17" - 24" FULL HD CLIENT MONITOR RECOMMENDATIONS - best price/performance ratio

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alphaville

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17" - 24" FULL HD CLIENT MONITOR RECOMMENDATIONS - best price/performance ratio

Looking for a 17" - 24" client/director monitor for the Arri Amira. The lack of suggestions and topics out there is disturbing. Should we opt for a TVLogic, get a Viewz, a Panasonic, Sony, JVC, Ikegami...? Ideally a 3G-SDI and 1920px combo with a battery/off-the-grid power option for the field, the rest is open... We already own a TVLogic 074 and BM Video Assist but need something to give to the client/director that would ideally fit in a flight case.
What would you suggest?
 
Here is what we use for our Alexa set up:

monitor set up.jpg

17" Panasonic for critical viewing, handheld wireless Small HD with Teradek for roaming (not one bit accurate, only for framing).

However I will be changing to Flander Scientific this year (2-3 high end units for field and possible 7-8 for new edit bays). I met with their rep last December and their products offer a large range of options for different levels/budgets of users.

http://www.flandersscientific.com/

PS: I am not affiliated with them, just an end user.

PSS: You might want to PM Charles Papert and see what he prefers.
 
I still don't get the love with FSI monitors… They always look flat and dull to me. I want an accurate monitor not necessarily just a "pretty" one, but I can't believe my cameras really look like what I've seen on FSI monitors that a few of my friends have. After being on several shoots with me and using my calibrated Sony 17" OLED, a friend of mine just switched from his FSI to a Sony OLED.
 
+1 on "hate" towards FSI... Way too cold and without any "life" in the faces.
I have 2x 17" Panasonic, 2x SmalHD DP6 (which i HATE), 1x some no-name Chinese (which has higher latitude then SmallHD) for wireless work.
 
In the 17" category I have a Panny LCD and Sony OLED. The Sony is my "A" monitor, but I'd say either one are more than fine for a client monitor. But if you want to impress them(and you're not shooting LOG or at least can display with a LUT), then go for a Sony OLED. Black is black and colors are terrific. I'm actually waiting for consumer OLED to come down just a little more so I can replace the set in my bedroom. Had my eye on a 55" LG OLED(non-curved) before Christmas, but it was about $3K, which ironically enough was still LESS than my 17" Sony.
 
I saw these 23" and 28" Lilliputs, they come with battery plate, flight case, you name it. All for a grand. Has anyone ever used one of them?

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Since the question is aimed at client/director, I guess it comes down to who you are working for. I have yet to work with a director who insists that the village monitors be top-notch. They pretty much watch whatever you give them. I've gone over to village and discovered that someone along the line has twiddled the controls and they are an unholy unmatching mess, and who knows how long they've been that way without anyone complaining.

I have two Marshall 17" for A and B camera for the traditional village, and two Samsung consumer panels (they are close to 17" give or take an inch) that have SDI to HDMI connections out the back. When dialed in, they are damn close looking to the Marshalls and four years ago they cost less than $200 each. The market for smaller home TV's is gone nowso when these die, I'll have to spend the money on SDI models! These are used if there are additional bodies in play and as a close-to-the action monitor. I also have a 9" Ikan with a Paralinx and handles for remote viewing (went big because we usually feed it a two up side-by-side display of A and B cameras). On my cart I have an FSI 2461 for critical viewing. I'm about to pull the trigger on replacing it with an OLED, and probably going with the Sony A250 rather than the FSI CM250 for a couple of reasons.
 
Thank you for all the info. I need the monitor to accompany the TVLogic 074W (director's). Looking closely at used Sony LMD-2450W with HD-SDI and TVLogic LVM-242W, both 24". The Sony is supposed to be for critical viewing, according to specs. Has 50 hours on it.
 
Just to add a note, client monitor for field work and client monitor for studio situation are NOT the same thing. The one for field work needs to be rugged as the case will be bumped more then a handful of times (lesson learned the hard way...) - and don't assume that "my friendly crew will take good care of it."
 
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