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Which SmallHD DP7 Pro model to get?

Zack McTee

Zack McTee

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I placed my preorder on the new SmallHD DP7 monitor a couple months ago. They recently added some newer lower-cost options to their DP7 Pro line.

I'm still sold on the -SX models.

I'm looking for opinions on whether to go with the High-Bright or the OLED model.

I'd like to hear peoples thoughts here.

http://www.smallhd.com/products/dp7-pro/
 
Oled for me! Hight bright is nice, but a really nice image would be worth more to me. As you can also put a sunhood on the oled model. Hope smallhd makes such a nice sunhood als was included with the dp6.
 
The only worry for me on the OLED is that it's touch screen and there's no protection for the screen. With the High Bright there is a protective cover on the monitor.

I'm wondering how much difference there is in the image quality between the two. True blacks sound pretty amazing, but are the blacks on the high bright no-good?
 
If you pre-ordered before the lower cost rollout, you get a screen protector with the OLED. They haven't released any info on it, but I'd definitely go OLED-SX.

100% of the NTSC color gamut and you can add a sun-hood in daylight. I would only go high bright if you plan to do a lot of steadicam in daylight where a hood isn't practical.
 
I find hoods impractical as they still let in horizontal light and most of the time it turns the monitor into a mirror and I don't want to look at my own mug.
High Bright for me for sure.
I'm not using the monitor to colour grade on so colour accuracy is less important then actually seeing the image outside. You can also fade the screen down when inside so its not so bright, a luxury I welcome.
 
I think it's great that they are offering more options, but it's a difficult decision to make.

I'm leaning towards OLED at this point. I'm emailing with Dave at Small to get more info on the OLED. It's rated at a very low 250 nits, but they say that NITS are not a fare scale for OLED when it comes to luminance. I'm trying to get a better example of what to expect from the OLED in terms of brightness. A better comparison to one of the other monitors would be great.
 
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Zack McTee said:
I think it's great that they are offering more options, but it's a difficult decision to make.

I'm leaning towards OLED at this point. I'm emailing with Dave at Small to get more info on the OLED. It's rated at a very low 250 nits, but they say that NITS are not a fare scale for OLED when it comes to luminance. I'm trying to get a better example of what to expect from the OLED in terms of brightness. A better comparison to one of the other monitors would be great.
Click to expand...


For me, since I do a good chunk of steadicam work, I would only consider the HB version. That viewable monitor n bright daylight is so versatile. OLED was incredibly sharp at NAB though.
 
From Dave:

"We will have a sunhood, and we find that the OLED is brighter than the current DP6 we offer."


How is the brightness on the DP6?
 
Zack McTee said:
From Dave:

"We will have a sunhood, and we find that the OLED is brighter than the current DP6 we offer."


How is the brightness on the DP6?
Click to expand...

The problem with the DP6 is screen reflectivity. Also, You must use a sunhood outdoors as the screen isn't bright enough.

If you plan on always using a sunhood, the OLED will be fine. If you ever don't want to use a sunhood, get the HB version.
 
I'm going with the OLED..
 
My concern with OLED is the extended color gamut. I've used wide-gamut computer monitors on-and-off for years and hated every second of it. Colors get absurdly twisted and exaggerated unless you're using a color-managed program like Photoshop (but not Premier, because Adobe is stupid). Worse, OLED color gamut doesn't even extend linearly (there's a much greater increase in green than red or blue).
 
Wait, someone mentioned the oled is touchscreen, I'm not seeing that in the specs.
And someone else asked about the brightness of the dp6 for comparison, the dp6 is really bright compared to a production standard like the 9" Panasonic, not bright enough to see in full daylight with no shade, but I consider that a specialty application for Steadicam etc. If the normal oled model is brighter than the dp6, then it's PLENTY bright for normal use, I turn my dp6 brightness way down actually...
 
Jake Wilganowski said:
Wait, someone mentioned the oled is touchscreen, I'm not seeing that in the specs.
Click to expand...

http://www.smallhd.com/products/dp7-pro/compare/#overview

Listed under 'interface'

Lee Saxon said:
My concern with OLED is the extended color gamut. I've used wide-gamut computer monitors on-and-off for years and hated every second of it. Colors get absurdly twisted and exaggerated unless you're using a color-managed program like Photoshop (but not Premier, because Adobe is stupid). Worse, OLED color gamut doesn't even extend linearly (there's a much greater increase in green than red or blue).
Click to expand...

That's interesting Lee. I thought it was the opposite in that you get greater color representation. I have never graded with OLED- out of curiousity, what are the best practices for material to be output for the web?
 
Doug Beatty said:
That's interesting Lee. I thought it was the opposite in that you get greater color representation. I have never graded with OLED- out of curiousity, what are the best practices for material to be output for the web?
Click to expand...

I shouldn't have said OLED "exaggerates" colors. "Extend" might be a better word.

sRGB / Rec709 is roughly equivalent to 72% of NTSC. Most televisions and standard-gamut monitors target that. Cell phones, consumer cameras, etc can have cheapo LCD panels that hit 50-60% NTSC. OLED is usually around 100% NTSC.

Those less-than-72% panels can give very inaccurate color, but not OLEDs. The additional colors (especially in the greens) that you see with an OLED are real/correct. You ARE getting a greater / truer color representation.

The problem is that most of your audience only sees 72% (or less) of what your OLED does, so your grade can't hinge on that extra 28%.

If you're working in Photoshop, or viewing in a color-managed browser (ie Firefox), you're safe. Those programs know how to compensate for higher-color-gamut monitors and display colors as they'll appear on a standard sRGB / Rec709 monitor (or CMYK printer, or whatever you want) However, if you're working in Premiere or viewing images in Safari, you're seeing something far more vibrant than most of your audience will.

My hope is that SmallHD has included some kind of color management software that can limit the monitor to the proper 72%, but I don't know if that's possible.

The web is not really color profiled yet. Some browsers do fairly decent color management, many don't. It's safe to save stills with embeded profiles (non-color-managed browsers and viewers will just ignore it), but as far as I know there's no color management in YouTube or Vimeo uploads.
 
Lee, I would only partly agree with your assertions.

if most of your audience is viewing on a computer screen with a 72% NTSC gamut then they will only see 72% of what can be shown in an NTSC signal.

there are broadcast standards and computer standards.

if you calibrate your monitor (that has an extended gamut) like a Sony PVM or BVM series monitor, or an Eizo or NEC (like mine) or for instance the DP7 OLED - then you are good to go.

I'm quite certain that SmallHD will include calibration capability, and you guys will be fine. Better to have extended range and not use it, than to be stuck trying to guess color off of a piece of shit TV Logic 5.6" panel.

that thing has good connectivity, but god what an atrocious picture. It basically makes my eyes bleed every time I look at one next to even an old red 5.6" monitor.
 
Dan Kanes said:
Better to have extended range and not use it, than to be stuck trying to guess color off of a piece of shit TV Logic 5.6" panel.
Click to expand...

Assuming it has some kind of calibration (actual calibration, not just R/G/B/contrast/brightness sliders), I definitely agree with you that flexibility is definitely better.

I'm taking a believe-it-when-I-see-it approach to my faith in the DP7, though, since the DP6 had an uninspiring 6-bit panel that I believe was the same as the TVLogic you mention.

Dan Kanes said:
if you calibrate your monitor (that has an extended gamut)...then you are good to go.
Click to expand...

This isn't totally true, though. As I mentioned, not all programs recognize/respect the calibration. Internet-based flash or Silverlight video players (YouTube, Netflix, Hulu), Premiere and 3D Studio Max, and I believe viewers like Quicktime and VLC, are amongst the ones that completely ignore it.
 
Lee Saxon said:
I shouldn't have said OLED "exaggerates" colors. "Extend" might be a better word.

sRGB / Rec709 is roughly equivalent to 72% of NTSC. Most televisions and standard-gamut monitors target that. Cell phones, consumer cameras, etc can have cheapo LCD panels that hit 50-60% NTSC. OLED is usually around 100% NTSC.

Those less-than-72% panels can give very inaccurate color, but not OLEDs. The additional colors (especially in the greens) that you see with an OLED are real/correct. You ARE getting a greater / truer color representation.

The problem is that most of your audience only sees 72% (or less) of what your OLED does, so your grade can't hinge on that extra 28%.

If you're working in Photoshop, or viewing in a color-managed browser (ie Firefox), you're safe. Those programs know how to compensate for higher-color-gamut monitors and display colors as they'll appear on a standard sRGB / Rec709 monitor (or CMYK printer, or whatever you want) However, if you're working in Premiere or viewing images in Safari, you're seeing something far more vibrant than most of your audience will.

My hope is that SmallHD has included some kind of color management software that can limit the monitor to the proper 72%, but I don't know if that's possible.

The web is not really color profiled yet. Some browsers do fairly decent color management, many don't. It's safe to save stills with embeded profiles (non-color-managed browsers and viewers will just ignore it), but as far as I know there's no color management in YouTube or Vimeo uploads.
Click to expand...

But a godo bet is Web=SRGB, and SRGB is VERY close to = Rec 709
 
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