How Far Away do You Keep Your Monitor?

[invalid username]

Watching many different operators over the past few months (which I've found is always a good way to pick up on good operating habbits), I've seen that there's really a variation in how far people will put their monitors from the centerpost.

 

I know that the monitor is moved to different positions for different cameras, but generally speaking where do you like to keep your monitor? Close and snug to the bottom stage? Sticking out from the sled a good half a foot or so? I've even seen people fly with the monitor extended out about half the lenght of the centerpost.

 

It'd be nice to get an idea also of if there's any prefered distance (shorter vs farther) for dynamic balance, reading the monitor easier, etc.

 

Thanks!

[Jess Haas SOC]

I have played with lots of monitor distances myself and I find in general I like to keep it relatively close to the center post. The main reason for this is that when I have it further out I find that it is harder to view both the monitor and where I am going in Don Juan. If you are an operator that totally avoids Don Juan then this is less of a concern. The only real reason I would have to move it out from its normal sweet spot would be to move the masses further out to create more inertia but I don't do that very often.

 

~Jess

[Eric Fletcher S.O.C.]

I know that the monitor is moved to different positions for different cameras, but generally speaking where do you like to keep your monitor? Close and snug to the bottom stage? Sticking out from the sled a good half a foot or so? I've even seen people fly with the monitor extended out about half the lenght of the centerpost.

 

It'd be nice to get an idea also of if there's any prefered distance (shorter vs farther) for dynamic balance, reading the monitor easier, etc.

 

 

The monitor will only want to be in one spot for dynamic balance and that location is determined by the battery location.

 

I haven't moved my monitor distance since I first built my XCS Ultimate four years ago.

[Will Eichler]

Eric,

You make an excellent point! However, I choose to set my monitor distance and then move the batteries (my sled is designed to do that).

 

That said, I will adjust the monitor based on the shot. I don't do a lot of Don Juan, so it is generally a little farther out (the bottom of the NEBTEK montior on my sled now is 12.25" from the front of the center post), however I regularly change this and bring it closer. I do that either for Don Juan or to get into a space that I couldn't.

 

Best to all!

 

Will

 

 

I know that the monitor is moved to different positions for different cameras, but generally speaking where do you like to keep your monitor? Close and snug to the bottom stage? Sticking out from the sled a good half a foot or so? I've even seen people fly with the monitor extended out about half the lenght of the centerpost.

 

It'd be nice to get an idea also of if there's any prefered distance (shorter vs farther) for dynamic balance, reading the monitor easier, etc.

 

 

The monitor will only want to be in one spot for dynamic balance and that location is determined by the battery location.

 

I haven't moved my monitor distance since I first built my XCS Ultimate four years ago.

[RonBaldwin]

I have been switching monitors a lot lately since I have added a Nebtek as a backup to my trusty TB-6. I had always found the stock Pro monitor bracket to be a bit too short, though a very nice and solid bracket. I wanted to see the monitor better and add inertia so I have been using one of Greg's original extendible monitor brackets since '99. Since upgrading to a Pro2, I now use the Sachtler monitor bracket so I can extend as well as lower the monitor (nice option to have with lighter lcd's).

 

I too have found a sweet spot where I like to keep my TB-6, and it is pretty much always the same unless there are space limitations. I think the stock Pro bracket is 3.5" from post to the mounting screw. I like to get the TB-6 about 5.5" and the Nebtek (with a battery on the back) to 7" away from the post. I see the monitors better and like the way the sled feels, but to dynamic balance with these distances I need more weight in the rear so I use different batteries. I haven't used the Nebtek without a battery on the back yet -- It's so much lighter (2 lbs vs the TB-6's 5.5 lbs) I would either have to extend it like Will does or shorten my sled so much I'd lose all the inertia I like.

 

One can get the same thing now with the 1", 2", 3" and 4" spacer blocks Pro makes for it's monitor bracket. I look forward to trying it to see if it is more solid at the extended length than the Sachtler.

 

I still miss the feel of my Pro1. Waaaah!

 

rb

[Daniel Stilling DFF]

I have an XCS monitor bracket, and I keep my screen as close to the post as possible.

I figured out long ago the dynamic balance with the battery configuration I like, and I never change it.

That's until I go on to low mode, then all betts are off: I extend my monitor bracket almost all the way, so I can see the screen better.

 

Dan

[JobScholtze]

I have no idea if the bracket on my sled still extends if i want to. i didnt move it for the last 4 years. Its like eric point out. The only difference is that in my case the batterys are also in a fixed position now. It took some time to figure it all out, but in this case i get a db under 10 seconds. ( wich is a big deal in tv land with those stages these days) I have to sleds, one is dedicated for my tv work, wich is around 75% of my job, and the second sled for everything else.

Works for me

 

Best