HD Monitoring Again!

[Graeme Nattress]

Ecinemasys have LCD monitors capable of being used for high end grading, and they don’t cost that much.

Graeme

– http://www.nattress.com – Film Effects and Standards Conversion for FCP

[Toke]

[Graeme Nattress] “…they don’t cost that much”

They do add one zero to price, but still use the same display panels as everyone else.
“Real fps” is a nice feature, but does it really count?
Any hands-on experience?

[Graeme Nattress]

Saw them running at NAB, and they looked really nice. But then again, so does my Cinema Display + HDLink. The only let down with the HDlink is I still can’t get the interlace mode working properly, but other than that, it’s superb.

Graeme

– http://www.nattress.com – Film Effects and Standards Conversion for FCP

[Chris Borjis]

It would if size made a difference in color grading…..

[Graeme Nattress]

But size does alter our perception of the effect of colour. Grading a movie on a 12″ display will give you a result that will not have the same effect emotionally etc. as it would on the cinema screen.

Graeme

– http://www.nattress.com – Film Effects and Standards Conversion for FCP

[Bob Zelin]

what an interesting thread. Many choices are made due to seeing these displays at manufacturers booths at trade shows, or recommendations directly from the manufacturers. I am sure that countless displays work, but everyone discusses the same products, because that’s all they ever hear about.

The original was the Apple Cinema display 23″, becuase Blackmagic came out with the HD Link.

AJA soon followed with the HDP (HD-SDI to DVI converter), and not only recommended the Apple Cinema display, but the Sony SDM-P234b, which could display at 24p (48 Hz) image, and would not scale it like the Cinema display. I used this monitor extensively, but it’s the same crap as the Cinema display.

AVID (becuase of the AVID DS and their deal with HP) pushed the HP 2335. The HP had Y Pb Pr inputs on the side of the monitor as well, so you didn’t need the HD Link or AJA HDP. AVID HD users were pushed towards the HP 2335.

Then DELL came out with the 2405FPW, which was reviewed on Barefeats. It was the same crap, but it was CHEAP. Cheap is important to professional users, so there was a flurry of Dell purchases. Big guns like AJA and Blackmagic “approved” this monitor, so it was accepted.

At NAB2005, almost every booth showing HD except for Sony used the Panasonic
TH50PHD7UK (now called the 8UK). This became the # 1 plasma monitor of choice – becuase everyone saw it everywhere at NAB2005, and it did 1366×768.
Since it dropped in price to $3000, everyone wanted it (and it looks better than any LCD screen I mentioned above).

Of course, everyone is “talking” about the eCinema display – this is a 23″ display that is “critical”, but costs about $14,000. It’s tough to buy a $14,000 monitor when you can get the Dell 2405FPW for under $1000 with the right discount code at the DELL website.

NOW, I saw the Samsung 46″ 460P at the NSCA tradeshow in March 2005. NO PROFESSIONAL MANUFACTURER has “approved” this monitor, but I can assure you, it’s the largest and brightest LCD screen I EVER SAW – much brighter and sharper than the Cinema, Dell, HP, or Sony. Will it work properly with our professional equipment ???? I have no idea – and at $4800 street price (PC Connection has it in stock) – I am not going to be the guinea pig that finds out.

Bottom line – LCD monitors all look about the same (even the small, horrible Astro systems field monitor). Some people just love to buy Apple, but you will get the same value with the Dell. Please remember that I have NOT seen the eCinema in person, but I doubt my clients will ever spend $14,000 on a 23″ screen.

Bob Zelin
ps – people who own the “old” Sony PVM-20L5/1 CRT monitor are kissing the ground.

[Toke]

[Bob Zelin] “It was the same crap,”

I wouldn’t call all these “same crap”.
Apple has contrast ratio of about 300:1, hp 500:1 and dell 1000:1.
That is a big difference.

Btw, new players are 42″ and 47″ from barco, price tags will be around 6k and 9k.

[Graeme Nattress]

Are you talking real contrast, or manufacturers stated contrast? Were they measured to the same test standards??

Graeme

– http://www.nattress.com – Film Effects and Standards Conversion for FCP

[Bob Zelin]

I Love the Dell because it’s so cheap (and it’s very good), but it does not
have a dramatically better contrast ratio with 720p or 1080i images than the Apple Cinema display. I don’t care what the spec says.

Bob Zelin

[Graeme Nattress]

Most contrast specs are pure marketspeak.

Surely though, in 8bit video, the brightest bit is only 256 times brighter than the darkest?

Graeme

– http://www.nattress.com – Film Effects and Standards Conversion for FCP