is it really necessary to get an HD field monitor? i'll admit, i'm not a sophisticated shooter, i use monitors to check framing, make sure every part of wardrobe/set/makeup is good to go, make sure no shine, spill, obvious issues with light. make sure the product looks nice. do i really need to have HD to assess those things? i could see for checkng focus, but i'd hate to pay 3000 dollars for a focus checker. the focus assist seems to work pretty good.
HD field monitors necessary?
- Thread starter brianluce
- Start date
jlames
Well-known member
Yes, HD monitors are essential for good picture quality, focus, levels and a thousand other things, especially if you're shooting HD and especially in a multi-camera shoot to check conformity between the cams BUT this is in perfect world. We are all subject to budgetary constraints, especially in the indie world. And, there are levels of need. The JVC for example has a great viewfinder where the Canon XL1H has an absolutely miserable one. Now that's viewfinders mind you, not the flippers. The little screens on the sides of the cameras aren't worth a hill of beans, even on the JVC although it's better that most. And the need differs in terms of format. If you're shooting a dramatic series, like 24, where DOF and focus pullers are of prime importance, a great monitor returns great results. I don't know if you've ever watched that show, not from a viewer's perspective but with a cameraman's eye but it has the best group of camera guys and focus pullers in the business. That show is sharp, period. If, however, you're shooting a sports event at distance, then you can get away without one better. That being said, as you know, we're on a 4 camera shoot right now in Tunica and 6:00am tomorrow starts with color, white and picture balancing, through the chart and then the monitors so that all five cameras report what they see exactly the same. So you say, where's the fifth camera if it's a 4-camera shoot? In the overhead for some different POV shots. All five, after being exactly balanced together through a proper monitor, will report the same colors and the same whites making post a heck of alot better. It's all about reporting what you see accurately. After all, in post, the last thing you need is to look and say, "That's not the blue I saw!!!"
There's more reasons but I hope this works. In short, get what you can afford. A good 9" Sony or JVC can be had for $900-1200 but if you want professional results, it takes professional equipment.
There's more reasons but I hope this works. In short, get what you can afford. A good 9" Sony or JVC can be had for $900-1200 but if you want professional results, it takes professional equipment.
Before you burn a bunch of money you might want to try a 720p native LCD consumer monitor. I got a $300 one from Costco and it's a little soft, but we could dial in the colors and contrast pretty well. I may still return it but it wasn't $3k and it's awfully useful.brianluce said:
As for focusing, in almost all cases I've been getting good focus using the focus assist or peaking. I rarely even look at an external monitor to focus. It's reassuring to double check it though.
You might want to check out HDV Rack by serious magic if you've got a PC laptop with enough pixels on the display. I'll probably pick it up if they have an NAB special.
I'm not saying a killer HD monitor wouldn't be BEST - but most of us don't have bottomless wallets. A friend of mine who has a $4k HD monitor says "you really need the $40k one". It's all perspective.
jlames
Well-known member
Sorry I couldn't answer more fully last night; first production meeting in Tunica. I hope you all will start following the production starting tonight at www.dvx-2ndunit.com
Anyway, the underlying principle behind HD monitors is to be able to provide the shooter with a standard reference with which to assess the image for color rendition, lighting continuity, judging effects, exposure and a dozen other things. The visual system is highly adaptable, and without a consistent frame of reference, almost anything can look "normal" to the unaided eye. But when you throw in reference markers like you have all around you as does the final viewer, everything has to be in perspective. If you've spent the money for an HD camera, without a proper monitor, there's simply no way to assure you're producing quality pictures except when it's too late in post. And, it does you no good to spend all that money on a monitor if it's not calibrated properly. It forms the visual reference that you judge what you camera is seeing and so it needs to be calibrated to a consistent standard. I'm not saying that an SD monitor doesn't help with things like focus but to get what you see in your mind's eye to your audience exactly as you see it takes a standard. The standard you've selected to deliver in is HD so you have certain expectations and you'll only be able to see those expectations on a properly calibrated monitor that matches the camera you're using.
Here's a place to watch. I hope this helps. OK, over to the arena and the first production day.
J
http://www.tvprogear.com/used-video-buy.php?prod=19
Anyway, the underlying principle behind HD monitors is to be able to provide the shooter with a standard reference with which to assess the image for color rendition, lighting continuity, judging effects, exposure and a dozen other things. The visual system is highly adaptable, and without a consistent frame of reference, almost anything can look "normal" to the unaided eye. But when you throw in reference markers like you have all around you as does the final viewer, everything has to be in perspective. If you've spent the money for an HD camera, without a proper monitor, there's simply no way to assure you're producing quality pictures except when it's too late in post. And, it does you no good to spend all that money on a monitor if it's not calibrated properly. It forms the visual reference that you judge what you camera is seeing and so it needs to be calibrated to a consistent standard. I'm not saying that an SD monitor doesn't help with things like focus but to get what you see in your mind's eye to your audience exactly as you see it takes a standard. The standard you've selected to deliver in is HD so you have certain expectations and you'll only be able to see those expectations on a properly calibrated monitor that matches the camera you're using.
Here's a place to watch. I hope this helps. OK, over to the arena and the first production day.
J
http://www.tvprogear.com/used-video-buy.php?prod=19
My experience with focusing is the more you use the viewfinder you get a good eye as to what looks in focus and what doesn't. I have a canon optura 60 consumer camera and at first it sucked to focus manually but after time I noticed what looked in focus by just looking at the lcd.
But I still might purchase the marshall vp70 monitor.
But I still might purchase the marshall vp70 monitor.