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What would your perfect LCD monitor include?


JohnPinella

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As you say Rob, the Teletest is a usable option and affordable. I've spoken to them and their SDI/2.4 Ghz version is available now, and they think the HD-SDI card wil be ready before the end of the year. Probably worth spending the money, as it is especially useful as a handheld wireless director's monitor for times when it is not used on the rig, so it could be a really useful bit of kit, I know I could put it to good use.

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Guest Jeremy Hawkins
It's surely time that someone manufactured 'The' LCD monitor for us folks to use...

7"

HD-SDI

SDI

Composite

Anti glare, daylight viewable

AFFORDABLE

 

It can't be that hard... ;)

 

I think that I have an answer for you, but let me ask you a couple of questions:

 

1. What general price range are we talking about?

2. If a solution was provided, how large do you think the market would be?

3. Any other specifications that you would like or that would be needed?

 

I believe that I have a solution that would be reasonably afordable, completely glare resistant (beyond anything available today or mentioned so far in this thread), and very, very lightweight as well as durable. If I am correct, we could provide these units in significant volume by the middle of next month.

 

I want to make sure that what I have in mind will work, however, before I go shooting my mouth off, so any additional feedback would be great!

 

Jeremy Hawkins

AV Wireless Technologies

www.avwirelesstech.com

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Gents--

 

Based on the above parameters:

 

1. Cost should be less than US$5,000.

 

2. Market depth should run about 2,000 units. (Conservative, I know but let's be safe.)

 

3. Maybe add:

A. Image flippable top/bottom and left/right.

B. Framlines built in with crosshair(s).

C. Electronic level.

 

Let's not forget lightweight case with rigid attachment point(s) and easy on power consumption.

 

Good luck with this Jeremy. We await your project results.

 

Best,

 

Brant "Where's my greenscreen?" Fagan

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3. Any other specifications that you would like or that would be needed?

 

A wide angle of view and a screen that doesn't polarize (if that's the right word) or invert when viewed at any angle - like the LCD on the little Sony HDV cameras.

 

Dan Coplan

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Good post by Brant. I would add that image flippable is quite important for low mode etc... Electronic level (& frameline) would be nice, although there are other options for that...

 

Definately a nice strong, rigid mounting bracket for mounting to the rig too, if possible.

 

Good luck with the project - a reliable anti-glare HD LCD is a great start!

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Guest Jeremy Hawkins
Good post by Brant. I would add that image flippable is quite important for low mode etc... Electronic level (& frameline) would be nice, although there are other options for that...

 

Definately a nice strong, rigid mounting bracket for mounting to the rig too, if possible.

 

Good luck with the project - a reliable anti-glare HD LCD is a great start!

 

 

THis is very good!

 

THanks, I will get right on it. I am still thinking that the solution I have in mind will work, which will speed the process considerablly.

 

I will have to talk to my tech dept to see how many of the features being mentioned can be added to the units we already have, but I think we are on teh right track.

 

Being as my techies are not currently available for consult because of the weekend, could you help with the definition of some terms for me?

 

What, exactly, do we mean by A flippable image? Is it like a photo negative, or are speaking of inverting the image itself?

 

Polarization should not be a problem, an electronic level is certainly doable. The framline is too, but it could be trickier.

 

As to HD, does it have to be perfeclty HD quality, or could we be close to HD without actually achieving the definition on a technical spec and still have a unit that would work for the general application? If it will require perfectly HD, it will require some modification, increase the price, and delay production. If we can be close, then we are already there. If my understanding of the application intended is correct, near HD should be sufficient while we construct the full HD version for those instances where it isn't.

 

My guess is that near HD with the lighter weight, lower cost, and faster availability will be fine and might actually sell better than a heavier, more expensive full HD version. Am I wrong on this?

 

Also, if I could ask a related question:

 

The transmitters and recievers that I am currently producing are generally being used for the purpose of video preview units. They allow directors, producers, etc. to see what their cameras are seeing before assigning the recording and allow for the easy adjustment of location to compensate for changing conditions. While they have been selling quite well for this purpose, there are those who only want it if it is HD quality, which ours, though close, are not. Considering the application, is there some reason for the insistance on HD? So long as they are able to take an HD imput, I do not quite understand why, for this application, HD would be needed in most circumstances. Am I missing something?

 

Thanks for all the input. Getting information directly from those who use the equipment I am designing as to how it can be used and how to make it better is utterly invaluable!

 

If there is anything else, even if it does not relate to transmitters/recievers that you would like to see, I would love to work on those too. My primary occupation is inventor, (though I have coined the term "solutionist" as being more apt and certainly cooler :) ) so if there are other things in the field that you would like to see, I would enjoy tackling them too.

 

Thanks all! This is FUN!

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Personally, I would be very satisfied with a monitor that can ingest HD signals and display "near" HD as you call it--perhaps a good analogy is an 42" EDTV plasma that can display 480p and looks virtually identical to the 720p model, because of its size--hard to imagine that at the sub-8" size display that would be required for Steadicam, the difference in resolution would be a dealbreaker. Brightness, contrast and viewability (angle) are the really critical points--if you can match a TB6 in those departments and also fit within the specs that Brant outlined, I'll send a check.

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Guest Jeremy Hawkins
Water Proofing would be a bonus.

 

Jeff

 

Yes, I can see how that would indeed come in handy! Might be tricky to do on the first generation of products, but it cartainly can be done.

 

Jeremy Hawkins

AvWireless.com

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Jeremy,

 

I love having two channels of video on my TB-6 via the 8-pin Lemo (that also provides power to the monitor too). I use the second channel for playing back video from my onboard recorder (film jobs). By having it on another channel, there is never a feedback problem from this video on the primary channel and I don't have to worry about it going out to video village via my transmitter by accident (the union frowns upon us taking the place of a video playback person and I use this footage for my own peace of mind on tricky shots).

 

Lemo EGG 1B 308

 

1 - 12 VDC power ground

2 - 12 VDC power positive

3 - Video signal input channel 1

4 - Video signal ground channels 1 & 2

5 - Tally positive

6 - Tally negative

7 - Not connected

8 - Video signal channel 2

 

As you can see, the TB-6 has a Tally light as well.

3.5 mm mono mini jack

Tip - Tally positive

Sleeve - Tally negative

 

I'll second the water resistant nod as well as Brants suggestions. If the level & framelines are expensive, making them as add on options might suffice. Some sleds have these built into the base rather than the monitor. For me, my framelines are in the monitor, but my level is external, with the sensor at the center post which is a better place for it.

 

Really the biggest thing for me is view-ability. I still have not seen an LCD that is as good as a TB-6.

Near HD quality is probably fine because a lot of our issues are just dealing with signal compatibility. On that note, I know HD SDI booster/amplifiers exist because I've seen video guys use them when we run long BNC runs of SDI. Do you think something like this would prevent HD SDI signals from breaking up while going down our center posts via multi pin Lemo connectors? I've heard that HD SDI does not like passing through these connectors, but do you think something could be done about this - like a small, lightweight DC powered booster? This would be a wonderful invention as it would prevent a lot of rewiring/reworking of countless sleds to get HD SDI through them.

 

Many thanks for your willingness to take feedback.

 

Cheers,

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Guest Jeremy Hawkins
re: chasecam, supacam, what have you cam...

 

http://www.steadicamforum.com/forums/index...ost&p=19507

 

 

Can I get a link to the chasecam and supercam setups you are describing? I believe that I have a solution for those too, provided I know what I am talking about, and for this particular application, that is in no way certain :) .

 

-Jeremy Hawkins

AVWireless.com

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Guest Jeremy Hawkins
Don't forget real time.

Some monitors that accept HD have a built in downconverter that adds a few frames of delay.

We need to see the image in real time without any (less than a frame of) lag.

 

- Mikko

 

 

OK Guys...Watch this space!

 

I have a model in mind comming up. It wont do EVERYTHING asked for just yet as this will take some r&D and retooling, but we will have

 

7 in. display

170 degree L/R viewing angle 90 degree top/bottom

highly glare resistant

bright daylight viewable

on-board Li-polymer battery

built-in suround-sound speaker system

Ultra-high resolution (see below)

Real-time image

Weight: ~1.25 lbs (570 grams)

 

and from the brag sheet in the works:

 

Multi-Function Record ? Store ? Playback

20-40-80 Hours + of LIVE HDTV - MPEG4

D-1 Broadcast Studio Quality Video and Audio

in one Easy-To-Use Hand Held unit !

 

I am working on getting the rest of the data compiled (such as an exact NITS number), but these are pretty trick and I think are a really good base to start with. I have tried these myself and they show up great in bright sunlight, only glaring-out when the sun is perfectly alinged, generally, tilting the screen slightly eliminates even that.

 

Cost has not been set quite yet, but I CAN guanantee you it will be FAR less than $4,000

 

Should have full specs, capabilities, and cost up in a couple of days. Units will be available for sale in the next week or so.

 

Did I do good?

 

Jeremy Hawkins

www.AVWireless.com

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