Field Monitor // Grading Monitor Recommendations

[Isaac Marchionna]

I did a search and didn't really find a solid answer but my Panasonic 17" field monitor has been my workhorse for the past few years, and after years of clients and directors touching the screen (despite the many warnings not to) it's finally given up the ghost.

I'm now considering a grading monitor for use with my home setup for post/editing, most likely living on an avenger C-stand next to my desk, connected via SDI to a Black Magic MiniMonitor (thunderbolt to the new mac pro).

So what I'm mainly asking here is recommendations for a monitor that would work as a video monitor at home, but could live on my cart for DIT purposes, or a director's monitor on productions where that's not another rented item via production.

Am I circling the obvious answer here of a Flander's 25" display, or are there other options out there?

 

[Nick Pasquariello]

I bought a 17" Flanders for that exact set of reasons. Carrying case, C-Stand adapter, has a VMount adapter bolted on. I use it on set, and I use it in my office for grading.

 

[Isaac Marchionna]

I'm hoping another one of the CM240s shows up in their b-stock sales page. But it sounds like that's the way to go, nick.

 

[Nick Morrison]

The Flanders 17" is a superb option for Field and Office as its 10BIT, so ideal for grading. But also small enough and light weight enough to use in field. Additionally, can monitor two feeds at once on set, which is great.

 

[Isaac Marchionna]

So you'd opt for the 17" over the larger 24"?

One thing I'm concerned about is that the FSI's are supposed to suffer from some latency issue, which may make it unusable for pulling focus from...

 

[Nick Morrison]

So you'd opt for the 17" over the larger 24"?

One thing I'm concerned about is that the FSI's are supposed to suffer from some latency issue, which may make it unusable for pulling focus from...

It's a compromise. For under 3K you either get 17" 10bit, or 24" 8bit. Size, or bit depth!

 

[Sergei Franklin]

One thing I'm concerned about is that the FSI's are supposed to suffer from some latency issue, which may make it unusable for pulling focus from...[/QUOTE]

There is a setting for fast mode

 

[Jason Osterday]

Just wanted to jump in and say the 17" and 24" are both excellent. The 10Bit 24" is a great size for me on a cart and considerably lighter and more power efficient than my TVLogics. However, the 17" is a favorite for smaller field work because it's just so compact. We have a client that pulls it off his desk and brings it for field work when we do his smaller talking heads. I don't know if they sell the field kit in 24", which makes the 22" and 17" incredibly simple for jumping in and out of the studio.

On a side note regarding focus - all of my FSI's seem to have that delay regardless of "fast processing" turned on or not. It is better with "fast" but there is an audio delay, making for an awkward situation with clients and anyone in the village. For pulling focus, it really depends on the shot and the work. I don't have a problem with traditional narrative work on a feature (typically) and especially not commercial stuff where the precision is not so necessary - lifestyle pieces and simple shot design in MOS. But there are certainly shots where I feel the delay and have to compensate. For example, when we shoot product with very fine detail shots/macro work, I typically have to move to a TVLogic to keep up with the precise framing/composition. Same goes for anything high speed - accuracy is key.

I love FSI and so much about their product line. They visit us, they turn around product updates/repairs/tune-ups in one afternoon and they "know" us and what we're up to. TVLogic barely returns our phone calls and took nearly a month to get us 4:4:4 unlock codes that we had already purchased years ago (monitors weren't upgraded at the vendor). It hasn't been a reciprocal relationship considering we own over a dozen of their monitors.

I would assume that is why you never see FSI monitors on Ebay or in FS forums.
Edit: one last caveat for FSI - their scopes all have that same delay. The options are great and the amount of info you can display is an excellent add-on and constantly improving. But I've had DP's that simply wouldn't work with the waveforms due to them not being realtime. Personally, I think they're ok but I don't always have the luxury of choosing the monitor. The general "delay" is my most requested upgrade feature I've put in to FSI, and I try to remind them every time we talk

 

[Jacques Mersereau]

DaVinci was using a CM250 for their demo of the $30K Resolve system at NAB 2014.
It looked great and a nice endorsement for FSI.
For the dough, it is a great monitor. The Dolby might be better, but @ $40K?!

 

[Isaac Marchionna]

I wish FSI direct wasn't the only way to get them, ie I can't seem to find any better prices since FSI is the only source.