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Cinetronic Review


Jens Piotrowski SOC

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These things are so good that I ordered a second one so that I have a Cinetronic as my backup (but will likely never need to use it). It is just nice to have an exact duplicate monitor as a backup so that if and when it ever needs service it is a simple plug and play to replace, I stay balanced and I see exactly what I am use to seeing.

 

At that sale price how can anyone resist buying!!!

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Mike, Thanks for the kind words. Really, really glad the monitor is working out so well!

 

For those that don't know this, our units are also built from scracth for each and every owner, and as such, we are delighted to customize the units as needed.....

 

Happy Holidays to all....

 

Best,

Gary

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Quick review of serial number 007 Cinetronic 6.5",

 

On a frozen lake today, -12 to minus 17 celcius all day with strong winds. Monitor plugged in and powered all day from 8 am to 6 pm, stayed out on lunch break with no heat source. It never had a hiccup. This monitor is from another planet.

Cheers.

web.jpg?ver=13304037700001

 

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a really big planet! But a bright one.

 

Ron, I forget but have you demoed it for any period of time like a week or more? In the nearly year I've been flying it, the size has never been a problem. Compared to my Transvideo it seemed large at first but compared to something like a TB6 style green screen or the Tiffen / Transvideo 8" monitors the size difference is negligible. The current size balances out very nicely with either one or two Dionic 90s on the back of my sled.

 

Meanwhile, Chris is busting butt to get the new version out with the smaller casing, boards and new features and we all should be seeing something very soon.

 

Robert

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Rob,

 

It's just a personal preference thing.... what you're used to. You came from the large Tiffen LCDs previously, right? You were probably very comfortable with that size screen. Taking into account the yoke and adjustment knobs, the Cinetronic is a whopping 10.25" in width. Although the weight might be similar to that of a TB6, the width is basically double, and, in my opinion, the width is a very important dimension when you're maneuvering around obstacles. I know I whacked a few corners as I was backing up through hallways and doorways on my first couple days out with it. Now I'm fine, but again, it's what you're used to.

 

Like Ron, I too like a smaller screen so I don't have to scan so much. All that said, I've been able to adapt to the differences, and I'm quite happy with the monitor.

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Compared to my Transvideo it seemed large at first but compared to something like a TB6 style green screen or the Tiffen / Transvideo 8" monitors the size difference is negligible.

 

the tb6 is just under 6" wide...the 9" wide housing/yoke + knobs (the afore mentioned 10.25") is gargantuan in comparison. I am hoping the new housing is at least the same as the nebtek (the neb's 7.5" width seems big to some of us who are used to green screens). I remember when the tb6 came out and people with pro monitors were flipping out because of the increased 1" width. Imagine 2 pro monitors side by side!

 

Rob, I have not demoed it but would like to (with the new housing) see the features -- I am especially interested in the bubble level and how well it works. I saw Will Demerrit's and briefly tested it against my tb6 and my nebtek in direct sunlight (it blew away the nebtek, tb6 not so much) and I was impressed.

 

And btw, me kvetching about the width is by no means taking away any of the hard work and quality if this monitor. It's fairly rare that a vendor listens to clients let alone delivering what he promised.

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I think it does matter. Similar to how you know when to step over a root while walking, or how much to duck under a branch so you don't hit your head, you don't have to look at your feet and head to know their size and shape. It's something you come to learn. Same is true, for me anyway, for the size and shape of your sled. You're probably right, Eric, in terms of doorways and other floor-to-ceiling obstacles, but for all others, I was always well aware (if only on a subconscious, muscle memory level) that the base of my rig was much narrower than the top of it. This is a factor when the majority of the obstacles around which we maneuver are at monitor height, not at camera height: tables, chairs, benches, trash cans, countertops, etc. It's one of the reasons we all find low mode more cumbersome.

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what he said

 

As you know it's tough in these days of little to no rehearsals, actors missing marks (and not giving a siht about it), grabbing over the shoulders and getting continually knocked like they don't know I am there with my 6" monitor makes me think that it does matter. I doubt you or I (or anyone) will encounter a door/window/opening that is 10.25" wide (well, there is my ex) but you cannot tell me that an extra 2+ inches on your dumb side isn't significant. Fast preceding/backing through twisty hallways...like all of us, I sometimes whack the cinetape readout on a doorjam or wall sconce I missed or forgot about -- I don't know how wide an Arri clip-on mb is but will measure today at work.

 

Some of us got excited when Chris mentioned the 5.6" version a while back because of the width as well as un-needed screen size. Like I said I will be happy to give it a try. I know it's something that I can probably eventually get used to but you can't say it's a non-issue (I am a slow learner).

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An Arri clip-on mb with Cinetape display is the exact same profile as the current Cinetronic housing. The width is less of an issue than I feared for this reason, but as Afton points out, it is often stuff that resides at lower-than-camera levels that are trouble. The one time I markedly noticed the monitor was being a pain was on a tricky stairs shot (winding down several flights backwards). The camera was above the railing, but rounding corners, the knob on the Cinetronic reminded me of its stature a couple of times. Everything is a tradeoff though. I've had a few shots where I end up pushing in on something with the monitor over an obstacle and the only reason it clears is that the Cinetronic is not as deep as a green screen.

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I came from flying a PRO2 monitor, but I spent some time on a friend's Ultra 2 HD UltraBrite monitor. That being said, I haven't found the wider monitor of my Cinetronic 4:3 6.5" monitor challenging or compromising, even this summer when I was doing walks through a narrow, CLUTTERED house (art department had trash everywhere... and not just because they're art dept).

 

Regardless, once the new housing and features are unveiled, this whole argument will be pretty outdated. Then, the housing will be barely wider than the LCD panel itself. Maybe that will entice some people to change up?

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