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New Steadicam Monitor


chris bangma

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I am currently in the process of building a HD lcd monitor for steadicam. So far, the specs are as follows:

 

6.5" 4:3 screen, or 7" widescreen

Composite and HD-SDI inputs

Passively cooled, no fans or openings

2000 nits brightness.

 

Please let me know what features your would be interested in, or any suggestions you might have. I am working on integrating a digital level, and framelines as well.

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I am currently in the process of building a HD lcd monitor for steadicam. So far, the specs are as follows:

 

6.5" 4:3 screen, or 7" widescreen

Composite and HD-SDI inputs

Passively cooled, no fans or openings

2000 nits brightness.

 

Please let me know what features your would be interested in, or any suggestions you might have. I am working on integrating a digital level, and framelines as well.

 

Chris,

Really ?

 

Robert's reply is a good start, but there has been this monitor discussion since the beginning of Steadicam.

 

On a positive note, we all would love a monitor like the mythical one of which you speak

 

Build it and we will come.!!

 

No offense!!

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Afer 10 years of steadicam assisting, I think I have a pretty good idea... I primarily only worked with film though, so I dont know what some of the video operators are looking for. The main questions have to do with the weight etc. After speaking to Jimmy Muro, he commented that if its too light, it can be a bit difficult since the rig gets longer to balance out the heavier cameras. We are trying to figure out what someone would consider the ideal weight for a montitor, so both the video and "Film" guys are happy. We have already taken care of the basics, like passive cooling, and a sealed design. This will prevent any water or dust from entering the monitor. The top is completely sealed, with o-rings, so operation in light rain, should not pose any problems. A post mounted digital level will be next. This could be integrated either two ways. It could either be an LED array across the bottom of the monitor, or an onscreen bar that would move. I think we could provide a higher resolution for the level by using an led array, similar to what was one the Preston hand unit 2. Also what adjustments would people like to the digital level? Would you want it to always be absolute, or would you like to be able to offset it? I could also integrate a sensitivity adjustment, so you could adjust how quickly the level responds. Let me know what you think.. At the moment we are targeting for around 4lbs for the monitor, which should put is about a pound below the TB-6. We will have samples available in a couple weeks for operators to borrow and test, and offer their feedback.

 

 

Oh great... another one.

 

If you have to ask, you don't know what we need or are looking for...

 

 

Sticking with my TB-6.

 

 

Erwin

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An HDMI port, would be great. Lots of user buttons like the Nebtek. Try and make things less menu oriented and more with buttons.

It would be amazing if the buttons need a deliberate push to change something. I can't stand landing my rig and accidentally barely touching the side of the Carrion monitor ( buttons are on the side). And the screen starts searching for a different port to get video from.

 

I don't really shoot in 4:3 too much... Cant say this would be a wanted feature. 7" wide screen is more appealing.

 

Have a battery mount on the back. (Easy enough) That way when your working with a light setup you power it from the rig and for a heavy set up you throw a Batt on the back of the monitor. You've instantly attained the weight of a tube monitor.

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I am currently in the process of building a HD lcd monitor for steadicam. ...

 

Please let me know what features your would be interested in, or any suggestions you might have. I am working on integrating a digital level, and framelines as well.

 

Simple really

 

Make a LCD Version of the TB-6.

 

Make sure that it has an onscreen level and can take both a standard NTSC Signal and a HD-SDI in.

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As far as weight goes I would say don't add weight for the sake of adding weight. If a user wants more weight there they can add a battery. Personally I prefer a lightweight monitor and adding weight to the bottom of the rig in front of the post but I do understand that most rigs are not setup to do this by default. A battery mount on the monitor solves this.

 

Essential items for winning acceptance from steadicam operators are user adjustable framelines, image flip, digital level and as good of viewability outside as humanly possible. I think one thing that we learned at the shootout was that nit ratings aren't everything. The finish and reflectivity of the screen matters almost as much if not more. Also have you looked at transflective LCDs? I have seen transflective LCDs with standard brightness backlights that were as good if not better than standard LCDs with high brightness backlights. Now if you could figure out how to be transflective and 2000nits you might have something even Eric and Erwin would like.

 

~Jess

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The 6.5" that we will be working with is a transflective display, that we will boost to 1600-2000 nits. This should offer the best of both worlds. This is essentially the same screen as the hummingbird, but a newer higher resolution version that has a high brightness backlight added as well.

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weather proof, the ability to see it in the sunlight, viewability from wide angles are the things that matter the most to me. 4 to 5 lbs including a battery (d-90/hc-90) is fine but if it's that weight without a batt then it will be a bit beefy for most and adding a batt will not be an option.

 

there was much weeping and gnashing of teeth at the monitor shootout. Seems many of the manufacturers showed up thinking theirs was the clear winner based on numbers/stats and went away shocked that in fact they all kinda sucked in the sunlight (I guess they missed the name..."the great daylight monitor shootout"). Some claimed it was an unfair comparison -- I guess the sun unfairly hit theirs more than the others?

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