Rewriring the Pilot for HD at DVinfo.net

Steven Davis · January 16th, 2014, 02:08 PM

Soooo, Steadicam wants 750.00 to rewire my Pilot to HD, that's without the monitor. Which I told them was way too high.

Has anyone rewired their own?

Dave Gish · January 26th, 2014, 02:22 PM

Do you need HD on the Pilot monitor? With a 7" monitor around 3 feet would you notice the difference? Does the camera only output HD? If so, you can buy a little down-converter box.

Charles Papert · January 26th, 2014, 09:44 PM

If you cable from the front of the camera stage down to the monitor in a straight line, there will be no operating issues (you'd have to spin the camera around and see yourself before the cable would restrict you). You would need to disconnect it for spin balancing, but the weight of the cable wouldn't change anything once you had achieved dynamic balance. It's not as ideal as recabling the rig down the post but since money is a factor...

Zexun Tan · January 27th, 2014, 09:36 AM

Actually I was thinking about doing just that for the cost. I could get a cheap Pilot AA set and get a SmallHD AC7 monitor with SDI.

Charles Papert · January 27th, 2014, 11:56 AM

Just be aware that a standard monitor such as an AC7 is going to be much less viewable in daylight than the stock Pilot monitor, which has a certain amount of anti-reflective coating on it (SmallHD does make a high-bright version but it costs quite a bit more). Probably the cheapest daylight viewable you'll find is a used Marshall transflective model from 3 or 4 years ago.

If you have to choose between a standard HD monitor and a high brightness or AR coated SD one, you're better off with the latter. You don't want to be struggling to see an image outside.

Zoran Vincic · January 30th, 2014, 09:53 PM

Charles, I'm not a steadi pro but if the standard LCD that I got with my Pilot VLB (bought 4 years ago at BH) does have any coating it's not very good.

It's hard to work with it outside on a bright sunny day.

I've actually experimented with a higher NIT chinese monitor, one of the earlier 7'' lilliput models and it was actually more useable outside than the stock Pilot LCD. But the 1/4'' thread mount was poorly made and I discovered that it induced vibrations while operating so I stopped using it and went back to the stock monitor.

I did heard that they have a transreflective model too but haven't been able to dig it up. I'd love to try it.

As I said, I'm not a steadi pro and still can't justify the cost of a proper monitor (which probably costs as much as my whole rig).

Charles Papert · January 31st, 2014, 12:26 AM

Certainly the Pilot monitor wasn't anywhere near great, but the one I tried was better than the standard monitors available at the time. In the past few years the NIT ratings have crept up in the budget monitor world. It does take a combination of brightness and AR coatings to do the trick though (brightness is good for the highlights, but AR is what keeps the blacks down, resulting in necessary contrast). There are currently very few monitors on the market that can satisfy the majority of pro Steadicam guys (there are still a few that stick to their CRT's, monochrome and standard def regardless)!

Dave Gish · January 31st, 2014, 12:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charles Papert

If you cable from the front of the camera stage down to the monitor in a straight line, there will be no operating issues (you'd have to spin the camera around and see yourself before the cable would restrict you). You would need to disconnect it for spin balancing, but the weight of the cable wouldn't change anything once you had achieved dynamic balance. It's not as ideal as recabling the rig down the post but since money is a factor...

Straight, meaning fairly tight, so it doesn't flop around. I can confirm that it doesn't get in the way during operation. But if you want to lengthen or shorten the post...

Eddy Chartrand · September 11th, 2014, 03:01 PM

I bought a Monster Thin HDMI cable online for $18.00. Took my pilot apart and ran cable through. Easy. Now have IKAN VH8 HD monitor instead of the original Pilot monitor.

Buba Kastorski · February 24th, 2016, 10:22 AM

it is not the cable, it's HDMI connector that i can't pass through the sled, how the heck did you do that?

January 16th, 2014, 02:08 PM	#1
Steven Davis Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 3,065	Rewriring the Pilot for HD Soooo, Steadicam wants 750.00 to rewire my Pilot to HD, that's without the monitor. Which I told them was way too high. Has anyone rewired their own? __________________ What happens if I push the 'Red' button?

January 26th, 2014, 02:22 PM	#2
Dave Gish Major Player Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Riverdale, NJ Posts: 468	Re: Rewriring the Pilot for HD Do you need HD on the Pilot monitor? With a 7" monitor around 3 feet would you notice the difference? Does the camera only output HD? If so, you can buy a little down-converter box.

January 26th, 2014, 09:44 PM	#3
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	Re: Rewriring the Pilot for HD If you cable from the front of the camera stage down to the monitor in a straight line, there will be no operating issues (you'd have to spin the camera around and see yourself before the cable would restrict you). You would need to disconnect it for spin balancing, but the weight of the cable wouldn't change anything once you had achieved dynamic balance. It's not as ideal as recabling the rig down the post but since money is a factor... __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com

January 27th, 2014, 09:36 AM	#4
Zexun Tan Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Singapore Posts: 102	Re: Rewriring the Pilot for HD Actually I was thinking about doing just that for the cost. I could get a cheap Pilot AA set and get a SmallHD AC7 monitor with SDI.

January 27th, 2014, 11:56 AM	#5
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	Re: Rewriring the Pilot for HD Just be aware that a standard monitor such as an AC7 is going to be much less viewable in daylight than the stock Pilot monitor, which has a certain amount of anti-reflective coating on it (SmallHD does make a high-bright version but it costs quite a bit more). Probably the cheapest daylight viewable you'll find is a used Marshall transflective model from 3 or 4 years ago. If you have to choose between a standard HD monitor and a high brightness or AR coated SD one, you're better off with the latter. You don't want to be struggling to see an image outside. __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com

January 30th, 2014, 09:53 PM	#6
Zoran Vincic Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Split, Croatia Posts: 189	Re: Rewriring the Pilot for HD Charles, I'm not a steadi pro but if the standard LCD that I got with my Pilot VLB (bought 4 years ago at BH) does have any coating it's not very good. It's hard to work with it outside on a bright sunny day. I've actually experimented with a higher NIT chinese monitor, one of the earlier 7'' lilliput models and it was actually more useable outside than the stock Pilot LCD. But the 1/4'' thread mount was poorly made and I discovered that it induced vibrations while operating so I stopped using it and went back to the stock monitor. I did heard that they have a transreflective model too but haven't been able to dig it up. I'd love to try it. As I said, I'm not a steadi pro and still can't justify the cost of a proper monitor (which probably costs as much as my whole rig).

January 31st, 2014, 12:26 AM	#7
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	Re: Rewriring the Pilot for HD Certainly the Pilot monitor wasn't anywhere near great, but the one I tried was better than the standard monitors available at the time. In the past few years the NIT ratings have crept up in the budget monitor world. It does take a combination of brightness and AR coatings to do the trick though (brightness is good for the highlights, but AR is what keeps the blacks down, resulting in necessary contrast). There are currently very few monitors on the market that can satisfy the majority of pro Steadicam guys (there are still a few that stick to their CRT's, monochrome and standard def regardless)! __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com

September 11th, 2014, 03:01 PM	#9
Eddy Chartrand New Boot Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Ontario Posts: 6	Re: Rewriring the Pilot for HD I bought a Monster Thin HDMI cable online for $18.00. Took my pilot apart and ran cable through. Easy. Now have IKAN VH8 HD monitor instead of the original Pilot monitor.

February 24th, 2016, 10:22 AM	#10
Buba Kastorski Trustee Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Toronto Posts: 1,414	Re: Rewriring the Pilot for HD it is not the cable, it's HDMI connector that i can't pass through the sled, how the heck did you do that? __________________ I love this place!