Who uses REAL monitors, who uses TVs, and who uses neither?

1. Personal shoots with my DVX100: I never use a monitor (but I always shoot using the flip-out LCD and only use the viewfinder on handheld shots).
2. Stand-ups, non-celebrity interviews, run-and-gun, and whenever else I can get away with it, I never use a monitor.
3. Sit-down interviews with a celebrity--9" Sony CRT w/Anton-Bauer Snap-On mount for lighting and composition (I switch back and forth between underscan and normal scan for optimum headroom estimation). Often, the star's make-up artist demands a monitor on set.

I always shoot with 70% zebras and light up my talent's face with 30%-50% zebra, or until I'm just about to lose detail in their highlights. I can judge contrast ratios pretty well by eye using only the monochrome viewfinder and a 70% zebra indicator.
 
Jarred Land said:
your getting there.. your colors look good but your brightness is too low. The 3 purge bars on bottom right should be black black grey instead of black black black. once you set that you will see some blue down there, on both the left and right.
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Man I hate being OCD... Okay I read up on Pluge bars and they're 3.5%, 7.5%, and 11.5%... so they are almost black, but just barely visible off the black background. In an ideal setup you will not notice a difference between the 3.5% and 7.5% black (that's what I read anyway)... but you should see a seperation between the 7.5% and 11.5%.

I think it's possible that my little consumer lcd isn't bright enough, but it does still show the zebra... so for now, it'll have to do. Speaking of zebra, thanks for the tip on zebra setup NBC! Yesterday I couldn't decide how to best judge that on these execs we were shooting. I wish I'd have posted this two days ago.

Anyway... here's a blue gun .gif from an "ideal setup" next to my cheap-o-matic lcd.

ntscblue.gif
Pluge Bars.jpg


Somebody asked me about what was going on behind the monitor so this is the explanation of it.

Monitor on Tripod Front.jpg


Monitor on Tripod Rear.jpg
 
Nice monitor arm! - Good work with the cutting board.

As for monitor setup, here's another great link for a quick set-up guide: http://www.cybercollege.com/montsetup.htm

(That's taken from http://www.cybercollege.com/tvp_ind.htm which is a great resource for all the basics of video)

For those without a "Blue only" switch on their monitor/TV the 'correct' Rosco gel is #385 - Supergel "Royal Blue" Just grab your handy Rosco swatchbook (don't have one? call up your local lighting supply store and ask for one)

- Mikko
 
Wow! I love your monitor set-up! Great job! Maybe I WOULD use a monitor more often with THAT set-up, Matt! Uhhh . . . where'd you buy that cutting board?
 
MattinSTL said:
Speaking of zebra, thanks for the tip on zebra setup NBC! Yesterday I couldn't decide how to best judge that on these execs we were shooting.
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Well, thanks for the cutting board tip! Most of the shooters I know, in my opinion, underexpose their talent by as much as one full stop. Dramatic stuff is one thing, but when shooting for national, news-magazine type shows, I always expose my talent until JUST BEFORE they start burning up and losing detail in their highlights on their face. This also helps blow-out any blemishes and wrinkles. Can't always gauge this point accurately by my monochrome ENG EVF alone, so when I DO drag a monitor along to a shoot, I can go as much as about 80% of caucasion face*** filled with 70% IRE zebra patterns before they start to blow out. When shooting without a monitor, I play it more conservative and do anywhere from about 20% to 30% of a caucasian face filled with zebra pattern.

***[Note: this percentage amount is, of course, limited by your camera's dynamic range--this figure is based on a broadcast 2/3" camera (BVW400/600) with DCC "on"]
 
Matt:

Wish I could motivate you enough to wanna make/sell me one of those pre-cut, VESA-standard cutting boards! I like the color, too!
 
You can have that one for FREE. How does $3.85 for USPS Priority Mail sound? PM me and I'll give you my Paypal address.

I cut this from a board that I got at Target. It's not perfect, but I think it looks pretty good (the pics may be slightly flattering so don't get too excited).

Thanks for the compliments on the monitor setup. Our lighting guy yesterday brought the Sony 9"... He was liked this guerilla approach. With that magic arm the monitor can be anywhere in any direction... high, low, skewed... you name it.

Don't be shy if you want that cutting board. I'm serious... you can have it. I made two of them.

EDIT: Hey I'll tell you what... if you want to include another $7 to pay for the stud receiver (which was around $15... so half price)... I'll include that also. Why? Because the Manfrotto one is a couple ounces lighter... and I got a sh*tload of them laying around the house for my flo lights. This board is already routed for this particular stud mount... so see... you gotta' take it. Don't think $10 means anything to me... that's just to pay shipping.

DOUBLE EDIT: I forgot to mention that this whole monitor setup fits PERFECTLY in a Sony PS2 bag. Everyone thinks the bag was made for the monitor... and it's fully protected. Just use a razor to cut off the Sony PS2 logo.
 
Here's an explanation of how to turn a cheap-o PS2 bag into a nice protective case if anybody decides to go this route. Okay there's really not much to it... first you buy a PS2 bag and then you... uh... then you're done. :happy:

Monitor PS2 Bag Explanation.jpg


Monitor PS2 Bag Closed.jpg


Monitor PS2 Logo Removal.jpg


Okay I just decided to remove the logo TODAY... since I figured it would be easy... and it was.
 
TheYankee said:
I would like to add that this is one of the first inteligent discussions I have ever read regarding the pro's, con's, uses, and benefits of a variety of monitor sources, so I found this to be one of the best practical discussions in a long time. Great thread!
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Well, glad something good came out of all my banter!

A monitor (imho) is only as good as its ability to convey meaningful information. If I know that my monitor shifts the hue or contrast towards whatever, then I won't flip out over a clipped tone (white, black, specific color, etc.) See? Even an inaccurate monitor can provide meaningful information.

I don't currently own or use any type of location monitor. Matt's setup looks pretty slick to me!
 
Love your setup. I have something very similar with ED TV that I use with 12v car battery for stuff like exteriors and remote areas. or inside moving vehicle shots.

I also use the little flip screen a lit.

and of course, I use a 17" JVC production monitor when things are important.

so to answer your question: I use all three, depends on the circumstances which I choose.
 
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