Hey all,

With Optex having finally made a 16:9 adapter for the XL1s, my next feature is going to be shot 2.35:1 using that with the in-camera 16:9 added. Does anyone happen to know if there is a field monitor available that can resolve an anamorphic 2.35 signal so I don't have to look at everything all skooshed?

Thanks in advance,

Shawn

I had my Sony 9" modified with a switch to handle anamorphic images, but I don't know of any CRT monitors that are built with this capability.

This may not be what you're looking for, but the following site has info on all the "secret codes" needed to access hidden service menus on major brands of TV sets. You could use this to adjust the vertical size of the image and get the desired aspect ratio on a small screen TV: http://209.145.176.7/~090/awh/how2adj.html#5

The new monitors have switchable aspect ratio .I know the JVC's do for sure.

This is a canadian site but they're all the same spec.
http://www.jvc.ca/en/pro/product-detail.asp?model=TM-910SU

For less than $600 US you can get underscan, blue check and switchable aspect ratio.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bh2.sph/FrameWork.class?FNC=ProductActivator__Aproductlist_html___127285___JVTM910SU___REG___CatID=1981___SI D=F4DAB5891A0

Try this, for $600:

http://www.nebtek.com/7inch/neb70.html

The CRT will still knock the pants of of any LCD. The LCD will not have bluecheck or underscan..

Bryan,
The unit that Chris points to is actually a Panasonic 7" LCD monitor. I own one and can say that it's head-and-shoulders above its peers in brightness and resolution. It can be operated off a/c or 12v power as-is. Nebtek can also adapt it to run off of standard 7.2v BP series Canon batteries making it a very handy accessory, especially for XL1s owners.

True, it does not have the same calibration facilities that a CRT monitor features (ex: blue-only and underscan display) but it shows pretty darn true colors and it does display the entire video frame wall-to-wall (unlike built-in camera LCD's). Most germane to Shawn's original question, it does feature several built-in display modes, one of which is 16:9 (just like a Sony production monitor).

So, no, it's not appropriate for use as a color-correction platform. But it -is- a very good, compact, lightweight alternative to schlepping (in my case) a 12 lb 8" Sony 8042Q field monitor.

Quite right, I did not mean it as a replacement for a pro CRT field monitor. Just offering a relatively inexpensive alternative is all.

Thanks for all the replies everyone...
Unfortunately, a monitor with anamorphic 16:9 will only unsquish my image halfway, does anyone know of a monitor that will handle a full 2.35:1?

Thanks again for any help anyone can offer.

Shawn

Unfortunately, I think we're back to where Charles started. No, I know of no monitor that will display this image correctly.

Sorry if I'm missing something, but why don't you just use a 16:9 monitor and mask it off to 2.35:1 with tape or something? Then in post you can crop as needed. Unless I'm mistaken there is no advantage to using the "electronic 16:9" anyway (although I'm aware of some controversy on this topic :-)

Boyd is correct. Instead of cropping you could also resize it in post
for the same effect.

I also know of no monitor that can display anamorphic 2.35 signals.

You might try using a 1.77x anamorphic fresnel...I've seen a number of companies that make cylindrical fresnels...I believe you can take two of them , invert one, and you get an anamorphic image. I'm currently researching this...I'll post the info if I have a quick answer or if I start selling corrective kits.

<<<-- Originally posted by Brandt Wilson : You might try using a 1.77x anamorphic fresnel -->>>

Problem with this is that he wants 2:35:1. If you add a 1.77:1 lens (isn't it really 1.78 or 1.7777 :-) to an existing 1.78:1 image the resulting aspect ratio should be 3.16:1, more like Cinerama...

I thank you all for your replies, but it does seem as if I'm out of luck on this one. Does anyone maybe know of a device that will convert a 16:9 image for display on a 4:3 monitor? If something like that exists, perhaps I could use that in conjunction with a 16:9 monitor to achieve my 2.35 image. And if nothing like that exists, then why not? Some one must be slipping.

-Shawn

Hi Shawn,

What exactly are you trying to do? Please clarify. Is this for an installation or for a portable field montoring solution?

What size monitor do you need? Can it be an LCD panel?

TransVideo has some excellent 2.35 capable monitors:
http://www.transvideointl.com/pages/english/products/cinemonitorIII.htm

Is it just for SD (Standard Definiton) DV or is it for 720P or 1080i?

If it is an install, would a high quality video projector do?

- don

Shawn,

Look at the following link...I think it may be a relatively easy avenue for you. I recommend getting the highest resolution monitor you can afford, then use the pillar cropping tool in this box to letterbox to whatever aspect ratio you want to use.

http://www.gthelectronics.com/zoom.htm

The manufacter's name is Gordon. He's really prompt with email responses.

Good luck!

Brandt

Shawn, I figured it was too obscure to go into detail over it when I mentioned it early in the thread, but I'll elaborate on what was done with my monitor if it helps.

A switch was added on the back panel (along with an internal circuit) that decreases the height of the image by altering the voltage, I believe. It's the same thing that happens with the 16:9 mode button on the front panel. The combination of both controls results ina 2:35 frame.

The modification cost around $150, and while it pretty much voided the warranty on the monitor, it does not cause any damage or have any negative effects on the picture quality (this is a Sony 8045Q). It is a standard modification to video assist monitors here in Hollywood to allow for anamorphic images to be viewed unsqueezed.

If you are interested I can direct you to the shop that did the work. There are various places that do this mod, but it is important to have someone who is familiar with the process since you could ultimately damage your expensive monitor if they didn't know what they were doing.

Charles, that sounds exactly like what I'm looking for! If you could direct me to the shop (and the aforementioned person familiar with the process) I would greatly appreciate it! I imagine I could ship a monitor out there to have it done, or maybe just buy and convert one when I visit LA in July.

-Shawn

Shawn:

Sorry it took a bit to get back to you, had to dig up my receipt.

The company is Videorama Industries, 931 Cole Ave. in Hollywood, 90038. Phone is 323-466-7232. Speak to Howard, feel free to mention my name.

The Anamorphic switch with labor cost $175 to have installed. The functionality is that you push the front button 16:9 switch, then throw the anamorphic switch to achieve 2:35. If you prefer, they can modify the front panel switch to take you straight to 2:35 which is cheaper, but you lose the 16:9 capability.

Good luck, let me know if it works out OK!

Hi Shawn,
I believe that Transvideo makes an inline Anamorphic squeezer to accurately condense anamorphic to a 16:9 format. The only problem is it costs more than most of the 16:9 LCD's out there.

One thing I'm not understanding though. Unless you're talking about projecting this on the big screen, why not just crop the 16x9 image to 2.35:1 in post? DVD at that aspect ratio is going to be letterboxed anyway.

I think what he's looking for is a 16:9 onboard camera monitor with the capability of viewing unsqueezed anamorphic. if that is the case, then the Transvideo in-line anamorphic converter would supply such a signal to most widescreen tft/lcd on board camera monitors. It would be a little bulky and pricey, but it might solve the problem.