LCD monitor for D90?

R

Ruzo

Well-known member
Hello everyone,
I'm mainly a music producer with a little photography & videography experience. I have a D90 and plan to use it for music videos. I needed some advice as to which LCD monitor I could use for better control of focus and DOF. I tried the Varizoom VZ-TFT-7 monitor which would be perfect but, since it's not HD, it's of no use to me. Since there are no HDMI to Component adapters because they are delared "illegal", I guess I'll need to find one with HDMI input? The best case scenario would be to find an HD capable & mountable 7" monitor with HDMI input at a sensible price :)
 
If HDCP isn't a problem on the D90 output, you could convert the HDMI to HD component and that might be sharp enough to focus with. For str8 up monitoring, you could get a cheaper HDMI to composit/Svideo converter and use any of the many small LCD devices (portable DVD players included).

http://www.converters.tv/news/dual_hdmi_to_component_hd_converter_50.html

http://www.svideo.com/hdmi2svideo.html

This would be much easier if the D90 would pass the Live LCD through to the A/V output cable. Pass through has been a feature of video cameras for years.
 
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I personally have used this one with the D90. Its a Tote-vision 703HD

It works well, and is a good price for what it is.

I Use it with a short DVI>HDMI adapter, and a short mini-hdmi><hdmi adapter. The lcd on the back of the d90 does switch off in lv mode when plugged in, so be aware you wont be able to watch both at same time. You can by running composite, but cannot have both plugged in at the same time.
You should also be aware myself and a couple of others who have either been testing hdmi camera, or have it plugged into hdmi on a plasma or lcd tv experience random dropouts of hdmi.

In my experience once it's on, it stays on. But a drop out of lv mode (which is all the time), or a turn off/on of the camera will fail to re-handshake with any regularity. I have not tested it further.

So before you rely on it, it might be worth either doing some extensive hdmi testing, or starting a thread asking if people are having hdmi dropout issues. You could always try rely on it, and have a composite cable running as well ready to plug in if you have issues, but thats not really hd now is it :)

I also found the Zoom on the back of d90 (as in electronic zoom into a still photo type function) works well for getting focus before a shot. If its a moving shot, well thats another thing again...

I haven't tried a hdmi wireless transmitter yet to a focus puller (I am talking cheap consumer ones, not sdi microwave ones) to see if there is any lag. If not, that might be a great way to put a lens control on the side and have someone pull off a nice big hdmi lcd tv/plasma! :)


Cheers,

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ..._LCD_703HD_KIT_LCD_703HD_KIT_7_LCD_Field.html
 
mhood said:
This would be much easier if the D90 would pass the Live LCD through to the A/V output cable. Pass through has been a feature of video cameras for years.
Click to expand...

If you mean the same as hdmi, It does as far as I am aware.... It worked to a composite in on my tote-vision.
 
timmytimetravel said:
If you mean the same as hdmi, It does as far as I am aware.... It worked to a composite in on my tote-vision.
Click to expand...
I had read that if you had the LCD on, the composite feed was disabled...that you had to switch out of Live LCD to activate the composite feed. If I misunderstood, then the composite output to a cheap portable DVD player would be gr8 for client monitoring during shooting from a tripod, wouldn't it?

I just checked it out and the A/V composite output doesn't feed a signal until the LCD is activated (either live LCD or for playback) and the LCD on the back of the camera DOES NOT switch off as has been reported for the HDMI feed. While composite probably isn't sharp enough for focus, it will make a nice video and audio feed to a client.
 
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Thanks for the replies!

mhood:
The Varizoom I tried did work through the composite output simultaneously with the Live LCD but the degradation of the image is so much so that it becomes almost impossible to judge the focus and DOF on it. Its cost, size and perfect fit with battery would have made it the best choice for me. I really regret not being able to use it. The HDMI to component idea could work but lack of mountability might be a problem for me. Having everything on the camera would be the best setup for me.

timmytimetravel:
The Tote-vision looks like a good option. One guy gave it a really bad review though! Did you actually experience dropouts with this particular one and the D90? Could it have been because of the adapter?
The zoom function of the D90 might work is some situations but the mounted LCD would have been much more help especially with my lack of experience.
Since I'll be filming overseas, it would be difficult to hire a focus puller and I don't think I could even afford one in the US ;)


Portability is the one advantage over a real production company that I wouldn't like to give up on. I should be leaving the US on Tuesday and I'm still searching for the right solution. I hoped to try the Ikan but it's not in stock in NY. I guess I'll be zooming my way through this project :(
 
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Now that's what I'm talking about! Thanks for the link!
Even though I'm still not going to get it for this shoot but that gives me great hope for the future. Under a grand?...nice!

Pretty funny video too...
 
Ruzo said:
Thanks for the replies!

timmytimetravel:
The Tote-vision looks like a good option. One guy gave it a really bad review though! Did you actually experience dropouts with this particular one and the D90? Could it have been because of the adapter?
The zoom function of the D90 might work is some situations but the mounted LCD would have been much more help especially with my lack of experience.
Since I'll be filming overseas, it would be difficult to hire a focus puller and I don't think I could even afford one in the US ;)
Click to expand...

Here is the posts re dropouts (8,9,10) on this page, link top right for full thread. It really needs its own thread for more confirmations, not enough people really use it, and be nice if Nikon could fix it and it doesn't miss the first firmware.

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showpost.php?p=1413811&postcount=10

I haven't had any problems with the unit. It still comes down to (especially with the d90) what's portable. It screws in nicely with a noga arm to a tripod. It 720p, its color balanced, good in dayight, soft and hard hood accessories and soft bag avail, works off lion's or idx. (I mean lcd's chew juice, it needs a good multi battery situ).
It's really nice to drop an idx (vmount) in the back, and know I am getting MAX battery per weight for travel.

I wouldn't want to use it handheld. Figrig maybe.

Before I decided to try it I went looking for something like an archos, some kind of PSP with hdmi input. They are lighter for sure. But then shooting half the day, you have battery issues, and they are not color correct (may be less of issue). So I came back to something like the tote for price, quality, multi-battery and multi-battery type, system. Link me the bad review if you like, and I'll check out the complaints on mine...
 
me (d90 setup):
- resolution
- better focus (hdmi vs SD stuff)
- ease for operator or AC under different conditions
 
oh ok: some things i thought of
- img quality
- that it displays as close to as camera records (no delays, drags, etc. unwanted flaws)
- lightweight, easily mountable
- true HD & now hdmi input (going forward more and more brands will add that, others may want additional inputs), choosing for d90 - ikan seemed like the only massed produced affordable option today.
- easy powering options

i only had ~$500 field monitor budget so went for manhattan LCD
 
i'm looking at monitor that has vga input and rca. it has resolution from 640x480 to 1024x768. 500:1 contrast ratio 30ms and 400 brightness. It's about $190 bux. Anything else I should look for? Will the d90's RCA output be good enough?
 
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