HD monitoring at DVinfo.net

Aaron Shaw · April 4th, 2005, 10:03 PM

Hey guys,

Well we've all heard the news about the new Panasonic camera. I've put a lot of things on hold so I can get one! One really troublesome area though is monitoring the footage in a decent manner. Clearly any onboard LCD isn't going to cut it for critical focus. Heck, it's hard enough to use the LCD to focus SD! I've looked around and about the only monitors I can find are thousands +.

How hard do you guys think it would be to create a DIY monitor? I'm thinking that it should be easy enough to take the LCD out of a computer monitor (and/or modify it) and then work from there. I'm thinking that modding an LCD display would be easiest.

It shouldn't be too hard to reroute the power wiring to some onboard power supply. The tough part comes about finding a decent power supply that will 1) last 2) be relatively small and 3) fit the monitors requirements for voltage etc.

The second hard part comes about with adapting the video cable to accept video inputs. I'm not sure how to go about this at all. Anyone have suggestions?

Overall I think it's a relatively easy (ha famous last words) project - albeit somewhat expensive if you screw up/burn out an LCD or two. What do you guys think? I'm certainly not going to pay 3K+ for a $400 project.

Rob Lohman · April 5th, 2005, 04:34 AM

How would you get the HD signal out of the camera? It's probably
far easier to just bring a laptop with a decent screen and run
some (capture?) software on it to see the signal?

Aaron Shaw · April 5th, 2005, 08:22 AM

Through the normal video out whether that be component or another variant. True about bringing a laptop. I'm just not sure I want to bring an expensive laptop with me into all shooting environments. Much easier to replace an LCD.

Rob Lohman · April 6th, 2005, 03:01 AM

Yes, but I'm thinking of the following:

- is there any output on the camera that outputs a true HD signal (I don't know)

- is there any device that understands this signal and convert it into the signal the LCD/TFT screen needs to have

- does it really stay HD throughout the entire process

Obin Olson · April 7th, 2005, 05:50 PM

Guys I have seen converters for this..the apple cinema display is a great choice at only 1200$ it makes a WONDERFULL true HD monitor..get the box to take HD out from the camera and connect the apple display ...

Aaron Shaw · April 7th, 2005, 07:04 PM

Intersting! What about power though? I'd love it if that works!

Dan Diaconu · April 7th, 2005, 07:25 PM

I am not sure if this will work but I have to try it no matter what:
get a portable DVD player (as best (IMHO) price/size/quality/convenience choice, just for the screen) and get the signal to it. Z1 has a connector that plugs in and has (at the other end) RGB connectors that go into bigger LCD/plasma displays. That image is good enough (for me) for both framing/color correction/focus (after all, the monitor's settings are adjustable, right? and Z1 has color bars) I am sure other HD will have the same function as well.
As for power, most LCD's have an external power supply 110V to 12V DC. Just power it from any battery that will last long enough for the day and recharge over night.
Check out the fourth down this list:
http://www.allcam.biz/products/ptdvd.html

Obin Olson · April 8th, 2005, 03:00 PM

the deal is TRUE HD...this would be the big issue..you don't want Svideo or standard def on a great monitor..that is garbage trust me I have seen it..must be TRUE HD

Valeriu Campan · April 9th, 2005, 11:26 PM

This box from Blackmagic Design will display the HD signal on a computer LCD monitor:
http://www.blackmagic-design.com/site/hdlink.htm
or AJA Kona:
http://www.aja.com/hdp.htm.
Look for also at other A/D mini converters

April 4th, 2005, 10:03 PM	#1
Aaron Shaw Major Player Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 587	HD monitoring Hey guys, Well we've all heard the news about the new Panasonic camera. I've put a lot of things on hold so I can get one! One really troublesome area though is monitoring the footage in a decent manner. Clearly any onboard LCD isn't going to cut it for critical focus. Heck, it's hard enough to use the LCD to focus SD! I've looked around and about the only monitors I can find are thousands +. How hard do you guys think it would be to create a DIY monitor? I'm thinking that it should be easy enough to take the LCD out of a computer monitor (and/or modify it) and then work from there. I'm thinking that modding an LCD display would be easiest. It shouldn't be too hard to reroute the power wiring to some onboard power supply. The tough part comes about finding a decent power supply that will 1) last 2) be relatively small and 3) fit the monitors requirements for voltage etc. The second hard part comes about with adapting the video cable to accept video inputs. I'm not sure how to go about this at all. Anyone have suggestions? Overall I think it's a relatively easy (ha famous last words) project - albeit somewhat expensive if you screw up/burn out an LCD or two. What do you guys think? I'm certainly not going to pay 3K+ for a $400 project.

April 5th, 2005, 04:34 AM	#2
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	How would you get the HD signal out of the camera? It's probably far easier to just bring a laptop with a decent screen and run some (capture?) software on it to see the signal? __________________ Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef Join the DV Challenge \| Lady X Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors

April 6th, 2005, 03:01 AM	#4
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	Yes, but I'm thinking of the following: - is there any output on the camera that outputs a true HD signal (I don't know) - is there any device that understands this signal and convert it into the signal the LCD/TFT screen needs to have - does it really stay HD throughout the entire process __________________ Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef Join the DV Challenge \| Lady X Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors

April 5th, 2005, 08:22 AM	#3
Aaron Shaw Major Player Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 587	Through the normal video out whether that be component or another variant. True about bringing a laptop. I'm just not sure I want to bring an expensive laptop with me into all shooting environments. Much easier to replace an LCD.

April 7th, 2005, 05:50 PM	#5
Obin Olson Trustee Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Wilmington NC Posts: 1,414	Guys I have seen converters for this..the apple cinema display is a great choice at only 1200$ it makes a WONDERFULL true HD monitor..get the box to take HD out from the camera and connect the apple display ...

April 7th, 2005, 07:04 PM	#6
Aaron Shaw Major Player Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 587	Intersting! What about power though? I'd love it if that works!

April 7th, 2005, 07:25 PM	#7
Dan Diaconu Major Player Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 804	I am not sure if this will work but I have to try it no matter what: get a portable DVD player (as best (IMHO) price/size/quality/convenience choice, just for the screen) and get the signal to it. Z1 has a connector that plugs in and has (at the other end) RGB connectors that go into bigger LCD/plasma displays. That image is good enough (for me) for both framing/color correction/focus (after all, the monitor's settings are adjustable, right? and Z1 has color bars) I am sure other HD will have the same function as well. As for power, most LCD's have an external power supply 110V to 12V DC. Just power it from any battery that will last long enough for the day and recharge over night. Check out the fourth down this list: http://www.allcam.biz/products/ptdvd.html

April 8th, 2005, 03:00 PM	#8
Obin Olson Trustee Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Wilmington NC Posts: 1,414	the deal is TRUE HD...this would be the big issue..you don't want Svideo or standard def on a great monitor..that is garbage trust me I have seen it..must be TRUE HD

April 9th, 2005, 11:26 PM	#9
Valeriu Campan Major Player Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 223	This box from Blackmagic Design will display the HD signal on a computer LCD monitor: http://www.blackmagic-design.com/site/hdlink.htm or AJA Kona: http://www.aja.com/hdp.htm. Look for also at other A/D mini converters