SmallHD - HDSDI worth it?

If I were you I'd go with HDMI only for now and if you are dissatisfied with it, do the upgrade later on. When I purchased mine they were offering future HD-SDI upgrades and I believe they still are. I'm perfectly happy with HDMI for current DSLR work and I imagine aside from connector strength, it's nearly identical in image to HD-SDI.
 
Dino said:
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.
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The DP6 is smaller, which is something I actually like for weight purposes, but I was curious, why do you not like the interface on the DP6? It is a HUGE improvement over the DP1x, which I own. Is it because there are so many things you can set on it that you'd have to reset it everytime you are done? It might have a firmware reset, and if not, just send smallHD a question on it. I am sure they'd add something like that.
 
Go for the sdi, you won't regret it. I use my smallHD with my 7d and Red. I've also used it on an Alexa. The SDI makes it futureproof.
Shane.
 
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.
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Bassman2003 said:
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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Yes, you're supposed to be able to do it with the Nano's E to E Direct setting. As I said I just haven't had time to work with it.
 
grimepoch said:
The DP6 is smaller, which is something I actually like for weight purposes, but I was curious, why do you not like the interface on the DP6? It is a HUGE improvement over the DP1x, which I own. Is it because there are so many things you can set on it that you'd have to reset it everytime you are done? It might have a firmware reset, and if not, just send smallHD a question on it. I am sure they'd add something like that.
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I'm not sure which Small HD model I was looking at, actually. I will ask the owner. I'm currently looking at the new TV Logic VFM-056W 5.6" monitor. It is $1600, has waveform/vector and supposed to deliver in January.
 
Dino said:
I'm not sure which Small HD model I was looking at, actually. I will ask the owner. I'm currently looking at the new TV Logic VFM-056W 5.6" monitor. It is $1600, has waveform/vector and supposed to deliver in January.
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The DP1x controls were horrible to me, but the image was good. However, once I used the DP6, I was like...oh! :) I do wish they'd release a DP1 sized display with the DP6 technology as the size was still good.
 
The Small HD monitor I had on a couple of shoots for a B-camera was the 5.6", so DP6. I didn't like the UI as much as TV Logic or Flanders, nor did the other DP working with me. Turns out that the TV Logic 5.6" monitor is the same monitor as the Small HD, same panel, housing, inputs. I hope it has a TV Logic type UI, it definitely has waveform and vector.
 
"Same monitor size, Same panel, Same housing...Same ect "...TV logic VFM-056w VS SmallHD DP6...... it smells fishy.
 
Tvdie23 said:
"Same monitor size, Same panel, Same housing...Same ect "...TV logic VFM-056w VS SmallHD DP6...... it smells fishy.
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Well, many manufacturers share panels, you'll find the same LG 17" panel in Panasonic and Flanders Scientific models, 7" TV Logic and 7" Flanders. The TV Logic 5.6" looks nothing like the normal TV Logic housing/controls, so they have rebadged and written their own firmware for somebody else's monitor or they are the OEM(less likely). This is most likely a way for TV Logic to offer a lower cost monitor to leverage the DSLR market. It's $200 more than the Small HD DP6.
 
Just $200 more that is pretty attractive price with much more functions. is it out yet? How is TV Logic customer service?
Hopefully SmallHD won't get finish off by TV Logic.
Thanks for the info.
 
I can tell you that Small HD has SUPERB customer service - and I have no clue why anyone would not like the interface of the DP6. It takes seconds to learn it, and is basically a breeze in practice.
 
I do know they do the firmware in house, as I met one of the coders I believe when I was at smallHD. They are great, and believe me, they are having NO problems that I see. In fact, to get a DP6 can take some time as the demand is outstanding. Which is why I borrowed one from them at the time instead of purchase as I would not have received it before the shoot started.

I like the interface as well, and told them as much. It was a HUGE improvement. I also used the last beta of the newest firmware so I can only imagine it is better. As for the other types of waveform monitoring, true, if you need or want them, you wont get them on the DP6. Given I am switching over to the AF100 when it arrives, I know that has those functions built in.
 
I went through the menus as did a DP who owns a large rental facility(recently sold F35, Alexa's, 3700's, Phantoms, 5D's) and he declared it unfit for rental due to the UI, although I wasn't as negative about it. Now I want to find out if the TV Logic layout is different. Great to hear about the customer service. I don't want to buy any monitors without waveform display, as I need to use them with lots of different cameras, not all of which have built-in waveforms.
 
Just heard from my rep. about the TV Logic VFM-056WP. This is the enhanced version, there is also a VFM-056W base version. The former lists for $1595 with waveform, vector, Y level check, red peaking. Discounted price is about the same as the Small HD and it should start shipping by the end of the month.
 
Dino where can you get TV Logic Monitors and does the monitor have gain control for the vectorscope to make them usable when using and adjusting to color charts?
 
TV Logic is available from Zacuto, Filmtools, Preco.net, among other places. Good question about the vectorscope expand function. I pushed hard for Flanders Scientific to add vector magnification for Chroma Du Monde charts and they came through, I will have to ask if TV Logic has done the same. This feature is more important to me in a larger monitor, but handy for any size.
 
I'd definitely feed back to smallHD if there was something you wanted they didn't have, at least they will know. I still don't understand what that person thought was insufficient in the menus. I went through EVERY single feature in the menu and tested and used it (as I was providing them feedback) and I didn't see a single problem with the LCD.

I also notice A LOT of behind the scenes from people using the same LCD and haven't heard any complaints, including the new western short with the AF100. That's why I am a bit shocked to hear people complain about the UI. I thought it was great.
 
Well, it depends upon what you're used to. Panasonic, TV Logic and Flanders Scientific have a dedicated button for many functions, indeed Flanders has five programmable function buttons, plus they offer knobs for fine adjustments. Small HD doesn't have this type of UI, primarily due to size, but also to save money. Once you get used to lots of buttons and knobs, it's hard to get excited about layers of menus to slog through. Also, UI is a very subjective area. I still curse at my EX1 menu setup vs. Panasonic cameras and other Sony cameras I own.

The fact that TV Logic offers more features for a similar price point to Small HD after reseller discount is useful to me, although some of the TV Logic accessories cost more. I've ordered the TV Logic, although I don't think its Panasonic battery bracket option uses AF100/HMC150 batteries, ditto Small HD.
 
Good point, and it is true that a lot of this is based on expectation, preference, and user experience. Since I am not a reseller, the price difference is a lot more for me. But, I could definitely agree I would use more user programmable buttons had they included them. Of course, going from the DP1x to the DP6 was like a HUGE step in functionality.

Given I have all these 7D batteries now, they will come in handy for my DP6 when I pick it up. I'll definitely look at the TV Logic stuff as I am always keeping my eyes open.
 
I have yet to hear anyone regret a SmallHD purchase. They are a stellar company who treat their customers like gold, and the Dp6 is basically the best value you can get.

If you read my other posts you will realize that I am an equipment snob - for example I refuse to shoot on 5D - Red, Alexa, F35, etc. ONLY, or I say no to the job. Our SmallHD meets our super-fussy standards. It would meet anyone's standards in all ways.
 
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