Sony Monitor for Alpha SLT/DSLRs

Ron Little · March 10th, 2011, 09:33 AM

Ok, I got tired of waiting and bought one. Waiting for delivery.

Jason Burkhimer · March 10th, 2011, 03:17 PM

Mine just arrived. Didn't realize a battery wasn't supplied. Awsum.

Off to the battery store.

Ron Little · March 11th, 2011, 09:46 AM

Jason, what are your first impressions?

Kirk Candlish · March 11th, 2011, 12:05 PM

Mine will be here tomorrow. It should be fun.

I have an extra battery for my SONY A850 so I've got that covered. Batteries are as cheap as $20 if you buy the Chinese knockoffs.

Kirk Candlish · March 13th, 2011, 01:31 AM

I've had the CLM-V55 for only a few hours but I'm totally impressed.

I was able to visually calibrate and get good color and contrast quickly. The presets of 9300K, 7200K and 6500K are readily tweeked with the Color tone (Phase), brightness, contrast and backlight adjustments. Popping in and out of the menu for these is quick and deliberate.

Peaking works like it should and if your res is 800X480 or higher you can go 1:1 and check focus at the center of the image quite effectively.

The pop up hood is sweet. It gives good shading in the full sun while never limiting a quick glance from off center. It snaps back down easily and becomes a good travel protection. The included soft cloth drawstring bag can easily hold the CLM-V55 with the hood and a battery attached.

The Auto-Lock shoe mount swivels and tilts easily with a good amount of resistance to keep it right where you put it, no creeping or sagging after you take your hand off.

Battery life is very good. I ran it for a couple of hours and popped the battery back in the charger where it fully recharged in under an hour. Batteries are light and cheap so I don't feel like I'd want to tether it to another battery system.

SONY has brought a great little 5" display to the market for a very good price.

Jeff Harper · March 13th, 2011, 12:03 PM

Kirk, I'm about to purchase the Sony, but I'm holding back due to size and thinking of the Marshall 7". Have you used a 7", and do you feel the 5" is adequate for focusing?

Jeff Harper · March 13th, 2011, 12:05 PM

By the way, Kirk, the reviews for the Pearstone batteries are pretty poor, (if that's what you're using) at least on the B and H website, so be prepared for a possibly short battery life...keep us updated!

Kirk Candlish · March 13th, 2011, 04:15 PM

Jeff I'm using SONY batteries. If you shop around you can find them for under $40. I've never risked cheap Chinese batteries in any of my gear.

I have used the M-LCD7-HDM and I prefer the SONY. They're both 800X480 but the SONY is much lighter and it's much less obtrusive mounted on the shoe. The higher res on the smaller screen makes it very nice and sharp. Quite easy to see.

Jeff Harper · March 13th, 2011, 07:05 PM

Kirk, I don't know why I thought you said you were using generics, I was clearly confused with someone else's post somewhere.

Anyway, thanks for the report, good to hear from someone who has used both! I'm glad you're pleased, and at any rate being newer equipment I thought it would be bound to be decent. At heart I really am a Sony fan to begin with, and I really wanted the monitor, so I guess I'll go ahead! thanks again!

Buba Kastorski · March 15th, 2011, 09:13 AM

Who do you guys buy it from, Sony site tells me "No results found for "CLM-V55" in All of Sony" :)

Michael Bray · March 15th, 2011, 09:43 AM

Buba,

I assume you're looking at sonystyle.ca Canada. They don't appear to offer it yet on their site, but if you take a look at sonystyle.com US, it's listed under DSLR accessories or you can type CLMV55 in the search. Another option is B&H...looks like they have it in stock as well.

Buba Kastorski · March 15th, 2011, 11:04 AM

i know Sony Canada don't have it, i was looking sony.com
but thanks for the tip :)

Michael Bray · March 15th, 2011, 11:39 AM

Huh, you're right...it's nowhere to be found on sony.com. Seems strange...but you will definitely find it on sonystyle.com

Kirk Candlish · March 15th, 2011, 12:03 PM

All the usual vendors have had it in stock. B&H, amazon, SONY Style.

Jeff Harper · March 15th, 2011, 05:00 PM

I found it on Sony before B&H, you just have to look in the right place, but it's $50 cheaper at B&H anyway.

March 10th, 2011, 09:33 AM	#16
Ron Little Major Player Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Pensacola Fl. Posts: 627	Re: Sony Monitor for Alpha SLT/DSLRs Ok, I got tired of waiting and bought one. Waiting for delivery.

March 10th, 2011, 03:17 PM	#17
Jason Burkhimer Major Player Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Posts: 220	Re: Sony Monitor for Alpha SLT/DSLRs Mine just arrived. Didn't realize a battery wasn't supplied. Awsum. Off to the battery store.

March 11th, 2011, 09:46 AM	#18
Ron Little Major Player Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Pensacola Fl. Posts: 627	Re: Sony Monitor for Alpha SLT/DSLRs Jason, what are your first impressions?

March 11th, 2011, 12:05 PM	#19
Kirk Candlish Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Southern, CA Posts: 198	Re: Sony Monitor for Alpha SLT/DSLRs Mine will be here tomorrow. It should be fun. I have an extra battery for my SONY A850 so I've got that covered. Batteries are as cheap as $20 if you buy the Chinese knockoffs.

March 13th, 2011, 01:31 AM	#20
Kirk Candlish Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Southern, CA Posts: 198	Re: Sony Monitor for Alpha SLT/DSLRs I've had the CLM-V55 for only a few hours but I'm totally impressed. I was able to visually calibrate and get good color and contrast quickly. The presets of 9300K, 7200K and 6500K are readily tweeked with the Color tone (Phase), brightness, contrast and backlight adjustments. Popping in and out of the menu for these is quick and deliberate. Peaking works like it should and if your res is 800X480 or higher you can go 1:1 and check focus at the center of the image quite effectively. The pop up hood is sweet. It gives good shading in the full sun while never limiting a quick glance from off center. It snaps back down easily and becomes a good travel protection. The included soft cloth drawstring bag can easily hold the CLM-V55 with the hood and a battery attached. The Auto-Lock shoe mount swivels and tilts easily with a good amount of resistance to keep it right where you put it, no creeping or sagging after you take your hand off. Battery life is very good. I ran it for a couple of hours and popped the battery back in the charger where it fully recharged in under an hour. Batteries are light and cheap so I don't feel like I'd want to tether it to another battery system. SONY has brought a great little 5" display to the market for a very good price.

March 13th, 2011, 12:03 PM	#21
Jeff Harper Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 8,425	Re: Sony Monitor for Alpha SLT/DSLRs Kirk, I'm about to purchase the Sony, but I'm holding back due to size and thinking of the Marshall 7". Have you used a 7", and do you feel the 5" is adequate for focusing? __________________ "The horror of what I saw on the timeline cannot be described."

March 13th, 2011, 12:05 PM	#22
Jeff Harper Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 8,425	Re: Sony Monitor for Alpha SLT/DSLRs By the way, Kirk, the reviews for the Pearstone batteries are pretty poor, (if that's what you're using) at least on the B and H website, so be prepared for a possibly short battery life...keep us updated! __________________ "The horror of what I saw on the timeline cannot be described."

March 13th, 2011, 04:15 PM	#23
Kirk Candlish Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Southern, CA Posts: 198	Re: Sony Monitor for Alpha SLT/DSLRs Jeff I'm using SONY batteries. If you shop around you can find them for under $40. I've never risked cheap Chinese batteries in any of my gear. I have used the M-LCD7-HDM and I prefer the SONY. They're both 800X480 but the SONY is much lighter and it's much less obtrusive mounted on the shoe. The higher res on the smaller screen makes it very nice and sharp. Quite easy to see.

March 13th, 2011, 07:05 PM	#24
Jeff Harper Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 8,425	Re: Sony Monitor for Alpha SLT/DSLRs Kirk, I don't know why I thought you said you were using generics, I was clearly confused with someone else's post somewhere. Anyway, thanks for the report, good to hear from someone who has used both! I'm glad you're pleased, and at any rate being newer equipment I thought it would be bound to be decent. At heart I really am a Sony fan to begin with, and I really wanted the monitor, so I guess I'll go ahead! thanks again! __________________ "The horror of what I saw on the timeline cannot be described."

March 15th, 2011, 09:13 AM	#25
Buba Kastorski Trustee Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Toronto Posts: 1,414	Re: Sony Monitor for Alpha SLT/DSLRs Who do you guys buy it from, Sony site tells me "No results found for "CLM-V55" in All of Sony" :) __________________ I love this place!

March 15th, 2011, 09:43 AM	#26
Michael Bray Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Byron Center, MI Posts: 128	Re: Sony Monitor for Alpha SLT/DSLRs Buba, I assume you're looking at sonystyle.ca Canada. They don't appear to offer it yet on their site, but if you take a look at sonystyle.com US, it's listed under DSLR accessories or you can type CLMV55 in the search. Another option is B&H...looks like they have it in stock as well.

March 15th, 2011, 11:04 AM	#27
Buba Kastorski Trustee Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Toronto Posts: 1,414	Re: Sony Monitor for Alpha SLT/DSLRs i know Sony Canada don't have it, i was looking sony.com but thanks for the tip :) __________________ I love this place!

March 15th, 2011, 11:39 AM	#28
Michael Bray Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Byron Center, MI Posts: 128	Re: Sony Monitor for Alpha SLT/DSLRs Huh, you're right...it's nowhere to be found on sony.com. Seems strange...but you will definitely find it on sonystyle.com

March 15th, 2011, 12:03 PM	#29
Kirk Candlish Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Southern, CA Posts: 198	Re: Sony Monitor for Alpha SLT/DSLRs All the usual vendors have had it in stock. B&H, amazon, SONY Style.

March 15th, 2011, 05:00 PM	#30
Jeff Harper Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 8,425	Re: Sony Monitor for Alpha SLT/DSLRs I found it on Sony before B&H, you just have to look in the right place, but it's $50 cheaper at B&H anyway. __________________ "The horror of what I saw on the timeline cannot be described."