SmallHD Monitors

SmallHD Monitors

  • 8.9" 1280x768

    Votes: 4 21.1%

  • 5.6" 1280x800

    Votes: 15 78.9%
  • Total voters
    19
J

Jon Chema

Active member
Now if you guys have been following my posts you know that i've been in the market for an external LCD monitor for my 7D rig. Well i've narrowed it down to SmallHD but have another pickle.

SmallHD 5.6" or 8.9"?? They are both $899 and the 5.6" offers much higher rez for the size. 1280x800 for 5.6" and 1280x768 for the 8.9". Thoughts guys? I'm leaning towards the new 5.6" as well because it has controls on top and they are also developing a cheap HDMI splitter that runs off the monitor, as well as battery bracket that uses Canon batteries.

Your input is greatly appreciated!
 
you'll find that a lot of people say that a 8.6 feels way too big especially when you are trying to keep your rig compact. personally i think the smallhd 5.6 looks like the best bang for its buck. get the full SDI version and you have a monitor tha twill last you several generation of cameras. no joke 720p screen, all your upscaling and downscaling, blue only, possible false color, hdmi and sdi passthroughs. it does everything a monitor 5 times the price does, and packs in more pixels for the dollars. I've heard some amazing reviews of it from what people saw at NAB.
 
There is more to them than just size and resolution. I haven't seen it but it sounds like the image will be far superior on the 5.6.
 
well it simply looks better because you are packing in more pixels per inch of the screen. almost 300 dpi for the screen. With such a hire pixel density in a small surface area, it's gonna look cleaner, sharper, and more vibrant. The 8.6 inch only packs in a very very tiny bit more over 3 more inches of screen.
 
It is a different screen, not the same screen and making them "Drink Me" it to make it smaller. There are bound to be other differences, and they could be big. The only way to know is to look at them running test patterns to them.
 
Chris Santucci said:
Neither.

7" is perfect. 8.9" is way too big. 5.6"..? I am leery of such a small monitor.

.
Click to expand...

but on a DSLR? a rig where ur carrying around a monitor that much bigger than the camera itself makes it cumbersome IMHO. It's like hooking up a 17 inch panny monitor to a hpx 3000 in a single rig...
 
You know what feature I would love?

A form of magnification that could fill the screen while shooting on a 5D with the SD output. 1to1 isn't the right size if I'm correct.

PLUS peaking/focus assist.

I know SmallHD talks about firmware upgrades to their monitors. If they added a feature like this, I'd buy on in a heartbeat.
 
I think they solved that NextWave, check out the video at the bottom right: http://www.smallhd.com/store/dp1xupgrade.php

I want histograms! Since they have firmware updates it will be a matter of processing power... doubt they will add them though... it would be sweet for DSLRs.

Also would be nice to have available an anamorphic stretch function.
 
NextWaveG said:
You know what feature I would love?

A form of magnification that could fill the screen while shooting on a 5D with the SD output. 1to1 isn't the right size if I'm correct.

PLUS peaking/focus assist.

I know SmallHD talks about firmware upgrades to their monitors. If they added a feature like this, I'd buy on in a heartbeat.
Click to expand...

Yeah the technician I spoke to on the phone told me they are working on false color for the monitor as well as peaking. Also, an HDMI splitter thats powered by the USB on the monitor and battery plates that will work with the 5D and 7D batteries. He claimed that the endurance/energy per pound of the battery much greater with the canon batteries so they are the best deal. Plus I will only have to buy one type of battery for my rig.
 
I previously had a Manhattan LCD 8.9" Great monitor but TO BIG and the plastic shell is not what you want when traveling.

I would pay the extra for a Small HD 5.6", If they add Peaking and False Color... what would be nice and a serious blow to Marshall new monitor V-LCD50-HDMI is if they were to add Peaking but NOT like the Marshall's which reverts the screen to black and white. There are other monitors whom can produce Peaking while keeping "Most" Colors active.

So Small HD 5.6" wins with (COLOR) Peaking and False Color.
 
xmephestox said:
but on a DSLR? a rig where ur carrying around a monitor that much bigger than the camera itself makes it cumbersome IMHO. It's like hooking up a 17 inch panny monitor to a hpx 3000 in a single rig...
Click to expand...


Hardly. I have a lot of hardware on my rig and a 7" onboard monitor isn't anything like cumbersome. How often do you hear of the Red users opting for the 5.6" monitor? Not too often.

7" is the perfect size. If you're running and gunning, a director can just look over your shoulder to see what you're shooting without your head blocking the monitor. If you have someone pulling focus, it makes it easier with 7".

.
 
That's just it Chris. IMO the 5.6" makes for a perfect operator monitor, especially for cameras that give you about ~720 worth of detail, while a bigger one is a better idea for an AC pulling while looking at a camera-mounted LCD. If you have to follow the operator then a big image is great... of course you should be pulling based on distance and not the image, but i digress. 5.6" is a great size when you are close.

People go for the bigger RED LCDs because they are better despite the equal resolution spec.

Bottom line, the only way to know which monitor is better, any two monitors, is to see them side by side with the same image.
 
Chris Santucci said:
Hardly. I have a lot of hardware on my rig and a 7" onboard monitor isn't anything like cumbersome. How often do you hear of the Red users opting for the 5.6" monitor? Not too often.

7" is the perfect size. If you're running and gunning, a director can just look over your shoulder to see what you're shooting without your head blocking the monitor. If you have someone pulling focus, it makes it easier with 7".

.
Click to expand...

I've seen plenty of red cameras with a 5.6" screen but, who cares what people are using with reds. These are dslr's.

Really it comes down to what you are going to be using your camera for. A 5.6" is plenty big enough to be pulling focus and better for one man operation hand held type shooting. If you want to go compact go for the 5.6". I personally have the 8.9" and love it but, it works for my type of shooting. Also like Chris said with the bigger screen someone can look over your shoulder and see the image more clearly if need be.
 
Chris Santucci said:
Hardly. I have a lot of hardware on my rig and a 7" onboard monitor isn't anything like cumbersome. How often do you hear of the Red users opting for the 5.6" monitor? Not too often.

7" is the perfect size. If you're running and gunning, a director can just look over your shoulder to see what you're shooting without your head blocking the monitor. If you have someone pulling focus, it makes it easier with 7".

.
Click to expand...

Chris, for the most part i'm going to be pulling my own focus. However, I know right now that I will have an AC on some of my shoots. Don't you think this is nothing a Noga-arm couldn't solve? Or do you think a 5.6" is just way too small for an op with an AC. Also keep in mind im going to be buying their HDMI splitter so I can send a feed to a director monitor.
 
you'd be better off with a larger screen and less pixel density to more carefully get focus dialed in perfectly.
 
Jon Chema said:
Chris, for the most part i'm going to be pulling my own focus. However, I know right now that I will have an AC on some of my shoots. Don't you think this is nothing a Noga-arm couldn't solve? Or do you think a 5.6" is just way too small for an op with an AC. Also keep in mind im going to be buying their HDMI splitter so I can send a feed to a director monitor.
Click to expand...


I don't care how high resolution a 5.6" monitor is, it's the size of the monitor that I have a problem with and 5.6" is too small to be staring at for extended periods of time and it's too small to judge focus with. Don't believe me? Go ahead and try it. I shot a feature once with a 5.6" onboard monitor and almost ruined my eyes.

I've shot 3 or 4 commercial jobs with the 5D and a 7" onboard monitor in the past few months and I'm gonna have to go ahead and say that I think 7" is the perfect size. I've been using 7" onboard monitor with adapters for like 3 years and I'm sorry, I just believe, based on many, many hours of shooting that 7" is perfect onboard for all concerned (except those selling 5.6" monitors...)

.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top