I've been looking into monitors now and I am ready to make the purchase. Some people on here are using Marshall (like Philip Bloom) and some are saying Ikan. Is there a major difference or are they pretty much the same? I understand the biggest point will be the battery powered monitors vs the AC adapters.

Ikan's new 5.6 high res display looks cool with the deluxe kid under $800 at B&H.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/648039-REG/Ikan_V5600_DK_C_V5600_5_6_LCD_Monitor.html

I have the Ikan 8 inch HDMI monitor and it seems pretty overpriced for what I got. It is very light (which is good), but it feels VERY fragile. When the 7D outputs in live view it sends out a much smaller picture than when playing back back recorded material. So a 5 inch monitor is not gaining much over what the on-board monitor is giving you. I had a Marsahall SD monitor and it had a great picture and felt very rugged, but was pretty heavy. I know this is not much help, but just some of my observations.

I have seen reviews of the 8" where people said it felt "cheap." I know the 5.6 is newer, but it is 1024x600 res.

I see some other people excited about the Marshall V-LCD70P-HDA 7" and it looks like it has the focus assist (outlining of what's in focus) which would help:
Marshall | V-LCD70P-HDA 7" LCD Field Monitor | V-LCD70P-HDA (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/646095-REG/Marshall_V_LCD70P_HDA_V_LCD70P_HDA_7_LCD_Field.html#specifications)

I realize that the 7D only outputs a 4:3 image so YES the sides would be empty on a widescreen monitor. Do you think going SD for the monitor would be better? It seems I would need to go out composite, unless there is some Mini-HDMI to Component breakout cable. Isn't that what you would need for the Marshall above anyways?

There's also the SmallHD 9" monitor.
9" Small LCD Monitor, On Camera Field Monitor - the DP1 by SmallHD (http://www.smallhd.com/)

Wow. I think I'm pretty excited about the smallHD DPI monitor. It's larger than the Ikan and Marshall to make up for the 4:3 image being displayed by the 7D and it seems like it will work anywhere.

Does anyone use this with their 7D now? edit
Looks like Trammell Hudson is using the DPI for his ML testing. I don't know how I missed that before. I feel like I did when I discovered DVInfo for the first time. ;-)

There's also the SmallHD 9" monitor.
9" Small LCD Monitor, On Camera Field Monitor - the DP1 by SmallHD (http://www.smallhd.com/)

Man, I wish I had seen that before I spent the money on the Ikan........

Just to let everyone know,

If you press the INFO button whilst in Liveview, the HDMI output (to an on-board monitor) cycles between 4:3 view, 4:3 with additional info/waveform and finally clean 16:9 output, so you can monitor and record with full 16:9 image on an on - board monitor.

Great info Alex! Thanks, and welcome!

Yeah I notice this cycle a few weeks ago with my Marshall V-LCD70P-HDMI.

Also if you're using ML with cropmarks and this monitor, if you do this cycle and then go to 1:1 pixel on the Marshall when you're recording (doesn't work until camera goes in to 480p) the crop marks become correct on the screen (I'm using 1:2.35 marks). Although I feel the actual image while viewing is very slightly skewed somehow in this mode, I think it's all pretty close to final outcome.

I'm loving this monitor!!!

Alex,

Alright you big gayer. How you finding your 7Ds? Gave mine a little run out in Morocco over the weekend. Did you buy a monitor? If so, which one? Still haven't tried my TV Logic yet. Have you got a HDMI to DVI cable? If so, can I borrow it to try out my monitor.
I'm not working the rest of this week, fancy meeting up? I'm off to Malta on a job mid next week, so anytime before that is good.

Jim


p.s. I found that the new Quicktime 10 (Apple Snow Leopard OS) can't handle the footage, but if I use the old Quicktime 7 it plays fine. Might just be my old MacBook.

Regarding this thread, I already had a 7 inch TV Logic LVM-071W monitor.

TV Logic 7" Multi-format LCD Monitor LVM-071W (http://www.filmtools.com/tv-logic-7-multi-format-lcd-monitor-lvm-071w.html)

It's a fantastic monitor that is HD and SD, has a waveform monitor, can take v-lock batteries on the back, and has focus peaking.

I haven't had a chance to test it yet with the 7D as I don't have the correct cable (see previous post).

Will let you know when I do.

Jim

I've seen the TV Logic at DV Expo earlier this year. Fantastic image. Best I'd seen, including the Marshall (which is no slouch). And the viewing angle was highly usable.
If you have the budget, I suppose it's great.

For me, though, I'll be buying the SmallHD. VERY good at a much more reasonable price.

Sort of off-topic, but trying to figure something out I thought I heard (and hoping I am wrong). When you plug the HDMI into a monitor does it shut off the LCD on the 7D? I am hoping this is not the case so I can use the LCD while a director watches a monitor, but I fear that I heard that somewhere. I ordered an HDMI cable but I don't have it yet to try.

Thanks,
Benjamin

Yes plugging in the cable does shut off the onboard monitor on the camera.

Alright Jim, thanks for the 7D rental recommendation in other forum. Have'nt really had chance to play around with 7d's too much (apart from shooting viral for Moro restaurant in Exmouth Market with Rob Barlow and all L series primes) because Ray has had them working with Hungry Man Productions and Drogba in Ivory Coast (Overheating problems!!- They are definately due to the Z finders capturing and doubling the heat released from LCD screen). Sadly, already, lots of disgruntled 5D MkII owners are spreading vicious rumours about excessive noise and poor picture quality on 7D compared to 5d Mk II sensor, I'm not convinced at all (we own two 7D's and one 5D Mk II). With regards to on-board monitor, after much exhaustive research, and actually rigging a selection of monitors to the camera (never on the hot-shoe of the camera! - risk tearing whole top of camera off! - Either on the hot shoe off-set of an 'L' bracket screw-in flash holder- $13 B&H- then Manfrotto 482 LCD Micro Ball Head to Hot Shoe adaptor or Feral Equipment's brilliant solution of Manfrotto 143BKT Camera Platform for Magic Arm- coming out of tripod screw thread in bottom of camera, then again Manfrotto 482 LCD), decided on the Ikan V5600. We were happy to spend the money on the Marshall (even the 651 ST HDMI, which by the way is not noticeably different in image quality from their much cheaper 70P), but thought it too heavy and cumbersome for hand held. It weighs 1.3 lbs compared to the Ikan's 0.7 lbs, that was the deciding factor for me, even though we're foregoing the very handy focus peaking and false - colour exposure meters (false colour not working entirely on the Canon's - does'nt go from yellow into red for over-exposed highlights). You still have easily the best monitor around (the TV Logic), but realistically, due to size and weight, this can only be used when camera is on sticks or as an off - board monitor on a stand.

I just got a little 4" Marshall monitor to mount on the hotshoe. It's not HD but all I need it for is for low angle shots where it's awkward to look through the viewer. I got a tilt hotshoe bracket so I can tilt it up, or even rotate it around if needed. The monitor itself has a metal case but is lightweight. Add the battery, though and the weight goes up. I've ordered a "Video Bracket" from markwatkins.com (similar to the IDC dogleg/handle) and will mount the monitor on a cold shoe on top of the handle, which leaves the hotshoe free to mount a sound recorder.

One thing some may not realize is that if you use the AV cable that came with the camera, it outputs a letterbox image, just like what you see in the LDC screen. Which means you can use a cheap 4:3 monitor with no distortion.

If you need a monitor for critical focusing, for clients, etc., you wouldn't want this one, but for my purposes it looks pretty good. Very bright too, about $279 with battery and charger from B&H. It's the V-LCD4-Pro-L kit if anybody's interested. It has BNC inputs so you need an RCA-to-BNC adapter for your cable. If anybody knows where to get a shorter cable than the one that came with the camera, I'd appreciate hearing about it.

When using the camera's AV out to a monitor, that disables the LCD, so if you're using a Hoodman type viewer for normal shooting, like for handheld, you'd have to unplug the cable. I plan to mount the monitor on the handle bracket, with a quick release, so I can pull the camera off easily and quickly for hand held work where I don't need the monitor.

I am clearly missing something, but I have now been using the 7d for over 6 months and the only reason I can see needing a monitor is to make sure your focus is good. If a firmware update comes out soon then I can also see it for the DP or director to be able to monitor, but since plugging a HDMI cable into the 7d shuts off the LCD, the camera operator will need to be using the monitor.

Since the only person who can use the monitor is the camera operator, why does he need a monitor?

In my experience getting good focus even with my redrock micro follow-focus is quite tricky, even with the Zacuto Z-Finder I have. In fact, the z-finder might make it harder... since all it does is enlarge the pixels.

That being said, how would a monitor without focus peaking even make sense? The slimHD monitors are really impressive looking and sweet, but I don't see any use for them on a 7d. I want to buy the 7" Marshall with peaking, but having used one, they are HUGE! With the battery they weigh as much as the camera and are about 3 inches thick. I was incredibly unimpressed with their size. It seems that monitors would be very useful for getting sharp focus in the field, but until someone makes one like the slimHD with peaking, It seems to me that monitors are only useful on a set or in a studio, not on locaton.

Someone please talk me out of this depressing conclusion.

for the price of a DP6 monitor or similar, you can pretty much buy a second body like the 60d.

I am wondering if that's not more beneficial to the type of work i do

After doing some research for my needs/budget... I just ordered one of these.
LILLIPUT 669HB On-camera LCD Monitor,7 HDMI On-camera LED Backlit LCD Monitor [Lilliput 669HB] : COOLLCD.com (http://www.coollcd.com/lilliput-669hb-7-hdmi-on-camera-dvi-tftlcd-vga-monitor-no-touchscreen-450cdm2_p693.html)

There are several threads over on the 'View' forum about the Lilliput monitors, with most everyone being happy with the units. With 4600mAh battery, hot shoe mount, sun hood, hdmi cable, and shipped to Canada = $282.99. Apparently these units ship lightning fast. I ordered an additional 6800mAh battery for $28.00 shipped, from another vendor.

I looked at the new 5" Marshall and the Ikan 5600, but settled for the much lower priced Lilliput after reading the posts from happy users some of who own Marshall and Ikan. The 5" Marshall is twice the price but has false colors for peaking/exposure, BUT has hdmi input only.

I thought I didn't need an on-cam monitor until a recent shoot using the 5d with a 70-200 2.8 lens in loooow light, in a cramped space (live event). Had to strain to see camera LCD and later noted that I really blew the focus on a couple of shots... yikes.

So I'll try it out for that price.

Ken, that was real interesting, thanks for posting

I have the same 7" Lilliput monitor, got it last week and I like it too. It really does give you a whole new experience filming with it, more than just a focusing aid. I think it is getting me to take more time with the composition, it's like seeing your shot on a movie screen.

The shipping from ordering it on Ebay from a Hong Kong supplier was 12 days to my door in Canada.

I wrote something on it here: Canon 7D | Norman Pogson Filmmaker: External Monitor For HD-DSLR Video Cameras (http://normanpogson.blogspot.com/2010/12/external-monitor-for-hd-dslr-video.html)

I am clearly missing something, but I have now been using the 7d for over 6 months and the only reason I can see needing a monitor is to make sure your focus is good. If a firmware update comes out soon then I can also see it for the DP or director to be able to monitor, but since plugging a HDMI cable into the 7d shuts off the LCD, the camera operator will need to be using the monitor.

Since the only person who can use the monitor is the camera operator, why does he need a monitor?

The DP6 and most other monitors have "loop thru". With a DP6 that has the HD-SDI you merely loop thru from the operators monitor to the director's or follow focus operator's monitor. With a monitor that only has HDMI and no SDI, you use an HDMI splitter to loop thru to the second monitor. So if you need a second monitor, these loop thru schemes are there to provide this capability. What's nice with the DP6 is you can set it up to use the full monitor even though the 7D (and 5D even worse) are not outputting a full 1080 size signal.