Sony PVM-1341
 

Does anyone know the quality of this monitor? Is it accurate and dependable for color correction?

Thanks!

Dale

Sounds like a used monitor? If it's used, it can have a number of problems (aged phosphors, image defects, out of focus, etc. etc.). You can run some test patterns through the monitor. Check grayscale tracking by displaying a black and white image on it... it should be truly black and white.

Otherwise the Sony PVM series is generally good... look for something like blue gun/check.

It is used, but it is an Ebay auction, so I can't test it. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MEWA:IT&ih=010

Dale,

That monitor is probably 15 or so years old. The expansive line of Sony PVM monitors includes some very good ones, but as was mentioned, with a used monitor, you can very easily be buying a host of problems. There are some good deals on PVM monitors--a lot owing to HD conversions--but I would look for a newer one.

In 13", I believe PVM 14NXU models would include newer ones (though they could also be 10+ years old - check the age)

I just sold one on ebay myself a couple of months back and regretted it after a couple of weeks. While HD looks good on LCD, the PVM would have kept serving my needs for DV editing.

Thanks, Roy. Did you mean Sony PVM 14M or PVM 14N? I found a PVM 14M4U and a PVM 14M2U on Ebay - that's why I'm asking.

Old CRTs tend to have problems... in my area, libraries tend to have a lot of old CRTs and many of them have obvious problems. And as the monitor is used, the phosphors will wear out and no longer produce accurate color (and the monitor isn't as bright).

I meant N, but M's might be newer models too. I believe they are higher resolution (and so higher in price). The manufacture date is on the back, so you might be able to see it in some of the pictures.

To the degree that you can, just be careful. You can clearly get some good deals on eday. The person who bought my monitor got a great deal on a unit that was truly lightly used in a non-smoking environment and was IMO close to new condition despite being 8 or 9 years old.

I don't know how you can be careful though. Maybe check the seller's history. I'd think that if they have sold a number of monitors, they're probably just a reseller, so the unit was picked up in a lot and has an unknown history. Try to buy from an editor who really is selling to upgrade.

Good luck.

Better yet, maybe buy a new one - I don't know if these are new-old-stock, but I'd go new first, if possible.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...n_Monitor.html

Thanks a million, Roy! Only $400? WOW! I was expecting to pay $600-$700 at the very least for a good used monitor. Will that monitor be adequate? If you think it will be, I'll buy it. Oh, another quick question: why do most broadcast monitors have two different color presets? Which one will I want to use?

D65 is the standard white point for most parts of the world. 9300K (or D93; not sure) is the standard white point (for monitoring) for Japan and possibly some Asian countries.

Ok, now I need some more good advice. Do I buy the PVM 20L1 (600 lines of rez, composite in, s-video in) for $400 new, or the PVM 14M4U (800 lines, component in, RGB in, and option for SDI in) for ~$700 used (about 7 years old) and in very good condition?

One thought, if I am able to use DVI-A to RGB (which I am assuming is VGA?), will Premiere Pro be able to send preview through that? If so, than I would not need the Canopus firewire adapter and, if that is the case, I will probably want to go with the PVM14M4U as the cost of the Canopus is more than the difference between the two monitors.

Dale

I haven't seen either monitor so I couldn't tell you much. (Ideally, try to see both side by side.) If I were in your shoes, I'd probably get the 20L1 (unless you have more critical needs for monitoring), use a DV camera as the pass-through device, calibrate the black level to color bars, and spend the rest of the money on lights.

Ok, thanks. I actually already have the Canopus ADVC-300, so I'll be using that. Could you give instructions or a link for calibrating the monitor ("calibrate the black level to color bars")? Then I will be doing just what you suggested - spending about $2500-$2700 on a 3 Arrilite 1000 kit, two softboxes and grids for the Arrilites, 1 Arri 150w and barndoors to fit.

Dale

Some instructions here:
http://videouniversity.com/tvbars2.htm

In my experience, the blue gel trick doesn't work very well. Just put the hue and chroma settings in the middle if the monitor lacks blue gun.