I'd be careful about buying anything made by JVC used. They don't have the best reputation for durable and reliable products.

John

Spot said: "In addition to a monitor, consider lighting, and learning more about exposure to improve your video skills as well."

You said it! I need help with learning exposure. I am playing around with my exposure settings in an effort to learn about them, but am still trying to understand it. Do you have any suggestions (books?) to help me better understand exposure (I also have a GL2).

I hope I didn't hijack this thread, but the original poster wanted advice on getting better shots and so do I. Interested in learning more about exposure.

Thanks,
Jeff

Thanks for the tips.

Yes, lighting and exposure. Did my first shooting in low light situation trying to set aperature and letting camera set shutter speed. There is so much to learn than just picking up a camera and pushing the record button!!!!

All in time.............that's why I read this forum daily.

Galen

Galeng:
If the monitor has lots of time powered on, I would be wary about buying. Monitors tend to develop problems when they are powered on for a long time. Two things that always happen is that they lose brightness (half brightness every two years 24/7 usage) and that will lead to some color shifting (only the really high end monitors with calibration probes can compensate for that; some monitors have a beam feedback circuit to maintain white balance drift). As well, monitors can develop other problems. Typically, libraries have lots of old CRTs and you can see what i'm talking about- dim image, crushed blacks (and color shifting in dark colors), out of focus, convergence errors being the most common. Burns (dark/miscolored splotches) may also be a problem depending on how the monitor was used.

If the monitor was only on for a short period of time, it may be alright.

Low resolution is not a big deal with Vegas... use the video preview window, turn simulate device aspect ratio off. That will give you really really good resolution image. Combine that with the broadcast monitor and you will get a pretty good idea of what your image looks like. Low res is ok anyways because many viewers see low res images. Low res is bad if you want to check focus.
Manufacturers tend to fudge the lines of resolution spec, so it may not be a good indicator of a monitor's actual resolution.

"Low res is bad if you want to check focus."

It's also bad if you're doing a lot of chromakeying or compositing and need to see if it's clean.

John

You could just use your Vegas video preview for that though? It's a little bit faster, and computer monitors are "free" and give 'perfect' resolution when you turn simulate device aspect ratio off.

My comment was directed more towards field use... where you don't get the benefit of Vegas.

Galeng, I too own XM2s - an amazing camera for the money.

If you haven't yet got there yet, try the DVinfo GL2/XM2 site - "Son of Watchdog" - pages. Simply MASSES of tips and advice for our camera. Exposure, focus, DoF using manual . .. just humungous!

.. here's the site:

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=20

I echo what has been said regarding monitors and the like. I've got the JVC TM-H150C and truly am impressed with it.

Cheers,

Grazie

Again thanks for the tips.

Grazie: Thanks for that site. I think I whizzed through it at one point when I was thinking about buying the GL2. Have to revisit now for the tips.

The monitor, I am told, was only used twice for a school project and is now no longer needed. Hopefully, it will do the trick, or at least get me started in the right direction.

Galen