CRT VS : Any thoughts?
 

CRT VS :


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Any thoughts?

Thoughts with regard to what?

A tradional field monitor VS the one listed.

Yes. Don't. LCDs still cannot be used to evaluate video quality. However, if you only want to judge framing, then it might be OK.

This looks like a nice lcd monitor. Panasonic makes some good display products. But my remarks in your original thread still stand.

If I was going to forgo having a full-fledged production monitor in favor of an lcd I would certainly also want the display to run off of battery power, as my 7" Panasonic does.

I do not see this monitor as a practical choice for real field production. I'm sure it's fine as a computer display and for watching videos but its configuration and weight are impractical to schlep.

Hey

I posted wrong on that, sorry. I was talking about the 7" you mentioned. So I assume you still stand by your orignal post even with the 7".

thanks

LCD's one big advantage is brightness and to a lesser degree, sharpness. However, as the others have pointed out, color is no comparison at this level. CRT wins every time, unless you want to spend upwards of $2,000 for an LCD monitor.

Here is the 7" Panasonic I use. It's very light, compact and particularly handy because I've had mine modified by Nebtek to run off of Canon BP series batteries. I really like this fellow.

But as good as it is I cannot rely heavily on it for color and contrast fidelity. As I said, if I really need to zero-in on accurate image properties I use my 9" Sony 8045 crt monitor.

Hey

Sorry to ask, but do you know the price of the 9" Sony 8045


I didnt find it in a search?

Sony has changed models in the past year or two. Here are three 9" Sonys at B&H. As I said in the other thread, browse around at B&H.

I second the Sony 9" Monitor use. I'd be lost without it and my portable Leader Waveform monitor. But if I had to chose between the two, the Sony would get the nod.

I will also recommend the Sony 9 inch field monitor. However, on Mike's remarks, different strokes for different folks. I prefer a monitor for evaluating focus, DOF, framing, scene content and lighting ratio's. But for exposure and color evaluation give me a scope any day.

Why is it that these CRTs cost so much? Why can't you just go buy a small color TV and then calibrate it to standard?

To begin with, crt monitors, in general, cost more than lcd's to manufacture. But that does not tell the whole story.

True production monitors are very different products than consumer televisions. Here are a few reasons why.

• They can generally accept different types of input signals, usually at least composite and s-video
• Their phosphors (ex: SMPTE-C) are also far more precise than a regular tv. Consumer televisions' phosphors are cheap and tend to be balanced for what customers tend to buy; usually red-heavy.
• Most of the better units have switchable aspect ratios.
• Display resolutions are generally higher than a tv, often up to 800 lines on 13 viewable inch displays.
• Some are board-upgradable, for example to handle HD inputs.
• Nearly all pro monitors can be accurately calibrated and feature controls to facilitate calibration. You may be able to adjust a consumer tv to some degree of color and contrast fidelity, but it's basically impossible to do better than an approximation of accuracy with nearly any tv.

But, in fact, a good portable production monitor really isn't more expensive than a comparable high-res production monitor. (This does not include computer lcd's which are more like consumer televisions.) In fact, they may average a bit lower prices.

Most small TV's are either so limited in their controls or quality of construction, that they can't be properly calibrated.

One of the massive but invisible differences is the stability of the internal power supplies and the stabilizing control of electron beam current so the monitor is consistent over a long period of time.

Thanks for the info. I'm new and just an ethusiast who would like to do home videos and some shorts. I've already plunked down for a GL2 +accessories and cringe at another $900 for a monitor.
And just for clarifcation, a CRT would allow me to check color before filming and also watch framing and stuff during filming, as well as help me during the editing phase. Correct?

The major manufacturers also make good quality industrial quality monitors that cost around $200-$300 for a 14" unit. These are widely used for editing and may be all you require. Certainly for $800 you would be well advised to purchase an industrial NTSC monitor and use some of the rest of the $ to buy a set of nearfield audio monitors. You can get reasonable stereo sets starting at around $300 for self-powered units. The combination will give your videos a real shot in the arm because your editing will automatically become better. You get to see and hear your production better.