underscan, varizoom lcd monitor at DVinfo.net

Josh Bass · May 9th, 2002, 07:04 PM

I've heard that the XL1s color viewfinder underscans by quite a bit. I also own a varizoom 5.6 inch color lcd monitor. I want to use these two together, but it's hard because the external monitor has no markings on it (e.g. title/action safe). I have no idea, therefore how to frame with it. I had the brilliant idea of looking through the camera's viewfinder and the external simultaneously while framing a relatively square object, and using small strips of masking tape on the external monitor to tell me what the viewfinder was seeing. I realize now, of course, that not everyone owns a crappy magnavox TV, and may want to see the area outside of the viewfinder's range. I want to know what I can do to accurately frame, with the equipment I have. I just don't want to buy another external monitor right now.

Chris Hurd · May 9th, 2002, 07:45 PM

Most everyone *does* own a consumer TV, and I think you should shoot with this lowest common denominator in mind. Go ahead and tape off your monitor. The LCD monitor will underscan a bit too. Consider it to be showing you the "TV safe" area.

Charles Papert · May 9th, 2002, 08:04 PM

Err. I brought this up in another thread once, and wouldn't want to sound like a nit-picker, but this is a common misuse of the terms "underscan" and "overscan". The LCD viewfinder actually OVERSCANS, meaning it is clipping off the edges of the image. A monitor that underscans will show the complete raster, usually with some black around the edges (computer monitors, for instance). Hence the "underscan" button on broadcast monitors, that mode will shrink the image and display the full image available.

Josh Bass · May 9th, 2002, 10:53 PM

Thank you both grasshoppers. Just to clarify: first guy was telling me to tape off the lcd monitor according to what the camera's viewfinder shows, correct?

By the way, does the XL1s black and white viewfinder have title and action safe marks?

May 9th, 2002, 07:04 PM	#1
Josh Bass Slash Rules! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 5,472	underscan, varizoom lcd monitor I've heard that the XL1s color viewfinder underscans by quite a bit. I also own a varizoom 5.6 inch color lcd monitor. I want to use these two together, but it's hard because the external monitor has no markings on it (e.g. title/action safe). I have no idea, therefore how to frame with it. I had the brilliant idea of looking through the camera's viewfinder and the external simultaneously while framing a relatively square object, and using small strips of masking tape on the external monitor to tell me what the viewfinder was seeing. I realize now, of course, that not everyone owns a crappy magnavox TV, and may want to see the area outside of the viewfinder's range. I want to know what I can do to accurately frame, with the equipment I have. I just don't want to buy another external monitor right now. __________________ The Bass' camerawork The Bass on IMDB

May 9th, 2002, 07:45 PM	#2
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,366 Images: 513	Most everyone does own a consumer TV, and I think you should shoot with this lowest common denominator in mind. Go ahead and tape off your monitor. The LCD monitor will underscan a bit too. Consider it to be showing you the "TV safe" area. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

May 9th, 2002, 08:04 PM	#3
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	Err. I brought this up in another thread once, and wouldn't want to sound like a nit-picker, but this is a common misuse of the terms "underscan" and "overscan". The LCD viewfinder actually OVERSCANS, meaning it is clipping off the edges of the image. A monitor that underscans will show the complete raster, usually with some black around the edges (computer monitors, for instance). Hence the "underscan" button on broadcast monitors, that mode will shrink the image and display the full image available. __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com

May 9th, 2002, 10:53 PM	#4
Josh Bass Slash Rules! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 5,472	above Thank you both grasshoppers. Just to clarify: first guy was telling me to tape off the lcd monitor according to what the camera's viewfinder shows, correct? By the way, does the XL1s black and white viewfinder have title and action safe marks? __________________ The Bass' camerawork The Bass on IMDB