What are you guys using for a field monitor with your EX1? The camera is really sharp and the 720p monitor I used with my JVC HD100 is not cutting it anymore, specially when using a 35mm adapter. I need a full 1920x1080 capable screen, at least 17" in size. What are you using?
Thanks.

A 17 inch display will not have a full 1080x1920 pix for pix. I think you need to move up to 24". As for my own flavor. TV Logic 7 inch with Wave/Vector, and pix for pix function with hood, and a 17 inch TV logic for the rest of the crew to double check my focus. The 24" would not be practical in the field. The 17 still is too big for most outdoor situations.

We are heading out to the Galapagos,. where we will be utilizing the PDW 700, Fujinon HA13x4.5 BERM & HA22x7.8 BERM, Ex 1, Letus-Ultimate/Extreme, Zeiss combo pack, and Gates Under Water Housing developed for the EX1.
the TV logic 7 with hood will be saving my as... .

An H-400 Hoodman for the EX 1 LCD. The LCD is killer for focus utilizing the peaking/color functions.

What in the 24" realm would you suggest?
I have no problems with a larger monitor for field use.

TV Logic or Dell, in that order.

The Dell 2408? It's a affordably price option but I have been reading reviews about the component inputs being garbage. As it has no SDI, component would be the only way in from the EX1. Have you used one as a studio or field monitor with the EX1?
It is also a VA panel, which means color shift depending on the angle of view among other things.
In that category there's also the LG L246.
Thanks.

I use a panasonic BT-LH1700W stuffed in a portabrace cover, powered from a V-lock plate. It is build for this and the resolution is more than enough to judge focus and exposure. It is a classic and does the job well.

Isn't the Panasonic a 720p monitor? That's what I have right now, a 17" 720p monitor and when using wide angle lenses is really difficult to judge focus. I want a full HD monitor. But thanks for the suggestion.

It's interesting that altough the technology is there (you can find laptops with just 15" screens of Full HD resolution), "separate" monitors of 1920x1200 resolution start with as much as 24"...

Piotr, who makes a 15" laptop with full HD resolution? Apple makes one, but that's only the 17" with the upgraded screen.

-Sean

Sean, I think one of the Sony Vaio models offers that (not sure though - mine is also a 17-incher).

Yes the panasonic is a 720p monitor. Just remember that pixel count isn't everything ;) With this display I don't really miss a native 1080p pixel resolution and it is very popular for 35mm adapter work.

I would recommend that you try the different monitors at your local rental facility. A 24" computer monitor is not the answer to your problems.

I know. I don't need specifically a 24" monitor. I just need full HD. If full HD starts at 24" so be it. But I need full HD. 720p is only good for long lenses. Snap a 18mm or a 15mm lens on and you can't tell if it's in focus with a 720p monitor.

I have 2 of the 24" Dells and can verify that the component inputs aren't the best. I've already had to return one because of it. Dell customer support was great though. I use mine strictly in the studio. My main concern with using them in the field is the distance you have to be from the monitor to achieve a Hi Def view. You will have to be at least 6 feet back from the monitor which to me makes it impractical for anything in the field. Just my 2 cents.

Mick Haensler
Higher Ground Media

Dennis, funny you should bring up the TV Logic display. I don't know much about this brand, but I was checking the specs out the other day and it looked pretty good. What are your impressions of this monitor for focusing, exposure and color during production with the EX camera?

I have 2 of the 24" Dells and can verify that the component inputs aren't the best. I've already had to return one because of it. Dell customer support was great though. I use mine strictly in the studio. My main concern with using them in the field is the distance you have to be from the monitor to achieve a Hi Def view. You will have to be at least 6 feet back from the monitor which to me makes it impractical for anything in the field. Just my 2 cents.

Mick Haensler
Higher Ground Media

6 feet? I'm not sure I understand your reasoning. How about when you're using it as an editing monitor and preview? It would be hard to be sitting at 6 feet from it. Do you mean because it's too big you need to step back to see the whole screen?
Does the color and brightness shifting bothers you, since it's a VA panel?
When using the component jacks, is it still useful to judge focus and exposure or is it useless?
Since it's a VA panel, I'm thinking the LG L246 may be just as good and it's a little faster at 5ms. The LG is a TN panel.
Thanks

FWIW, I am using a 50" HDTV plasma at just around 3-3.5 feet for my 1920 editing and monitoring (in the studio, of course). I only have to move further back when watching some upscaled SD stuff.

Why 6 feet for a 24-incher in Full HD ?!!

Sorry guys, my bust. I miscalculated. I quit smoking today so my head's a little fuzzy. Optimal viewing distance for a 24" screen showing 1080P is about 3.5 feet. For critical viewing in the edit bay I try to stay 4 ft off the screen. Anything less I've found gives me eye fatigue in about 45 minutes.

As far as the component jacks go, they aren't that great for judging focus, color is fine if you calibrate well. While not a true broadcast monitor, the Dells work fine for me. For important projects I would want a true broadcast monitor for coloring. I usually judge sharpness in the Sony transfer software coming out SDI before I bring it into FCP. The difference between that and component is dramatic. I may have something not set right though. This system is new to me and I've not had a chance to really fine tune it. I have a project coming up that will be shot entirely on the EX, I'll have a better idea then.

Mick Haensler
Higher Ground Media

Well, the Dell has DVI and HDMI too right? Is there a cost effective way to convert SDI or Component to DVI or HDMI? Then you wouldn't need to use the Component IN jacks on the Dell.

The TV logic is a good brand. They are considerably more expensive, but you do get what you pay for. The Panasonic BTLH1700 is okay, as is the 2600. The 17 is a bit mushy, it's 720p, and the waveform can occasionally be misleading with its incredibly low resolution. Also, the color is not terribly accurate, and have some problems with uniformity and major issues with off angle viewing. As far as I've seen, one of the best values is the JVC DT24. It's a 1920x1200 panel, good brightness, color, and acceptable off angle. It will take just about any input and will even de-embed audio and timecode from SDI. It does have DVI so you can drive it from a laptop for editing as well. It's under $4000 last I checked. Panasonic is supposedly releasing a BTLH1720 soon, which should address a lot of the issues of the 1700.

Yep, the JVC sounds nice, but a little above my budget right now. I'm still interested in an affordable way to convert SDI or component to DVI or HDMI. Although I read a review on the Dell where they say the HDMI is not good either and only the DVI should be used for video.

I usually judge sharpness in the Sony transfer software coming out SDI before I bring it into FCP. The difference between that and component is dramatic.

I meant DVI not SDI. I'm freakin brain dead today. I'll take comments off the air.

Mick Haensler
Higher Ground Media

Have you seen this?

http://izzotek.com/achat/produit_details.php?id=266

It's a 15" panel with full 1920x1200 resolution and HDMI, component, VGA inputs. You would have to build an enclosure to hold the panel itself, the board and a field battery. But it is small, full HD, consumes little power and costs just 430 EUR (with taxes). For framing and focusing it should be more than adequate!

I wonder if this is the panel that some new Vaio laptops offer?

But anyway, for a one-man "crew", even a 15" monitor is too big to carry around in field IMHO (apart from very stationary shooting, with plenty of time for set-up etc.).

I use a Blackmagic HDLink Pro to drive an EIZO CG241W, and it works very well. The pro box is 795, and more than you need for an EX1 since it also does 3D LUT's, 6 channels of audio, and dual link HD-SDI. The standard HDLink box is about $425, and does a great job converting single and dual link HD-SDI to DVI or HDMI, can apply a 1D LUT for calibration, and even has a blue only mode. It does require external power, so that's something to consider when going out into the field. The standard HDLink and a 23" Apple Cinema Display or Dell 2408 makes a great monitor.

-Sean

This might be a good interface to get signal out of the SDI port and into a HDMI monitor input:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/478471-REG/AJA_HI5_Hi5_HD_SDI_SDI_to_HDMI.html