IKAN MS21 21.5" Monitor vs JVC DT-E21L4U

[Justin McAleece]

Hey guys, I'm in the market for a new HD-SDI Production monitor and I narrowed it down to these two options. Has anyone used either one and do you have preference?

My second question is about impression on set. Traditionally it has always been Panasonic and Sony monitors out there but now with all these new options available is there any stigma about bringing out an "off brand" monitor like an Ikan?

 

[Dan Kanes]

Check out this bad boy

10 bit IPS panel
10bit/12bit processing
amazing year-end pricing

http://www.paralinx.net/store/viewz-24-fhd-reference-ips-10-bit-monitor

 

[Justin McAleece]

That does look like a pretty great deal Dan. I wonder if anyone is going to look down their nose at the brand name. (Just playing Devil's advocate)

 

[Dan Kanes]

No offense taken...

for or a long time people said some negative stuff about Ikan, but I happen to really enjoy using a lot of their products.

I would say this is extremely similar to the JVC but actually a bit more feature packed.

 

[Justin McAleece]

Has anyone used the one Dan is selling?

 

[Chris McKechnie]

Has anyone used the one Dan is selling?

I have, and I love it! Can't beat it for the price! It compares with those higher end brands. Just put black gaff tape over the name if you want. I'm on some bigger productions and no one has ever said anything.

 

[Justin McAleece]

Thanks Chris!

 

[Jay Kim]

Ikan MS21 is a rebranded BON BSM-213N3G monitor (8 bit panel) from South Korea (by the way, TVLogic is also from South Korea.)
http://www.bon.co.kr/eng/products/models.html?model=bsm213n3g
Bon is not an off brand in Korea and they have produced many good quality broadcasting monitors.
Somehow, I like FSI, TVLogic, and Bon monitors more than the monitors from the traditional brands like Sony, Panasonic, and JVC.

By the way, Dan's ViewZ 24" FHD IPS monitor looks better on the Spec (10 bit panel) and the year end sale pricing is amazing!

 

[Justin McAleece]

So Dan, does the ViewZ have the ability to take in an HD-SDI signal and loop that out as an HDMI signal? It says it has cross conversion and looping so I'm assuming that's what it means.

 

[Dan Kanes]

That is indeed Correct Justin.

Will try to make a video of this working on Friday for you.

Best,

Dan

 

[Justin McAleece]

So I bought both monitors from B&H last week and set them up today and the differences between the IKAN MS21 21.5" and the JVC DT-E21L4U 21.5" are shocking. The JVC has way less options, features and capabilities. Here are some differences:

JVC
It has a green tint on some colors, especially yellows.
The red is more saturated than every other color by a lot.
The colors go to shit when it gets too bright.
No anamorphic modes, no scopes, no under/overscan, fewer function buttons, can’t adjust chroma and phase on HDMI, only HD-SDI. No headphone out, no blue, green or red only mode. No B&W mode.
Plastic frame (I couldn't believe that one!)
Has analog buttons that are faster to use than the Ikan's but they have no corresponding digital values.

Ikan
Has all the aforementioned things that the JVC doesn't and then they add a few fun features such as Freeze Frame, more front buttons, dual HD-SDI loop throughs and an articulating stand with a much better design.

Overall the Ikan seems like a much better monitor. Honestly the only thing I like better about the JVC is that it has a strap handle on the top. I'm still going to think about the ViewZ, but for now I do know that I'm sending back the JVC.