I wanted to share this because I think the VFM-056WP is worth a hard look for those in the market for a quality on-camera monitor.
After investigating so many monitors myself (and returning one) I found the WP version to be the best on-camera monitor for the (discounted) price.

I have not seen a review in the Magazines I get, so I had no idea they existed. (no advertising = no review?)
I found the company, TV Logic manufactures some very high end monitors and put that technology (scopes and more) into the VFM-056WP.

It's packed with more versatility and features then all the other monitors I considered. It's 5.6 inches , widescreen, weights 10 5/8 oz. 1280x800 res. has a 2 yr. warranty and can zoom, scale and/or scan (huge plus for D5 mark ll users) including 1:1 pixel.
Menu, controls, user preferences are extensive.
Focus Assist/Peaking for example is offered in three colors: red, blue or green with adjustable intensity from 0 to 100.
You have one click/button access to one control with access to 14 more controls in two clicks. (peaking to y levels to scopes to etc)


Retail is $1595. I got it for $245 less then retail (sorry, not appropriate to say how on this form, but it can be found if you dig)

Check it out:
TVLogic ? 5.6" High-Resolution Compact LCD Monitor (http://www.tvlogicusa.com/product/vfm056.php)

I'm guessing you left a 1 out from in front of the 2???

Magazines? Do people still read those things? ;-)

Here's a video 'overview' from abelcine: YouTube - ‪Monitoring with TV Logic's VFM-056WP‬‏ (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5qf84BbKck)

and a blog review here:

TV Logic’s New Compact 5.6″ 1280×800 LCD Monitors The Filmtools Blog (http://filmtools.wordpress.com/2011/02/22/tv-logics-new-compact-5-6-1280x800-lcd-monitors/)

It looks like a sweet monitor if you really need all the extras is has. However for me something like a Dp6 with the same resolution and an equally impressive feature set at only $899...kinda trumps it overall. But horses for courses I guess

Also SmallHD have a special on at the moment with a Dp6 bundle including accessories which makes it even tougher to beat.

Retail is $1595. I got it for $245. less then retail


making it $1350.

I would eliminate the math and reword it but the edit option is not available to this post.
Apologies.

Took out that period for you, so that it reads "$245 less than retail."

The SmallHD DP6 is a nice monitor but the $899 model does not have an SDI input. To get that you have to jump to the $1299 model. So the difference is slight for those who need SDI. Also, when I compared the two side by side and against a Panasonic Production monitor we found the TVLogic to have more accurate colors. I also found a good deal on the TVLogic so I went with that one and have to admit it is a great little monitor.

But, both are stand outs when compared to the usual selection of small field monitors.

-Garrett

Thanks CH for losing the " . "

As Garrett corrected it's a $50 difference.
For me I can't shake SmallHD's old website that was offline forever and that old homemade video (anyone remember)
of a guy holding a huge TV monitor with extension cord running all over? funny video.

I like the fact that TV LOGIC produces a 10bit 4k $66,000 monitor.
They have a heavy weight list of costumers: Panavision, Technicolor, Deluxe, Sony Pictures, and 40 odd more.
The VFM-056WP has both a Waveform and Vector Scope built in.
Their warranty is for two years.
That I could view their User Manual and spec sheet online before I bought (unlike others)

I didn't say "who's" monitor I sent back in my original post because
I wanted to avoid off topic spins.

I posted to get a off the radar monitor on peoples radar.

Rob,
I was wondering how the tv logic looks when you are vertically off axis? I have the small hd dp1 with the x upgrade and it suffers considerably when you are looking up or down at it.

Thank You

mb

not a problem. Here are some pix (via canon 7D) , from iphone, reduced and on the fly (maybe not in pix but image looks the same at all angles). I have a iPad screen protector on the monitor also you might notice the VFM-056WP reads VFM-056W the P is listed as PREMIUM in the silver band at top right.

Rob,
I guess I should have been more clear in my post. My complaint with the small hd is that the luminance value seems to change if you are off axis and your pictures seem to show the same symptoms. Perhaps it is a problem inherent to all small form lcd's or maybe some are better than others. This is not something I see on my 50" plasma or 22" Dell computer lcd. I will have check into this further.

Thanks
mb

Pix on the fly... probably a bad idea, in shooting I did move the monitor 180° and iPhone is color correcting each picture.
Maybe someone who knows both can chime in. I don't feel it has the issue but I haven't seen what the DP1 does off axis.

I am trying to decide between a DP6 or the VFM-056WP so this is a timely thread.

I am hoping to use the selected monitor in a simple two camera set-up for natural history shots. One camera will be an EX3 and the other a Panasonic TM 900. I am assured by Small HD that I will be able to simultaneously connect both cameras to the monitor and use the supplied remote to choose which camera’s output is displayed. I am also assured that the DP6 will handle the output of the TM 900 (1080 p50) which is something that a borrowed 5” Marshall could not do. I rather like the idea of the DP6’s High / Low variation of the false colour capability as aid to exposure setting. In this setting areas that are sufficiently under or over exposed to lose information are coloured whereas adequately exposed areas are in monochrome.

However the DP6 currently only offers one colour (white) in the focus assist function whereas the VFM gives a choice of three colours. The VFM also has wave form and vectorscope monitoring. I was wondering how useful these two functions are in a field monitor.

Alister, I currently connect my EX3 via SDI into 056WP while also having a second camera pulled in using the HDMI. I have not tried 50p, only 30p, 60i, and 24p. The nice thing about the SmallHD is the remote, there isn't one with the TVLogic.

The 056WP has a series of colors that show for a range of exposures in the false colors. You can set the levels for the colors so it is very customizable. Also, it has settings to show when the chorma or luma are out of predetermined ranges. They call this feature range error and it's pretty useful. Almost like a high and low zebra for Y and C.

I use the waveform a lot to check my overall exposure so I find it very useful but it really depends on your procedure. It's what I'm use to looking at probably from a my editing practices. Also, sometimes I work with a color grader on set and when we feed him our picture he's always flipping between the waveform and vector scope on his monitors to verify everything is where he needs it to do his magic.

I usually used red for my focus assist as white or blue is often hard for me to distinguish quickly and if you turn up the peaking too much you can get false readings. But, I have had to change to a different color depending on the colors in the scene. So for me being able to choose the color for peaking is really important.

As I mentioned in a previous post I looked at both of these monitors closely when I was deciding. I had a SmallHD DP1 before so I was familiar with the build quality and I also have used TVLogic monitors on sets so the quality and reliability are about the same IMO, both top notch. Both monitors use the same screen so for me it came down to the features and as I mentioned before, on a side by side comparison the TVLogic seemed to have more accurate colors. Like Rob I got a very good deal on it so the small difference in cost was worth it to me.

-Garrett

Forgot another nice feature that the 056WP has, I'm not sure if the DP6 has, is it can display the TC and audio levels being fed through the SDI. Makes it nice so that I don't have to look at my camera viewfinder and call out to the scripty the TC at the beginning of each take.

-Garrett

Thanks Garrett,

A reply in 27 minutes and another 5 later– how about that? I am currently visiting the US including some of your snow areas where the choice of white for focus assist would seem inappropriate. A selection of colours would be very desirable.

I have been in contact with Small HD and they “may” add more colours in future. To add waveform and vectorscope would require some form of attachment. Apparently they have had a lot of enquiries for these features.

Thanks again, I will see what prices I can find.

Alastair

Magazines? Do people still read those things? ;-)

Yes. And some of us even write those magazine articles ;)

I saw it at NAB and again in person the other day. Really good product. I'll be working it into the writing schedule but I don't know yet when.

Ned Soltz

Hi,

Is there a gain setting possible for vectorscope (usage of DSC Charts...)?

ULI

So, I'm trying to make the decision today or tomorrow between the VFM-056WP and the SmallHD DP6.

I just wanted to run my thought process by people.......

I'm using this with a Panasonic HMC-150. I'm inclined to go with the SmallHD DP6 because I only need the HDMI input - meaning i dont need the pricier DP6 - and my camera comes with a waveform that I can look at on its LCD. While it might be annoying at times to use both the LCD and the monitor, it doesn't seem to justify spending 500 more on the VFM-056WP.

Anyone agree or disagree with this logic?

Everyone has different needs.
I would think the DP6, but:
What would a monitor give that the HMC150 can't?
What environment is it for/what do you shoot?
Why not a lilliput or Sony CLM V55 for even less money.

For me, camera technology changes every few years. I wanted something that would last and be as versatile as possible in both software (updates - user interface - quick menu buttons) and hardware (weight - power options - I/O options).

I'm very happy I dig deeper and found it.

Hi Noam,

It rally comes down to what you will be using the monitor for. For me I knew I wanted to have HD-SDI capabilities as well as the other available functions found on the TVLogic that was not available on the SmallHD. I had a SmallHD DP1 and really liked it but for the type of shooting I do now, it really comes down to me being able to either save time (which means money) or be able to nail the look that the director wants.

You also need to look and if possible use both monitors in the situations that you will be shooting.

-Garrett

Rob,

To answer your questions, I want an external monitor cause I've done more than one interview with the HMC-150 where everything looked perfect in the monitor, and I thought I had the focus nailed but when I watched it at home, it was the tiniest bit off. I dont mind paying more to make sure it's perfectly focused.

That being the case, I figured the DP6 made the most sense cause the resolution was highest and it had certain focus features as well as things like false color that my camera does not have.

That said, I'm not familiar with the Lilliput or the Sony one. How do they compare? I can look at online specs but some of that stuff is going to go over me. What are the most salient differences in your opinion?

Hi Noam,

you asked:
"What are the most salient differences in your opinion?"
response:
Because I didn't know your need. I viewed price as a key item.

I did try the Sony's CLM V55 (800 x 480) for it's price and focus assist.
I found the screen extremely reflective so I returned it.

Lilliput is a bargain for the buck. A very popular, tight budget monitor. It's a eBay item made in china. 800 x 480 I believe.

At a price under $1700 a 1280x 800 resolution monitor is a hard thing to find!
Most manufacturers just changed from a 4:3 box to 16:9 widescreen and kept the pre-HD
800x480 resolution from the DV/Bata days.

A suggestion off topic:
One thing I have seen in google searches of many new CMOS cameras, are Back Flange issues. (when you zoom in to get focus, then loose it when you zoom out.)

Your HMC-150 is CCD and a very nice camera but you may check it.
Plug the camera's HDMI into a good size TV. (or record some footage and view on your computer)

In manual focus mode:
zoom in, set/lock focus, and zoom back out a little. Check that your subject is still in focus. Zoom out a little more and check, more and check, etc.
If it doesn't hold focus send it in for repair.
I've had a Sony V1U and a Canon 7D (Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM Lens) with the issue.
Sony replaced the lens for free under warranty.
I did a hard reset on the 7D and lost the problem.

Hope the info was a little help.

Best,
Rob

One thing I have seen in google searches of many new CMOS cameras, are Back Flange issues. (when you zoom in to get focus, then loose it when you zoom out.)...

I've had a Sony V1U and a Canon 7D (Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM Lens) with the issue.
I did a hard reset on the 7D and lost the problem.


Just to elaborate a little. Back Focus or as Canon calls it Back Flange issues don't have anything to do with the sensor type (CMOS or CCD). It's a function of the lens. Most video cameras with removable lenses have a function that allows back focus adjustment. Some cameras without removable lenses also have a function that sets the back focus but I'm not sure if the HMC-150 has it. For the7D and other DSLR's it s not a back focus issue. SLR lenses are actually not parfocal and that is why rack zooms are iffy on most SLR lenses. Some lenses are and some aren't. That's where knowing your gear really comes in.

To address Noam's question and focus issue there really is only one way to make sure you nail the focus with is so critical with HD. That is to get a bigger monitor. Both the TVLogic and SmallHD have peaking which helps with focusing but that can be fooled too since it's relying on high contrast areas and reads the sharp edges. If you set the peaking too high you'll get false positives and if you set it too low it just won't show up. For me it's a combination of using peaking, using zone focusing, taking confirmation measurements with a tape or laser measure, and using the zoom function on my monitor. One thing I like about the TVLogic that is not available on the SmallHD is the ability to choose the color of the peaking. Most times the white that the SmallHD uses is not visible. On the TVLogic you can choose what color the peaking is.

The functions I find most useful on the TVLogic (not necessarily in this order) are peaking color selection, waveform/vector scope, range error (allows blinking of areas that are outside of preselected max and min Y or C values), and false colors which show various colors within each range of values (again you can decide what where the color ranges fall).

Things I wish it had:

programmable function buttons. You have one with is the same as on the SmallHD but other monitors have up to 4.
a little better visibility in sunlight. - I made a custom sun shade which I virtually block out all light with in very sunny conditions.
If this same monitor came in an 8" or 9" model I would opt for that, my old eyes do get tired after long shoots looking at a 5.6" monitor and focusing would be that much easier.

Overall when I compared the two monitors side by side and in real world conditions I found the TVLogic to have the edge in teh feature set and it's colors were more accurate when compared to a Panasonic production monitor which most of the colorist I work with use. For me it wasn't a big issue because I know I wanted the SDI version so the cost difference was insignificant.

I would have to recommend staying away from the Sony v55 and Lilliput monitors. They won't give you the resolution necessary to use the monitor for focusing.

-Garrett