Return monitor advice.

[Tony Reyes]

I have now realized that I need a cheap return monitor. Is their a particular brand or size that you have found that works well?

 

Same with prompter. I have been told that both of these can be regular old composite. 

 

For example I see 4.3 inch monitors on Amazon for $35. I don't care about quality. I really just need to see what is in program. Is there a particular reason I should stray away from going ultra cheap? I'd kind of like to spend my dollars on other gear right now.

[Afton Grant]

I don't do much live stuff, so I don't have any myself, but a friend here in NYC does and recently bought a couple monitors off of Ebay for $20 each. Quality was actually not that bad. Hard to go wrong at that price too. I did some mods to them to make them plug nicely into his rig. I don't remember the brand (if there even was one), but I bet if you searched Ebay, you'd find them. Or just try the ones from Amazon.

[Daniel Erbeck]

I use the Ikan 3.5 inch lcd SD monitor. Great size and relatively cheap. B&H has them

[Rob Vuona SOC]

Go with the 4.3". But buy two or three, it will break

 

Modify the cable to plug into your rig

 

Tiffen has a great return monitor bracket that adjust to different monitor rods , see the Phantom•V

 

As far as the return monitor go with the 7" analog again modify the cables to fit your rig and then make a mounting bracket to attach to the top handle of the camera allowing the monitor to sit just above the lens

 

Hope that helps

[Daniel Erbeck]

Im currently in the process of fabricating a bracket that can recieve a 1/4-20 screw and would slide and attach on to the cameras eyepiece mount. Combine that with a small bogan arm that has a 1/4-20 on it and you'll be able to achieve the placement of the prompter monitor where Rob said. If anyone's interested let me know.

[Osvaldo Silvera SOC]

This bracket works for most Sony and Panasonic broadcast cameras.

 

Not made for a Monitor specifically but easy to drill the plate for one, and you can slide it side to side.

 

http://www.steadicamforum.com/index.php?showtopic=14939&st=0&p=70546&fromsearch=1entry70546

[Tony Reyes]

Thanks everyone for the replies. I ended up going with the ultra cheap 4.3" from Amazon. I'm planning on powering it from the D-tap by my battery.

 

I'm getting the idea that the quality of the prompter basically doesn't matter : ) The plan now is to power it from one of the Hirose connectors on my Master sled. Has anyone else done this with a Master sled?

 

John Perry recommended this one for a prompter:

http://xenarc.com/product/700yv.html

 

Don't know if it's worth spending $300 on this or just buying a cheap $80 7".

 

It'd be nice to be able to buy some inexpensive equipment for once! : )

[Mark Schlicher]

Lots of the cheapie monitors have narrow ranges of acceptable voltages (and poor documentation.) So there's a chance of blowing up a "12V" monitor with an unregulated 14.4V (up to 16V right off the charger) from a p-tap. This goes for your prompter as well as the return monitor.