Recommendations for on set Monitor

[Raul Gonzo]

Hey Lonny- I was just about to pull the trigger on the Panny 17", but now you got me second guessing it.
Are there ways to mount the monitor on a stand?
Also, what sort of batteries does it take?

I guess I could give them a call, but just thought I'd ask here first.

Nevermind- I see it. Wow- I'm really intrigued by these...

 

[Lonny Danler]

I went ahead with their VESA mount cause it's light and retracts into the Petrol case, though a bit pricey, just a nice system. Lot's of battery options with the 4-pin--D-tap and V mount. If you do any other research on creative cow, etc..., I haven't read a bad review.

 

[Chris Ratledge]

Hey Lonny- I was just about to pull the trigger on the Panny 17", but now you got me second guessing it.
Are there ways to mount the monitor on a stand?
Also, what sort of batteries does it take?

I guess I could give them a call, but just thought I'd ask here first.

Nevermind- I see it. Wow- I'm really intrigued by these...

The mount they sell is from VF Gadgets.

The Petrol bag is a steal from them, and they throw in the clear screen protector that they normally charge $95 bucks for with purchase, and it's not just a hunk of plexi you can get anywhere else. It's an extruded piece made for optical purposes. Just remember the lightweight 1770 is 12v, as is the 7" OB, but all the other FSI monitors are 24v.

Plus one of the coolest things you can now do with an update is control your monitors wirelessly over WiFi with an iPhone app. Haven't tried this myself but sounds cool and handy when the monitor's WAAAAAY over there...

 

[Brian Broz]

I have nothing but great things to say about the Panasonic BTLH2550 monitor I've been using for the last 15 months, and I've had nothing but positive comments from DPs and ACs despite the camera's output being 720P.
Connected to the Rocket on set is phenomenal. 10Bit IPS panel, dual HDSDI in, WFM/Vector, DVI (so I can use it as a computer monitor in Rec709 space when outputting files for broadcast w/Rocket).
They have come down in price since I purchased my first. I actually just purchased a second one at better pricing than most 1710/1760s out there. Anyone that is interested in one can PM me with any questions.

BB

 

[illia]

I've used a lot of cinetal... which is a very expensive full resolution 8 bit monitor (now I think they have a 10 bit option) The feature you're interested on is the ability to apply 1D LUT or 3D LUTs, standard ones or customized ones with IRIDAS software... I recommend 3D ones as they are much more precise...The cinetal also includes pixel analysing, digital scopes (depending on the version, for 444 or for 422 inputs) and many routing options.
There's also the possibility to use an apple cinema display with a HDSDI / DVI converter device that come with LUT creation softwares (controled by a laptop), there's the EDP100 by Ecinema Systems, or the black magic HD Link (with the same features), barely tested the last one... but found IRIDAS much more reliable..

 

[Chris Ratledge]

FYI, FSI is constantly releasing firmware updates for their monitors. Those that have registered theirs get emails like I just did, with added features like variable gain on the scopes! Nice update for FREE!

They occasionally have deals for their monitors too. I got my 7" for a little cheaper cause it was an NAB demo for 4 days. Just keep your eyes peeled.

 

[Rob Ruffo]

We do a lot of jib/dolley work, and we us a Small HD (the older/bigger model) on the jib, and just a $800 computer monitor (take your pic, Samsung, Dell..) 24 inch for pulling focus and operating the Kessler motorized jib head.

The small HD is a great 2nd monitor - easily clips onto center post of the jib, but is large enough and has wide enough viewing angles to be useful. It has very good color, and nice blacks.

I don't understand people fussing with on-set LUTSs - DO THAT IN POST - just get the exposure and focus right, and it's in my opinion a bit insane to worry about anything else while your set is running at 1000s per hour. That's the whole cool thing with raw. This is why super-precise color for an on-set monitor, shooting Red, is 100% irrelevant.

 

[Lonny Danler]

I've used the Small HD monitor as well with a 7D. Not bad for the price.

Have to disagree about on-set LUTs though. I agree that is the beauty of the RAW image in many ways, but on set LUTs make for a 'prettier' picture which makes DP and client happy for offline. Also, without setting a look on set, there's no way to compensate for the IRE shift between 720 monitor out and camera meta data that makes for a flatter image in Redcine-x. If no one sets that look, Red doesn't look as good until final color grade, which is more like film, but IMHO isn't take advantage of the RAW workflow. More productions finish on the transcodes than you'd like to think as well, never going back to RAW.

All depends on the needs of the production though. There are other benefits of having on set full debayering and rendering out transcodes to diagnose problems as well.

 

[Richard Foster]

We do a lot of jib/dolley work, and we us a Small HD (the older/bigger model) on the jib, and just a $800 computer monitor (take your pic, Samsung, Dell..) 24 inch for pulling focus and operating the Kessler motorized jib head.

The small HD is a great 2nd monitor - easily clips onto center post of the jib, but is large enough and has wide enough viewing angles to be useful. It has very good color, and nice blacks.

I don't understand people fussing with on-set LUTSs - DO THAT IN POST - just get the exposure and focus right, and it's in my opinion a bit insane to worry about anything else while your set is running at 1000s per hour. That's the whole cool thing with raw. This is why super-precise color for an on-set monitor, shooting Red, is 100% irrelevant.

Thanks for your input everyone. I like the look of the Small HD also. But I also want a larger (24) for focus, etc. at a good price.

I'm thinking Samsung P 2450H like here:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824001378

Rob or whoever can help - this would work, right? I am really only looking for Focus and framing, and the ability to display Red menus if I want.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Rob Ruffo]

Thanks for your input everyone. I like the look of the Small HD also. But I also want a larger (24) for focus, etc. at a good price.

I'm thinking Samsung P 2450H like here:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824001378

Rob or whoever can help - this would work, right? I am really only looking for Focus and framing, and the ability to display Red menus if I want.

Thanks in advance.

i think so, yes. you want to check that the monitor can take a 720p image and scale it full-frame.

 

[Richard Foster]

Thanks Rob. I'm not sure how to check that though without having the monitor in my hands. I'll go to Samsung's site and see if I can find out. I'll post if I do.

 

[Richard Foster]

This is what Samsung's site said. I think that this is what you mean:

Why should seeing the whole picture be a stretch of the original? With Samsung’s intelligent adjustable image size function, you’ll be able to enjoy images exactly as they were intended, by portraying standard sized content in its original format, on a wider screen.

 

[Max M.]

So 2 years later diggin up this thread. If you had to choose between these 2, which one would it be? (besides pricepoint):

Panasonic BT-LH2170 - http://www.panasonic.com/business/provideo/BT-LH2170.asp or
FSI LM-2140W - http://www.shopfsi.com/LM-2140W-Field-Package-p/lm-2140w.fieldpkg.htm

specwise they look quite the same, both 1920x1080, about same brightness and contrast. FSI seems a lot lighter and comes as a complete field package already, which is great. But pure image quality wise, has someone seen one or both of these models?