What would your perfect LCD monitor include?

[Guest Jeremy Hawkins]

Thank you for the latest encouragement. The product specs have been decided on and we have begun negotiating with manufacturers. It looks like we might be using the same LCD as the new Boland monitor @ 2150 nits (produced by a japaneese company), but the overall brightness is not my main concern. Actual viewability and performance will be.

 

The final version could be as low as 1200 nits, but the daylight viewability will be comperable to those of higher nit units due to anti-glare and other considerations.

 

My people are working on it and when the negotiations are finished, it will go quite fast.

 

I have not abandonded the project in any way, but I personally am less involved at this point as it it being handled by the people in my company who are better qualified than myself.

 

The specs I have sent so far are:

• 6.5 to 8 in
  
• water resistant
  
• bright (above 1200 nits)
  
• daylight viewable
  
• durable
  
• image flipable
  
• HD or nearly so (800 X 600) min though we should be able to pull off 1440 by 810
  
• some type of component video input with hirose and HDMI being high on the list
  
• High viewing angle
  
• high contrast (300:1 or better)
  
• brightness and contrast controls
  
• anti-glare
  

does this sound good?

[JamieSilverstein]

Jeremy;

I know I'm chiming in late in the game, but the elements that I like about my Hummingbird Monitor, are of course the size of the screen and the brightness, but also the built in frame line generator. Its not as elaborate as the one on the TB6, but I get confused by too many lines anyway. Hell I get confused by most things........ But just another thing that a monitor should have and would make it very useable for me.

Thanks

Jamie

[Eric Fletcher S.O.C.]

The specs I have sent so far are:

• 6.5 to 8 in
  
• water resistant
  
• bright (above 1200 nits)
  
• daylight viewable
  
• durable
  
• image flipable
  
• HD or nearly so (800 X 600) min though we should be able to pull off 1440 by 810
  
• some type of component video input with hirose and HDMI being high on the list
  
• High viewing angle
  
• high contrast (300:1 or better)
  
• brightness and contrast controls
  
• anti-glare
  

does this sound good?

 

 

HDMI is useless for Steadicam. Also Only Tiffen uses Hirose, everyone else uses Lemo.

 

Again here is the list of what a pro monitor needs at minimum to be a "Pro" monitor

 

If you want build a platform that you are going to build on then it needs these basic specs:

• Pro Standard Lemo input
  
• HD-SDI Input
  
• Stiff Case and Mount
  
• Built in Frameline Generator
  
• 1400+ Nits
  
• 160+ Degree viewing angle
  
• the Ability to be viewed while wearing polarized sunglasses
  
• Termination switch or Auto Terminating
  
• Scan Flip switches for both Horizontal and Vertical
  
• Peaking Control
  
• Image Zoom
  
• Horizontal and Vertical Size adjustments
  
• Waterproof
  

[Brant S. Fagan SOC]

Jeremy--

 

To Eric's list I would add:

 

--Manual Termination.

--Signal Throughput.

--Selectable A/B inputs.

 

These characteristics make for a user selectable cabling environment that allows for real adaptation out in the field.

 

Also, by having two inputs, you can make room for an onboard playback circuit that keeps the playback images out of the village when necessary.

 

When it comes to the connector port issue, just pick one that is large enough for easy field service or user modification later. Lemo connectors are fine, just choose one that has room left on it.

 

Best,

 

Brant S. Fagan, SOC

[Peter Milanov]

I have a few pointers on the "Jeremy" monitor. Make sure the center of mass is in the center of the monitor, in line with the mounting, also make sure that you don´t put the connectors on the side but rather on the back of the monitor, we don´t want anything to stick out on the side, be inspired by the existing monitors from Transvideo, Boland etc.

[Bo Baraniak]

Sorry to bring the thread back on topic but I had an email from Boland last week saying that they have decided to discontinue their 6.5inch 2150 nit lcd.

I have been waiting for this product since May and am therefore extremely annoyed to hear this anouncement.

If any ops have a review of the Boland 8inch then please post it.

[Guest Jeremy Hawkins]

I am genuinely sorry to hear about the Boland monitor discontinuation. It was clearly the best on the market. I am still working on the new monitor, but we just did several product launches in the security/surveillance field and they are, unfortunately, taking presidence due to their high demand.

 

Rest assured, though, I have not forgotten my promise. The monitor as described is doable and can be achieved at a fraction of the cost of existing units. Like I said before, we have found the Boland LCD and are ready to put it into the new unit.

 

A couple of questions:

 

1. What kind of connectors are most desired and most versitle?

 

and

 

2. What applications, outside steadicams, do you see for such a minotor.

 

The answer to both of these questions will greatly assist in production.

 

Jeremy Hawkins

President/CEO

AV Wireless Technologies

[JamieSilverstein]

The connectors that would be most helpful for those who use PRO or PRO compatable equipment would be the PRO style Lemo, as well as a 4 pin XLR for power, and BNC outs for both channels.

Depending on the size, weight and cost, the monitors could be used for playback, reference, and possibly as hand held units for directors/clients.

[Eric Fletcher S.O.C.]

1. What kind of connectors are most desired and most versitle?

 

 

Asked and answered in this thread but I will post it again:

 

If you want build a platform that you are going to build on then it needs these basic specs:

Pro Standard Lemo input

HD-SDI Input

Stiff Case and Mount

Built in Frameline Generator

1400+ Nits

160+ Degree viewing angle

the Ability to be viewed while wearing polarized sunglasses

Termination switch or Auto Terminating

Scan Flip switches for both Horizontal and Vertical

Peaking Control

Image Zoom

Horizontal and Vertical Size adjustments

Waterproof

Pro Standard Lemo input

HD-SDI Input

Stiff Case and Mount

Built in Frameline Generator

1400+ Nits

160+ Degree viewing angle

the Ability to be viewed while wearing polarized sunglasses

Termination switch or Auto Terminating

Scan Flip switches for both Horizontal and Vertical

Peaking Control

Image Zoom

Horizontal and Vertical Size adjustments

Waterproof

Manual Termination.

Signal Throughput.

Selectable A/B inputs.

[Guest Jeremy Hawkins]

It looks like I have found the LCD for the monitor.

 

I was contacted by someone on this forum whose company is planning to build the rest of the unit.

 

Unfortunately, the contact info I have written down is not working, so if whoever contacted me can call me back ASAP I think we are ready to go.

 

The contact info I have is

 

adamcamera@sbcglobal.com

 

Anyone know who this is and what the correct contact info is?

 

-Jeremy

[TJ Williams]

Jeremy,

 

When I called Boland to ask about production of their 6.5 HD, the person who answered told me that it was no longer being produced. They said there was no lack of demand. According to this person, they discontinued it because they couldnt get the kind of performance they wanted from the available lcd panel.

 

Boland seems to be a competent engineering company. How will you be able to overcome the problems they had with this available lcd screen if it is in fact the one you are proposing to use? Is this the same screen the Marshall people use? Despite a bunch of folks clamoring to buy they refuse to try to make it into a brighter screen.

 

Perhaps before we continue to make wish lists of features we should have more assurance that it is possible to make a usable ultrabright screen from this lcd. Maybe it would be a good idea for you to obtain a panel and test bed it, to find out if you can actually do this.

 

Just waiting for antigravity....

TJ

[Eric Fletcher S.O.C.]

From what I've read Jeremy repackages other peoples panels.

 

So the bottom line is that he would be inheriting their problems

[Guest Jeremy Hawkins]

So, I will not sell one to you...

 

In fact, I will put it in as part of the contract that anyone EXCEPT you can purchase one.

 

In the meantime, me and those who do not have incredible childhood issues with LCD panel makers will continue with our progress.

[Brant S. Fagan SOC]

Gents--

 

It seems clear to me that just about ANYONE "making" a monitor today, and I believe that would include the major Steadicam manufacturers, would also be "guilty" of packaging the technology of others and engineering those components to suit the needs of their customer base.

 

So the bottom line, for us Steadicam operators anyway, is while basing your monitor on the components of others, Jeremy, have you found solutions to the inherent problems of the technology and can you produce a product that meets the needs of this customer base?

 

Given that question, would you consider a pilot or beta program of sample units to be tested and evaluated by members of that customer base? Specifically, those Forum members who have shown an interest in such a product?

 

Please let us know your intentions and schedule.

 

Best,

 

Brant S. Fagan, SOC

Steadicam/Camera Operator

[Guest Jeremy Hawkins]

Thank you.

 

It is indeed the case that ALL monitors are made in Taiwan, sometimes China, and anyone, including Boland, who uses an LCD is doing so with borrowed tech. For example, I found the manufacturer of the 2150 nit LCD that was discontinued by Boland in Taiwan and considered them when approaching this project.

 

It turns out, I decided that I could do better. The nits may not match, but, from my point of view, nits is not as important as the ability to transition from indoors to outdoors with little or no loss of viewability. Also, I can get better resolution on a monitor with less of a nit count than I can on the 2150 nit.

 

Another key factor is the ability to be seen from acute viewing angles, not just left and right, but top to bottom also without losing color or clarity. Additionally, the resolution must be such as to not only provide a clear picture, but also clear text. I have answered all of these problems with my engineers and you should all be able to purchase your dream monitors in the near future.

 

I will not manufacture this LCD myself, but my unique position with the manufacturers in Taiwan makes me able to actually have one designed to my specifications. This is not something anyone else can do, else it would have been done by now.

 

As to pilot or beta programs, unfortunately, this can not be done. How things like this work in Taiwan is that I give the specs, agree to a minimum order, and pay half of that cost up front. This minimum will likely be in the range of 1500 to 2000 units, amounting to an investment of $250,000 to $500,000 when all is said and done. These numbers are what keep "manufacturers" in the US from building LCD panels themselves (that and the fact that Tiawaneese manufacturers are not likely to take a design order from an American company due to a history of poor business practices).

 

I, however, am willing to take this risk and am a trusted client of these companies. Therefore, I can get this done.

 

The fact that the LCD's are specially designed and made in bulk makes it impossible to do a pilot program, but I should have the LCD done for this coming NAB, if all goes well and you can all look at it there.