OT: Sony LMD-232WS

[Bob Zelin]

In my opinion, the Sony LMD-232WS is one of the worst LCD monitors manufacturered. The resolution of the monitor is lower than that of a current Sony consumer monitor (why is that Sony ? ). It has no ability to show a true HD resolution – it scales the image. For this money, products like the Panasonic BT-LH2600W have become dramatically more popular. One thing I particularly hate about the LMD series is the fact that it has a single input on the rear. You may see buttons on it’s control panel for composite/component – but it shares the BNC connectors for this application.

There are many many alternatives to this monitor. The Panasonic BT-LH series is teriffice becuase it handles interlaced standard def video very well, as well as doing a great job on HD signals.

However, if you are looking to save yourself some money, get a nice 23″ Apple Cinema display, and a Blackmagic HD Link, and you will get full HD resolution (1920×1200) of your image – an image dramatically better than the Sony Luma series. OR, you can get the new Dell 2407WFP (now on sale at Dell for $719 US), which not only takes in DVI (to be used with the HD Link), but it also has analog component inputs, that also will show a full HD resolution – not scaled like the Luma. The Dell is a “best value” product. Unfortunately, HP has discontinued the L2335 monitor which also had analog component inputs, but if you don’t mind getting the Blackmagic HD Link, the new HP L2465 works great too. Please keep in mind that NONE of these computer LCD monitors look good with Standard Def video – they do work, but they don’t look as good as the Panasonic BY-LH series. They all do look spectacular for HD applications, at both 720p and 1080i (and HDV applications).

SO, if you are still saying “yea, but I really wanted to buy a Sony” – I have 2 suggestions for you.
1) buy a Sony SDM-P234b 23″ computer LCD montior and use the Blackmagic HD-Link with it. It works very well (but not as bright as the Apple Cinema)
2) go to your local stereo/TV store, and buy a Sony Bravia TV monitor which will do an excellent job of displaying an HD signal.

AND, if you are saying “but how come Sony promotes the LDM-232WS as a professional broadcast monitor?”. I don’t know the answer to this question, but the people in charge of this division have shamed the long standing Sony monitor division, who have been known for the past 20 years as making the best monitors in the world. They should all be fired, forced to work in the Sony loading docks, or cleaning toilets.

Bob Zelin

[Jason Levy]

Thanks Bob. Maybe that is why you can get them used so inexpensively. Actually I’m mainly looking for something for SD. I thought that this thing might be ok for SD but still be workable once we upgrade to the HD. I notice that Sony doesn’t even seem to make any non LCD models any more!

Jason

[Bob Zelin]

the Japanese companies do not want standard def to exist anymore. That is also why there are no more Beta VTR’s being made -even though we all use them. JVC also anounced that this is the end of their CRT line.
They all blame it on ROHS, but we all know that they just want to sell new HD gear.

Bob Zelin

[Jason Levy]

[Bob Zelin] ” That is also why there are no more Beta VTR’s being made -even though we all use them.”

Every day…