LCD Bottom Line

[Kelly Wilbur]

I'm looking to get an LCD to mount to my upcoming XL2 (anywhere between 5-7"). I always believe in searching before posting a question, and I've done that but I still can't seem to find the information that I need.

Here's my question: What available LCD has the best resolution for focusing in 16x9? I would want to keep the price under $1000 US.

Here are the issues in the answers I've found in searching the forum:

Misinformation about resolution (people talk about pixels when the specs say dots)
People mention their great LCDs, but fail to mention model numbers and sometimes even the make
How to overcome power and mounting issues is often not mentioned.

There appear to be three posts in the forum that talk about these issues:
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthrea...=1%2C152%2C000
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthrea...=1%2C152%2C000
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthrea...=1%2C152%2C000

However, each of these threads have the issues I outline above. I'm hoping to find a definitive answer.

Thanks in advance for any help you guys can provide. I'm making my shopping list and I can't wait to max out my credit card!

Thanks,

Kelly

[Mark Sasahara]

Get the Panasonic 7" from B&H, or ZGC. Or the Nebtek, you get several power options and BNC connectors. The Lilliput ones seem questionable. You get what you pay for, IMHO.

You may also want to think about renting, or buying a production monitor, such as the PVM-9L3. This will help you get more consistant color and exposure. I have a production monitor that the director and I can look at. I'm saving up for for the 7" monitor that I can mount on the camera, or near it, so I can at least have an idea of how the color looks. I have the FU-1000 B&W viewfinder, so having a second monitor, in color, would be helpful. Cuts down on trips to video village.

[Kelly Wilbur]

Mark, thanks for your response.

I can't remember anyone actually putting links and info for these in one spot, so here it is (followed by some additional questions).

Panasonic model TC-7WMS1
Price $489.95 at www.bhphotovideo.com
Specific link: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...=212775&is=REG
The picture elements are 480 x 234 DOTS
Panasonic's page (search Panasonic.com for model number) says that the high resolution is 336,960 pixels.
It says it is camera mountable, but it doesn't say how to mount it.
I believe the TC7-CAM mounting kit at BH is what you would use at $185.95 which seems RIDICULOUS.

Nebtek model NEB70-XL
Price $795 at www.zgc.com
Specific link: http://www.zgc.com/zgc.nsf/902a2548f...light=0,nebtek
The resolution is 234 x 480 x 3
Pixels 336,960
Once again, I have no idea how this is mounted.

If you go to Nebtek.com, you will not find this model number. Instead, you will find the NEB70LI for $829, the NEB70PRO with a speaker and connector box for $1029, the NEB70PROLI with speaker, connector box and battery adapter and the LT070S for $459 which doesn't give specs.

I assume the Nebtek NEB70LI is the relevant one here.

You can find mounts on the Nebtek page that are specific for the XL1 and cost $109-$125. I assume these will work on the XL2?

Thanks,

Kelly

[Mark Sasahara]

Sorry I ddin't put up any links, getting tired. The TC-7WMS1 is the one. The Nebtek is a modified version of the Panasonic that uses batteries from whichever camera mfr you want. The idea is to use one of your camera batteries to power the monitor rather than A/C, or some sort of AA battery pack. It's a good idea to have enough batteries to power the camera for a whole day, plus whatever peripherals you may need to power as well. That's where having an Anton/Bauer brick can be handy, since it'll power several things at once and still be able to go most, if not all the way through a day.

You can mount a monitor on your camera by getting a shoe mount with a 1/4'" / 20 male thread on it and then get a small ball head and screw that onto the male thread. The monitor gets mounted to the 1/4 / 20 male post on top of the ball head.

shoe adapter
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...u=53726&is=REG

Ball head
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...=279152&is=REG

This might do both jobs
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...=279160&is=REG

Yes, those mounts will work on both cameras. They are just plugging into the shoe. All of the monitors have a 1/4" /20 female socket, so the ball heads will work as a mounting device. There are a couple of companies that make a clamp that will clamp onto the camera's handle. Pag makes one, I'm sure some others too. You can also probably find some small arms, or make something. The popular "Isreali Arm" is around $150 at www.filmtools.com.http://store.yahoo.com/cinemasupplies/irarmbr.html.

[Kelly Wilbur]

Very interstingly, the Lilliput 619GL-70NP 7" appears to have 1152000 pixels (NOT dots) with a resolution of 2400 x 480 dots.

This info can be found at:

http://www.lilliputweb.net/619GL-70NPXG.html

and

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/allcam/...619GL-70NP.pdf

You can Froogle this and find it from $239-$278.

You would think that you "get what you pay for," but I'm trying to determine what makes this monitor worse than the others. I'll search back through the posts and see if I can find something.

Thanks,

Kelly

[Mark Sasahara]

Not sure if it's switchable to 4:3 or if it'll distort the picture. I think when mfr's say dots, they're saying individual RGB dots, not full pixels. But who knows WTF Lilliput means. I don't really trust what they say, or trust that the quality will hold up to daily usage.

Actually, in re-reading their description what they are calling pixels are actually individual RGB Dots, they have the terminology backwards which makes me wonder if they are intentionally flipping the numbers to confuse people.

If it was a 1.15 mega pixel monitor it would cost a lot more. I would want to see one and test it out before paying even a penny for it. Plus power, mounting and loopthrough. Can't do it or it would take additional time & expense. For my needs it's not worth it.

[Kelly Wilbur]

Mark, I'm skeptical as well.

Maybe you can clarify something for me.

Am I correct in assuming that a pixel is made up of three dots (one R,G,B)? If that is true, I guess I don't understand why no one's monitor seems to multiply out correctly. I must be missing some of the equation.

Thanks,

Kelly

[Mark Sasahara]

Kelly,

Yes, a pixel is made up the RGB "dots". Multiply the horizontal by the vertical and that should be your pixel count. Example: XL2's chip block at 16x9 is 960x480 = 460,800 pixels. The Lilliut claims 2400x 480 =1,152,000, whether that's true, I don't know. I think that would make it an HD monitor. Those usually go for around $4K and go up in cost from there.

It might be worth inquring.