The best of the worst monitors... at DVinfo.net

Lynne Whelden · September 23rd, 2006, 09:06 AM

So I tried using a dvd player, Initial's IDM-830, as a monitor at last night's football game. I fed it a composite input from my Sony HC3. I was pretty disappointed with the monitor's picture quality, especially on wide angle shots. It simply doesn't have the ability to resolve fine details but rather, gives the overall picture a "foggy" or "hazy" look. Close-ups are better, thank goodness.
I then compared it to Varizoom's 7" widescreen monitor and found that Varizoom's picture was somewhat sharper and revealed a little more detail on the wide shots. Enough to remove the hazy look. But at 3x the price ($140 vs. $475).
Now, my question is this--does anyone know of any other line of dvd player whose picture quality is better than Initial's, based on field experience? Or do all portable dvd players basically have the same limitations and the same look to them? Or is the next step to get a 10" screen and hope that the larger picture frame will compensate for the lack of resolution?

Mark Donnell · September 25th, 2006, 10:20 AM

Lynne, keep in mind that whenever you convert DV to DVD you apply additional compression. A one-hour DVD has a maximum data content of 4.7 GB, while DV records at 25 Mb/sec. Divide the 25 by 8 to get a DV data rate of 3.1 MB/sec (bits to bytes), and multiply by 3600 seconds per hour and you find the data rate of DV to be 11,160 MB per hr, or 11.1 GB/hr. Thus, conversion to DVD applies an additional 2.4:1 compression (11.1 divided by 4.7). You can see this difference by recording a DV segment to DVD then playing it into a good TV via the component input jacks and comparing it to the DV source material played back by the camcorder into the TV via the "S" video input. The DV from the camcorder looks significantly better than the DVD material. In short, don't go through the DVD step for maximum quality on your monitor. The other problem is the LCD screen on the DVD player. It will never match a CRT or a better-quality LCD monitor screen.

Ash Greyson · September 25th, 2006, 12:32 PM

Dont get blinded by specs, most of the cheapo monitors are not near as good as their CRT counterpart. I just upgraded from CRT to LCD and to get an on camera monitor and nice field monitor it cost me over $4k. I am selling off my CRT stuff and I find that the Sony 8" I was using which was technically lower to middle end is actually far superior to most of the lower to middle end LCDs...

ash =o)

Mike Andrade · September 25th, 2006, 05:23 PM

Ash are there any decent CRT monitors you'd recommend below the $600 mark? I need something decent and have noticed as you mentioned that alot of those LCD monitors dont stand up to a CRT.

Ash Greyson · September 25th, 2006, 09:06 PM

The Sony 8" Monitors are good. I am selling one with a case and batteries so it is over $600 but you can find one without a case on eBay for $500 or so. If you need 16:9 make sure to get one that will do it.

ash =o)

Ben Winter · September 25th, 2006, 10:41 PM

90% of the country owns CRT TVs. I'd rather preview my work on what others will be using, and I don't plan to change until that statistic does.

Steve Madsen · September 26th, 2006, 11:37 PM

Ben, I noticed in an old thread that you were using a cheap 7" ebay monitor which had svideo. Now you have the Xenarc 800. Which do you prefer for focusing? Thanks

Lynne Whelden · September 27th, 2006, 06:28 AM

I too would like to know. I saw that super cheap AMW dvd player advertised as having s-video inputs and couldn't believe it (nor could I get a straight answer from the guy who was selling it). I would figure that would give it the focusing edge, if it's true. Nevertheless, under time constraints I ended up buying the 10" Initial 1210. Hasn't gotten here yet (I hate it when ebay sellers go on business trips as their sales conclude) but I'm hoping the larger screen will simplify focusing and tracking issues for me.

Steve Madsen · September 28th, 2006, 07:35 PM

I've ordered that 7" svideo monitor and I now have dv rack 2.0hd. My Brevis is on the way. After I've had a play I'll share my findings - particularly relating to monitoring focus

Lynne Whelden · September 29th, 2006, 06:21 AM

Good luck! I questioned one particular seller of that alleged s-video input dvd unit and (straining to understand his rather halting use of the english language) I determined that it really wasn't what he claimed it to be. It seems that it's like all the others--accepting composite video via a miniplug jack.

September 23rd, 2006, 09:06 AM	#1
Lynne Whelden Major Player Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: williamsport, pa Posts: 604	The best of the worst monitors... So I tried using a dvd player, Initial's IDM-830, as a monitor at last night's football game. I fed it a composite input from my Sony HC3. I was pretty disappointed with the monitor's picture quality, especially on wide angle shots. It simply doesn't have the ability to resolve fine details but rather, gives the overall picture a "foggy" or "hazy" look. Close-ups are better, thank goodness. I then compared it to Varizoom's 7" widescreen monitor and found that Varizoom's picture was somewhat sharper and revealed a little more detail on the wide shots. Enough to remove the hazy look. But at 3x the price ($140 vs. $475). Now, my question is this--does anyone know of any other line of dvd player whose picture quality is better than Initial's, based on field experience? Or do all portable dvd players basically have the same limitations and the same look to them? Or is the next step to get a 10" screen and hope that the larger picture frame will compensate for the lack of resolution?

September 25th, 2006, 10:41 PM	#6
Ben Winter Trustee Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Hollywood, CA Posts: 1,675 Images: 1	90% of the country owns CRT TVs. I'd rather preview my work on what others will be using, and I don't plan to change until that statistic does. __________________ BenWinter.com

September 27th, 2006, 06:28 AM	#8
Lynne Whelden Major Player Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: williamsport, pa Posts: 604	Amw I too would like to know. I saw that super cheap AMW dvd player advertised as having s-video inputs and couldn't believe it (nor could I get a straight answer from the guy who was selling it). I would figure that would give it the focusing edge, if it's true. Nevertheless, under time constraints I ended up buying the 10" Initial 1210. Hasn't gotten here yet (I hate it when ebay sellers go on business trips as their sales conclude) but I'm hoping the larger screen will simplify focusing and tracking issues for me.

September 25th, 2006, 10:20 AM	#2
Mark Donnell Major Player Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Silver City, NM Posts: 385	Lynne, keep in mind that whenever you convert DV to DVD you apply additional compression. A one-hour DVD has a maximum data content of 4.7 GB, while DV records at 25 Mb/sec. Divide the 25 by 8 to get a DV data rate of 3.1 MB/sec (bits to bytes), and multiply by 3600 seconds per hour and you find the data rate of DV to be 11,160 MB per hr, or 11.1 GB/hr. Thus, conversion to DVD applies an additional 2.4:1 compression (11.1 divided by 4.7). You can see this difference by recording a DV segment to DVD then playing it into a good TV via the component input jacks and comparing it to the DV source material played back by the camcorder into the TV via the "S" video input. The DV from the camcorder looks significantly better than the DVD material. In short, don't go through the DVD step for maximum quality on your monitor. The other problem is the LCD screen on the DVD player. It will never match a CRT or a better-quality LCD monitor screen.

September 25th, 2006, 12:32 PM	#3
Ash Greyson Trustee Join Date: May 2003 Location: Tulsa, OK Posts: 1,689	Dont get blinded by specs, most of the cheapo monitors are not near as good as their CRT counterpart. I just upgraded from CRT to LCD and to get an on camera monitor and nice field monitor it cost me over $4k. I am selling off my CRT stuff and I find that the Sony 8" I was using which was technically lower to middle end is actually far superior to most of the lower to middle end LCDs... ash =o)

September 25th, 2006, 05:23 PM	#4
Mike Andrade Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Austin, Tx Posts: 136	Ash are there any decent CRT monitors you'd recommend below the $600 mark? I need something decent and have noticed as you mentioned that alot of those LCD monitors dont stand up to a CRT.

September 25th, 2006, 09:06 PM	#5
Ash Greyson Trustee Join Date: May 2003 Location: Tulsa, OK Posts: 1,689	The Sony 8" Monitors are good. I am selling one with a case and batteries so it is over $600 but you can find one without a case on eBay for $500 or so. If you need 16:9 make sure to get one that will do it. ash =o)

September 26th, 2006, 11:37 PM	#7
Steve Madsen Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 111	Ben, I noticed in an old thread that you were using a cheap 7" ebay monitor which had svideo. Now you have the Xenarc 800. Which do you prefer for focusing? Thanks

September 28th, 2006, 07:35 PM	#9
Steve Madsen Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 111	I've ordered that 7" svideo monitor and I now have dv rack 2.0hd. My Brevis is on the way. After I've had a play I'll share my findings - particularly relating to monitoring focus

September 29th, 2006, 06:21 AM	#10
Lynne Whelden Major Player Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: williamsport, pa Posts: 604	Good luck! I questioned one particular seller of that alleged s-video input dvd unit and (straining to understand his rather halting use of the english language) I determined that it really wasn't what he claimed it to be. It seems that it's like all the others--accepting composite video via a miniplug jack.