Got my new Carrion monitors...

B

Brad Neal

Well-known member
Well, I finally received my Carrion monitors. I have not had them out on a job yet, but did have some time to work with them in the studio, and I have to say that I absolutely love them.

Following is my very unscientific assessment thus far...

The monitor is really bright and crisp, and the controls are pretty straight forward. I am still waiting for Luis to get back to me, but I don't think there is any documentation available, so I am learning by the hunt and peck method.

I am still waiting on the power cord that will allow me to run the monitor from the cameras AB battery. As it is, I have to use AC power for now.

They are very well constructed with Metal enclosure, and the flush-mount buttons feel pretty solid. Overall appears to be a lot of bang for the buck.

I have been renting comparably priced Marshall's in the past, and these things blow the Marshall's away in almost every aspect - just compare the specs. I have not tried them next to the Panasonic, so I can't make a comparison there.

I did get a little glare when I tried it outside in very bright sunlight, so I whipped up a DIY hood using some stiff cardboard and good ol' black gaff tape, and that did the trick.

From the time I ordered to delivery was right at 6 weeks, which was plenty long, but considering Luis builds each one to order, I guess that's not too bad.

Luis could do a little better job of returning phone calls and emails, but overall I am very happy and would highly recommend the Carrion's to anyone in need of a high-end monitor.

Here are some pic's, including my DIY hood.
 

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What's the lead time on the hood?

I just got my HPX, haven't hooked the Carrion up to it yet. You have about the same set up I do, with a 516 head.

There is a post from Luis about setting up the Carrion. Very simple, search for Luis' posts (there is a long post about monitors and it's there) and you should be able to find it. If not, let me know and I'll find it for you.

Mark G
www.newmediadevcorp.com
 
Yeah, I totally agreed with Brad. I called him 3x and pm-ed and emailed him numerous times and have no response. I wonder what happens if we need customer support if the thing needs warranty repair ? Being this industry is a very time sensitive industry.

Regardless, the Carrion is a bang for the buck for sure.
 
Ducatimark said:
What's the lead time on the hood?

I just got my HPX, haven't hooked the Carrion up to it yet. You have about the same set up I do, with a 516 head.

There is a post from Luis about setting up the Carrion. Very simple, search for Luis' posts (there is a long post about monitors and it's there) and you should be able to find it. If not, let me know and I'll find it for you.

Mark G
www.newmediadevcorp.com
Click to expand...

Thanks Mark. I'll see if I can find the post.

As for the 516, yes, we have one in our studio. I know people tend to dis the Manfrotto stuff, but for the money, it's really a ton in my opinion. We have a Vinten Vision 8 for use out in the field, and I have to say the 516 is just about at smooth, at a fraction of the cost.

-Brad
 
Ok, Mark. I give up. I have just spent the better part of the last 2.5 hrs trying to find that thread with no luck. Found a whole bunch of Carrion threads, but can't locate that topic.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks again,
Brad
 
I haven't got mine yet, but Luis did email me. He is very busy with filmmaking work during the day. He apologized profusely.

Remember, he is one guy. I can't imagine manufacturing a product like this and still working my video day job.
 
Brad -

Sorry, I've been buried in a project. I'll look it up and post it here ASAP today.

I'm glad you feel the same way about the 516. I bought it at Spec-Comm's recomendation (and from some postings here). I hated to spend almost $600 and go "oh man, should have waited and gotten the Sachtler!" But truth is, for the work I do it seems perfect and works fantastic. I would say to anyone with a smaller camera looking at a head to spend the $400 more than the 501HDV and get one that really works. That was $190 spent just to lock a camera onto (I originally bought it for my Soney A1U and it didn't do anything for that either).

As far as Luis, understand he's a little slow with reponses but I have full faith in him to deliver the product. He really is just one guy trying to deliver a great product. For comparison, I prepaid Red Rock in mid-April for a matte box and shoulder support (plus just ordered filters) for a total of about $2K and haven't seen a thing yet. Plus every time you add a product to your oder they hit you with $50 to $70 in shipping (no matter how small). Shipping for my HPX500, 516 Head, PortaBrace Bag, and some other small items was $75.00 I have paid close to $200 to ship a RR follow focus, rails, matte box, shoulder brace and filters on a total of three orders. That's nuts. But of course I paid it. Rant over.

Mark G
www.newmediadevcorp.com
 
Brad -

See if this helps (from Luis):


What I usually do to get the color right is (this works with RGB component but not with DVI or HD-SDI since they don't allow for auto color correct) set the monitor to default settings.

Then I feed it bars from the HVX and go to the setup and do the Auto Color Gain.

This usually gets the color correcting pretty close.

Finally I adjust the contrast to about 60

and the brightness to about 45

Then I turn the blue gun on while still feeding the color bars and adjust the hue and saturation accordingly.

This I find gets the monitor pretty calibrated. As for keeping the setting, it has a memory, so it should always remember the settings. Not sure why it would change on you. it hasn't changed on me.

I've also seen the monitor next to the BT-LH900a and in my opinion the carrion is a little brighter and sharper and more contrasty. But that's just me.

For batteries, I really like the panasonic mount because I have an HVX so same battery and they last between 4-5 hrs for me. :)

For connecting it to my rig, I use a heavy duty noga arm (about $185 at filmtools.com. and a mini cardellini clamp. about $53 at filmtools.)

In regards to the other posts about warranty, I'm a really small operation and believe me when I tell you that my profit margins are low. So I probably not going to have the same setup as a larger company like Panasonic. If you want Panasonic warranty, then buy the $4800 monitor. (though my HVX firewireport busted with no fault of my own, and I still had to pay $365 because it was more than 1 year. Still, mnf. defect if you ask me)

I haven't instituted a policy yet, but I can tell you that I will try to take care of you the best that I can. Out of all the units send out, I only had one come back. It was a simple cable that got pulled out when I close the unit. I had the guy send it right back, fixed the problem and send it right back to him. Faster than it would have taken with a larger company.
 
Just a little update...

I initially purchased the shorter Noga NF1105SA arm, but after working with it for a while decided to return it for a more robust version, the DG1105SA.

The NF was nice and compact and out of the way, but it just wouldn't hold the monitor. Any quick movement or exreme tilt, either up or down, and the clamp would slip, allowing the monitor to flop over - not good!

The DG version is twice as long and with the hot shoe adapter sticks up a little too far. It looks kind of top-heavy. But I will say that the monitor is locked down tight as a drum.

I could take the hot shoe adapter off, but then I have to screw the arm on every time.

Hmmm...
 

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this thing is amazing. Luis lives about 5 minutes from me. i'm going to have to run down there to check it out. how much are these again?
 
Hi Zack,
Yes, it is an amazing monitor. I have never worked with anything as good as what this is.

As for price, the ones that I have was $1820.00


-Brad
 
The carrion is pretty sweet.
Ducati has it right,
In the monitor menu if you got to the setup section there is an auto color function which works really well.if you connect the monitor to the camera, turn on the colorBARS and auto calibrate the monitor is good to go!
I got a great little mounting device made by RAM from abel in NY for 50bucks.
 
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we got some working stills today The Hvx on a panther with the kamio in front and the carrion mounted on top . Prod. has camera will get the card and post it soon.
cheers
shivraj
 
as promised...

myrig.jpg
 
my other mounting option: locally made magic arm (65$) mounted on the dolly with a super clamp and a grip pad.

option.jpg


manfrotto head 1/4'' screw on the magic arm.
 
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I received my Carrion in this spring and still haven't received the Panasonic Battery Plate that I paid for with my order. The Carrion has a beautiful picture, but if I can't take it with me it's not much good to me. Emails are pointless and I've lost Luis' phone number in a move.

Is there a workaround to adapter plate that anyone knows of. I have the two Panasonic batteries but I have no idea how to connect them. I really need to use this monitor for a gig in one week.

Luis?

Anyone?

Help....
 
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