Why are external SDI-3G monitors so expensive? Alternatives?

C

commercialguy

Member
I need an SDI-3G monitor for playback on a Blackmagic Cinema Camera. I didn't realize how expensive they really are until I was at FRYs electronic store and saw all these giant 40", 50" and 60" HDTVs by well known brands for nearly half the price of what Ikan/Marshall/SmallHD wanted for these small 7" on camera monitors! It's crazy how you can buy a giant 50-60" Led TV for the same price of these Ikan/Marshall type monitors.
http://www.frys.com/category/Outpost/Vi ... television
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Televisions ... 3400050017

The ikan D7w 7" monitor is $1,169.10 at B&H:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/8 ... DI_HD.html

The Marshall Electronics V-LCD70MD-3G 7" is $999 at B&H:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/8 ... nitor.html


There has got to be an alternative solution that is cheaper. For the price of the Ikan you can damn near get a brand new Macbook Pro. You would think that even an IPad would possibly work with a waveform app or whatever app you need added to it. Maybe it's time we get creative with monitors to save money.
 
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commercialguy said:
I need an SDI-3G monitor for playback on a Blackmagic Cinema Camera. I didn't realize how expensive they really are until I was at FRYs electronic store and saw all these giant 40", 50" and 60" HDTVs by well known brands for nearly half the price of what Ikan/Marshall/SmallHD wanted for these small 7" on camera monitors!
Click to expand...

Can you say economies of scale? There's a heck of a lot of difference in making a few thousand 7" production monitors a year compared to making millions of TVs a year, you know that, right? That, and the requirements for a monitor are considerably more difficult to meet than the requirements for a TV. Then, you've got the addition of waveform monitors and other tools needed on a production. I'm also impressed by the price of a decent on-camera monitor, but unlike you I'm impressed that the prices are so low!

If you can make an on-camera monitor equal to the Marshall V-LCD70MD-3D for less money, go for it. I'll be first in line. Until then, I'm saving up for a Marshall.
 
Many folks don't realize just how expensive all the accessories are for these "inexpensive" cameras when doing professional work. The way I look at it now, is I invest in high quality support gear which will last a very long time, and the camera has been moved into the expendables category.
 
Yeah, we've had quite a few sticker shock threads over the years.

It's not just economies of scale, of course, but also that the pro gear does much more, and does most things better, than consumer gear.

Even something as simple as a Marshall monitor running off a DVX/HVX battery makes a HUUUUGE difference in the field, and consumer gear just isn't made with that kind of thing in mind.
 
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