Non Camera-top Monitor Options

TimothyJinx

TimothyJinx

Well-known member
Is anyone using a non camera-top monitor for framing and focusing? I use a Marshal V-LCD70P-HDA with my XH-A1. It is great but no HDMI inputs. And I really don't want to purchase an additional $1K monitor. Besides, I almost never shoot hand held so a camera-top monitor is not that big of a deal to me. My main concerns are focus and framing.

So, anyone using something larger like maybe 15" or 17"?

Other than color or exposure are there drawbacks to using an LCD computer monitor?

Thanks!
 
TimothyJinx said:
Is anyone using a non camera-top monitor for framing and focusing? I use a Marshal V-LCD70P-HDA with my XH-A1. It is great but no HDMI inputs. And I really don't want to purchase an additional $1K monitor. Besides, I almost never shoot hand held so a camera-top monitor is not that big of a deal to me. My main concerns are focus and framing.

So, anyone using something larger like maybe 15" or 17"?

Other than color or exposure are there drawbacks to using an LCD computer monitor?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

I actually use a 19" computer monitor when I have it setup on a tripod. Yes, it's big, but it's AWESOME for framing and focus. It's a Samsung LCD monitor. If you do decide to use a computer monitor, make sure it supports HDCP (HDMI equivalent).

With my samsung monitor, I can remove the base, and use a mount on the back, which extends off my tripod. Then I use an HDMI to DVI connector, then voila - Nice, large, cheap field monitor.

Though obviously it doesn't have any features that a real field monitor would have. But if you're just looking for something cheap, and large for framing and focus only, then a PC monitor is not a bad alternative.
 
I have a 24" Gateway (component, composite, DVI, and VGA inputs) and a 28" I-INC (HDMI inputs) computer monitor that I can mount to c-stands or light stands on set... a MUST for remote focus pulling (and for keeping everyone from crowding around the on-camera monitor).

My Marshal that I used for my HVX doesn't have HDMI inputs either, so I picked up a cheaper $200 lightweight 8" Lilliput for on-camera and currently use an HDMI splitter to get picture to both monitors.

picture.php
 
Owen said:
I have a 24" Gateway (component, composite, DVI, and VGA inputs) and a 28" I-INC (HDMI inputs) computer monitor that I can mount to c-stands or light stands on set... a MUST for remote focus pulling (and for keeping everyone from crowding around the on-camera monitor).

My Marshal that I used for my HVX doesn't have HDMI inputs either, so I picked up a cheaper $200 lightweight 8" Lilliput for on-camera and currently use an HDMI splitter to get picture to both monitors.
Click to expand...

Very nice. What are you using to mount the monitor to a c-stand? Also, which HDMI splitter are you using?
 
Owen said:
I have a 24" Gateway (component, composite, DVI, and VGA inputs) and a 28" I-INC (HDMI inputs) computer monitor that I can mount to c-stands or light stands on set... a MUST for remote focus pulling (and for keeping everyone from crowding around the on-camera monitor).

My Marshal that I used for my HVX doesn't have HDMI inputs either, so I picked up a cheaper $200 lightweight 8" Lilliput for on-camera and currently use an HDMI splitter to get picture to both monitors.
Click to expand...

That is pretty cool.
 
Both monitors have standard VESA mount layouts on the back, so they're compatible with adapters like this one from FilmTools:
http://www.filmtools.com/ram-100-75mm-vesa-mount-5-8-receiver.html


The splitter is this one at monoprice:
http://www.monoprice.com/products/se...p?keyword=5418

The splitter goes in and out of stock. I grabbed it last week after waiting for it to come back into stock, and now it seems to be sold out again.

I posted the following thoughts in a different thread, so I'll paste here:

It takes the monitors between 4 and 12 seconds to display the signal whenever I switch modes (Live View to Playback or to Menus, etc).

Sound and Video are both functioning. Some folks have mentioned issues with splitters not carrying the audio, but that seems fully functional on this unit.

The one problem I have is with aspect ratio. As we all know, when the 7D is connected to a single monitor (no splitter) and you are in Live View mode, the image output to the monitor will be larger or smaller depending on how much "INFO" you have overlayed. With no info the image fills the 16x9 area (or at least sends the proper ratio info to the monitor).

When the splitter is added to the mix the signal from the 7D that relays aspect ratio settings seems to get killed in transit. The end result is that the monitors display the image they are fed as max size, even if the aspect ratio is incorrect. It also means that pressing "INFO" on or off has no effect on the displayed image.

Results may vary from monitor to monitor, but where my Lilliput 8" displays a properly sized image when the splitter is not in use, the image is not the correct ratio when the splitter is in use. It is simply stretched to fill the screen, regardless of what the 7D is displaying at the time.
 
That's good info Owen - thanks.

Do you use the larger monitors in the field? Do you have a particular case that they fit in nicely? I would love to have a large LCD monitor for site work but obviously I would have to have a decent case to carry/protect it. Any thoughts?
 
I tend to transport the larger LCDs in the box they came in -- so I haven't got anything particularly special for them other than that. Although now that you mention it, I used to haul my HVX with rails and Redrock M2 around in this Pelican case:
http://www.pelican.com/cases_detail_storm.php?Case=iM2975

It might actually hold a large LCD... though really the box and foam the monitor comes in has been more than adequate.
 
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