AC160 Lilliput monitor issues

the Big O

the Big O

New member
I recently bought a lilliput 665 monitor, and used it for 1 shoot for 3 hrs. Everything went fine. But I was preping for a shoot testing some lights. And I had a signal but it dropped out, and now it says no signal. First a few white lines appear of a flash then no signal. I have tried different connectors but the results are always the same. I plugged in the 160 to my HD tv set and it comes up just fine. I would hate to think that its the monitor but all evidence is pointing that way. I know HDMI aren't the best connectors in the world but still.
So I was wondering if anyone else has run across this problem with a lilliput or any other monitor.
Yeah I know you get what you pay for so if its dead at $200 no big loss.

Thanks
Orlando
 
Have used the 160A with a Zacuto EVF (HDMI) for about 30 hours without any issues. Kind of sounds like it's your monitor considering what you've already tried in terms of troubleshooting. I'd be a bit more pissed-off than you seem to be - $200 is a lot for 3 hours of use. But you'll probably live longer than me with that attitude. :)
 
Do people buy monitors to improve focus?

Or is it to get a better notion of colors, in which case you probably have to calibrate it each time you turn them on?

As for HDMI, I understand you can get cables with connectors that lock.
 
kwkeirstead said:
Do people buy monitors to improve focus?

Or is it to get a better notion of colors, in which case you probably have to calibrate it each time you turn them on?

As for HDMI, I understand you can get cables with connectors that lock.
Click to expand...

for me it was just focus, not for color. I use the setting in the monitor to achieve solid focus with red (this is a built in function of the monitor not camera), and also use it for light settings. The Marshall can do with pre programed buttons on the monitor.
 
Even though the Zacuto had great color right out of the box, I would never trust one of these monitors for accurate color. That said, after awhile you do get accustomed to how things look on the monitor and whether things are "right" or not. Still, the only time I pay much attention to color is to tip me off if I've maybe forgotten to white balance - say going from indoors to outdoors, for example.

Like rzr219, I use it mainly for focus. In my case, when I'm not close to the camera's LCD or EVF. For the most part, I've found the provided focus assists to be good enough. Especially using Barry's method of setting the EVF to B&W to help with red peaking. However, there are times when there just isn't enough contrast for that to work as well as it could. Coming from the AF100 (of which I still have two because I just could't bring myself to sell one to buy the 160A) I'm really enjoying the 1:1 focus assist on the 160A. Of course, the AF100 doesn't have that and it was one of the things that attracted me to the Zacuto EVF in the first place. Along with false color; as I'm often shooting with a jib or otherwise too far away to see the waveform. The Zacuto with a Z-Finder is a pretty sweet setup. And I really like being able to adjust the amount of peaking too.

But my eyes aren't what they used to be and there are many times I find myself wanting something larger that I can see without needing to constantly stick my eye up to it - especially when using a slider or jib. Seriously considered a 5.6, but ended up ordering a 9" Marshall with the 3G SDI option. Not exactly ultra-portable, but a fair amount of my shooting is on sticks and I'm sure I'll get a lot of use out of it. Especially on a 2 camera shoot where I can have one camera coming in via HDMI and the other SDI - and switch between them. It has a moveable waveform and audio meters so everything is right there on one screen. And you can choose among 4 colors for focus assist so you're not just limited to red. Plus the 1:1 mag is area selectable. And it has excellent false color. Pretty much covers the bases.

In terms of lighting, a portable EVF is also handy for adjusting lighting when working alone because you can carry it around and see the effect of what you're doing with the lights without needing to be constantly going back to the camera. This is where an SDI connection is far superior to HDMI. Yes, you can get locking HDMI, but they're really expensive.

Am currently trying to get some footage of some coyotes using 3 cameras - 2 AF100s and the AC160A. Minimal movement is absolutely essential when dealing with Wile E. Coyote and pals. I have one of the AF100s set to continuos record with the 7-14mm lens to capture the whole scene from ground level. I have no control over that camera - just setting it up and letting it record. But the other two are right next to me - the AF100 has a 100-300mm lens set at 100 because adjusting would require too much movement. But I can zoom the AC160A according to the action using a VariZoom controller (use a Manfrotto for the AF100 for focus and iris). And being able to see what's going on with both cams (in terms of action and waveform) with just the push of a button on the Marshall while remaining as still as possible should really help. It's been a real challenge and I haven't been successful yet. But I am relentlessly persistent. The Marshall should arrive next week. Can't wait.
 
After further testing I have come to the realization that the problem lies in the HDMI connector on the monitor. Great!......
I'm not too upset, due in part to the reason I bought this unit was that if for some reason heaven forbid, something was to happen to it, i'm only out 200 bucks. Still I expected a few more hrs out of the unit than I got. I will take a look at it but my repair guy says I should try to return it. Its been too long.
But hey At least I wont make the same mistake again. My next monitor will be a TV Logic VFM-056WP now thats more like it! Its not cheap but with all the extras it comes with, not to mention saving my eyesight, its worth it.
 
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