Thoughts on LG 19" Monitor as HDV Field Monitor

[Shaun Roemich]

Understanding that I realize that a cheap TV won't be as accurate as a $5000 production monitor, does anyone have any experience with the LG 19LG30 19" HDTV LCD TV?

I'm using a JVC GY-HD200 in 720P60 HDV and would like an inexpensive field monitor that I can run HD analog component to for focus and ROUGH colour checks. I will be colour grading in post so I just need something with better res and comparable (if not MARGINALLY better) colour than the LCD screen or viewfinder. As well, I would be using the monitor to confirm focus (and backfocus).

This monitor is under $400 CDN and I've read reasonable reviews on the image and the colour when properly set up. According to the reviewers the LG has advance colour set-up options that of course don't rival CRT production monitors but a 20lb solution I can throw in a Pelican case and haul to location shoots is intriguing.

Any comments would be welcomed. And before anyone asks, I DO need HD res. A DVD player with input jacks or an 8" LCD with 800x600 res isn't going to cut it.

Thanks in advance.

[Gints Klimanis]

Originally Posted by Shaun Roemich

Understanding that I realize that a cheap TV won't be as accurate as a $5000 production monitor, does anyone have any experience with the LG 19LG30 19" HDTV LCD TV?

I'm in the process of checking these out. There are comparable models by Samsung and others. Browse the selection at bestbuy.com and frys.com . I have not yet connected my Sony EX1 to these TVs, so I'm worried what happens when I output 1080i60 or 1080p30 to these 720p monitors. These TVs include an integrated ATSC tuner and list "HDTV compatilibility=YES" in the specs. So, we're left to guess whether the downscaling path from a 1080i ATSC/QAM signal to the 720P display is also available to component inputs. I'll experiment this weekend.

Samsung LN-19A331 19" 720p LCD HDTV
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc..._720p_LCD.html

Toshiba 19AV501U 19" 720p LCD TV (White)
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc..._720p_LCD.html

As you get smaller, the 1366x768 resolutions are possible, but the inputs are limited to HDMI or composite. That's right, no component , s-video, VGA (aka PC input) or DVI.
Westinghouse - 16" 720p Widescreen Flat-Panel LCD HDTV
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....#productdetail

[Shaun Roemich]

Thanks for the quick input, Gints. I was looking at the Samsung yesterday but didn't have my camera with me (nor did I have component cables with) so all I was left to judge was the AWFUL HDTV feed that all the TVs were getting at Future Shop. LOTS of macroblocking artifacts but EVERY TV on the floor that wasn't attached to BluRay had the same problem so I thought I'd better bring the camera back and see if they'd let me hook it up for playback.

[Stuart Campbell]

Do you have any prior experience of using an LCD HDTV as a field monitor with the JVC?

Have to say the idea never really came into my head until I just read your post. Stuffing a 19" hd lcd into a Peli case would serve as a very cheap stop gap until we get our 17" JVC.

I was wondering if the JVC component out into an LCD RCA component input on on of these TVs gives an acceptable HD preview. Would there be any problems in viewing variable frame rates for example going from 25p to 50p (if you had a PAL one of course).

Stuart

[Bob Diffenderfer]

Have you tried this monitor yet? I would love to see how it works!

[Shaun Roemich]

Haven't had a chance to pick one up or try it yet. Been too busy! I will advise when I have some form of feedback.

[Bob Diffenderfer]

I picked this monitor up a couple days ago. Nice picture, pretty accurate right out of the box. It has a few extra options to fine tune it. It seemed great for focusing although I only did a couple quick test in low light but it seemed to work great. I am going to fit a case for it and use it on location. The plastic stand is pretty chincy and I can't imaging it holding up in a production environment. I need to figure out a c-stand solution.

[Shaun Roemich]

Picked mine up last week along with a Canadian Tire DC battery to AC power solution in a box to power it in the field. The monitor is great for the price in terms of checking focus/back focus and for framing shots up while seated on the "other" side of the camera during interviews (I'm often a one-man-band). Money well spent. I too will be looking at a Pelican case for hauling it around but for non-critical colour and exposure, it's a winner at less than $400 CDN.

I should note that mine arrived with a NUMBER of stuck pixels that show up intermittently, depending on source image and backlight. I thought about returning it but for $400, it does what I need.