OT: Reference Monitor

JackW wrote on 5/31/2009, 12:06 PM

Anyone familiar with this reference monitor?

We're looking for a new, reasonably priced field monitor and this looks, on paper at least, like it might do the job. Has both color bars and blue.

If not this, how about another recommendation.

Thanks.

Jack

Comments

TimTyler wrote on 5/31/2009, 12:10 PM

I don't have that monitor.I have the $2500 17" JVC and a $1200 7" Marshall...

But I'll tell ya, with monitors, you get what you pay for. Anything under $2k won't come close to "reference."

Mickcim wrote on 5/31/2009, 1:02 PM

Hi there,
Take a look at flanders scientific monitors. They are really nice, and extremely affordable. They aim to make the monitors have the appearance of a CRT. They start at 1500US for the smaller monitors.

We have 2 24 inch monitors, one that is grade 1 and a grade 2 also, and we are very happy with them. I met the guys at NAB also and they are great guys, and they provide after sales service that is ridiculously good via internet chat.

We got a panasonic model and put it up against it and there was no comparison. The blacks especially were horrible on the pana.

Mick

JackW wrote on 5/31/2009, 1:26 PM

Your points are well taken. In our studios we have $1500+ monitors.

What I'm looking for is a small monitor we can use in the field to check white balance, color and lighting.

Jack

megabit wrote on 5/31/2009, 1:29 PM

"What I'm looking for is a small monitor we can use in the field to check white balance, color and lighting"

How about focus? The "reference monitor" you've linked to doesn't seem to be so good in this department...

baysidebas wrote on 5/31/2009, 1:35 PM

Adobe OnLocation running on a decent laptop does it for me.

TimTyler wrote on 5/31/2009, 3:38 PM

> What I'm looking for is a small monitor we can use in the field
> to check white balance, color and lighting.

Well, you can't unless you spend some money on a good monitor.

Inexpensive monitors allow you too check framing and you'll be able to tell if your white balance and exposure are way off, but you won't be able to fine tune those.

JackW wrote on 5/31/2009, 5:18 PM

Baysidebas: I'd love to use OnLocation, and have an excellent laptop to use with it, but haven't been able to find it as a stand-alone product, unlike the old DV Rack.

Good point regarding focus; although we're still shooting in SD we'll be moving on to HD shortly.

Thanks everyone for your input. We'll just have to spring for the big bucks.

Jack

farss wrote on 5/31/2009, 6:02 PM

For a small location reference monitor I cannot speak too highly of the units from TVLogic. Sizes start from 7".
You can use these for focus assist as they have pannable pixel to pixel mode. Pretty well everything you might want to call up in a hurry is on buttons, no scrolling around menus.

For something larger the Panasonics are sure the way to go but for small, battery powered, future proof, look at TVLogic. No, they're not exactly cheap although the 7" monitor is pretty reasonable. The 9" adds image flip.

Bob.

baysidebas wrote on 5/31/2009, 7:59 PM

Jack, try to find someone who has Adobe Premiere CS3 for Mac. It was packaged with OnLocation for Windows, on its own disc, with a separate serial number. That's how I got my second copy of OL.