SmallHD - HDSDI worth it?

Jarek Zabczynski

Jarek Zabczynski

Veteran
So I'm about to "proceed to checkout" on my SmallHD monitor in preparation for the AF, my Marshall only has component for my HVX with no upgrade path on that. So is the HDSDI on the Small HD worth the extra $400 bucks? Will it make much of a difference in monitoring? I'm not concerned about the "but SDI has a locking connector" bit. I can deal with that if it means saving some cash. Resolution and color/quality should be identical no? Even with external recorders, they have HDMI outs as well.

Any thoughts?

Thanks!

- Jarek
 
My monitor now is component and HDMI. I wish it were SDI-HD for the pass through to the Nano. It would make my life simpler.
 
Duke M. said:
My monitor now is component and HDMI. I wish it were SDI-HD for the pass through to the Nano. It would make my life simpler.
Click to expand...

Can't you go SDI into the Nano and then HDMI out of that? Personally I would always find it more comforting going into a recorder first, then monitoring off of that.
 
I say yes. You can't buy an HDSDI monitor for 400 bucks and rental on one is probably 200-400. If you use the feature once, that one time you are using a cam with SDI and no HDMI it pays for the upgrade. It future proofs the purchase.
 
The security of the BNC style connector on the HD-SDI connector cannot be underestimated. As time passes, you will want to have a secure conneciton between your camera and the monitor. HDMI does not offer that.
 
Small HD makes a very good monitor. I have had mine for about 2 months.
I go HDSDI into my Nanoflash, then HDSDI out of the Nano into the Small HD monitor.
The nano can produce a red line at the bottem of the screen that let's you know it is recording (rec tally function).
Off axis viewing is very good, I find I adjust the brightness a bit, but that is it. Great construction, excellent value and good picture.
 
Yeah, I might as well just splurge a bit extra. Heck, I'm dropping 10k+ on a camera, lenses and accessories in the next month, what's another $400 bucks! LOL!
 
You can also ask smallHD if you can add that as an upgrade in the future, or, if you have to get it installed from the get go. I say this because when I visited their factory, when I bought my DP1x, they were telling me they were thinking of making it so people could upgrade if they wanted in the future.

I did just get loaned a DP6 from them a few months ago to evaluate, but I didn't ask that question. I can say this though, I will be upgrading from my DP1x WITHOUT QUESTION to the DP6. EVERYTHING about the DP6 was better to me. It was lighter, better contrast, better off axis viewing, faster boot up, better features, and just a nicer image. I think the ONLY thing I liked more about my DP1x is that when used on my crane, it was a bit bigger so I could move it closer to the fulcrum (tripod) and see it well as I moved the system up and down. When it is closer to you at the back, vertically it moves more and the angle of the LCD is an issue more.

If I had to chose though, I would DEFINITELY go with the HD-SDI myself, and I bought and AF-100 as well. My biggest problem with HDMI is that if they get bumped, MANY times the end piece breaks. The miniHDMI is worse, WAY worse, but I cannot wait to get away from HDMI. Worst connector ever! :)
 
The HD SDI loop through feature is extremely important to me--that's the biggest hassle of the Panasonic LH80 monitor. I think HDMI is barely adequate as a consumer connector, much less for field production use. The Small HD looks great, but I find it a bit small, I miss not having built-in scopes and the user interface is not good in a rental environment. My favorite monitors are Flanders Scientific and TV Logic,, but they cost twice as much and use V-mount batteries.
 
FWIW, I plan to use SDI for all on camera items - recorder, waveform, monitor - and use the HDMI output for feeding the on set producer's monitor(s). HDMI allows the use of larger/less expensive monitors for this purpose, and cheap splitters are available to drive multiple monitors.

There is also one good thing about the crappy HDMI connector. I use a short cable on the camera, zip-tied low on the tripod or dolly, then a female/female HDMI coupler for the longer run back to the monitors. If someone trips over the cable it pulls out easily and doesn't pull the camera over.
 
Bassman2003 said:
You can go into the Nano with HDSDI and out with HDMI for monitoring.
Click to expand...


You can, but...

HD-SDI has pull down. Most people want to record with the pull down automatically removed, which the Nano will do. However, HDMI needs the pull down to transmit.

You're supposed to be able to have the Nano reinsert pulldown. I think that's with E to E Direct, but I've never played with it enough. Without being imbedded in a 60i stream the HDMI can't be read.
 
I have the DP6 with the HDSDI and its definitely worth it, especially with the Nano, and this new generation of cameras with HDSDI out. More options and flexibility with it
 
The Point for me is, that HD-SDI is somewhat future proof (at least for your next three cameras), while HDMI will be replaced by the "next best" consumer cable soon.

just my ct2

Frank
 
Duke M. said:
You can, but...

HD-SDI has pull down. Most people want to record with the pull down automatically removed, which the Nano will do. However, HDMI needs the pull down to transmit.

You're supposed to be able to have the Nano reinsert pulldown. I think that's with E to E Direct, but I've never played with it enough. Without being imbedded in a 60i stream the HDMI can't be read.
Click to expand...

I don't know if this answers the question but I go out of my cameras in to a Nano via HD-SDI and then go out over HDMI to monitor with my Small HD DP1x monitor. This works for interlaced and progressive footage from the camera. So I think the Nano is putting out a signal that the HDMI can use.
 
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