Nikon DSLR + Ikan,Marshall,SmallHD or cheap Loupe?

T

therussian

Well-known member
The problem: I need to find a good and affordable solution for monitoring my D7000 for a low(no)-budget shoot this summer.

I don't really like the notion of loupes on the back lcd of the camera. The usability because of the given angle, the quality, no exposure feedback etc...So...

First I wanted monitors like SmallHD DP4 with EVF.... or Marshall V-LCD50. However in Europe they are awfully expensive. But today I found a site which sells them at a good price point.

I'm informed that the Marshall V-LCD50 and V-LCD51 are basically the same, only the battery part is different.

So the options:
SmallHD DP4
Marshall V-LCD51

or:
Ikan VL5 or VK5

or:
Lilliput - maybe 5D or something similar.

Definitely the Marshall and SmallHD are the more expensive and higher quality ones. But I'd like to hear your pros and cons. If I go the more expensive route then Marshall or SmallHD, or the budget route then Ikan or Lilliput?

Cineroid EVFs like the 4C costs almost the same as the Marshall V-LCD51. They are different beasts but I rather give my precious money to a brand like MArshall than Cineroid, of which I still didn't hear enough good notes...

Ikan is an american company?

Buying the SmallHD with EVF is still expensive so I maybe rule that out. But going with the DP4 I still have the option that in the future I upgrade it with an EVF....
 
Alright, I made a mistake.... The Marshall and SmallHD monitors are roughly the same price as any other source here in the EU..... I didn't count the VAT..... Silly me....

But the question stays the same...
 
I've used a few of these...
- i owned the Small HD DP4 for a while and sold it pretty quickly. I found the image to be a little mushy and thought the focus assist was terrible (although I think they've upgraded that now). Also the lack of zebras made it a pretty poor choice for my personal preference.
- I had a Cineroid EVF for a long while and actually liked it - decent peaking, zebras, DSLR scaling and on screen audio monitors make it a good choice I think. The software is a little temperamental but nothing too terrible. I'm thinking of buying another at the moment.
- I currently own the Lilliput 7" 5D monitor. For the price it's pretty good - has all the features you need and the screen is sharp enough (just), but don't trust the image for colour or exposure. The zebras don't always work and you can't set their sensitivity. Being a large screen, it's very hard to see in sunlight. If I had more to spend I'd definitely get the TV Logic 5.6" monitor - great all round.

For me, the best choice is an evf of some kind - either the Cineroid or Zacuto. The size works well with DSLRs and you don't have any issues with sunlight.
 
Thanks Tom!

EVF would be the best, but from them only the Cineroid entry level 4C can be considered for me price-wise.

Today I found a way to get the Ikan VK5 for around 400 USD here. So that's something I have to seriously consider. It's priced really well. Question is how does it compare to Lilliputs? Is it better? And how does it compare to the Marshall V-LCD51? Is the huge price difference justified?
 
Back again...

I think I'm settled on the Marshall V-LCD51.

Basically it's the same as the LCD50, but different battery plate variety.

I thought a lot about this, checked and read and re-read many reviews, forums, blogs, watched vimeo and youtube videos.... As I can't try it personally I have to settle on something.... A proper EVF would cost around 500USD more...
 
Oh.... thanks for confusing me! :D

Would you share your experiences? What camera do you use it with?

My problem is that I can't find any reviews about it.... and its true for many monitor options for me... I can't even look at them in real life.... So buying anything will be some kind of a blind buy... but it would be great if the fault factor could be eliminated :D
 
My experience shooting DSLRs for music videos, broadcast work, national stuff, local stuff... the loupe is #1. Hardly ever use a monitor. If I want to check the histogram, it's there when you're paused. Really don't need it once exposure is set. I've gone entire shoots without the monitor - I wouldn't show up without a loupe.

That said, I've done extensive work with the D7000 and the T2i. I like Nikon's color a little more, but there's some really significant jello compared to the canon. Hoping the 7100 delivers.
 
therussian said:
Ok, but how you like it?

I heard in connection with Lilliput 5D 7" monitors that the signal from D7000 is not really good for this picture size, thus the picture quality is blurry and not that good as on a smaller monitor. Is it true?
Click to expand...

I like it just fine, and this is not one of the older Lilliput 5D monitors. It's all new. Looks like the same resolution as the new Convergent Odyssey 7, Peaking, False Color, Zebra, Histogram. I replaced the hot shoe mount supplied with a noga arm mounted to my rails.

As to whether or not this or any other monitor behaves properly with the HDMI out of your camera, I have no experience.
 
I have used it both on stix and shouldered. All the exposure and focus functions work well.

I also have a loupe, but always opt for a monitor when I can.
 
David W. Jones said:
I have used it both on stix and shouldered. All the exposure and focus functions work well.

I also have a loupe, but always opt for a monitor when I can.
Click to expand...

I really fear of the 7" size monitors.... Not just their weight, but even the size itself. I try to put together a compact package, so maybe they are not the best idea for me. Price-wise it would be no question.... Lilliput is dirt cheap...

I really like the Marshall V-LCD51 because if its size, but.... I have no chance to see it in real life, just after purchase so the decision is hard enough.

Maybe I should pour a few more bucks into monitor question and get a SmallHD DP4+EVF? Thus I would have the best of both worlds...
 
I have an older 5.6" monitor & the size is honestly not all that much smaller than my new 7".

I played with the DP4, and it's OK as an EVF, but it's just too small as a monitor for my old eyes.
 
As I wrote in the other topic I ordered a SmallHD DP4+EVF finally...

Could you recommend me some kind of an eye cushion for it? blu star has round ones, but is there a good one with oval shape? thanks
 
Michael Carter said:
... If I want to check the histogram, it's there when you're paused. ...
Click to expand...

Okay, I must be missing something, b/c the only way I've found to display the histogram is to take a still image, view it and choose the Color Balance filter. If there is another way, that would be great. Thank you.
 
I had a Lillaput 7" and while they are good for the price the resolution is not as good as the camera LCD.
I sent it back and got a CaVision 5.6. It is much better and also has focus peaking.
I mount it on my TriPod leg and use it for Video
 
I can't find any CaVision 5.6 monitors. Can you supply some more information on it, like model number, where you got it? Thanks!
 
Sorry, I had another Senior moment.
The monitor is a Camax H056
You can get it at Amazon for $239
It is 1280x800 native resolution.

The CaVision is a magnifying Loope
 
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