When wearing contacts while shooting, my eyes can dry up and cause problems. Do you know if they make an lcd screen to go on the xl1

There are many LCD screens that will mount with adapters to the shoe mount on the top of the XL1. Do a search for LCD screens using the search function at the top of the screen. You will find lots of info.

I'd say the best value LCD screen out there right now is the NebTek NEB50XL.
http://zgc.com/html/nebtek_5_inch_monitor.html
Works great with the XL1(S) or GL1/2. No need for special battery power, uses the standard Canon batteries. Also, this puppy is one of the brightest LCD screens out there, performs significantly better than others when in broght ambient light such as outdoors. You'll still need some type of hood, which you can get from HoodMan USA http://www.hoodmanusa.com or make your own.

One thing on any of these LCD panels is that the vertical res of these units is still not a full 480 lines, so they appear a bit soft. Quite useable for framing, not so useable for critical exposure adjustments. You will need a portable CRT for that like a Sony PVM-8045Q. Can't wait until the LCD screen manufacturers offer a higher res screen so we can stop using CRT's...

I have both the NebTek and a Sony PVM-8045Q. The benefit of the 8045Q is that it resolves 450 TVL, so I can monitor in S-video. The LCD screens out there still only really resolve in composite.

Still have to say though, my favorite solution is the Canon Black & White viewfinder with the Tiffen Tele2x adaptor installed.
http://www.tiffen.com/tele2x.htm Still hoping that Tiffen makes one of these for the color EVF soon for those who don't have the B&W EVF...

- don

Don,

The benefit of the 8045Q is that it resolves 450 TVL, so I can monitor in S-video. The LCD screens out there still only really resolve in composite.

I'm not following this, can you explain further?

Hi Jeff,

Sorry if my earlier post was confusing, I only had a few minutes to type it out quickly so I could meet my brother for lunch hehe

What I meant is that the NebTeks and pretty much any of the other LCD panels (at least in that price range) only have a composite input and no provision for any S-Video, let alone any component input like the Sony PVM-8045Q does. These LCD screens do offer significantly lighter weight and significantly smaller size over a portable CRT field monitor and that is exactly what some people may find they want. But clearly, these LCD monitors are no way near as sharp or resolute or accurate in reproducing color as a professional broadcast quality CRT field monitor. That, and the fact that I can monitor in a higher resolution of 450 lines via S-Video rather than composite with the PVM-8045Q is why I prefer to use the 8045Q over an LCD screen for making critical judgements. Your'e able to see more sharpness and color detail in S-Video over composite. Also, a monitor like the 8045Q offers Underscan and Blue Gun adjustment and can easily be calibrated in the field as far as color, phase, contrast, peaking, etc.

Now I am not forgetting why an LCD screen like the Nebtek is such a good idea,,, I will still often times use one in addition to the Sony, typically mounted on top of my camera with a hot shoe ball mount to emulate a studio viewfinder, or perhaps to provide the producer with their own feed of what is going on.

Just wanted to point out that these LCD screens are really only best used for framing as they do are not sharp or accurate enough to use for focus and color adjustments the way a high-quality CRT is, especially one that allows you to monitor the S-Video output of your camera.

- don

Do you find that much difference between the S-Video input and the composite input? I see less dot crawl with S-Video, but not really much else. If I compare using the blue gun I don't see much difference at all in noise.

Yes, certainly enough to make a difference to me.

Can't wait until the cams we use output SDI *grins*

- don

I use a 7" Starvision with the Nebtek Canon battery adaptor, that way I can constantly cycle 945 Canon batteries for the Xl-1s dual mount and the lcd power.

I ONLY use the lcd for framing and movement with my stedicam, or gaffed to the side for moving dolly or locked down shots, and also with a jib arm, so composite vs. S-video makes me no difference.

I always use a nice field monitor as well to check color, lighting, composition and so on. If you have a nice field monitor, WYSIWYG, but the little LCD is nice when moving a camera.

I think any Nebtek lcd monitor is a good way to go, as chances are you will end up sending you whatever LCD you get to Nebtek anyway for portable power. They hold all the patents and they are super cool. The only problem I ever ran into with them is being out of stock on Canon adaptor pieces as their stuff is so popular people buy it too fast to keep in house...

See also http://www.dvinfo.net/canon/articles/article39.php and http://www.dvinfo.net/canon/articles/article79.php.