TV Logic VFM-056 5.6" HD LCD Monitor Group Buy

Any possibility of a slightly increased discount from filmtools now that Abel sells this monitor for $1350 as a non-discounted price?
 
Taylor...
LOL... I fell for that too. I was pissed off for half a day until I called FilmTools and asked for a new one. Jennifer told me there's a sheet of protective film on the acrylic filter. It's impossible to see but trust me it's there. Peel it off starting at one of the corners. John K

Huzzah! That IS hard to see. Even after learning it was there, it was very difficult to start peeling.

Guess I owe them another phone call.
:cheesy:
 
Just got mine. So far so good (but only used it for about an hour so far).

2 things to note/ask about:

1) Focus Assist -- I had to crank up the sensitivity to about 90 to get it to work off my Nikon D3s. Not a big deal, but at first I thought it wasn't working. Anyway, nice that you can adjust this.

2) The mounting screw on the bottom of the monitor is so close to the HDMI input that I couldn't mount the device on my ballmount because the HDMI cable is in the way. Anyone know of a low-profile HDMI cable (i.e., one that has the thinnest plastic around the metal connector)?
 
It occurs to me that anyone wanting to use the upcoming Atomos Samurai HD-SDI ProRes deck, the TV Logic WFM-056WP could be an important part of signal distribution, and it's the only monitor I know that will be able to do this:

AF100 HD-SDI out to the Samurai

AF100 HDMI out to TV Logic

TV Logic HDMI to HD-SDI converted output to client HD SDI monitor

This is how I would foresee my clients using this setup. Obviously, one could use the Ninja fed via HDMI from an AF100 and HD-SDI from the AF100 to the TV Logic, looped to client monitor--but I just don't trust HDMI for recording.
 
but I just don't trust HDMI for recording.
If you mean that HDMI isn't as mechanically stable as SDI, you're right, of course: that's partly why we're bringing out the Samurai. But with good cable management/anchoring, we've had reliable HDMI results. You have to fix the cable firmly near the HDMI connector and make sure there are no undue sideways or top to bottom stresses on the cable. Don't forget that there are many cameras that ONLY have an HDMI connector. (We're getting great results with some of the older HDV camcorders that may be past their best mechanically, but which still have good glass on the front and a working sensor. I expect the second-hand value of these cameras to go up with the availability of the Ninja!)

Dave Shapton
President
Atomos Europe, Middle East and Africa
 
It occurs to me that anyone wanting to use the upcoming Atomos Samurai HD-SDI ProRes deck, the TV Logic WFM-056WP could be an important part of signal distribution, and it's the only monitor I know that will be able to do this:

AF100 HD-SDI out to the Samurai

AF100 HDMI out to TV Logic

TV Logic HDMI to HD-SDI converted output to client HD SDI monitor

This is how I would foresee my clients using this setup. Obviously, one could use the Ninja fed via HDMI from an AF100 and HD-SDI from the AF100 to the TV Logic, looped to client monitor--but I just don't trust HDMI for recording.


Correct me if I'm wrong, but the tv logic only converts when the input signal is 720p, not 1080?

edit: well, the product info says "will convert hdmi to sdi loopthrough, 720p only). So I'm not sure if that means it will only do it when the input signal is 720p, or if it will take a 720/1080p signal in and output it through sdi as 720p only. This would be a good thing to test for anyone that owns one
 
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I'll have to dig out my Sony A1u with the fried FW port : )

If you mean that HDMI isn't as mechanically stable as SDI, you're right, of course: that's partly why we're bringing out the Samurai. But with good cable management/anchoring, we've had reliable HDMI results. You have to fix the cable firmly near the HDMI connector and make sure there are no undue sideways or top to bottom stresses on the cable. Don't forget that there are many cameras that ONLY have an HDMI connector. (We're getting great results with some of the older HDV camcorders that may be past their best mechanically, but which still have good glass on the front and a working sensor. I expect the second-hand value of these cameras to go up with the availability of the Ninja!)

Dave Shapton
President
Atomos Europe, Middle East and Africa
 
David, yes, HDMI reminds me of using FireWire with FireStore FS100's--not good memories. Plus, HD-SDI has embedded time code, so I assume Samurai would record that and trigger from the TC?

Fohdeesha, TV Logic WFM-056WP will scale a 1080 input down to 720 with the converted output--no need to have camera set to 720P.
 
Ηi to everybody.

Has anyone tested VFM-056WP against a smallHD dp6 for color ? I saw a DP6 recently and it seemed yelloish to me. I wonder if VFM-056WP is more close to Canon 5d II' s screen and to reality ?
 
Ηi to everybody.

Has anyone tested VFM-056WP against a smallHD dp6 for color ? I saw a DP6 recently and it seemed yelloish to me. I wonder if VFM-056WP is more close to Canon 5d II' s screen and to reality ?

Was it calibrated properly?
 
Yes I am pretty sure it was. Not yellow but close enough as color temperature was a lot higher than 8000k (outdoor shooting).

Against Canon 5d II' s screen was totally different. Are two monitors wearing the very same panel ?
 
As a note, smallHD is just about to release new firmware for this. They've sent me the beta firmware but I have not tried it yet. Not sure the ETA on when it goes live for everyone, I'd image some time this month.
 
Ηi to everybody.

Has anyone tested VFM-056WP against a smallHD dp6 for color ? I saw a DP6 recently and it seemed yelloish to me. I wonder if VFM-056WP is more close to Canon 5d II' s screen and to reality ?

It would be great if someone could post an image of the two together with a colorchecker chart.. The one with the best colors will get my $$.. Other than that it's down to scopes/waveforms + tedious firmware upgrade routines vs. very nice range of accessories + good firmware upgrade routines. (Sending in gear for firmware upgrades is a bit like the mobile phone world before iphones imho...)
 
Other than that it's down to scopes/waveforms + tedious firmware upgrade routines vs. very nice range of accessories + good firmware upgrade routines.

Yes, it would be great to see these monitors side by side. I hope to get a chance this weekend or early next week to compare color. Regarding differentiators for the TV Logic, it's a bit more than just scopes:

Compare the menu structure/UI(subjective)
Multiple aspect ratio markers, grid in multiple colors with ability to mask outside of the frame at different opacity levels
Zoom up to 90% in 10% increments
Adjustable focus in red threshold
embedded TC display
embedded audio bar display
user definable aspect ratio
HDMI to HD-SDI converted output(very useful if a camera only has HDMI and you want an HD-SDI client monitor feed)
Compare false color exposure options(subjective)

There are other features offered in the TV Logic that I'm not sure whether the smallHD DP6 has, so I haven't listed them.
 
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