Portable DVD Player as Monitor?

Jelle Poupaert · February 3rd, 2006, 07:01 PM

here's a short explanation of the difference:

http://www.answerbag.com/q_view.php/15434

I dont think there are LCD screens in the $100-$300 price range with a component input, so I would go for s-video.

Leo Mandy · February 4th, 2006, 09:30 AM

For those in Canada, CanadianTire has a 7 inch monitor for sale for $100.00. I bought one today and going to test it out, it has 16:9 and 4:3, brightness adjust. I am going to keep it anyways for my steadicam, but it might double. I don't think it has 180 degree, but I can just turn it upside down I believe.

http://www.canadiantire.ca/assortmen...romSearch=true

Leo Mandy · February 4th, 2006, 12:31 PM

Is there a S-video to 1/8 inch stereo converter cable? I am trying out this monitor, but it doesn't like the AV out to the video in, so I need to try another route.
Actually I found a 1/8 to 1/8 that seems to work :
Here is a grab/. Bad lighting, I know. Just did it quick :

http://dvstuff.250free.com/bag.htm

I shot the little monitor and hence the mirror to infinity effect. I think the monitor looks pretty good, althought there are no instructions to tell me the specs ie; probably 640X480. But I did a focus test with the monitor and it was sharp enough to use for focusing, so I think this one is a cheap keeper for me.

Andrew Todd · February 4th, 2006, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leo Mandy

For those in Canada, CanadianTire has a 7 inch monitor for sale for $100.00. I bought one today and going to test it out, it has 16:9 and 4:3, brightness adjust. I am going to keep it anyways for my steadicam, but it might double. I don't think it has 180 degree, but I can just turn it upside down I believe.

http://www.canadiantire.ca/assortmen...romSearch=true

im going down to crappy tire after work!! good find .. thats a great deal.. probably not the best qualtiy but good enough to frame with..

what part of canada do you live in leo?

Leo Mandy · February 4th, 2006, 01:10 PM

Ontario. I little far from N.B!
The monitor is a 90 day warranty, so you really can't go wrong. Test it out and see.
Most importantly, it is light as a feather, can be turned upside down and has no pieces for mounting that cannot be easily removed.

Clint Grant · July 2nd, 2006, 04:24 PM

Hey there everybody,

I currently only use the viewfinder on my XL1s, however, it would be much simpler if I could get a seperate monitor. Of course, I could get a camera-mounted LCD monitor, but it woudl be much cheaper if I use a portable DVD player instead. Can this be done? (Obviously need either Composite plug-ins, or S-video cable.). If this can be done, are there any portable DVD players you would reccomend? Sorry if this question is a little bit vague, (or simply a silly question.....), but I figured it's worth a try! Thanks,

~Clint Grant~

Terry Arnold · July 5th, 2006, 04:43 PM

Would it be possible to use a portable DVD player as a monitor while recording or using as playback using the RCA or s-video port? The price of these things are quite cheap now compared to a "real monitor". I'm sure it could be afixed to a tripod via velcro or some straping assembly.

Brent Adams · July 5th, 2006, 07:42 PM

In theory yes. The problem you're going to run into is power in the field. Most of these devices run off wall worts or DC adapters for use in a vehicle. Those that use batteries typically have a short lifespan (2-3 hours generally).

Also the picture quality can really be iffy, I don't think it would be good for anything but composition or just having another monitor so you and the cameraman aren't fighting for the EVF. Using it as a reference monitor for color or luminance is probably not going to work out too well.

Tom Elliott · July 7th, 2006, 06:27 PM

I would just try it with a portable battery, like they have for your on camera light. If it works then practice so that you can quickly set it up in the field without being a clutz. If you practice with it in the studio have your correctly balance studio monitor as a reference and then GLUE the settings down so they don't move. At the worst it could only be used as a second compositional monitor for your client/director at best it would show the correct color balnce and so forth. Have fun.
Tom

Zack Birlew · July 9th, 2006, 10:56 PM

I currently use a Toshiba portable DVD player with my GL1, works fine as a composition monitor, but focusing isn't too hot. I don't know if newer DVD players will do a better job than mine, which I got back in 2002, but I wouldn't have high hopes. Ikan makes some decent production LCD's for about the same price as a portable DVD player, but don't expect too much from them either, the review I read was that they were good entry-level monitors, but they weren't great.

Terry Arnold · July 11th, 2006, 05:35 PM

What wiring connection do you use to attach the DVD to the GL? RCA or S-video or what? I was talking to a sales associate at a Circuit City about this and he showed me that the RCA plugs seemed a bit loose to get a proper connection??? It still seems to be an economical approach and you can still use it for a DVD viewer

Tom Elliott · July 11th, 2006, 07:26 PM

Dear Terry Arnold,
I really do not know what kind of hook up to make it work properly as a low cost monitor.
If you lived next door to me, I would invite you over for lunch, a swim in the pool and then have you take your time going through my "goodie box" of a gizzilion sizes and kinds of wires to make it work
However I bit the bullet and when I got my GL2 I also sent away for a Marshall location monitor with suedo leather case, sun shield, recharable battery, recharger and an extension arm to have it attached to my tripod so I can be a gentleman, remain seated and compose the shots through the monitor. It was not cheap and thank goodness, video taped depositions pay well.
Yours,
Tom

Zack Birlew · July 11th, 2006, 11:20 PM

Terry, my particular DVD player has both AV-In, AV-Out, Compenent Out, and S-Video Out. For the GL1, I use a Sony AV Connection cable which you should be able to find at a videogame store somewhere (ie. EBGames, Electronics Boutique, Best Buy, ect.), it's even listed on the Sonystyle.com store website under the Playstation 2 accessories list. It's very easy, I just plug one end of the AV cable into the GL1 and the other goes into the AV-In on the DVD player and voila, it works like a charm, but my DVD player, as I've said before, isn't exceptionally good for focusing, still very useful though.

Harold Schreiber · July 12th, 2006, 04:09 PM

Hi Terry,

I don't have the NICE Cams you folks have, a Sony TRV-950 is the best of my 4 Cams.

But, I have been using a seperate Monitor for the last 8 yrs or so. In fact I almost always use one. You've been able to use those Portable DVD players since they came out with "inputs".

Like the others have said, the issue is "in the Field" and the Pic Quality. I've got 5" & 8" LCD TV units from Radio Shack ( both AC/DC ) ( $150 ?), a 15" LCD Samsung AC unit, and 9" and 13" CRT TV AC unit's. The two smaller monitors can be attached to my TriPod, to a second TriPod, to my extendable ( 2' to 4' ) control handle, to whatever. I can send you Pics of these if interested.

If no electricity is available, then I go on battery power. For the Horse Shows I do, I use a Cam, a Monitor, and 2 VCRs. I can power all these for up to 13 hrs. "in the Field" if I need too.

For the day light, I have made Sun Shields for each Monitor and even one for each Cams' little side monitor.

I recently went to Best Buy looking for a DVD Player unit, and only found one that would give a decent Pic. The 10" Insignia unit was the best one (currently $189). The 2 Sonys had good Pics, but were dimer and their screens were way to reflective to be usefull.

If you really need acuracy, then you'll have to put out the $$$ for the best units.

Harold

Terry Arnold · July 12th, 2006, 06:36 PM

Thanks all! Seems the concensus is it's doable, Guess I'll go find me a unit and see what comes out. Very nice work on your web site Tom. Many many years ago I lived down in Miami, last on Coral Way. Anyway this all is just a serious hobby for me, and really I'm more in to photography, just getting into Video. Supporting two hobbies like this is getting to be EXPENSIVE and difficult lugging all of the equipment around. Again THANKS ALL.

July 2nd, 2006, 04:24 PM	#66
Clint Grant Regular Crew Join Date: May 2005 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 125	XL1s and DVD Player Hey there everybody, I currently only use the viewfinder on my XL1s, however, it would be much simpler if I could get a seperate monitor. Of course, I could get a camera-mounted LCD monitor, but it woudl be much cheaper if I use a portable DVD player instead. Can this be done? (Obviously need either Composite plug-ins, or S-video cable.). If this can be done, are there any portable DVD players you would reccomend? Sorry if this question is a little bit vague, (or simply a silly question.....), but I figured it's worth a try! Thanks, ~Clint Grant~

July 5th, 2006, 04:43 PM	#67
Terry Arnold New Boot Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 20	Portable DVD player as monitor for GL2 Would it be possible to use a portable DVD player as a monitor while recording or using as playback using the RCA or s-video port? The price of these things are quite cheap now compared to a "real monitor". I'm sure it could be afixed to a tripod via velcro or some straping assembly.

July 7th, 2006, 06:27 PM	#69
Tom Elliott Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Miami, Florida Posts: 75	I would just try it with a portable battery, like they have for your on camera light. If it works then practice so that you can quickly set it up in the field without being a clutz. If you practice with it in the studio have your correctly balance studio monitor as a reference and then GLUE the settings down so they don't move. At the worst it could only be used as a second compositional monitor for your client/director at best it would show the correct color balnce and so forth. Have fun. Tom __________________ Tom Elliott - Photographer http://www.tom-elliott-photography.com Studio Phone: 305-251-4315 Miami, Florida

July 9th, 2006, 10:56 PM	#70
Zack Birlew Major Player Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 613	I currently use a Toshiba portable DVD player with my GL1, works fine as a composition monitor, but focusing isn't too hot. I don't know if newer DVD players will do a better job than mine, which I got back in 2002, but I wouldn't have high hopes. Ikan makes some decent production LCD's for about the same price as a portable DVD player, but don't expect too much from them either, the review I read was that they were good entry-level monitors, but they weren't great. __________________ "Babs Do or Babs Do not, there is no try." - Zack Birlew www.BabsDoProductions.com

July 11th, 2006, 07:26 PM	#72
Tom Elliott Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Miami, Florida Posts: 75	Dear Terry Arnold, I really do not know what kind of hook up to make it work properly as a low cost monitor. If you lived next door to me, I would invite you over for lunch, a swim in the pool and then have you take your time going through my "goodie box" of a gizzilion sizes and kinds of wires to make it work However I bit the bullet and when I got my GL2 I also sent away for a Marshall location monitor with suedo leather case, sun shield, recharable battery, recharger and an extension arm to have it attached to my tripod so I can be a gentleman, remain seated and compose the shots through the monitor. It was not cheap and thank goodness, video taped depositions pay well. Yours, Tom __________________ Tom Elliott - Photographer http://www.tom-elliott-photography.com Studio Phone: 305-251-4315 Miami, Florida

February 3rd, 2006, 07:01 PM	#61
Jelle Poupaert New Boot Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 13	here's a short explanation of the difference: http://www.answerbag.com/q_view.php/15434 I dont think there are LCD screens in the $100-$300 price range with a component input, so I would go for s-video.

February 4th, 2006, 09:30 AM	#62
Leo Mandy Major Player Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 749	For those in Canada, CanadianTire has a 7 inch monitor for sale for $100.00. I bought one today and going to test it out, it has 16:9 and 4:3, brightness adjust. I am going to keep it anyways for my steadicam, but it might double. I don't think it has 180 degree, but I can just turn it upside down I believe. http://www.canadiantire.ca/assortmen...romSearch=true

February 4th, 2006, 12:31 PM	#63
Leo Mandy Major Player Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 749	Is there a S-video to 1/8 inch stereo converter cable? I am trying out this monitor, but it doesn't like the AV out to the video in, so I need to try another route. Actually I found a 1/8 to 1/8 that seems to work : Here is a grab/. Bad lighting, I know. Just did it quick : http://dvstuff.250free.com/bag.htm I shot the little monitor and hence the mirror to infinity effect. I think the monitor looks pretty good, althought there are no instructions to tell me the specs ie; probably 640X480. But I did a focus test with the monitor and it was sharp enough to use for focusing, so I think this one is a cheap keeper for me.

February 4th, 2006, 01:10 PM	#65
Leo Mandy Major Player Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 749	Ontario. I little far from N.B! The monitor is a 90 day warranty, so you really can't go wrong. Test it out and see. Most importantly, it is light as a feather, can be turned upside down and has no pieces for mounting that cannot be easily removed.

July 5th, 2006, 07:42 PM	#68
Brent Adams Tourist Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 2	In theory yes. The problem you're going to run into is power in the field. Most of these devices run off wall worts or DC adapters for use in a vehicle. Those that use batteries typically have a short lifespan (2-3 hours generally). Also the picture quality can really be iffy, I don't think it would be good for anything but composition or just having another monitor so you and the cameraman aren't fighting for the EVF. Using it as a reference monitor for color or luminance is probably not going to work out too well.

July 11th, 2006, 05:35 PM	#71
Terry Arnold New Boot Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 20	What wiring connection do you use to attach the DVD to the GL? RCA or S-video or what? I was talking to a sales associate at a Circuit City about this and he showed me that the RCA plugs seemed a bit loose to get a proper connection??? It still seems to be an economical approach and you can still use it for a DVD viewer

July 11th, 2006, 11:20 PM	#73
Zack Birlew Major Player Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 613	Terry, my particular DVD player has both AV-In, AV-Out, Compenent Out, and S-Video Out. For the GL1, I use a Sony AV Connection cable which you should be able to find at a videogame store somewhere (ie. EBGames, Electronics Boutique, Best Buy, ect.), it's even listed on the Sonystyle.com store website under the Playstation 2 accessories list. It's very easy, I just plug one end of the AV cable into the GL1 and the other goes into the AV-In on the DVD player and voila, it works like a charm, but my DVD player, as I've said before, isn't exceptionally good for focusing, still very useful though. __________________ "Babs Do or Babs Do not, there is no try." - Zack Birlew www.BabsDoProductions.com

July 12th, 2006, 04:09 PM	#74
Harold Schreiber Major Player Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Olathe, Kansas Posts: 309	Hi Terry, I don't have the NICE Cams you folks have, a Sony TRV-950 is the best of my 4 Cams. But, I have been using a seperate Monitor for the last 8 yrs or so. In fact I almost always use one. You've been able to use those Portable DVD players since they came out with "inputs". Like the others have said, the issue is "in the Field" and the Pic Quality. I've got 5" & 8" LCD TV units from Radio Shack ( both AC/DC ) ( $150 ?), a 15" LCD Samsung AC unit, and 9" and 13" CRT TV AC unit's. The two smaller monitors can be attached to my TriPod, to a second TriPod, to my extendable ( 2' to 4' ) control handle, to whatever. I can send you Pics of these if interested. If no electricity is available, then I go on battery power. For the Horse Shows I do, I use a Cam, a Monitor, and 2 VCRs. I can power all these for up to 13 hrs. "in the Field" if I need too. For the day light, I have made Sun Shields for each Monitor and even one for each Cams' little side monitor. I recently went to Best Buy looking for a DVD Player unit, and only found one that would give a decent Pic. The 10" Insignia unit was the best one (currently $189). The 2 Sonys had good Pics, but were dimer and their screens were way to reflective to be usefull. If you really need acuracy, then you'll have to put out the $$$ for the best units. Harold

July 12th, 2006, 06:36 PM	#75
Terry Arnold New Boot Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 20	Thanks all! Seems the concensus is it's doable, Guess I'll go find me a unit and see what comes out. Very nice work on your web site Tom. Many many years ago I lived down in Miami, last on Coral Way. Anyway this all is just a serious hobby for me, and really I'm more in to photography, just getting into Video. Supporting two hobbies like this is getting to be EXPENSIVE and difficult lugging all of the equipment around. Again THANKS ALL.