVX but that doesn't change the fact that lots of people still come here for information and they may not think to go to the DVX/HVX hardware section at all. Besides, some of those people are talking on the subject and not even in English:

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=95046

LOL. Anyway,

Monitors can be used by anyone and not just DVX/HVX users. I came here last year because this was one of the few places around that had RED information and news. Red users will even need solutions soon. I think the thread could cover both on camera and larger solutions too or you can split it into two threads: "on camera hd monitor solution" and "large screen hd monitoring/editing solutions".

Carlos,

I don't think you can post a word "doc" document. Only a PDF or TXT file. Word is subject to viruses so boards usually don't let you post a file like that. There are easy ways to turn a word file into a PDF with a google search and also it's easy to turn it into a text file by just saving it as a ".TXT" file under the Save As function and select the Save As Type drop down box for the TXT file type. Then upload it in the Manage Attachments option when posting.
 
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By the way, I just took a look at IBE's thread on this subject in the hardware section and it is a thorough treatment on the subject and pretty much the same process many of us are going through.

To summarize though it looks like you ended up with a 15" monitor for now IBE, right? It was just the best solution you could find based on what's available but not what you would really ideally like if I understood it.

All the more reason to start a search over here for a better solution. This is crazy that we can't find any serious, high rez LCD under 15" in the USA for less than $2000 or so. Look at what Matt paid for his Panasonic CRT solution--I think IRE and SMPTE phosphor is a lot of that if I'm not mistaken.

Using all we know about this subject (look at the research on the IBE thread for instance), i do hope we can come up with something better for the future. It would be really great to boil that thread down to the basic parameters of what we need for a usable, on-camera solution of 9" or less. A list of bullet points to summarize it. A list of what we need for the larger editing and color correction solution would be great too. We may never get the IRE features but we can still use the one's built into our respective cameras for that I suppose.

I know that most people are using CRTs still just because its easier for now but I also know that there are small LCD monitors that are supposed to be usable and I'd like to believe we can find out where to get them from.
 
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Carlos_E._Martinez said:
Nothing against that!...

Now again: how do I upload the file to the thread?
Click to expand...

I´d open it up on your screen, make a screenshot and post it as a .jpeg (go to your User CP for that...)
apple+shift+4 when your on a mac, pc I don´t know...
 
Richard,
please try to find a solution for this, it will definitely pay off for you...
The Marshall is pretty heavy, I was always wondering why not make a Carbon housing for monitors?
Carbon ain´t that expensive to start with, it is just sold at a high price...
Or the plastic Peli cases are made from...
The SWIT/Varizoom housing on the other hand is to lightweight/breakable for my taste...
And while your at it, ask for a strong articulated arm, noga like, to mount it!
I just can´t accept that it is so hard to do, maybe you can´t sell as many component-in high-res monitors, but you can sell them at tripple the price of the standart-ins, so this should offer some profit to manufacturers...
Since some of the small TFTs have a vga in, maybe the DIY part would be perfectioning the Component to VGA modification, some foum members tried to build...
 
Please add to the list:
Inexpensive focus gear rings, just read that Zacutos are 300$ for four and Cinevates are 100$ each - now come on!
 
I certainly agree with Richard's concept that finding an affordable high quality LCD monitor will involve some degree of DIY.

Recently I have been using a Philips DVD player/LCD screen quite a lot on a shoot I have been involved. And it has become a very important tool.

But to make it work I had to apply some of my electronics DIY knowledge, because Sony is not using a standard wiring on their 1/8" video/audio output. When I connected the camera to the monitor at first I didn't get any image. When I compared the original cables supplied by Sony and by Philips with a DMM, the same 1/8" plug was implemented differently by Sony.

So I had to make a cable myself, which is the one I use now. You can't find that anywhere.

Matte-boxes, also another expensive area to deal with, may demand some DIY work to make some affordable things on the market work well.

Both these tools have been essential to the quality I wanted to get on my job, and I couldn't afford the big money I would have had to pay if I wouldn't have DIYed on them to make it work within my budget.
 
Ok,
actually this thread is about finding cheaper solutions for industry standard gear, or isn´t it;o)?
At least I hope so...
But since a couple of users "storm their brains" together and maybe one or two of them do the actual work (like talking to Liliput;o) ) I still consider it kind of DIY.
We encounter problems while working on our projects and now try to find solutions for them by ourselves - not at B&H...
 
Add to list:
Took this from another thread:
Cheap eggcrate solution for chimeras/softboxes.
Eg: the biggest Rifa-Lite is 800$, a fitting eggcrate with 30degree dispersion angle is 400$ - thats fourhundred dollars for some nylon surrounding a couple of holes!!!
As long as it is not made by minors in a sweat-shop I´m in for a cheaper solution...

edit: the "hard plastic" eggcrates can be bought at home depot (well, says google...), it is lightweight foldable nylon eggrates I´m looking for...
 
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Cool Lights said:
Carlos,

I don't think you can post a word "doc" document. Only a PDF or TXT file. Word is subject to viruses so boards usually don't let you post a file like that. There are easy ways to turn a word file into a PDF with a google search and also it's easy to turn it into a text file by just saving it as a ".TXT" file under the Save As function and select the Save As Type drop down box for the TXT file type. Then upload it in the Manage Attachments option when posting.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately it is not a text compatible file, because it has columns and boxes, that are used to compare different models.

XLS files aren't probably accepted either.

I will look into converting this file onto pdf.
 
Spartacus said:
Since some of the small TFTs have a vga in, maybe the DIY part would be perfectioning the Component to VGA modification, some foum members tried to build...
Click to expand...

Now that's a great idea and you would think could actually be doable too.
 
Cool Lights said:
Now that's a great idea and you would think could actually be doable too.
Click to expand...
Not my idea, people here or at dvinfo tried it before, but with unsatisfying results...
But I´m also sure it can be done, so maybe if your talk to Liliput has no results, you rather find someone who can build a cheap, small, battery powered cpmponent to vga adapter?
 
>apple+shift+4 when your on a mac, pc I don´t know...

"Ctrl Alt PrintScreen" on PC. Didn't know macs could do that...

The hard plastic egg crates at HD suck because they are either silver or white. There is no need for DIY solution for those as you can buy replacment black plastic ones from kino at BH in the $20 range.

An affordable nylon egg crate would be nice. To my inexperienced mind, it doesn't seem too difficult to make...
 
Hey guys,
I've researched the Monitor issue, and this adapter from component to vga is not that easy to crack. I mean, you really need an electrical engineer who knows what he is doing. I can only imagine that this would take much money in R&D. (you are talking about creating a circuit board with special connectors, etc...) And unless combined with the controller for the TFT display, you would have to power 2 devices.
I'll keep looking though.
 
siniarch said:
Hey guys,
I've researched the Monitor issue, and this adapter from component to vga is not that easy to crack. I mean, you really need an electrical engineer who knows what he is doing. I can only imagine that this would take much money in R&D. (you are talking about creating a circuit board with special connectors, etc...) And unless combined with the controller for the TFT display, you would have to power 2 devices.
I'll keep looking though.
Click to expand...
Ideally the adapter and the TFT panel would be inside a new housing and be powered by Pana/Sony/Canon batterys...
But the VGA adapter is only necessary if eg Liliput don´t want to provide a component-in, than they could just sell their LCD panel to the company doing the adapter and they assemble it...
or, or, or - Richard it is up to you now hehehe;o)
 
Hey, some us don't even component OUT on our cams! :) Still chugging away with a DVX and the s-video connector.
 
j said:
The hard plastic egg crates at HD suck because they are either silver or white. There is no need for DIY solution for those as you can buy replacment black plastic ones from kino at BH in the $20 range.
Click to expand...

Do they also suck because of the small cell size? Do people prefer a 1" x 1" type or is the 1/2" x 1/2" x 1/2" thick cell size (like home depot type) good too for other uses if they come in black? I'm making egg crates now for sale as an accessory and the 1/2" cell type seems to be very common. You don't see the larger cell sizes on pro fluorescent fixtures that often from the survey I took. In fact the 1" eggcrates are usually always fabric and on a softbox of some kind. Would the 1" cell size be better for a flo?
 
JasonFox said:
Hey, some us don't even component OUT on our cams! :) Still chugging away with a DVX and the s-video connector.
Click to expand...

That's why I always said component or S-video.

Though I think S-video is not compatible with HD for full resolution. But a separate Y/C signal would be a great thing.
 
JasonFox said:
Hey, some us don't even component OUT on our cams! :) Still chugging away with a DVX and the s-video connector.
Click to expand...
Hey,
sorry - aren´t there many options out there already for TFTs with SD ins?
Ok, the s-video probably isn´t that popular...
 
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