Monitor for Focus and Color Accuracy

[stancemedia]

I've used my Zacuto EVF for ages now and I love it, but I'm shooting more shorts and even
feature length movies now and it's just not the right tool for the job. I need something a 1st
AC can be comfortable pulling focus with, now what should I be looking at?

SmallHD has the AC7 (http://www.smallhd.com/products/ac7/) which appears to be a great
buy however, the DP7 Pro releases later next year, around March 2013. It has much better
functionality like a Waveform and if you choose the most expensive option, RGB Parade.

So for around $1,100 you can get an AC7 with SDI inputs and a couple other accessories.

But if you take $1,100 and look at B&H you have the following options:

Marshall Electronics - V-LCD56MD 5.6" - $799
Waveform with only HDMI inputs.
Potentially better size at 5.6".

Marshall Electronics V-LCD56MD 5.6" HDMI Monitor with 3G SDI Input - $999
Waveform with SDI
Knobs - easy adjustments

ikan D5w 5.6" 3G-SDI Camera Monitor with Waveform - $1079
Waveform, Vectorscope and RGB Parade
SDI

ikan D7W-P 7" 3G-SDI LCD Monitor - $1079
Waveform, Vectorscope and RGB Parade
7", potentially a bit large
SDI


So the question is are they equal in quality? Does anyone have any experience with them that
cares to shed some light on the subject?

I'm looking for a monitor that can be used to pull focus with ease and is color accurate. I want SDI options
for further down the road on other cameras. Waveform and other scopes are always a bonus, they provide
so much support in the field.

Thoughts?

 

[KMA_WWC]

Marshall monitor with 3G sdi is great. I've used it for a while and its a great monitor for the price but at the same time I've played with TV logic 5.6 which is also great and have relatively and more features than Marshall. These two monitors are the ones that I'm looking to purchase. I just got to choose, even though I already know that I'll get TV logic, but still thinking. Both monitors have a great 720p displays. Both have a great build quality and a lot of useful features.

My suggestion for you is to go and play with them. You will immediately figure which one suits you better.

 

[stancemedia]

My suggestion for you is to go and play with them. You will immediately figure which one suits you better.

There are zero camera stores local, nearest I believe is 6 hours away in Atlanta.
I wish I could play with them and come to a conclusion however, I'm not positive
I have a way to do so.

Suggestions are welcome though. Suppose I'll peer at the TV Logic as well.

Open to more thoughts on the subject also, feel free to chime in.

 

[Chad N]

I have the Marshall LCD56 with HDMI only. I like it quite a bit. Waveform. False Color. Peaking. Those are the things i've found most useful. I did my best to calibrate the color, seems to be pretty accurate... when you look at the monitor straight on. However! ...

The biggest drawback i've noticed is that the colors vary quite a bit depending on your viewing angle. If you look at it straight on, it looks great. If you happen to be off to the side, it all shifts to look very blue. On the other side it can look very green. I haven't taken the time to see which viewing angle has which effect exactly, but something like that. Could be a problem for people! Not sure if other monitors are like that.

One other small complaint is that i don't see an option to check the battery life on the actual monitor. So i kind of guess. When the battery runs out, it simply shuts off with no warning or indicator that i know of. (i have the sony L battery plate)

I bought the sun shield for it as well. The velcro strip that comes with it didn't hold very well. The tape came off, i had to go buy a velcro strip at the store.

 

[Dermot]

most focus pullers have their own choice of mon's anyway.... i carry a 7" on both my camera's - that was my main AC's choice, it's a bit of a pig when hand holding, (but i don't do much of that, when i do he holds the mon in one hand and the fiz in the other) but other than that, it's good to have the realestate

I operate off a Cinedroid EFV, camera screen is for statue and menu's only

Set colors by eye, expose by lightmeter, i don't trust any lcd mon for any of that, as noted above the viewing angle needs to be square on to see anything of value, and the waveforms are so small as to render them useless, but for frameing and focus they are fine, peaking + 1:1 are usefull, falsecolor + waveform less so IMHO..

Jonathon pulling focus on his side of the camera with a 7" mon, note the cineroid on my side for operating, and the Sony screen cluttered with status info being pretty much ignored;

 

[stancemedia]

Thanks for the information Dermot, do you feel that 5.6" would be more comfortable for on the go work?
Much of my shooting is done off sticks at times. Also does anyone have hands on experience with any ikan products?
Seems like a fair bit of complaints for the Marshall and with the waveform being not very usable I would perhaps
even lean towards a SmallHD product.