19" LCD w/ component input - $329

Just because a monitor has component inputs, doesn't make it suitable to monitor HD camera footage. My Dell 24" has component inputs, and HVX footage looks terrible through them (looks great from HDMI input, looks awful from component input).

So it'd be interesting to hear if that monitor handles component footage well. It'd be a steal at that price if it does.
 
Ya, its a decent monitor, alot of poor gamers are using it for their 360's and say its nice, but most connect through VGA to it. If you decide to go with it, please report back how it looks.
 
I'd suggest you simply buy a DVI Transcoder, and convert the component video output of the HVX to DVI. Then you can use any LCD that has a DVI input.

I do this, and it works great.
 
Remember that is DVI-I though, check your inputs and know if you have a DVI-I or DVI-D input.
 
I'll have to try that. The Dell looks great through DVI, but looks like doggie doo-doo through the analog component inputs.

for_mlove, that wouldn't work, that's going the wrong way (PC to component); you'd need the other way. And I doubt a $12 adapter is going to offer much improvement in signal quality (but hey, who knows?)
 
I noticed that, but thought maybe it wouldn't matter. For $12 I should just put one on my next order from Amazon and give it a shot. It would be great to find a better way to use this monitor in the field.
 
Barry is correct, you need more than a simple adapter. A DVI Transcoder is an active (powered) device that actually converts the signal from component to DVI, and must also give you the option of choosing to output either YUV or RGB color.

I bought mine on eBay a few months back. It cost around $100. This is the exact unit that I bought (from the same seller, actually): http://cgi.ebay.com/RGB-Component-Video-to-Digital-DVI-Format-Converter_W0QQitemZ320022203923QQihZ011QQcategoryZ73387QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I'm currently using a fairly cheapo consumer 18" LCD, and using this device I get an amazing picture.

Another nice thing about using a transcoder instead of hooking up via component directly is that you could also use a CRT montior if you like. There are many high-quality 21" CRTs that use DVI that can display full 1080i resolution. I haven't actually tried this, so I can't report as to its quality vs using an LCD, but I imagine it would be rather decent (not to mention cheaper).
 
"I'm currently using a fairly cheapo consumer 18" LCD, and using this device I get an amazing picture. "

So whats the catch? would this be a cheaper but yet acceptable for color correction and focus for HD?
 
J P said:
Barry,

Why do the Dell's component imputs look like doggie do do?
Click to expand...
Just look at the footage. When viewed through the component inputs it's grainy as heck, noisy, flat, and posterized.

I've taken the exact same footage and imported it into the computer and looked at it on the same monitor through the HDMI input and it looks fantastic. Crystal clear, sharp, great dynamic range, no posterizing or anything, no noise. Then I play that same footage from the camera into the monitor, and it looks like crapola again.

It ain't the footage. It's the monitor.

And the thing is, the Dell 2405 is a COMPUTER monitor. It's not a video monitor. Yes it happens to have component inputs on it, but that doesn't make it a video monitor, it just makes it a computer monitor that has component inputs on it. They do a lousy job. The Dell is a great computer monitor, and a terrible video monitor.
 
So it sounds like if we used one of these transcoders the Dell would become as great a video monitor as it is a computer monitor?? I could see that being worth $100.
 
Only if the transcoder thing delivers a great quality signal. Which is why I'm interested, but the one that someone posted went the wrong way -- it went from the computer to analog. We'd need one that goes from analog to the computer.
 
The ebay auction I linked to earlier in this thread is still up until tomorrow sometime. The bid is at $97 at the moment. You can prob. email the seller to see if he has more available -- he's listed these on several occations before.

While this unit (the DCP-260) is the only model of these I've actually used, there are other similar units available. Sadly, most of the one's I've seen were around $300. So I think ebay is the best choice for the moment...

If I have time this weekend, I'll try to do some benchmarks with my setup and report my findings. It certainly seems sharp and easy to focus for me, but then again, I'm no Barry Green :D
 
TwistedLincoln said:
The ebay auction I linked to earlier in this thread is still up until tomorrow sometime.
Click to expand...

Nice find!
I am curious though what this thing can output to. You say you have an 18" LCD: is that 4:3? How does 1080i look on a 4:3 LCD?
Would be interesting to get this device to output to a widescreen LCD!
 
TwistedLincoln , did you try the transcoder with your lcd ? is it better than when u had just the component ?

im thinking of getting a field monitor, and im between the Dell 24" 2507WFP and thel 19" W1900 also a Dell, knowing that the 2507 is a pc monitor that accepts component signal, while the W1900 is an HDTV, which choice gives a sharp picture in your opinion ?
 
The 18" LCD I'm using is 4:3 (1280x1024 res), but if you set the display not to re-size the incoming signal, it will display 720p letterboxed, using exactly 1280x720 pixels (of course there will be black bars above and below the image).

I only shoot 720p, so the LCD I have works just fine. If I decide to start shooting in 1080i, I'll upgrade my LCD.

Keep in mind that the transcoder will output in the same resolution as the HVX is outputting -- so if you are outputting 1080i you will need an LCD that will scale it down to fit (which won't yeild pixel-for-pixel accuracy), or you'll need an LCD like the Dell 2507WFP that can display it natively.

The big issue when choosing an LCD is to make sure that the one you pick has the ability to display the DVI signal unaltered. Some cheaper models want to strech the signal to fit the display if you're not using the LCD's native resolution. This becomes a problem in two areas: if the LCD is a 4:3 ratio, then you will obviously have to deal with a squished picture. However if the LCD is a widescreen model, you will likely have a similar issue: most "widescreen" LCDs are really 16:10 -- so if you can't set it to display the signal without stretching, it won't display right.

I have not used the w1900, but the specs list it as only 1280x768 res, so the 2507WFP is certainly a better display, unless you're only shooting 720p. In which case there are cheaper displays out there.
 
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