FS7: Odyssey 7Q vs PIX-E5

K

karma17

Well-known member
Good day,
I was looking at getting an additional monitor for the FS7 and was down to these
two. Just curious if anyone recommends one over the other?
They're both the same retail price: $1,495


Or some other make and model?

Any thoughts appreciated.

Thanks!
 
The Pix-E5 has a much smaller footprint, media is less expensive, great (better) resolution and zoom for focusing. A tendency to get a little hot to the touch and not capable of recording RAW. But no additional licenses to purchase either. The 7Q is really not the current iteration either. That would be the 7Q+, which is frankly a good deal more expensive.
 
yoclay said:
The Pix-E5 has a much smaller footprint, media is less expensive, great (better) resolution and zoom for focusing. A tendency to get a little hot to the touch and not capable of recording RAW. But no additional licenses to purchase either. The 7Q is really not the current iteration either. That would be the 7Q+, which is frankly a good deal more expensive.
Click to expand...

Actually, the Odyssey7Q+ now sells for $1495. And the per-gig cost of Odyssey SSDs are lower than that of the Pix-E media, even when appropriate 3rd party media is used.

The Odyssey can do a number of things in both recording and monitoring that the Pix-E5 cannot, but you would have to decide how important they are to you. And there is also a significant physical size difference, Which again may effect your preference either way depending on what you might like.
 
I don't know the PIX at all but I can testify that the monitoring functions like Red peaking, false color, zebras and punch-in for focusing are extremely quick to turn on and off on the Odyssey, and very easy to set exactly to your preferences. I find this very very helpful while shooting. Much better for example than the Atomos or Small HD monitors. You can also use it as a multi camera switcher and quad monitor + Also for free now you get included the Titan upgrade which allows you to use the 7Q+ 4K input to divide into 3 HD images - one that's the full size image and 2 HD images (maybe 3?) that are insert shots from your master. I think it will record all 3 also though I get a little confused about the different functions between Titan and Apollo.
Anyway you slice it though its a hell of a lot of bang for the buck.
The only limitation is it is not as bright as the super bright Atomos and small HD monitors, though the superbright small HD I think looks like hell indoors.
 
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I own the PIX E5 and absolutely recommend it. It's built like a tank. I feel it's worth the price alone for just the monitoring functions - and the recording / proxy ability is total icing on the cake. It does get very warm to the touch - but I've never had any issues with it turning off or other problems during a shoot. For me, personally, I find the monitoring functions quicker, easier (perhaps more intuitive) to access & turn off/on than the Ody 7Q's - but I say this with only having rented the Ody one time - so YRMV. After testing my FS7's raw output early on with the Ody, I decided to spend the $ for Pro-Res instead of raw and get a small monitor for less than the extension back. I also prefer the smaller size. And while Mitch may be right about the per gig cost - I really like the ability to quickly pull off the drive from the PiX and insert it directly into USB port of computer to transfer the footage - without needing any adapter, etc.
 
I also own the PIX-E5 and can highly recommend it too. Keep in mind it has no option to record raw but it does record all flavors of ProRes up to 4K DCI resolutions, and can record a h.264 proxy at the same time.

One other thing is the availability of the optional PIX-LR audio module which I also have, this gives you two Sound Devices XLR inputs with very high quality preamps.

Here's a quick introductory video that Sound Devices produced:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lw8i_n8Qcrw
 
LennyLevy said:
I don't know the PIX at all but I can testify that the monitoring functions like Red peaking, false color, zebras and punch-in for focusing are extremely quick to turn on and off on the Odyssey, and very easy to set exactly to your preferences. I find this very very helpful while shooting . . . Anyway you slice it though its a hell of a lot of bang for the buck.
Click to expand...

I totally agree. My Odyssey 7Q+ has been a great investment and paid for itself several times over.
 
I love my Odyssey 7Q+. I think the raw recording is the only way to go for the FS5. I'm doing VFX plates, so my takes are pretty short, and I record DNG. I do wish it had Sound Devices preamps as an option, but I mostly do MOS plates.
 
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