New wireless monitor for Pilot

[MIKE ALBANESE]

Hi All

I purchased a Pilot back in Feb. this year. I havent used it yet. I finally got a Nikon D800 that I would like to use with it. The monitor is not the new HD sled. Steadicams price for a new style sled is over $4000.00. No upgrade path except to sell my current one and by the new one.

 

I would like to by a new HD monitor and use something like the Paralinx Arrow wireless device as opposed to running new HDMI cables. I cant find any posts or info on anyone using this setup. Seems like it would be simple but I am as green as they come with anything Steadicam.

 

Thanks for any help

 

Mike

[Evrim KAYA]

Hello Mike,

 

welcome to steadicamforum.

 

First i`d like to say using a wireless solution ON your sled is not a very good idea. Even a top of the line wireless transmitter(parralinx arrow is not such a device) is prone to interruptions which is certainly something you don`t want on your only clue to what is your shooting. And what is to be gained from this setup? you`ll save only some hassle of running an hdmi or hd compliant bnc cable trough your post. i don`t think you need to complicate your life this much and spend good money for a new hd monitor as well as an hd transmitter for such a small gain. you need reliable and hard wired monitor to opetare properly. having HD images is not that important.

 

alternatively you can just run your hdmi or bnc cable out of the post(from front of the stage down to the back of the monitor) or you can buy a downconverter(decimator, blackmagic and such) for approx. 450USD and keep the stock sd monitor.

 

and also there is something that you would hear soon enough from some of the top operators within the forum. let me tell you myself (kind of a newbie myself with only 4 years of steadicam operating under my belt) get THE book and get yourself to a workshop.

 

fly safe! welcome to the community!

[MIKE ALBANESE]

Hi Evrim

 

Thanks for the welcome. I imagine the first posts from most of the new folks are kinda silly or full of type o's like by instead of buy. Sorry

 

I would like to use my current stock equipment but from what I've read my Nikon D800 (digital signal) and the stock Steadicam monitor(analog) are not compatible without a downconverter as you mentioned.

 

I dont think I want to spend 450 or so dollars to stay in the past (analog). When I could spend $1000.00 and get a decent HDMI/daylight OK monitor. I dont think I can use the existing Pilot wiring to run HDMI thru the post.

 

Am I on the right track or totally misunderstand?

 

Thanks

 

MIke

[Janice Arthur]

Mike

 

You've got the cart before the horse

 

Get this rig out start figuring out what you don't know and get dirty

 

Get dirty = get some frame of reference on using it = get some practice/jobs etc etc etc

 

Then make some choices about whether hd is worth it

 

I've got a pilot and a flyer and for their lifespan it doesn't make sense to put another 1000 $ into it just like u chose not to by the hd version of the pilot.

 

We all come to the same conclusion

 

You're working in a vacuum; you've haven't cracked the seal on this thing and already want to modify it

 

Good luck but go get sweaty

 

Ja

[Evrim KAYA]

i second what Janice says!

 

all of the historical, epical steadicam shots are done with tiny monochrome SD monitors. you shouldn`t forget that in steadicam world the first question is not `Which equipment?` but `By who?` and the answer is always the same :by the operator! go and try to be an operator before complicating your life about your equipment. you got a very decent lightweight rig easily configurable to accept hd signals with minimal funds and time. in your case time spent doing line dances will be much more efficient than the time and money you spent on buying/configuring a new HD monitor.

 

Did you saw my post in the monitors section trying to get smaller and sd image out of a large hd monitor? simpler is most of the time is better. operating itself is already very complicated feat. putting an wireless hd transmitter to feed your onboard monitor? forget about it!

 

just my two Turkish liras!

 

ps: you can also spent your time and funds saved to go to a workshop and reading THE book.

[MIKE ALBANESE]

OK

 

It went in one ear and surprisingly didnt come out the other. I will do as suggested and get dirty. I did receive the book today.

 

I still need to get from HDMI camera out to SD monitor in. I will look into the Decimator or see if there are other down converters.

 

Thanks for the logical suggestions.

 

MIke

[Evrim KAYA]

you`re welcome.

 

if your source signal type is hdmi then you`re lucky! hdmi to SD video converters are much cheaper than downconverters like decimator.

 

 

46 USD

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=101&cp_id=10114&cs_id=1011411&p_id=8667&seq=1&format=1#largeimage

 

32 USD

http://www.amazon.com/ViewHD-Universal-Composite-Converter-Standard/dp/B0080KN18K

 

you`ll only need to fashion a power cable in order to feed them power from your sled.

(i don`t have personal experience with these example hdmi to composite converters. you should do your own research about their reliability)

 

in any case decimator is not suitable for you as it only accepts SDI signals as input and converts them to hdmi or sd.

[Janice Arthur]

Mike

 

I understand the detail. U don't want to buy downconvertrr but maybe u can find a used one ?

 

Also maybe somebody around u has SD output cam u can borrow for the time being?

 

Decimators used are not uncommon

 

Good luck and thanks for being a good listener

 

 

Ja