monitor questuin for DSLR rig

[David Masterson]

The main reason I want (what I consider to be “mid range” priced monitor @ 1200.00 ) a fairly good monitor is to better see the entire scene with, and yes, I will admit I probably will look at it for focus as even with my Zurcotta ( pardon spelling) for the 5D, with my eyes slowing going south, this is the next best thing I can think of….what else are my options? LOL

Just for FYI: I am Frankenstein-ing all this on a pro-aim unit I just bought. Right out of the box the handle broke but they said they would send another asap. Overall construction seems good, but have only used it ” in the field” for a few hours. Over all a pretty good set up for under 400.00

[John Young]

If you are looking at your 5D MarkII and seeing that it doesn’t give clean HDMI out and drops to 480p when recording, then let me ask these questions? How long do you plan to have your monitor? and… How long do you plan to have your camera?

I always try to look to the future when buying gear, not just the present. If I could afford it right now, I would get a monitor that has these qualities.
1) is HD — a lot of the lower end monitors are 800×600.
2) has accurate level and color representation, and/or is able to be calibrated — I don’t like not being able to trust what I am seeing, and it seems silly to have to unplug the Lilliput monitor for lighting and setting levels and then only plug it for framing and when recording. For run and gun situations, where you have to set exposure and color levels on the fly, you have to be able to trust what your monitor is telling you.
3) HD pass-through of some kind — especially with DSLRs where your on-camera live-view shuts off when you plug in an external monitor, you at that point are left with only one monitor for the client, DP, Director, focus-puller, and everyone else, and it tight shooting spaces that can be impossible. To future proof my monitor buy, I want to have the option to plug in another monitor.

All that being said, I am quite a ways away from being able to afford the monitor that has all these functions. The new SmallHD DP7 looks great, but I think will be priced around $2,500.

http://www.johnathanyoung.com

[Brent Dunn]

https://www.lcd4video has some inexpensive monitor options of all you need it for is focus.

Brent Dunn
Owner / Director / Editor
DunnRight Films
DunnRight Video.com
Video Marketing Toolbox.net

Sony EX-1,
Canon 5D Mark II
Canon 7D
Mac Pro Tower, Quad Core,
with Final Cut Studio

HP i7 Quad laptop
Adobe CS-5 Production Suite