Bob: I've looked at a lot of field monitors but I need a light weight one that fits on the camera (not a studio type one) and I need the scopes that a laptop offers with simple software like OnLocation. I have not found an on camera monitor that does this but if you have a suggestion. Also the mini laptop will be much cheaper. I'm thinking of something like a Lenovo Thinkpad. For OnLocation all I need is the ability to play 720p. Mike

I haven't seen a monitor that'll fit on the camera with scopes and if one does exist I'd bet it's going to be uber expensive.
A couple of questions spring to mind. Which camera are you using this with and how are you connecting to the camera?

Only reason I ask is I thought you'd bought an EX1 and if so there's a small issue, the EX1 in HQ doesn't send anything down the 1394 port that OnLocation uses as far as I know.

Aside from that probably any of the Lenova or Toshiba laptops would meet your needs. I'd try to go for the T series CPUs if you can, they seem to use less power and I'd guess running OnLocation in HD the CPU is working fairly hard and therefore a more efficient CPU will give you better battery life. Also the smaller screen will help.

Location power for a 1 man shoot is a big issue, even with a small crew it's a big issue if you're far from a road. I've been looking and looking and even if you ignore cost there's no solution. I'd had high hopes for methanol fuel cells but they have issues. Hydrogen fuel cells might have some promise if there was a better way to store the hydrogen other than as a compressed gas.

Bob.

Didn't get an EX1 yet. B&H where I shop wont have them to end January anyway. Of course when I get an EX1 I guess the on board histogram will serve my needs for exposure and make the small LCD less critical. For now I am using the FX1. Do you think the EX1 needs a bigger monitor now it has the scopes?

I was reading that guy who makes those one man survival programs carries 30 battery packs into the outback! I stay within a hours walk of the car or camp and go recharge from the battery bank there.

I have OnLocation and with the FX1 I really wish I had it in the field - it really helps me. My eyes are poor and the LCD in the sun is a great pain. Hoping the EX1 LCD, while the same size I believe is clearer and with the scopes maybe I can give up my quest. Now I'm finding even with the FX1 zebras I get to camp at night and when I download into Vegas my exposure is not what I wanted and I need go back re-shoot.

The LCD on the EX1 is the best I've seen on any camera, it's still readable in the midday sun down here and at this time of year it's fearsomely bright. However between indoor light and outdoor full sun the LCD changes, you really cannot rely on it for WYSIWYG. Even indoor while it's better than any other camera it's still not perfect.
The histogram is good, the dual zebras are great. Turn on every optional assistant on the viewfinder and there's not much room left for seeing what you're shooting. It'll probably turn some heads and make clients think I'm a real pro with a viewfinder that looks more like a heads up display on a starfighter :)

However as you've probably noticed, all the scopes and widgets don't help and can even misleed you if you don't know what they mean relative to what you're shooting. I'm getting the hang of going full manual but it does take a fair bit of expereince, moreso under harsh shooting conditions in full sun.

One thing two of us have noticed down here. The EX1 is exceptionally sensitive. Even at -3dB gain in the full sun I've had the camera complain there was too much light shooting 24p with 180deg shutter. As I obviously had ND2 engaged the only other option was to up the shutter speed and that's not good at 24p. This camera really needs a matte box and a set of ND filters.

I'd really like to see more done in the way of exposure assistance, our SI-2K's DVR software has so much in the way of exposure and focus assistance it's hard to remember all of it. False colour, windowed exposure and RGB histograms. This is on a camera where you've got almost film latitude and it's only software so the cost burden of putting these tools into prosummer cameras should be next to none.

One thing I'd love to see Sony bring out for the EX1 is something like Canon's Console software. Having full remote camer control and monitoring on a laptop I'm pretty certain would be very useful to people shooting wildlife. It'd enable you to hide the camera and get well away from the hide. It'd also be great for when we'd fly the camera on out lightweight ABC crane.

BTW, got my big EX1 battery today, it's one HEAVY battery.

Bob.