Marshall LCD Monitors as Viewfinder Replacement at DVinfo.net
DV Info Net

Go Back   DV Info Net > Canon EOS / MXF / AVCHD / HDV / DV Camera Systems > Canon HDV and DV Camera Systems > Canon XL and GL Series DV Camcorders > Canon XL1S / XL1 Watchdog

Canon XL1S / XL1 Watchdog
Can't find it on the XL1 Watchdog site? Discuss it here.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old October 11th, 2002, 01:17 PM   #1
Major Player
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Basel area, Switzerland
Posts: 285
Marshall LCD Monitors as Viewfinder Replacement

Hello all!

I'm in the market for an LCD monitor as an EVF-replacement for my XL-1s. I'm looking for something that will come close to DV-resolution so I can really judge focus well (close to impossible with the supplied EVF).

I've looked at the options from VariZoom, and I don't think that's what I'm looking for.

I've also spotted a wide range of monitors from Marshall at the B&H site. The specs seem right, and the price they offer is good.

My question: does anyone in this community have experience with Marshall LCD monitors? If so, I would be very glad to hear what they are!

Thanks a bunch in advance!

Regards,

Ron
__________________
Ronald P. Pfister
halimedia - digital solutions and services
www.halimedia.com
Ron Pfister is offline   Reply With Quote
Old October 12th, 2002, 12:48 AM   #2
Major Player
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
Posts: 220
Hi Ron,

on this forum people have raved about the Nebtek range of monitors. Check it out at www.nebtek.com

Cheers
Andrew

Sorry no experience on the Marshall.
__________________
PAL XL-1, DV Raptor, Premiere

TOTAL AMATEUR - DOING IT FOR THE FUN
Andrew Leigh is offline   Reply With Quote
Old October 12th, 2002, 03:08 PM   #3
Major Player
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Basel area, Switzerland
Posts: 285
Maybe I'm crazy...

Hello Andrew!

How are things going? I decided to avoid all possible problems but potential lack of portability ;-)

I'll get a Marshall 12.1" LCD with SVGA resolution. Focussing problems be gone!

More details can be found here:

http://www.mars-cam.com/osd/lcd/monitors/vlcd12.html

B&H offers much lower prices than those listed on the Marshall site. Also, the foot can be removed for mobile use. Seems pretty handy for mobile and studio use...

Whatcha think?

Cheers,

Ron
__________________
Ronald P. Pfister
halimedia - digital solutions and services
www.halimedia.com
Ron Pfister is offline   Reply With Quote
Old September 16th, 2004, 06:39 AM   #4
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 32
I recently purchased a Marshall V-LCD4-Pro-L to use as a monitor for my XL-1....

The 4" monitor has two BNC inputs and outputs... but how do I actually connect it to the XL-1 to use?
Christopher Velasco is offline   Reply With Quote
Old September 16th, 2004, 07:01 AM   #5
Major Player
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Basel area, Switzerland
Posts: 285
Find a BNC --> Composite adapter, connect that to the screen and then use a composite cable to connect the screen and the XL-1.

HTH,

Ron
__________________
Ronald P. Pfister
halimedia - digital solutions and services
www.halimedia.com
Ron Pfister is offline   Reply With Quote
Old September 16th, 2004, 07:23 AM   #6
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 32
Is "Composite" the multi-pin connector that the EVF connects to the XL-1? Do you know a place to get such an adaptor and cable? Such as Radioshack, BH Photo?
You wouldn't happen to have a picture of what I'm looking for would you?

I appreciate your help..

CMV
Christopher Velasco is offline   Reply With Quote
Old September 16th, 2004, 07:46 AM   #7
Major Player
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Basel area, Switzerland
Posts: 285
Nope, the composite plug is the two lead standard video connector, and it's found under the flap on the rear of the camera, next to the audio connectors (same physical appearance as the latter, but yellow in the center).

The EVF-connector can't be used for anything else; it's proprietory.

B&H should definitely carry them, and so should the supplier where you bought the monitor.

HTH,

Ron
__________________
Ronald P. Pfister
halimedia - digital solutions and services
www.halimedia.com
Ron Pfister is offline   Reply With Quote
Old September 16th, 2004, 02:31 PM   #8
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 32
Thanks Ron.
I called Marshall initially and the guy was telling me that there was nothing available commercially...that I basically had to make my own cable... find out with pins were power... which were ground, and which were video...
For as many BNC input monitors out there and for as many XL-1s out there... there HAD to be something commercial...
Will BNC to RCA also work? I'm going to go over to Radio Shack tonight and see what they can do. Over the phone they said they had a BNC to Composite adaptor in the store.
Is Composite the same as S-Video?
Thanks again for your help.
Christopher Velasco is offline   Reply With Quote
Old September 16th, 2004, 02:33 PM   #9
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 32
woops, sorry Ron... just re-read your response...
so, what you ARE talking about is RCA type connections...

CMV
Christopher Velasco is offline   Reply With Quote
Old September 16th, 2004, 04:03 PM   #10
Major Player
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Basel area, Switzerland
Posts: 285
I guess you call them RCA in the US. We call the cinch here... Let me know how you get on and whether you're satisfied with the monitor!

Cheers,

Ron
__________________
Ronald P. Pfister
halimedia - digital solutions and services
www.halimedia.com
Ron Pfister is offline   Reply With Quote
Old September 16th, 2004, 04:33 PM   #11
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 32
Ron,

Got the adaptor and hooked it up today... GREAT... just got my other goodie in the mail...
a Varizoom Stealth remote lens control....
Now, is there a rule of thumb for setting the parameters on the monitor to fit with the recorded image?
Is that where the color bars come in? Or should I just plug in the EVF and compare them to get them identical?
Thanks a lot for your help! I really appreciate it!

CMV
Christopher Velasco is offline   Reply With Quote
Old September 17th, 2004, 02:43 AM   #12
Major Player
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Basel area, Switzerland
Posts: 285
Well, I go by what looks good to me in this instance. I'm not shooting for broadcast, and the following approach has worked fine for me. When I "calibrate" my monitor, I point the camera at an evenly lit scene with dark shadows and bright highlights, then balance the exposure using Zebra in the EVF (make sure you're not using automatic exposure in the camera), and finally adjust the LCD to look as similar to the real scene in front of the camera as possible.

As I said, this works for me, doing mostly multimedia work to be consumed on computer screens. Some folks working for broadcast might be able to chime in about how to do this the truly correct way.

HTH,

Ron
__________________
Ronald P. Pfister
halimedia - digital solutions and services
www.halimedia.com
Ron Pfister is offline   Reply With Quote
Old September 17th, 2004, 10:10 AM   #13
Major Player
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 356
I know you've already gotten an BNC connector - but if you ever decide to put a different mic on the camera and buy the MA-200 adaptor, it has a video BNC connection on it.
Joshua Starnes is offline   Reply
Reply

DV Info Net refers all where-to-buy and where-to-rent questions exclusively to these trusted full line dealers and rental houses...

B&H Photo Video
(866) 521-7381
New York, NY USA

Scan Computers Int. Ltd.
+44 0871-472-4747
Bolton, Lancashire UK


DV Info Net also encourages you to support local businesses and buy from an authorized dealer in your neighborhood.
  You are here: DV Info Net > Canon EOS / MXF / AVCHD / HDV / DV Camera Systems > Canon HDV and DV Camera Systems > Canon XL and GL Series DV Camcorders > Canon XL1S / XL1 Watchdog

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

 



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 04:59 PM.


DV Info Net -- Real Names, Real People, Real Info!
1998-2024 The Digital Video Information Network