So if this camera outputs analog component video that can go into an HDTV, I don't understand the fuss about finding a good HD monitor. VGA is analog component. All you need is a straight component/VGA cable and a cheap computer monitor. The power consumption would be the biggest issue then, but at <$150 for a 17" 16:9 720p VGA LCD, it's worth it.

Am I missing something?

A cheap computer monitor is not a good HD monitor for professional video work. You'll find some pretty good explanations on this issue on quite a few threads if you run a search.

and VGA is RGB, while video is YUV. you would need a converter.
and both signal have different sync. signals.

A cheap computer monitor is not a good HD monitor for professional video work. You'll find some pretty good explanations on this issue on quite a few threads if you run a search.

I should rephrase to 'inexpensive'. An inexpensive computer LCD is orders of magnitude beyond something like a Nebtek. The main difference is power and durability; for quality there is no contest between 480x234 and 1280x720 or whatever it is.

The YUV vs RGB is a good point, but it's easy enough to convert:
http://www.siliconchip.com.au/cms/A_101537/article.html
http://forum.ecoustics.com/bbs/messages/5/62545.html
http://elm-chan.org/works/yuv2rgb/report.html

A cheap 720P LCD monitor (19" and bigger) with component inputs would work fine for judging focus on set, but that's about it.

A cheap 720P LCD monitor (19" and bigger) with component inputs would work fine for judging focus on set, but that's about it.

It could be used for composition as well as color calibration.

It could be used for composition as well as color calibration.

Sure, but the viewfinder works just as well for composition, but my point was that a cheap LCD monitor on set can't be trusted for colour calibration.

Through HDVrack on my laptop (TFT screen calibrated with Spider2 Color calibration) I have very good results using this as my HD monitor on location.
I'm sure a real HD monitor will look better, but so far it did the job.

I have had stellar results using a 75ft component cable from an HD100 to a Dell 24" LCD monitor. (it has component input and can view up to 1920x1080 resolution)

Focus can be trusted 100% on it.

I use trucolor so I'm not worried about color after manually white balancing.

at $ 850 we paid for it on sale a year ago, I consider that "cheap" and effective HD monitoring.

If you can still find one, the Sony MFM-HT75W is great! It's a 17" 720p monitor. A perfect match for the HD100 on the cheap. I paid just $450 for mine. It's sharp and can be trusted for focus. Color is not bad either.

I believe that Sony makes a wide screen version, the Sony MFM-HT75WS. Another similar option, for about $100 less, is the Samsung TFT SyncMaster 940MW, although it's 19" you basically get the same screen width as the 17" widescreen Sony.

What makes these monitors very usefull is that they are relatively small and portable, specially the Sony which can be mounted inside a pelican case. For location work you can monitor your HDV camera (RGB) and in your editing suite they can double as an extra computer monitor (VGA & DVI) as well as a video monitor if you are editing in DV (s-video and composite video), or both at the same time (pip).

I believe either model is fairly accurate for non critical color correction with basic calibration (I'm assuming that you wouldn't want to do critical color correction on a $400 monitor).

best of luck

I believe that Sony makes a wide screen version, the Sony MFM-HT75WS.

Actually the MFM-HT75W is a widescreen. I have it and that's the correct model number. There's no such thing as a MFM-HT75WS. I think it's just an Internet error. Sony makes a 4:3 version but it's a 19".

Sure, but the viewfinder works just as well for composition, .

Perhaps for the most experienced operators. But it sure isn't adequate for me. I really need a big image to assess. I've even had trouble with 9" monitors.

Sure, but the viewfinder works just as well for composition,

Most of the time it does, but I just filmed a Jazz group at a club this week and I can tell you that it's not always easy. Since JVC opted to use a 4:3 viewfinder and LCD for a 16:9 camera there were several times where my camerapeople and I experienced minor problems composing the shot. The pitch black background of the club blended into the letterboxing on the LCD. Even with the action safe guides on screen, it's a moment of confusion that's un-needed during a live shoot. Using a cheap portable DVD player with an 16:9 LCD and a video input helps and we have a few. Unfortunately the circumstances of the shoot prevented two of the camerapeople from using them, one of them me. It came out pretty good regardless.

Now if only New York City could extend their anti-smoking laws to pot smokers in these clubs. Imagine trying to run a camera when you are standing in a very visible haze of marijuana smoke and absolutely no air circulation. Even the musicians complained!

Just to follow up, I purchased a Mayflash YUV->RGB converter from SewellDirect for ~$55 and it works well. While it does appear to be a european model, the necessary AC adapter was included. The unit is very small, very light, and the picture quality is excellent. Its little power adapter feeds it 6VDC, so it should be able to run directly off four AA batteries or a step-down from 12+VDC coming out of a battery pack.

As much as fun as it would have been to build the device from the painfully simple plans, the price paid was so fair that I couldn't justify spending even one hour with the soldering iron.

The first time you see raw HD100 footage on a high resolution monitor, your jaw will drop. The clarity is unreal.

FYI, I was using cheap 10ft VGA and RCA cables as interconnects and there was no noticeable noise on the monitor. This little thing must put out a pretty strong signal.


For field previewing, I plan to use an 800x480 16:9 VGA monitor ala Xenarc/Lilliput. Resolution should be sufficient for focusing, especially if I can disable scaling and run at x720. Color accuracy will not be expected from a $90 monitor, though they are very adjustable.

SWIT now make a range of 8" HD LCD monitors that will take a range of inputs including HD-SDI and component input. I'd classify these as mid price range.
http://www.swit-battery.com/swit2006/english/newproducts.asp

What 800x480 VGA monitor are you referring to for $90 or am I mis-understanding?

Also, I have an XLh1 and was thinking of using the mayflash device to hook to a 1280x720P LCD. How does the Mayflash handle 1080i to 720P conversion?

Thanks!

Just to follow up, I purchased a Mayflash YUV->RGB converter from SewellDirect for ~$55 and it works well. While it does appear to be a european model, the necessary AC adapter was included. The unit is very small, very light, and the picture quality is excellent. Its little power adapter feeds it 6VDC, so it should be able to run directly off four AA batteries or a step-down from 12+VDC coming out of a battery pack.

For field previewing, I plan to use an 800x480 16:9 VGA monitor ala Xenarc/Lilliput. Resolution should be sufficient for focusing, especially if I can disable scaling and run at x720. Color accuracy will not be expected from a $90 monitor, though they are very adjustable.

I bought a 7" off ebay and got it for $90 because of a bad touchscreen. I just bought a non-TS 9.2" with RCA as well as VGA inputs for 150 shipped. If you buy new, with working touchscreens, you can find them for ~210 shipped. Lilliput, Xenarc, Dynamix, TView -- they are all basically the same internals.

I'm not sure about 1080i->720p, but I would not expect the device to do that. It basically just converts YUV to RGB.


What 800x480 VGA monitor are you referring to for $90 or am I mis-understanding?

Also, I have an XLh1 and was thinking of using the mayflash device to hook to a 1280x720P LCD. How does the Mayflash handle 1080i to 720P conversion?

Thanks!


If there is demand, I could probably do a bulk buy for the monitors, Mayflashes, and power converters, and pass along some of the savings as a 'kit'. I'm buying as many different monitors as I can to figure out the best one(s); I will report on this soon.

I'm not sure about 1080i->720p, but I would not expect the device to do that. It basically just converts YUV to RGB.



So if I took a Canon that outputs 1080i and plugged it into a Mayflash to take it from YUV to RGB it would output a 1080i RGB signal. How does a small 800x480 or 1280x720 handle an RGB 1080i signal? Does it scale it? Or does it just not work because it is not a supported resoution?

Thanks.

So if I took a Canon that outputs 1080i and plugged it into a Mayflash to take it from YUV to RGB it would output a 1080i RGB signal. How does a small 800x480 or 1280x720 handle an RGB 1080i signal? Does it scale it? Or does it just not work because it is not a supported resoution?

It depends on the monitor. I assume the cheaper monitors would attempt to stretch or simply display 'mode not supported'. I believe the HD100 can convert on the fly to 480/60p and that should be good enough for most purposes. There are very few LCD panels that can display a full 1280x720 let alone 1080i in < 8", so it's not like that Marshall monitor is going to give you any more pixels. It will just be able to better stretch those larger formats into the common 800x480 size (and offer inputs/outputs galore).

'Native resolution' is the real resolution of the panel. 'Max resolution' means nothing.

I have my eyes on a cool little 17" Widescreen Gateway for under $200 that is native 1280x720. It would be perfect for the HD100 but I have a Canon XL-H1. I wish I could find out how it would react to a 1080i signal before I invest in it.

Thanks!

So I got my 9" widescreen and the mayflash and hooked it all up... and realized that I cannot get the HD100 to downres its component outputs to SD in realtime. It can do it for playback, but not live. The cheap LCD cannot downres from 1280x720; it is expecting 480p. Is this something that was changed in the HD110? Is there an unlock in the service menu?

Doh!

It says" HD Monitor" and is the 1680x1050 and it recognises the 720p through component inputs. This works great for focus and composing shots.

It swivels to the side and other directions too. It goes well in a pelican case with the foam fitted perfectly...

The wife doesn't mind using it here and there for my projects. It did come with the Gateway computer at Costco Canada.

I have the Gateway 21" widescreen monitor (1050x1680) which I assume is the same as yours. I have used it with my Sony Z1 and at first it seemed very nice. But the more I used it I realized I couldn't quite calibrate the brightness correctly. With the brightness turned all the way up the screen is still too dim. The only thing you can do is turn the contrast up higher, and at a certain point it will start blowing out the highlights.

I've tried playing with all the controls, and have come to the conclusion that the image always looks too dark on this screen, or else too contrasty if you crank the contrast way up. But it works fine for focus, and it is also fine as a second computer monitor.