Studio/Field Monitors?

IBEJohnson

IBEJohnson

Well-known member
Hey everyone,

I did a search on this topic and couldn't find much, so here it goes...

I'm shooting a film next month on my DVX100B and the director/editor wants to purchase a monitor for dual purpose use. We intend to use it as both a field monitor and a studio monitor for CC. I'm sure there are some drawbacks to this approach, size being one of them, but since the budget is tight, this is the decision.

My question is, what monitor do I get? I know Sony is a leader in this dept, but price is their major drawback. JVC? Panasonic? I would like to keep it under $500 and buying used is definitely an option.

Thanks!

Eric
 
Mikko,

Thanks for the advice. Since I originally wrote my initial post, I think we've decided to go bigger. The 9" you suggested would kick @$$ in the field, but when it comes to color correcting, I suspect I'd be wishing for more. For field monitoring, we are just going to use a cheap TV (ouch!!!). I know this sounds ghetto, but its really only for framing the shot. Anybody see any overwhemling reasons why this won't work? Anything I may have failed to consider?

For post, I think we are going to go for something like one of these:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...455&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation
OR
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...972&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation
OR
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...341&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation

Does anyone have any experience with any of these monitors or any other suggestions of what to look for in a monitor?

Thanks all!

Eric
 
Nobody here color corrects their footage on an NTSC monitor or is looking to impart their knowledge on a fellow DVX user? Besides Mikko. I find this very hard to believe. Please help!

Eric
 
Just adding my 2 cents: I picked up a JVC TM910SU based on the suggestions of several people on this board.
I am very happy with it so far. At this stage in the game, I am content to edit on a 9" monitor, until I can afford a more robust setup. Plus, it's a nice little field monitor.
Check eBay.
 
IBEJohnson said:
Mikko,

Thanks for the advice. Since I originally wrote my initial post, I think we've decided to go bigger. The 9" you suggested would kick @$$ in the field, but when it comes to color correcting, I suspect I'd be wishing for more. For field monitoring, we are just going to use a cheap TV (ouch!!!). I know this sounds ghetto, but its really only for framing the shot. Anybody see any overwhemling reasons why this won't work? Anything I may have failed to consider?

For post, I think we are going to go for something like one of these:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...455&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation
OR
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...972&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation
OR
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...341&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation

Does anyone have any experience with any of these monitors or any other suggestions of what to look for in a monitor?

Thanks all!

Eric
Click to expand...


The Sony one seems to be the cheapest, but its the only one that speaks of using HD. Do either of the JVC's allow for HD image? Even if its scaled down in terms of resolution?

Whihc of these three would you concider the best bang for thebuck and why? What makes one a STRONGER monitor, over the others, besdies lines of resolution ( more in terms of color, brightness, accuracy )
 
If a monitor doesn't have Blue gun mode then they're all but useless as you won't be able to calibrate.

The sony you referenced is a "presentation" level monitor. ie. T.V. with the tuner.

Professional Broadcast monitor cost thousands of dollars even for small 13" units.

However, there are a class of field monitors you can buy which range from 9" to 14" that are price between 900 to 1,200 which have proper controls and calibration setup.

B&H stopped selling the Sony models late last year as Sony is switching everything over from CRT to LCD. You can probably get some in the used marketplace.
 
thats really great info craig, but im not sure that answeres my question.

which of those three would best be suited for it?
 
Top one.

Those set up features, like Blue Gun, are critical. If your monitor isn't accurate, then what's the point?

JVC makes very good quality picture tubes. - A lot of other brands use JVC tubes.
You pay quite a bit for the name with Sony. JVC is known to be cheap, but their "Broadcast" series of monitors is very good.

- Mikko
 
gco said:
anyone have any comments/experience with this?:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=1981&A=details&Q=&sku=319818&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation

it has underscan, blue gun and is aspect switchable but doesnt have the P22 phosphors. Is this an issue for color correcting?
Click to expand...
I 2nd that!!!

With all of the waffling back and forth I've done over these monitors, this is one of my finalists. I had forgotten about the P-22 phosphors though. I too would like to know their significance.

Anyone?
 
Besides finding out whether or not P22 phosphors are crucial, I'm curious to know if the blue gun is essential.
I ask because I've read of others using a certain blue gel for this purpose. So my question is: is using a blue gel an equivalent or a rough approximation of the setup results you get with a blue gun in the monitor?
 
With all due respect to those who have contributed, I'm wondering why this subject gets such little attention.

It is my assumption that the vast majority of those who contribute to this site have invested a great deal of time and money into their acquisition systems (DVX, HVX, XL2, etc.) and the accompanying elements, such as sound gear, support systems, zoom/focus systems, 35mm adapters, etc. Not to mention what a decent editing system costs. This being the case, why don't more people have an opinion/knowledge on the subject of monitors? Are that many people spending all this money and then completely ignoring the need to properly view their images?

Once again, those who have contributed with your words of advice, I exclude you, and am quite thankful for your input. It just seems odd to me that within a community where so many people have so many opinions on so many topics, its like pulling teeth to get any information in what I feel is an area that deserves a great deal of attention.

Rant complete.

E
 
IBEJohnson said:
With all due respect ......... why don't more people have an opinion/knowledge on the subject of monitors?
E
Click to expand...
They do.
Its just the day of the week, work schedules, activity/interests in other forums....
Sooner or later, somebody will come across this thread and fire off answers that are considered no brainers for the experienced.
Part of the reason you are feeling frustrated right now is the desire to get immediate feedback. Times when a thread is really active, its easy to get spoiled with immediate feedback popping up. Same reason a lot of new people are prone the "ask before search" syndrome. Not accusing you of avoiding the search button, just looks like people are busy and you and I will have to hold on to our cash a little bit longer.:beer:
 
IBE Johnson, I completely agree with you......I am still waiting on answers to my questions in other threads.
 
fenigirl said:
IBE Johnson, I completely agree with you......I am still waiting on answers to my questions in other threads.
Click to expand...

It appears as tho the boards have been dying slightly in terms of feedback and response. I have been a victim of this for the passed few months now.
 
Ok, after a few more hours of digging and comparison shopping, here is what I've got. The two quotes from Barry Green pretty much answer it for me.

Heres what I've got--
Regarding phosphor coatings:
Looks like SMPTE-C is what we want for absolute critical color correction. Problem is anything SMPTE-C is freakin expensive. The cheapest monitors say phosphor "not specified" and the midrange ones are P22 which is the standard TV set coating. I would guess thats better than the cheaper "not specified".

Regarding Blue Gun:
Obviously its desirable to have but you can fake as others have said using a blue gel. I would guess that faking it gets you by but isnt 100% equivalent. I've seen a specific gel mentioned for this at one time but cannot find the thread. Also, I've seen monitor specs that say "blue gun" and "blue check". Wouldnt assume they are the same. If anyone knows, please do tell.

Regarding Underscan, Aspect switchability, 600+ lines Resolution:
All are must haves.

READ THIS ONE:

icon1.gif
Re: Portable monitor recommendations
A good field monitor should be a CRT, offer adequate lines of resolution (500+), 16:9 mode, underscan/overscan, a blue-only switch, and SMPTE-C phosphors.

There are a few out there that meet some or most of those requirements, but they typically stumble on the phosphors, instead using consumer TV-set phosphors like P-22. Of course, that may be what you want -- SMPTE-C is the broadcast standard, but P22 is more like what a consumer TV set has (and will typically provide a brighter and more vivid, if not as accurate, picture).

The standard for quite a while was the Sony 1354Q.

Another question is battery-operation and size. The Sony 8045Q is an 8" monitor that can be powered off NP-1 batteries, but 8" is awfully small, and when you put it in 16:9 mode you're getting effectively a 5" monitor.

A 13" or 14" seems to offer the best combination of resolution and large-enough image size, although obviously not as portable as a 9".

The Panasonic BT-H1390Y looks like the most affordable professional monitor that hits all the right points. Around $1200 or so. Sony has a 14M4U which seems similar in specs and price.

AND THIS ONE:

icon1.gif
Re: which production monitor?.
[quote author=adam lubkin link=board=lighting;num=1074957989;start=0#0 date=01/24/04 at 07:26:29BTW, can anyone recommend a good primer on lines of res? *I'm confused on how the image is translated when there is a difference in # of lines between the cam/tape and monitor.
Thanks,
Adam[/quote]

More lines of res = better. The DVX records 540 lines of resolution, so you want a monitor that will deliver at least that much. A 280-line monitor will not be able to display the DVX picture sharply enough to guarantee accurate focusing, etc.

As for monitors, JVC is not the best-regarded brand (some people refer to them as the "Junk Video Company"). And the monitors you're discussing are P22 phosphors, whereas the broadcast standard is SMPTE-C phosphors. P22 is a consumer phosphor, brighter and more like a television, vs. the reliable industry-standard SMPTE-C.

However, price will be a big factor. A comparable SMPTE-C monitor is going to be at least double the cost.

Between the two you've mentioned, the 13" is probably the better monitor for most circumstances. The higher resolution and larger picture size may be more useful to you than the 9" main benefit, which is the ability to be battery-powered. Disappointing that the 13" doesn't offer a blue-only switch, but you can fake that with a sheet of blue gel.

The Panasonic BT-H1390Y is the real deal, but it's 3x the price of the JVC. You'd be better off with the JVC than with a standard consumer TV set, but it's not a "real" production monitor, per se. Also look at the Sony PVM-14L1, it's basically a glorified trinitron TV but directly competitive to the JVC 13".

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