Looking for a new Monitor

[Bob Zelin]

I have recently installed the Sony LMD-1420 LCD monitor. What a PIECE OF CRAP. When we first unboxed this monitor, we stuck color bars into it, and it looked fine. Then we hooked it up to a Beta VTR – what a shocking surprise – what a PIECE OF CRAP. So what LCD monitor looks good with Standard Def video ??? – NONE. I have tried them all (well, almost all) – the Sony LMD-1420, the Sony Luma 232 (the 23″ broadcast version), the Dell 2405FPW, the Apple Cinema, the HP 2335, and the Sony SDM-P234b.
They are all wonderful for HD (not the 1420 – it’s only standard def), but for SD, they ALL look like crap. How crappy- you can go to Circuit City or Best Buy and buy any $79 14″ color CRT TV, and STANDARD DEF will look better than the most expensive
LCD TV. The Sony PVM series is now a “golden collectors item” for those working with STANDARD DEF edit systems. The LMD-1420 is barely acceptable as a reference monitor for a VHS duplication system, just checking dubs. Again, you will get better results from a $79 Daewoo 14″ TV. I am not making this stuff up.

Bob Zelin

[Oakmozart]

Check these out:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=302342&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=271229&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=262238&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation

These are SD-only, but they’re high quality and should serve you well. You did not specify a price-range, so these vary anywhere from just shy of $500 to $1600 and some change. All are high-quality and very good. You also might check Ebay and look for deals. I recently bought a Sony PVM-series CRT (NOT LCD) HD monitor (don’t recall the number off-hand), with SDI and all expansion options for $1500. It was recently serviced and is literally in like-new condition. If you can still find it new from a place who’s selling it (like B&H), you’re looking at around $5000+ for just the monitor. There’s deals to be had. Here’s an example:

https://cgi.ebay.com/SONY-20-COLOR-AVID-VIDEO-EDITING-BROADCAST-ENG-MONITOR_W0QQitemZ7547143420QQcategoryZ21517QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

This is another great model of Sony that you can get…very professional, spendy, but well-worth it:

Sony PVM 20M4U NTSC/ PAL 16:9 Client Monitor w/SDI Option

That should give you an idea of where to start.

Good luck.