1 lb 9" 1280x720 field monitor with 4-hour battery for $600
 

I know where to get a nine-inch 1280x720 HDTV LCD monitor with a 3-hour Li-ion battery that weighs under a pound and costs less than $600. From the Fujitsu LifeBook P1610:

http://store.shopfujitsu.com/fpc/Eco...o?series=P1610

Unfortunately, it's not removable. It may actually cost $1,430 right now, but if Fujitsu sold the display separately from the processor, memory, HDD, keyboard, etc., and removed the "touch-screen" feature, I figure it would easily cost $800 less, weigh a pound lighter, and have longer battery life besides.

As high-definition videographers, we have very few field monitor choices. At the low end, there are DVD players with 480x234 resolution, composite input, and batteries to be had for under $100 (e.g. SC-178DVD 7").

Spending $600 will net a mid-range 640x480 monitor, again with composite input, but will likely require a separate battery system. (Such as the Ikan V8000W with ten AA batteries.)

At the very high end, there are the 7-9" Marshall, Ikegami, Varizoom, and Sony monitors at prices between $1,200 and $5,000. Although they accept HD input, the best of them feature a paltry 800x480 display resolution. Ostensibly, their outragous prices are justified by their color accuracy, viewing angle, contrast, brightness, build, knobs, support, etc.

Attaining critical focus and seeing true detail requires resolution, and there are *no* high-resolution options that don't compromise on price, weight, battery life, portability, or resolution.

The P1610 proves that there are small, cheap, light, low-wattage, high-resolution HDTV monitors being made right now. Will someone please just put it in a box and sell it?

I agree. We should really be seeing small HD monitors by now.
Epson has a 7 inch 1920x1080 panel
Sony has 4.5 inch 1024x600 panel
Hitachi has a 3 inch 800x480 panel
Epson also has a 2.5 inch 1024x768 panel (talk about pixels!)

and.. Alot of small laptops have 1280x720 like you said.

totally agree!
 

I totally agree! Monitors are insanely overpriced.

I am in fact in conact with a guy who sources LCD panels and controllers direct from China. I'm waiting for NAB - if none of the big boys offer something high-res and cheap, I will just get them from him and hack together my own case & battery system.

If there's enough interest, I might make kits for people. But I am very busy. Anyway, email me if you're interested. By the way, which would you hyothetically prefer - a $400 standard-brightness high-resolution panel (say, 1280x768, 10.4"...) or a $800 transreflective (daylight-readable) one with the same specs? What inputs do you need (HDMI? component 1080 or 720?)?

Hope this isn't violating any laws on this site. Again, I have a day job so am into this more because I can't stand the idea of paying $1500 for a 800x480 panel that costs $200 than the idea of starting a business or anything.

Bruce Allen
boacinema@gmail.com
www.boacinema.com

I think what's more important is what sort of video inputs these monitors will take. If you are talking about VGA, it's a piece of cake. But SDI or DVI is more difficult.

I'd be happy with just component input; but as long as we're at the wishing well, we might as well throw in a dime for HDMI, DVI, and SDI too.

Many controllers do DVI. SDI is where you start to pay big bucks (eg > $400 for controller card alone, AFAIK)

Bruce

I would be all over a $600-$800, 7"-9" HD monitor. I don't care about perfect color accuracy, I just want to be able to focus! With the skyrocketing popularity of HDV cams with tiny (even 3.5" is too small), low-res LCD's, whichever manufacturer decides to jump on this will make a killing. The technology is obviously here, someone just has to have the balls to put it in a battery powered package and put it out there!

I'd take either one with just component as long as the contrast was also good.

If you can do a transreflective (daylight-readable) 6-8" with component inputs for under $1000 it would be hot.

Add a 2x and 4x magnifier...
and image flip of course....
and a folding screen protector that doubles as a sunshade..

But even just a no-frills daylight panel with component would be fine!

Duly noted! Once I have a breather in my day job of doing movie trailer titles, I will get in touch with suppliers. I'll be watching NAB just like you guys, if no big manufacturer announces something reasonable, I will go forward with the plan pronto...

Bruce Allen
www.boacinema.com

I think Ikan
 

I will be checking out the Ikan line again at NAB this year-they were hot at last NAB, just announced 8in HD.

http://www.ikancorp.com/

Thanks for the notice about the iKan monitor, Paul -- hope to see you again in Vegas next month,

I'm looking to purchase a monitor asap.. But I decided to wait for NAB... I have my eye on the Ikan V-8000w... This monitor is priced around $499 and has VGA Input... It's an 8" monitor with 800X480 resolution.. They are releasing the v-8000HD at NAB priced around $799 with component BNC inputs and the same resolution of 800X480.. I want to get the cheaper v-8000w because it's cheaper and more versatile.. I can use it as a second display on my macbook pro to edit fullscreen HD on the road and I can get a VGA to component adapter to use with my HVX-200... Why pay more for the same panel?

I use the Xenarc 10 inch lcd (400x800) with a canon battery adapter (from delvcam) with much success.

Xenarc sells a 15 inch 1280 x 768 LCD for around $650. I believe it too, could be powered with one of the delvcam battery adapters.

It's a rooftop mount (for cars), which might be a bit awkward, but it would actually stand up like a laptop if you're using it upside down.

Okay, so I put my money where my mouth was and am building an LCD panel solution... 10.6" - 1280x768, many inputs, including HD component & HDMI inputs.

http://www.boacinema.com/_pictures/_...r/DSCF0835.jpg

The photo is from it attached to my Canon HV20. No Photoshop.

Price will be <$1000. Quite a lot under.

Bruce Allen
213.675.1155
boacinema@gmail.com
www.boacinema.com