Field monitor for Canon XH A1

Andy Yoong · August 3rd, 2008, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian Wright

I'm currently filming at the Edinburgh Fringe and have been using a Sony FX850 portable dvd system which has a hi-res 8" screen. It's absolutely great and lasts for about 6 hours on its own battery. I made a small wooden platform for it which I attach to the top of one of the tripod legs.

I leave the Canon's own screen folded in and use the Sony screen all the time.

Ian
www.festivalpreviews.com

Thanks for the reply. I was looking into this unit. I have also just checked out the 7" displays by lilliput which seem be a cheap option for use with a 35mm adaptor. I have seen another person with an xha1 using this with an external 12v battery. They are using a Noga mount but i'm not sure where the best place to get one of these or something similar in the uk. Does anyone know?

Robert Huber · August 3rd, 2008, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian Wright

I'm currently filming at the Edinburgh Fringe and have been using a Sony FX850 portable dvd system which has a hi-res 8" screen. It's absolutely great and lasts for about 6 hours on its own battery. I made a small wooden platform for it which I attach to the top of one of the tripod legs.

I leave the Canon's own screen folded in and use the Sony screen all the time.

Ian
www.festivalpreviews.com

I have been curious about that myself. I think the nearest US equivalent is the FX820. Do you find it pretty useful for focus while shooting HD? Also, how are you connecting it to your camera?

Loren Simons · August 3rd, 2008, 05:59 PM

yeah im curious to if ur using the sony with a 35mm?

Ian Wright · August 4th, 2008, 12:42 AM

I'm using the fx850 with just a "stock" A1. I didn't spot the 35mm reference in the original post.

I've constructed a small shelf to hold the FX850. The shelf attaches to the top of one of the tripod legs using bicycle lamp holders. Very ad hoc and I intend to look for something better after the Festival finishes.

At about 15m distance from the stage and with the A1's Magnify on, a microphone ball head fills about half the screen vertically and makes it very easy to focus on the wire mesh of the microphone.

Ian
www.festivalpreviews.com

Alain Lumina · August 4th, 2008, 02:57 PM

I looked at a Sony "High Res" DVD player , I think an 820 model, in a USA department store, looked like it has some kind of 1/8" jack labelled "AV In"

Can someone tell me which out jack from the XH-A1 do I connect , and what the cable spec is?

Thanks!

Bill Busby · August 4th, 2008, 03:02 PM

1/8" mini to BNC

Andy Yoong · August 4th, 2008, 04:27 PM

I've searched loads of places but can't seem to find a noga mount or something similar in the uk to mount a monitor. Does anyone know where I can get something like this?

Alain Lumina · August 4th, 2008, 05:27 PM

Thanks for letting me know about cable spec. Does anyone know where to get them?

There's a radio shack in town, but they seem to have the screw on coaxial connectors people use for cable TV, instead of BC, which I think is different.

Charles Dodd · August 4th, 2008, 06:27 PM

I got a BNC to stereo cable from pacificcable.com. You can get the
lengths you want from them or any combination of connections. I have
a XH A1. At one time I tried the Sony FX820 which worked well, but
was too heavy to mount on the hotshoe.

Charles Dodd

Larry Huntington · August 5th, 2008, 12:15 AM

I use the Nebtek Neb70HD which is a super sharp and sturdy 7" monitor with the A1 which gave me ability for easy focus and a bright picture in sunny conditions. I connected with the canon component cable. I am moving to a Sony EX3 and have sold my two XH-A1's, so I am selling this monitor due to Sony's new sharp viewfinder and my need to run and gun. I use a manfrotto cold shoe ball mount which is very sturdy. This monitor is slightly heavy, but has worked well for me even in places like Africa and was an essential tool in the field. It was also really convenient to use my canon batteries with the monitor with the extra canon plate I purchased for the monitor.

Here is a link to my monitor for sale on this forum:

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=126956

Here is a link to the monitor features and specs on Nebtek's site:

http://www.nebtek.com/proddetail.php?prod=102NEB70HD

Gints Klimanis · August 5th, 2008, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charles Dodd

I got a BNC to stereo cable from pacificcable.com. You can get the
lengths you want from them or any combination of connections. I have
a XH A1. At one time I tried the Sony FX820 which worked well, but
was too heavy to mount on the hotshoe.
Charles Dodd

Yeah, and as an owner of an FX820, it's not as hot as we'd like it to be. Somehow, the component video conversion and deinterlacing just kill the sharpness that the FX820's LCD is capable of. Sure, it works, but many HD camcorders (well, at least mine: EX1) don't output the expanded focus view and other information (focus peaking) to the monitor, so it's just suitable for framing. I will concede that the FX820 is great for an alternative angle, or if you're working more then a few feet away.

Denys Pyevtsov · August 10th, 2008, 01:20 PM

I think I´ll post some pictures of my XHA1 and mini TV-HANNSPREE (about 200$). The quality of the disply is very good for the price. And it has a very nice "sharpness" feature which allow me to focus really easy. Its also cool becuase on XHA1 you cant use peaking and zebra at the same time. Extra nice: you can watch TV while shooting break ;-)

http://home.arcor.de/pyevtsov/XHA1/SNV80854.jpg
http://home.arcor.de/pyevtsov/XHA1/SNV80855.jpg
http://home.arcor.de/pyevtsov/XHA1/SNV80856.jpg
http://home.arcor.de/pyevtsov/XHA1/SNV80857.jpg
http://home.arcor.de/pyevtsov/XHA1/SNV80858.jpg
http://home.arcor.de/pyevtsov/XHA1/SNV80859.jpg

DJ Lewis · August 18th, 2008, 07:19 PM

Denys, what model is that?

Denys Pyevtsov · August 20th, 2008, 04:43 PM

Its a HANNS.mini DVB-T Portable TV.

Greg Rothschild · August 23rd, 2008, 08:38 AM

Just got the Ikan V-8000HD. After playing with it for an hour or so I think it is adequate for focusing with. It's better than the built-in lcd for judging wb accuracy too. I'm sure the Nebtek/Marshall etc.'s in the $1500-2500 price range are better but for the money the Ikan is aok, for me anyways.
The real reason for my post though is to plug bestbatt.com. I got the high capacity [970] battery plus a charger (with car adaptor) for $59. Not bad at all.

August 3rd, 2008, 05:59 PM	#78
Loren Simons Major Player Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 288	yeah im curious to if ur using the sony with a 35mm? __________________ Loren Simons

August 4th, 2008, 12:42 AM	#79
Ian Wright Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Edinburgh UK Posts: 94	I'm using the fx850 with just a "stock" A1. I didn't spot the 35mm reference in the original post. I've constructed a small shelf to hold the FX850. The shelf attaches to the top of one of the tripod legs using bicycle lamp holders. Very ad hoc and I intend to look for something better after the Festival finishes. At about 15m distance from the stage and with the A1's Magnify on, a microphone ball head fills about half the screen vertically and makes it very easy to focus on the wire mesh of the microphone. Ian www.festivalpreviews.com Last edited by Ian Wright; August 4th, 2008 at 12:43 AM. Reason: typo correction

August 4th, 2008, 02:57 PM	#80
Alain Lumina Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Fort Dick California ( Far North) Posts: 59	What's the connector cable needed to use Sony 850/820 DVD Player as Monitor I looked at a Sony "High Res" DVD player , I think an 820 model, in a USA department store, looked like it has some kind of 1/8" jack labelled "AV In" Can someone tell me which out jack from the XH-A1 do I connect , and what the cable spec is? Thanks!

August 4th, 2008, 04:27 PM	#82
Andy Yoong New Boot Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Belfast, United Kingdom Posts: 21	Noga Mount I've searched loads of places but can't seem to find a noga mount or something similar in the uk to mount a monitor. Does anyone know where I can get something like this?

August 4th, 2008, 05:27 PM	#83
Alain Lumina Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Fort Dick California ( Far North) Posts: 59	Where to get 1/8" ( mono, or 2 conductor right?) to BNC cable Thanks for letting me know about cable spec. Does anyone know where to get them? There's a radio shack in town, but they seem to have the screw on coaxial connectors people use for cable TV, instead of BC, which I think is different.

August 4th, 2008, 03:02 PM	#81
Bill Busby Major Player Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 959	1/8" mini to BNC

August 4th, 2008, 06:27 PM	#84
Charles Dodd Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Murray, Ky Posts: 43	Cables made to order I got a BNC to stereo cable from pacificcable.com. You can get the lengths you want from them or any combination of connections. I have a XH A1. At one time I tried the Sony FX820 which worked well, but was too heavy to mount on the hotshoe. Charles Dodd

August 5th, 2008, 12:15 AM	#85
Larry Huntington Major Player Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Grass Valley, California Posts: 350	I use the Nebtek Neb70HD which is a super sharp and sturdy 7" monitor with the A1 which gave me ability for easy focus and a bright picture in sunny conditions. I connected with the canon component cable. I am moving to a Sony EX3 and have sold my two XH-A1's, so I am selling this monitor due to Sony's new sharp viewfinder and my need to run and gun. I use a manfrotto cold shoe ball mount which is very sturdy. This monitor is slightly heavy, but has worked well for me even in places like Africa and was an essential tool in the field. It was also really convenient to use my canon batteries with the monitor with the extra canon plate I purchased for the monitor. Here is a link to my monitor for sale on this forum: http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=126956 Here is a link to the monitor features and specs on Nebtek's site: http://www.nebtek.com/proddetail.php?prod=102NEB70HD Attached Images

August 10th, 2008, 01:20 PM	#87
Denys Pyevtsov Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Germany Posts: 30	I think I´ll post some pictures of my XHA1 and mini TV-HANNSPREE (about 200$). The quality of the disply is very good for the price. And it has a very nice "sharpness" feature which allow me to focus really easy. Its also cool becuase on XHA1 you cant use peaking and zebra at the same time. Extra nice: you can watch TV while shooting break ;-) http://home.arcor.de/pyevtsov/XHA1/SNV80854.jpg http://home.arcor.de/pyevtsov/XHA1/SNV80855.jpg http://home.arcor.de/pyevtsov/XHA1/SNV80856.jpg http://home.arcor.de/pyevtsov/XHA1/SNV80857.jpg http://home.arcor.de/pyevtsov/XHA1/SNV80858.jpg http://home.arcor.de/pyevtsov/XHA1/SNV80859.jpg

August 18th, 2008, 07:19 PM	#88
DJ Lewis Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 97	Denys, what model is that?

August 20th, 2008, 04:43 PM	#89
Denys Pyevtsov Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Germany Posts: 30	Its a HANNS.mini DVB-T Portable TV.

August 23rd, 2008, 08:38 AM	#90
Greg Rothschild Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Los Angeles, Ca Posts: 120	Just got the Ikan V-8000HD. After playing with it for an hour or so I think it is adequate for focusing with. It's better than the built-in lcd for judging wb accuracy too. I'm sure the Nebtek/Marshall etc.'s in the $1500-2500 price range are better but for the money the Ikan is aok, for me anyways. The real reason for my post though is to plug bestbatt.com. I got the high capacity [970] battery plus a charger (with car adaptor) for $59. Not bad at all. __________________ Greg Rothschild Photography http://www.gregrothschild.com