SmallHD's ***NEW*** HD monitor

J. Odoms

J. Odoms

Well-known member
SO I JUST got this email from SmallHD about their new monitor line, and it looks EXTREMELY plausible as a definite opton to any DSLR owner, as well as future RED Scarlet owners as well.



We are getting packed up to head to NAB and thought we would drop you note about the new products we are introducing. This is our first time exhibiting at NAB— actually it’s our first time exhibiting anywhere. It should be fun, but we have no idea what to expect. If you or any of your friends plan to attend, please drop by booth C11124 tucked behind B&H. (Hey, at least we are not in the parking lot).

Over the past year, we have received tons of feedback from customers like you and have spent hours pouring through user forums to help guide the direction of our future products. As a result, we believe SmallHD will once again redefine state-of-the-art, small, on-camera field monitors with the introduction of the DP-SLR.

This monitor was designed from the ground up to meet the needs of the HDSLR videographer. The DP-SLR measures 4”x6”x1” and weighs in at only 10oz (284g). This small, lightweight package makes it very easy to shoot on the run without first taking a bodybuilding course.

Within the small 5.6” diagonal screen the DP-SLR packs a whopping 1280 x 800 resolution. At 270 pixels-per-inch (ppi), this translates into near laser printer quality. To put this into perspective, the new 27” (2560 x 1440) iMac runs about 109ppi. The DP-SLR has over 2.5 times the pixel density. It is hard to describe how this looks. Hopefully you will be able to see for yourself at NAB. We thought about providing pictures, but you literally don’t have a computer display that would do it justice. You’d be like my grandma watching Blu-ray on her 4x3 SD TV… just wondering what all the fuss is about. (As a side note, we did have one customer return a DP1 because it was “too sharp”— He will definitely hate the DP-SLR).

The baseline DP-SLR’s HDMI, Component and Composite interfaces can ingest a host of signals. So far it has been compatible with every camera tested. Hopefully we will get to test a lot more cameras at NAB.

3G HD/SDI comes on the upgraded model and maintains all the features, inputs and specs of the baseline DP-SLR (with the exception of a few grams of weight).

We maintained our commitment to strength and style with solid aluminum construction and four tapped ¼-20 mount points. However, we continue to explore every possible way to lighten the package. This process is ongoing as we continue to push the manufacturing envelope.

A monitor is not much use without portable power. The DP-SLR can accept voltages from 5v to18v, which opens the door to virtually any DC source. By only consuming 6 watts, the DP-SLR runs up to 4 hours on the standard SmallHD battery. Activated at the touch of a button, the on-screen battery-life indicator will give you confidence that your monitor won’t die in the middle of a shot.
The DP-SLR’s patent pending button interface will be familiar to anyone who has shot with a DSLR camera. The recessed scroll/click-wheel located on the top right part of the monitor gives you a natural, single finger control of all menu functions. Next to the click wheel is a programmable button that allows you to instantly access/toggle your favorite function, like “1:1 Scale” or “Battery Life”.

The natural placement of the chick-wheel control allows you to operate the DP-SLR with the patented snap-in sun hood attached at all times. Gone are the days when you had to back away from the screen to figure out which button to press or knob to adjust. Just lose yourself in the amazing image you are about to capture and navigate the menus with a single finger.

Here are a few of the software features included with the DP-SLR.
· Battery Life Indicator
· One-to-one
· Image Flip
· Freeze Frame
· Blue Gun
· Camera Presets
· and many more

We will be announcing a special NAB “show only” pre-order discount. The NAB discount will be available to you as well. It would be nuts to treat show attendees better than our existing clients. We really do appreciate your business.

We expect to begin shipping near the end of June. Orders will be filled on a first come first serve basis. The SmallHD store will be open for DP-SLR orders on April 12th.


… (OK, fine… here’s a photo. But believe me, you must see it in person to believe it.
http://www.smallhd.com/DPSLR_Hand.jpg ).


Jimmy, if you have any questions, just reply to this email or send your request to info@smallhd.com.

Hope to see you at NAB!


The SmallHD Support Team

PS: DP-SLR pricing will be announced at NAB (and SmallHD.com) on April 12th.
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Very cool, but for shooting on the 5D, I would still feel more comfortable with focus assist. I think I'll stick with Marshall.
 
Without focus assist it's pointless. The HD will only be valuable in review mode, not in rec. Therefore you will have the same crummy SD image to work from while recording, except that it will be even smaller. In fact this ground has already been covered by Ikan with their 5.6" monitor. The actual image size is not that much measurably larger finally than the LCD on the back of the camera. Until Canon get's it's act together this screen like many others is not very happening. As Marshall is producing a smaller screen too with Focus Assist, that would be the one I would go for.
 
NextWave or yoclay can one of you guys post a link to the focus assist iKans's your talking about.
 
This is extremely enticing. I was like, 99% of the way to buying the DP1 but I ended up selling my XH-A1 for a Canon 7D. Now, I'm glad I didn't bite the bullet because I might have to go with this one instead.
 
Here are a few of the software features included with the DP-SLR.
· Battery Life Indicator
· One-to-one
· Image Flip
· Freeze Frame
· Blue Gun
· Camera Presets
· and many more
Click to expand...

And Many More, Who knows... and lets hope... one of the new option might be a Focus Assist or a "Zoom".

I do agree for HDSLR's the image would be just a Tad bigger then on the 3" LCD making it quite a useless purchase.

Lets hope there are more Surprises for us at N.A.B. for this product.
 
yoclay said:
Without focus assist it's pointless. The HD will only be valuable in review mode, not in rec. Therefore you will have the same crummy SD image to work from while recording, except that it will be even smaller. In fact this ground has already been covered by Ikan with their 5.6" monitor. The actual image size is not that much measurably larger finally than the LCD on the back of the camera. Until Canon get's it's act together this screen like many others is not very happening. As Marshall is producing a smaller screen too with Focus Assist, that would be the one I would go for.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure what camera you are using, but my 7d definitely does not output "crummy SD" via hdmi while recording. It looks amazing with my HD monitor, and an even smaller one would let me have even more options for mounting locations. If you've ever shot with a high density HD monitor, it changes everything. I absolutely do not need focus assist. With an 800x480 monitor, yeah, its necessary. However, when the resolution is high enough, you can tell what is in focus by simply looking at the image. (crazy!)

I'm assuming you are talking about the 5d... but I thought the firmware update upgraded the hdmi resolution...
 
floop said:
I'm not sure what camera you are using, but my 7d definitely does not output "crummy SD" via hdmi while recording. It looks amazing with my HD monitor, and an even smaller one would let me have even more options for mounting locations. If you've ever shot with a high density HD monitor, it changes everything. I absolutely do not need focus assist. With an 800x480 monitor, yeah, its necessary. However, when the resolution is high enough, you can tell what is in focus by simply looking at the image. (crazy!)

I'm assuming you are talking about the 5d... but I thought the firmware update upgraded the hdmi resolution...
Click to expand...

The 5D2 is 480p when recording. HD when reviewing. I have worked with HD monitors at 5.6" and I can guarantee that if you have fast glass (f1.2 or f1.4 for instance) and are shooting below f2.8 you will have great difficulty seeing focus. The image size will will only be 1.5x larger than the LCD on the back of the camera and you will think it is in focus on your monitor, but when you see it on the big screen later you will realize it isn't. Thus you are obliged to use x5-x10 focus assist on the back of the camera which defeats the whole purpose of your monitor. I do not know if the 7D is the same as the 5D (480p) as I do not have one. Since the new 5" Marshall will have a decent pixel count and peaking it seems the more valuable tool going forward when Canon deals with this crappy output while recording.
 
480p? Yuck!

The 7d outputs a 1080p signal over the hdmi all the time, regardless the mode (some argue about the actual resolved resolution being closer to 1600x900 or something, but its still very much HD). So I can see your bleak outlook on pixel count if you are stuck at 480p while shooting.

To say the monitor is of little use for dslr is kinda misleading, as its really just the one model of dslr that sucks on output. My SmallHD DP1 on my 7d is fantastic. No question at all about focus.

I obviously haven't seen a dpslr yet, but my prediction is once you see a HD monitor of that size, the built in screen is going to look very blurry.

Its almost worth the price just to be able to articulate the screen. I find the non-adjustable screen on the 7d frustrating. Stick the dpslr on a noga arm and you got 720p pixel to pixel located wherever the heck you want it.

cant wait!
 
at that price, it looks like a killer. But knowing it isn't under 800 makes me happy i got my marshall.
 
The size and the resolution are nice, but the price kills it for me.
If I am going to pay over $800, I want a 7"

The lilliput is $200 for a 7 inch with decent resolution, so for me,
I need anything else to be either much better, or better and smaller before I spend more.

Better=
1) Lighter
2) Higher resolution
3) Peaking features
4) Brighter
5) Lower power usage
 
Having now seen it in person, I'm gonna say: you have to see it in person. You don't need focus assist because the resolution is so good, you just look at it and know.

They had it side-by-side with the RED monitor, and it was no contest. SmallHD blew it out of the water.
 
dougspice said:
Having now seen it in person, I'm gonna say: you have to see it in person. You don't need focus assist because the resolution is so good, you just look at it and know.
Click to expand...

But how close do you have to be for the resolution to be a factor?

What I mean is, if I'm shooting and my 1st AC is pulling focus, we can't be crammed up tight against the screen. This is where focus assist comes into play a lot more. From a few feet away.
 
I saw Marshall's upcoming two monitors at NAB, one that costs $1100 and the other at $600 (smallHD competitor), and I highly doubt that once those are actually released - this craze about Small HD's monitors will slowly dwindle.

That's ofcourse - not to say they're not great quality. I think they're great, but why skimp out on professional features? Who are people to say that they don't need focus assist? Because of it's resolution? Regardless of its' high resolution - some people are blind (like me) and no matter how clear the image is, focusing is still cumbersome. If I'm going to pay a grand for a monitor - I want professional features. If I'm not getting professional features at $900+, then I'd just get a Lilliput.

Just my opinion ofcourse.
 
Green Hornet said:
The size and the resolution are nice, but the price kills it for me.
Click to expand...

fair enough. We all have a budget.
If I am going to pay over $800, I want a 7"
Click to expand...

That, too, is valid. I happen to have a 8.6" and for dslr work, i'd prefer a 5.6".

The lilliput is $200 for a 7 inch with decent resolution, so for me,
I need anything else to be either much better, or better and smaller before I spend more.
Click to expand...

The $200 lilliput 7" has a resolution of 800x480, like many of the other supposedly "hd" monitors on the market. Thats the same 480 lines as SD ntsc. 384,000 pixels.

The smallhd has 983,040 pixels...

Thats 600,000 more pixels. Thats not a trivial difference. Its exactly like comparing SD to 720p HD. Its a totally different beast.

Thats not to say its the right screen for everybody. But for resolution? It is unmatched. If you have a chance to see one in person, check it out. It really is different.
 
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