C100: How Reliable Has Your SmallHD DP6 Been?

Own both the DP4 w/VF and the DP6. They have been lightly used and neither has given me any problems and both seem nicely constructed. Small has been good to deal with, once when they sent the wrong cable and another time when I wanted a different battery mount they took good care of me. Anyone who purchased either product for color accuracy didn't do their homework before purchase and instead of buying a compact 4 or 6 inch monitor in the medium priced range should have spent 2-3 times as much for a pro-reference type unit. What Small has offered successfully is a compact focusing tool for the typically lousy on-cam imaging systems at a somewhat reasonable price.

So often, net boards only hear from folks with issues instead of happy customers, but it is alarming to hear about the apparent QC problems. But this thread should focus on that and Small's response instead of spilt milk over color accuracy which has been widely known as less than perfect since introduction.

Grant
 
I only use my DP6 for the director or producer to hold and see what I'm shooting if we are moving fast hand held or in tight shooting conditions. Framing with a jib is also handy. Using a 16' thin HDMI cable gives me the space so they dont hover over me while I shoot. You're right the color on the DP6 is also not accurate.

If you don't need waveform and all the bells and whistles I say go with something like this http://chens.en.alibaba.com/product...LR_camera_field_monitor_with_hdmi_in_out.html
I have one and love it so far. Wish it had one more function button but the display is crisp and colours are decent. I paid under $400 after shipping and taxes.
 
Which DP7 do you mean? I am considering the LCD SB version, but want it pretty accurate.

The OLED version is BEAUTIFUL. A friend has the high bright LCD version and said you have no problems using it outside in the sun at all. I haven't seen it, but I can whole heartedly recommend the DP7 PRO OLED.
 
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For oled i would just wait for the odyssey...about $1000 cheaper and (probably) more features. So far i dont shoot in sun much so high bright not necessary.
 
On my very lightly used DP6, old two years, wheel also stop working into right direction, on left I can still manage to navigate, but im feeling it's failing too.
There are so many better options for less money...
 
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I am amazed at the number of issues with their products! I would venture to say that if you had not put up your post here as well as being well know for your website, you be be sol like others. You don't always get what you pay for it seems and with the new big corp owning them.... who knows.
 
I had a DP6 with I really never liked. Bad colours and the first minute or so, after I turned it on, the SDI input had a glitch which after a while went away.
 
I had the DP6 and really, hated it! Barely was able to get $400 on Ebay for it. I now have the DP4, use as an EVF, and the fantastic AC7 OLED. Clients love the image on it!

Small HD is a great company, they answer CS questions fast. Avoid the DP6 though.
 
So far, (3 years), no issues with my DP6. I have taken it all over the world. Scroll wheel works fine, image is good enough to judge focus and contrast. I have been very happy with it so far.
 
I bought the DP6 when they came out 3-4 years ago?

Ive shot a feature and a big bunch of other stuff. Heat, rain, shine, mud.

The HDMI has now gone wonky. Im feeling the repair is probably not worth it (from the UK)

SmallHD have no SDI boards.. sending back to them to repair the HDMI and upgrade to SDI would have been worth it.

So it is going to become a spare right off whatever. It is now retired from the front line.

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I have mixed feelings about this situation.

On the plus side..

Back then a Transvideo (SD) monitor was $2000, SmallHD $800, so.. well that should build some expectation management.

Simply the monitor has cost $200 a year. And will still work if the HDMI is taped on.

Also we all know HDMI is a weak link - it is not the fault of SmallHD that my DLSRs of the time did not have SDi.

On the minus side..

Its bust and effectively a right off, and that annoys me.

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And the future..

Ive ordered a DP5! Because as of today the DP5 has double the resolution and is half of the cost of the competition Transvideo. The DP5 has Luts, the Transvideo does not.
 
my scroll dial on my DP6 is really whacked and really difficult to get it to land on the right parameter many times having to try 10 times or so to hit what i want. it started getting bad without much use. very annoying and will keep me from purchasing another SmallHD product even though my SmallHD EVF has been good.

bad design

david
 
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