I could be wrong here, but inverted mode (rotated 180 degrees) is exactly what you need no? My cheapo DVD player does this just fine.

Dennis, we're also looking for a DVD player with high resolution so we can properly focus the image, something the el cheapo models lack.

dennis... the image from the adapters is flipped upside down and is inverted.. so if you want a true image you would have to have a monitor which will perform an x and y flip

Ok fellas. I like the little think tank we have going on here. I believe I've found a solution. It's the Lilliput 809GL-80NP.

Info here:
http://www.lilliputuk.com/productinfo.php?product=22

Purchase here:
http://www.mp3car.com/store/product_...products_id=42

and here:
http://www.case-mod.com/store/lillip...06.html?src=fr

and here:
http://www.translinks.com/touch_screen.htm

I like this device since it's meant for cars and not film makers. Hence, it's cheap and still has some of the features we need. It has a mirror mode AND vertical flip (Some people use this as a rear view mirror) allowing us to flip the image when using 35mm adapters.

It has high resolution so we should be able to obtain sharp focus.
(1024 x 768 dots - Higher than DV resolution and the best I've seen in an LCD)

Let me know what you think.

To undo a 180 degree rotation, you flip, then you mirror. It's the same thing.

Thats why running your camera upside down (which I do) results in the correct orientation of video when captured. You'll also find in your NLE that rotating 180 has the same effect as flip and mirror.

Many portable DVD players have a "reverse" button, as mine does, which rotate the image 180 degrees to allow operation of the unit upside down. Given my GS400's propensity to allways right the LCD image, this is the only way I can monitor an upright image.

Try it!

This is 800x480, $189, 16:9/4:3 switchable, but no S-video input: http://www.mp3playerstore.com/stuff_...l/IN-700VG.htm

You got it 200% right Dennis.
The reverse function simply rotates 180 degrees, and that's what you need if you want to use a 35mm adapter. So the image flips both vertically and horizontally in that case. Sorry for the confusion.

Piet

I have seen LCD's that have the same v/a input for PS and Xbox, but I am wondering if there is a way to hack that and come out with RCA inputs?

ive rigged an xbox portable monitor for rca input

I'm looking for an LCD screen as wel. Currently this one seems very interesting to me

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NEW-7...33632431QQrdZ1

It has a native res of 800x480. Right about perfect for NTSC, but I'm living in a PAL country so I should actually go for 800x600. But screens with this resolution are 4:3. So if I letterbox to 16:9 on that one, I'm just not using 120 lines so I might as wel buy the native 16:9 800x480 one...
Did anyone in a PAL country come to the same conclusion? Or is there something wrong in my reasoning.

cheers!

This looks good with 16:9 and S-video input! Remove the touchscreen, and you're set. How do you know it's 800x480 native? I don't see that in the listing.

*mumbles* yea that's the same LCD screen I have, that I'm currently using with my GL2 + Letus.

I have to warn you though, the more I've used it the less satisfied I've been with the sharpness of the image. It may have that high resolution for a computer VGA signal but it certainly doesn't look very sharp when the image is fed in through S-video.

Any how-to on how you did the RCA input?

Not sure what you mean...just plugged it in.

I'm considering going with the 7inch model instead. The 629GL. It's resolution seems perfect for DV (800x480).

Lilliput 7" VGA Touchscreen 629GL-70NP:
http://www.mp3car.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=42{7}17{1}81{25}42

My only issues are the fact that its aspect ratio is 16:9, but my DVX100 outputs a 4:3 ratio. Any idea what that will mean for my image? Will it just show a 4:3 image in the middle (wasting screen real estate) or will it stretch it out?

A second option is the XENARC 800YV
It's 8 inches with a 4:3 ratio and X/Y flip. The resolution is 640x480, so it's not as good as DV
http://www.xenarcdirect.com/store/pr...cat=250&page=1

This may be the highest resolution manufactured at this aspect ratio. Could I be wrong?

Thanks for your input.

Sorry Ben, I meant Andrew Todd when he said :

**ive rigged an xbox portable monitor for rca input**

Ben,

Do you think that's because of bad quality of the screen, or because the resolution is not high enough (so all of the 800x480 screens would give the same result, so I should go for a higher res screen)?

I think the monitor Ben is using is a low res monitor. I'd be surprised it it actually had a 480pixel vertical resolution. Perhaps, that is the reason for the blurriness. Also, was the touch screen removed? If not, that too can make it blurry.

Bad quality. It's got the resolution (VGA input from a computer looks crisp as anything) but I don't think the s-video electronics take advantage of it. Yes, the touchscreen is removed, which helps a little.

mmm I guess you get what you pay for, it's quite cheap. And there's no real other choice, other 7" screens do not have an s-video input at all. And I dont want to spend more than $1000 for a pro screen.
BTW I saw some other posts where people complain about the 7" lilliput being a bit washed out as well.

Layi, be careful, none of the 7" lilliput screens have an s-video input although that's in the description of mp3car.com. Have a look at www.lilliput.cn . Only some of the 8" screens have an s-video input.

Would RCA inputs be sufficient? What's the difference in the video quality? Thanks.

here's a short explanation of the difference:

http://www.answerbag.com/q_view.php/15434

I dont think there are LCD screens in the $100-$300 price range with a component input, so I would go for s-video.

For those in Canada, CanadianTire has a 7 inch monitor for sale for $100.00. I bought one today and going to test it out, it has 16:9 and 4:3, brightness adjust. I am going to keep it anyways for my steadicam, but it might double. I don't think it has 180 degree, but I can just turn it upside down I believe.

http://www.canadiantire.ca/assortmen...romSearch=true

Is there a S-video to 1/8 inch stereo converter cable? I am trying out this monitor, but it doesn't like the AV out to the video in, so I need to try another route.
Actually I found a 1/8 to 1/8 that seems to work :
Here is a grab/. Bad lighting, I know. Just did it quick :

http://dvstuff.250free.com/bag.htm

I shot the little monitor and hence the mirror to infinity effect. I think the monitor looks pretty good, althought there are no instructions to tell me the specs ie; probably 640X480. But I did a focus test with the monitor and it was sharp enough to use for focusing, so I think this one is a cheap keeper for me.

im going down to crappy tire after work!! good find .. thats a great deal.. probably not the best qualtiy but good enough to frame with..

what part of canada do you live in leo?

Ontario. I little far from N.B!
The monitor is a 90 day warranty, so you really can't go wrong. Test it out and see.
Most importantly, it is light as a feather, can be turned upside down and has no pieces for mounting that cannot be easily removed.

XL1s and DVD Player
 

Hey there everybody,

I currently only use the viewfinder on my XL1s, however, it would be much simpler if I could get a seperate monitor. Of course, I could get a camera-mounted LCD monitor, but it woudl be much cheaper if I use a portable DVD player instead. Can this be done? (Obviously need either Composite plug-ins, or S-video cable.). If this can be done, are there any portable DVD players you would reccomend? Sorry if this question is a little bit vague, (or simply a silly question.....), but I figured it's worth a try! Thanks,

~Clint Grant~

Portable DVD player as monitor for GL2
 

Would it be possible to use a portable DVD player as a monitor while recording or using as playback using the RCA or s-video port? The price of these things are quite cheap now compared to a "real monitor". I'm sure it could be afixed to a tripod via velcro or some straping assembly.

In theory yes. The problem you're going to run into is power in the field. Most of these devices run off wall worts or DC adapters for use in a vehicle. Those that use batteries typically have a short lifespan (2-3 hours generally).

Also the picture quality can really be iffy, I don't think it would be good for anything but composition or just having another monitor so you and the cameraman aren't fighting for the EVF. Using it as a reference monitor for color or luminance is probably not going to work out too well.

I would just try it with a portable battery, like they have for your on camera light. If it works then practice so that you can quickly set it up in the field without being a clutz. If you practice with it in the studio have your correctly balance studio monitor as a reference and then GLUE the settings down so they don't move. At the worst it could only be used as a second compositional monitor for your client/director at best it would show the correct color balnce and so forth. Have fun.
Tom

I currently use a Toshiba portable DVD player with my GL1, works fine as a composition monitor, but focusing isn't too hot. I don't know if newer DVD players will do a better job than mine, which I got back in 2002, but I wouldn't have high hopes. Ikan makes some decent production LCD's for about the same price as a portable DVD player, but don't expect too much from them either, the review I read was that they were good entry-level monitors, but they weren't great.

What wiring connection do you use to attach the DVD to the GL? RCA or S-video or what? I was talking to a sales associate at a Circuit City about this and he showed me that the RCA plugs seemed a bit loose to get a proper connection??? It still seems to be an economical approach and you can still use it for a DVD viewer

Dear Terry Arnold,
I really do not know what kind of hook up to make it work properly as a low cost monitor.
If you lived next door to me, I would invite you over for lunch, a swim in the pool and then have you take your time going through my "goodie box" of a gizzilion sizes and kinds of wires to make it work
However I bit the bullet and when I got my GL2 I also sent away for a Marshall location monitor with suedo leather case, sun shield, recharable battery, recharger and an extension arm to have it attached to my tripod so I can be a gentleman, remain seated and compose the shots through the monitor. It was not cheap and thank goodness, video taped depositions pay well.
Yours,
Tom

Terry, my particular DVD player has both AV-In, AV-Out, Compenent Out, and S-Video Out. For the GL1, I use a Sony AV Connection cable which you should be able to find at a videogame store somewhere (ie. EBGames, Electronics Boutique, Best Buy, ect.), it's even listed on the Sonystyle.com store website under the Playstation 2 accessories list. It's very easy, I just plug one end of the AV cable into the GL1 and the other goes into the AV-In on the DVD player and voila, it works like a charm, but my DVD player, as I've said before, isn't exceptionally good for focusing, still very useful though.

Hi Terry,

I don't have the NICE Cams you folks have, a Sony TRV-950 is the best of my 4 Cams.

But, I have been using a seperate Monitor for the last 8 yrs or so. In fact I almost always use one. You've been able to use those Portable DVD players since they came out with "inputs".

Like the others have said, the issue is "in the Field" and the Pic Quality. I've got 5" & 8" LCD TV units from Radio Shack ( both AC/DC ) ( $150 ?), a 15" LCD Samsung AC unit, and 9" and 13" CRT TV AC unit's. The two smaller monitors can be attached to my TriPod, to a second TriPod, to my extendable ( 2' to 4' ) control handle, to whatever. I can send you Pics of these if interested.

If no electricity is available, then I go on battery power. For the Horse Shows I do, I use a Cam, a Monitor, and 2 VCRs. I can power all these for up to 13 hrs. "in the Field" if I need too.

For the day light, I have made Sun Shields for each Monitor and even one for each Cams' little side monitor.

I recently went to Best Buy looking for a DVD Player unit, and only found one that would give a decent Pic. The 10" Insignia unit was the best one (currently $189). The 2 Sonys had good Pics, but were dimer and their screens were way to reflective to be usefull.

If you really need acuracy, then you'll have to put out the $$$ for the best units.

Harold

Thanks all! Seems the concensus is it's doable, Guess I'll go find me a unit and see what comes out. Very nice work on your web site Tom. Many many years ago I lived down in Miami, last on Coral Way. Anyway this all is just a serious hobby for me, and really I'm more in to photography, just getting into Video. Supporting two hobbies like this is getting to be EXPENSIVE and difficult lugging all of the equipment around. Again THANKS ALL.

Dont laugh at this but i use this all the time. i use a black and white battery powered Portable tv that cam free with my mums new credit card. (one of those free gifts)

i'm looking for a monitor solution too. but aren't those dvd players small? 6" screens or something? I've found 9" sony monitors barely big enough to compose a shot and check for make up smudges etc.

DVD Monitor
 

I have read many threads about using a cheap portable DVD player as a monitor for the GL2. Can someone recommend a cheap out-of-the-box solution? If you can tell me specific models that would be great.

Also, if someone knows of a cheap remote dvd monitoring solution that would be even better. I guess i could run long cables but that would suck! LOL

Sony offered a cordless IR video links (transmitter & receiver) at one time. WouLd be line of sight. Model numbers began with something line IFT and IFR.I do nto know if they are still on the market,

Use of a DVD player as a monitor adds weight and bulk, but can work if more portability is not needed. Some people use small screen (e.g., 3"-5") dedicate LED monitors. A search may pull up some threads on the subject.

As to sources, in the USA, I see COSTCO an amny of the big consumer electronics stores often have portable DVD players in stock.

Recommend a model at costco
 

Can you recommend a model at costco? I assume i'll be using Svideo right?