External Monitor sugestions?

Jon Furtado

Jon Furtado

Well-known member
What does anyone think is the best overall external monitor solution? It seems to me that 5" monitors might be a bit small. I'm looking for something that's all around a good size, will mount well on the camera rail system and have all the connection/pro features I'll need.

I'd like to find a monitor that takes HDMI, HD-SDI, Component, SVideo and Composite. I sometimes work with cameras that don't all have the same connectors.

iKan? SmallHD? Panasonic? What are some of everyone's favorites?
 
I REALLY like is the "SmallHD" field monitor not only because it's super high res (native 1280x800) but also because the entire case is built from a single block of metal so you can drive over this thing with a car and it won't be crushed. That's really important when considering hours of banging it on stuff and thrown into bags. Also, there's an option to have HDSDI bypass so you can use this as an external monitor if your cam is up on a jib or you can run your signal from a single line to your SmallHD montor and then onto your Nanoflash or viceversa. Finally, a lot of field monitor have these HUGE batteries than hange off of the back that weight 900lbs but the batteries for the SmallHd minitor are super thin and stick flush against the back. It's a slick design!

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Kindredmachine said:
I REALLY like is the "SmallHD" field monitor not only because it's super high res (native 1280x800) but also because the entire case is built from a single block of metal so you can drive over this thing with a car and it won't be crushed. That's really important when considering hours of banging it on stuff and thrown into bags. Also, there's an option to have HDSDI bypass so you can use this as an external monitor if your cam is up on a jib or you can run your signal from a single line to your SmallHD montor and then onto your Nanoflash or viceversa. Finally, a lot of field monitor have these HUGE batteries than hange off of the back that weight 900lbs but the batteries for the SmallHd minitor are super thin and stick flush against the back. It's a slick design!

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Is this the 5" one? They used to make an 8" one. For some reason, i keep thinking I want an 8" one. Can you judge accurate focus with the SmallHD 5"? It's got a good price.
 
Ouch. They're more expensive than I thought they were. Do you think that SmallHD monitors are better than iKan or Marshal?
 
The point to a field monitor is to be able to accurately pull focus and not screw up your shots. I went with SmallHD because it's the smallest highest resolution (1280x800) monitor in the world. The higher the resolution and brighter/sharper your monitor is, the easier it's going to be shooting your scene. It's also LED backlit and is VERY bright and clear and of course the HD-SDI is great because you can run a long SDI cable down a jib or something to the DP6 for crane work. Check the specs on the iKan and Marshel monitors as most of them arn't even HD. What the point of trying to focus an HD image if your monitor is only displaying in 640x480 and on some monitors even less! For the price, the SmallHd monitor is actually a GREAT deal but I agree these things are still really expensive. My opinion is that if you're going to buy a field monitor, get something that's going to last you years.
 
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I have the DP1X (the older smallHD) and love it. However, I used a DP6 for a week that smallHD let me demo, and man, it was AWESOME. Totally getting one soon to replace my DP1X as I like the lighter weight.
 
Kindredmachine said:
The point to a field monitor is to be able to accurately pull focus and not screw up your shots. I went with SmallHD because it's the smallest highest resolution (1280x800) monitor in the world. The higher the resolution and brighter/sharper your monitor is, the easier it's going to be shooting your scene. It's also LED backlit and is VERY bright and clear and of course the HD-SDI is great because you can run a long SDI cable down a jib or something to the DP6 for crane work. Check the specs on the iKan and Marshel monitors as most of them arn't even HD. What the point of trying to focus an HD image if your monitor is only displaying in 640x480 and on some monitors even less! For the price, the SmallHd monitor is actually a GREAT deal but I agree these things are still really expensive. My opinion is that if you're going to buy a field monitor, get something that's going to last you years.
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This is all very true. And I agree with you. It's just tough to fit it in the budget when i'm already trying to fit in an AF100, lenses, etc.
 
You can get the smallHD without HDSDI and add it later. Write them and ask them about the costs of the upgrade kit. It might make the difference you need and you can use the HDMI interface for now.
 
Well I have the larger DP1X and I didn't think the smaller one was a huge detractor because the resolution was the same. The ONLY thing I thought the DP1X was better on was my crane. However, I am going to rethink the way I am using it on my crane and build an adapter that gets it closer to me, then I think it will be fine.
 
Jon Furtado said:
Would you guys say the 5.6" form factor is the best? I always thought 7"-9" was ideal.
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I'm not saying a 5.6" screen is the "optimal" size, but I'm saying this monitor is arguably the best bang for the buck for what you're getting. I would rather get a 5.6" screen at 1280x800 res that's ultra bright and sharp so I can see what I'm actually shooting versus a 9" screen at 640x480 that's dim and blurry (like many of the competitor screens). It might be larger but if you can't clearly see what your shooting than what's the point?

@grimepoch ... the old DP1X looked awesome, I'm hoping they come out with a new SDI version because that would indeed be better for crane work but I make due with the DP6. Still better than most other monitors.
 
I believe they are working on a replacement for the DP1X if I recall what they told me correctly. I told them the weight needs to be reduced as well, as the DP6 is WAY lighter and still just as sturdy (and not just lighter because of size). I do love my DP1X, and it has done me well. However, the screen on the DP6 is just that much better in every regard.
 
Kindredmachine said:
I'm not saying a 5.6" screen is the "optimal" size, but I'm saying this monitor is arguably the best bang for the buck for what you're getting. I would rather get a 5.6" screen at 1280x800 res that's ultra bright and sharp so I can see what I'm actually shooting versus a 9" screen at 640x480 that's dim and blurry (like many of the competitor screens). It might be larger but if you can't clearly see what your shooting than what's the point?

@grimepoch ... the old DP1X looked awesome, I'm hoping they come out with a new SDI version because that would indeed be better for crane work but I make due with the DP6. Still better than most other monitors.
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My experience with most LCD monitors is they're WAY to bright. I've never quite had the problem of it being too dark.

The iKan 7" VX7 is 1024X600. So its not super low res. Would it be high res enough to pull focus with?
 
The Ikan VX7 is one of the monitors on my short list when I was looking into what to order. It seems like a decent monitor and yes you can pull focus with it, for but for $300 more you get so much with the DP6 including higher resolution and also the DP6 is milled from a single piece of metal meaning there are no seems or screws mounting it togeather. This gives it incredible strength that other monitors just don't have. the other big factor is power. it's not something you think much about now but when you're out in the field, you'll wish you did. The Ikan monitors take HUGE heavy batteries that mount to the back of the screen whereas the DP6 takes a slick flush battery that you almost dont even notice...

http://www.smallhd.com/Store/5-6-inch-HD-Monitor-Accessories/SmallHD-26-Watt-Hour-Battery

When you weigh all of the pros and cons, the $1,299 DP6 still beats out the $989 VX7. In addition (and this may not be important to you) but the DP6 functions and menus are designed so you don't have all of the knobs on the front as with the VX7 and allows for the overall form factor to be smaller; a big plus if you travel with your field monitor or need to mount it for shoulder work.
 
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What is the difference b/w HDMI and SDI output for a monitor like the smallHD DP6? Is it worth the add'l $400 if i'm only using it on top of the camera, meaning I'm not running long lines, which SDI is more recommended for, right?
 
obonin said:
What is the difference b/w HDMI and SDI output for a monitor like the smallHD DP6? Is it worth the add'l $400 if i'm only using it on top of the camera, meaning I'm not running long lines, which SDI is more recommended for, right?
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The biggest difference is that sdi connections are secured and hdmi can easily pop out.
 
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