The HD Monitor Quagmire

[Jerry Hofmann]

I think you’re right about one thing it is a conundrum…

It’s true that CRT’s will be your best bet… but they are costly.

I’d be prone to spend the bucks on an LCD after NAB (but you probably can’t wait).

I’ve had pretty nice results with the Panny 26″… Problem with Plasmas is that they don’t have blue only buttons so setting them up is a matter of eyeballing so it’s probably not best…

Matrox’s MXO and a 23″ Cinema display is just as close as a plasma I’d think.. but has the same caveats.

That’s why the Panny if you don’t want to spend a lot of bucks.

There might a used CRT out there that would serve well.

Jerry

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[Rennie Klymyk]

[Tim Gibbons] “I didn’t have to spend $11,500 for a Sony BVM-F24E”

Gee..have they dropped in price?

[Tim Gibbons] “Basically I’m looking for a 20″ grading monitor.”

I’m with you on the 20″ factor. I find after adding a widescreen bezel the 14″ seem like 8″ monitors and the 20″ seem like 14″‘s. In the 4:3 world 20″ monitors felt like a luxury but in 16:9 world they are more of a neccessity. IMHO

The most affordable crt is the Sony PVM 20L5 which is multi standard,480, 720 and 1080. These have been discontinued but they show up on the used market and every once in a while a dealer discovers one or two in the back of their warehouse.

[Tim Gibbons]

Thanks Jerry.

I am edging towards the Panny 26″ despite the complaints by the purists. I do like the “pixel to pixel” function. It’s a good work-around for the lack of 1920×1080 native resolution.

What are the pitfalls of using the Panny 26″ in the real world anyways? Is it an issue of mistaking dark dark grey for true black or the reverse? What other problems are there with using an LCD over a CRT? Are they really that big an issue? I mean, how subtle a “problem” are we talking about? . . . I know it’s all relative but keep it from the perspective of delivering a product to DiscoveryHD.

Tim

[Tim Gibbons]

Yeah Rennie.

Hee’s the link to the cheapest, current, HD Monitor I could find:

https://www2.promax.com/Sony-BVMA20F1U-20-Multi-Format-CRT-Monitor?sc=2&category=22519

I know what you mean about the sizes. My 10″ HD field monitor seems ridiculously tiny compared to my old 4:3 Ikegami 9″.

Thanks for the model number on the olderSony. I’ll see if there are any around.

Tim

[Stu Siegal]

If you go with the panny and want a reality check before you deliver, one thing to consider is renting the Sony 20L5, if possible. In Boston they go for about $85 a day, and then if you get picked up you can decide what you can afford to spring for.

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[Dale Hildebrand]

I agree – the HD monitor thing has been driving me crazy too. As for the Panny 26 – what model are you refering to? Also, what do you need to output to this monitor?

Was thinking of using Matrox MXO and out to downrez’d SD, but colour detail is not the same and they say the Matrox MXO con’t output 720 24p.

Any straight forward solutions without another arm and leg?

[Walter Biscardi]

If you can find a Sony PVM20L5/1 out there, that’s the best monitor for the doller.

If not, go with the Panasonic 1700W or 2600W.

I love my Panasonic 50″ Pro Plasma screen, but would not use it as a stand alone monitor if I didn’t have to. We use it and soon to use our 42″ in the second suite, as the secondary monitor. BUT we have matched it up almost perfectly with our Sony PVM20L5/1 so when clients watch the final HD master, they watch it only on the plasma.

Walter Biscardi, Jr.
https://www.biscardicreative.com
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[Rennie Klymyk]

[Tim Gibbons] “Hee’s the link to the cheapest, current, HD Monitor I could find:

” target=”_blank”>https://www2.promax.com/Sony-BVMA20F1U-20-Multi-Format-CRT-Monitor?sc=2&category=22519″

You also have to spring another $1100.00 or so for the BKM-15R remote controller and the connector cable lists for $250.00 as this monitor doesn’t come with anything other than an off/on switch on the back. To get the dual-link HD-SDI capatabillity I bet you have to add an option card too. The BVM’s usually have component in as stock (HD/SD) but everything else is an add on. The model before this one was the BVMD-20F1u so you could keep an eye open for one of them. They use the BKM-10R remote which is only about $700.00 or the BKM-11R which is a little desktop pad with all the same controls for about $800.00. These “D” series connect with a standard 9 pin D-connector cable which are cheap. I don’t know why the BKM-15r cable would be $250.00 other than they are 20-25′ long and are nice and thick. I just thought of something though, you could use your BVMD-9H5 to control another monitor with the remote connector and a 9 pin cable at least until you could afford to replace it with a proper remote. Sony should make another run of PVM-20L5/1 monitors, they’d sell like hot cakes. They’r sure not selling many lcd or plasma monitors.

[Tim Gibbons]

It’s the Panasonic BT-LH2600W 26″ Widescreen HD/SD LCD Video Monitor. Sounds like a good monitor and StuS57’s idea to rent a Sony 20L5 for final color correction is a good one but dropping $4k on a monitor you know you can’t completely trust seems crazy. I’ve also been looking at the JVC DT-V190CGU:

https://www.jvc.ca/jvcpro/product-detail.aspx?h=archive&l=E&model=DT-V1900CGU. . . .

Tim

[Dale Hildebrand]

And what is the best way to output to any of these monitors – I don’t have to capture for everything is injested via firestore or P2 and if I output to some sort of HD tape format I will go to another facility.

Second question – I don’t have to now, but if I output to tape at another facility, is it important to find out if they are using a Aja or Blackmagic and render under a particular codec for best output?

Third question – what about 720p 23.98 – what are my options for best viewing on a monitor?

Thanks for any info,
Dale