Marshall LCD Monitors as Viewfinder Replacement
 

Hello all!

I'm in the market for an LCD monitor as an EVF-replacement for my XL-1s. I'm looking for something that will come close to DV-resolution so I can really judge focus well (close to impossible with the supplied EVF).

I've looked at the options from VariZoom, and I don't think that's what I'm looking for.

I've also spotted a wide range of monitors from Marshall at the B&H site. The specs seem right, and the price they offer is good.

My question: does anyone in this community have experience with Marshall LCD monitors? If so, I would be very glad to hear what they are!

Thanks a bunch in advance!

Regards,

Ron

Hi Ron,

on this forum people have raved about the Nebtek range of monitors. Check it out at www.nebtek.com

Cheers
Andrew

Sorry no experience on the Marshall.

Maybe I'm crazy...
 

Hello Andrew!

How are things going? I decided to avoid all possible problems but potential lack of portability ;-)

I'll get a Marshall 12.1" LCD with SVGA resolution. Focussing problems be gone!

More details can be found here:

http://www.mars-cam.com/osd/lcd/monitors/vlcd12.html

B&H offers much lower prices than those listed on the Marshall site. Also, the foot can be removed for mobile use. Seems pretty handy for mobile and studio use...

Whatcha think?

Cheers,

Ron

I recently purchased a Marshall V-LCD4-Pro-L to use as a monitor for my XL-1....

The 4" monitor has two BNC inputs and outputs... but how do I actually connect it to the XL-1 to use?

Find a BNC --> Composite adapter, connect that to the screen and then use a composite cable to connect the screen and the XL-1.

HTH,

Ron

Is "Composite" the multi-pin connector that the EVF connects to the XL-1? Do you know a place to get such an adaptor and cable? Such as Radioshack, BH Photo?
You wouldn't happen to have a picture of what I'm looking for would you?

I appreciate your help..

CMV

Nope, the composite plug is the two lead standard video connector, and it's found under the flap on the rear of the camera, next to the audio connectors (same physical appearance as the latter, but yellow in the center).

The EVF-connector can't be used for anything else; it's proprietory.

B&H should definitely carry them, and so should the supplier where you bought the monitor.

HTH,

Ron

Thanks Ron.
I called Marshall initially and the guy was telling me that there was nothing available commercially...that I basically had to make my own cable... find out with pins were power... which were ground, and which were video...
For as many BNC input monitors out there and for as many XL-1s out there... there HAD to be something commercial...
Will BNC to RCA also work? I'm going to go over to Radio Shack tonight and see what they can do. Over the phone they said they had a BNC to Composite adaptor in the store.
Is Composite the same as S-Video?
Thanks again for your help.

woops, sorry Ron... just re-read your response...
so, what you ARE talking about is RCA type connections...

CMV

I guess you call them RCA in the US. We call the cinch here... Let me know how you get on and whether you're satisfied with the monitor!

Cheers,

Ron

Ron,

Got the adaptor and hooked it up today... GREAT... just got my other goodie in the mail...
a Varizoom Stealth remote lens control....
Now, is there a rule of thumb for setting the parameters on the monitor to fit with the recorded image?
Is that where the color bars come in? Or should I just plug in the EVF and compare them to get them identical?
Thanks a lot for your help! I really appreciate it!

CMV

Well, I go by what looks good to me in this instance. I'm not shooting for broadcast, and the following approach has worked fine for me. When I "calibrate" my monitor, I point the camera at an evenly lit scene with dark shadows and bright highlights, then balance the exposure using Zebra in the EVF (make sure you're not using automatic exposure in the camera), and finally adjust the LCD to look as similar to the real scene in front of the camera as possible.

As I said, this works for me, doing mostly multimedia work to be consumed on computer screens. Some folks working for broadcast might be able to chime in about how to do this the truly correct way.

HTH,

Ron

I know you've already gotten an BNC connector - but if you ever decide to put a different mic on the camera and buy the MA-200 adaptor, it has a video BNC connection on it.