FilmMan Posted March 26, 2013 Share Posted March 26, 2013 Been looking at adding an external monitor. Squinting is aging my old eyes more and more. Thinking of the following: 1. http://www.adorama.com/FPFVPRO.html (2 year warranty) 1024 x 600 Entire Package $350 2. http://www.smallhd.com/products/ac7/ 7 inch $599 1 year warranty About $700 with extras 1280 x 800 3. http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Peaking-1280x800-HD-5-6-Inch-DSLR-LCD-Field-On-Camera-Video-Monitor-Kit-HDMI-BNC-/200901495545?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2ec6a98af9 $215. 5.6 inch. (Read some good reviews and some not so good) Need for framing and focusing. Any thoughts? Ratguity 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QuickHitRecord Posted March 26, 2013 Share Posted March 26, 2013 The AC7 is nice. I rented one and I was impressed by the build quality. The colors were way off, but that can probably be corrected in the settings. I didn't have time to find out. 2x zoom is wonderful to have if you are shooting with a GH2 (which cannot give you magnified focus assist when an HDMI cable is plugged in). Also consider the iKan D5w. It has waveform built in, which is helpful when trying to fit a shot into the DR-challenged DSLRs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AaronChicago Posted March 26, 2013 Share Posted March 26, 2013 AC7 all the way. Trust me you'll be happy. The colors are off by default but they can be corrected with a few tweaks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FilmMan Posted March 26, 2013 Author Share Posted March 26, 2013 @QuickHitRecord and Aaron, Thanks for the quick reply. I've been steering towards the AC7. From my understanding, a person can put in 2.35 to 1 (for framing) too. http://www.smallhd.com/site/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/AC7-Manual-rev4.pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AaronChicago Posted March 26, 2013 Share Posted March 26, 2013 Yes thats right. You can have 2.35 on top of other functions as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FilmMan Posted March 27, 2013 Author Share Posted March 27, 2013 @AaronChicago, Thanks. Can a guy put in 2.39 or 2.40 too? (although the 2.35 should do the trick) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AaronChicago Posted March 27, 2013 Share Posted March 27, 2013 I think it is only 2.35 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Axel Posted March 27, 2013 Share Posted March 27, 2013 Can a guy put in 2.39 or 2.40 too? I think it is only 2.35 The difference of 2,35 to 2,39 is about the width of these framing guides: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RRRoger Posted April 1, 2013 Share Posted April 1, 2013 I use a Camax H056 and am very happy with it. High resolution and focus peaking. I have it attached to my TriPod leg so I can pan the camera behind me and still see without getting up and moving . The new LCD on the D7100 is also quite good, especially if you zoom in, but of course you have to stay behind it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P337 Posted April 1, 2013 Share Posted April 1, 2013 Been looking at adding an external monitor. Squinting is aging my old eyes more and more. Thinking of the following: 1. http://www.adorama.com/FPFVPRO.html (2 year warranty) 1024 x 600 Entire Package $350 2. http://www.smallhd.com/products/ac7/ 7 inch $599 1 year warranty About $700 with extras 1280 x 800 3. http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Peaking-1280x800-HD-5-6-Inch-DSLR-LCD-Field-On-Camera-Video-Monitor-Kit-HDMI-BNC-/200901495545?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2ec6a98af9 $215. 5.6 inch. (Read some good reviews and some not so good) Need for framing and focusing. Any thoughts? I'm in a similar position but I decided to go with an EVF, which I also recommend to you for your needs as they give you a better (magnified) view to see focus easier. I already have a 7" peaking monitor very similar to your 1st option. I found peaking to be slightly helpful (on this monitor), it's not very accurate but it gets me into a ballpark range. It simply "peaks" anything with strong contrast even when out of focus so relying on the peaking alone cost me some focus misses (however after tweaking it I found that if I turn sharpness all the way down the peaking is more accurate but then I have to rely on it as the image is a little soft now). Another issue I have is the color accuracy, I do not feel comfortable using this for exposure because even after calibrating its setting the red channel is always way off compared to my camera's LCD or my TVs. I've heard good things about SmallHD, mostly about their built and feature sets, but I have not used one so I really can't say. The only bad thing I've heard is that the color accuracy on these are also off even after calibration and if that's true I don't know if I could warrant their prices since there are a few color accurate monitors around for about $800. Your last option seems to be the H005/H056 which I also haven't used but heard its screen is noticeably sharper then the rest due to its smaller size and higher resolution however their peaking feature isn't implemented very well (as in not very noticeable), the image is a stretched 16:10 or has overscan (there was a slight update to firmware that fixed the 16:10 to 16:9 but introduces overscan issues) there is no HDMI pass-through, the colors are inaccurate plus their lack of features and build quality is really bad (some people receiving units with power on issues right out of the box). It should be ok for focus and composure but not much else. **Update: there is apparently a new revision of the H056, the new model fixes most of my issues and is now in an aluminum shell. There is also the Feelworld/Seetec 5.6" version which supposedly shares the same screen but is better built than the H005 with better firmware and cheaper than the new metal H056. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHines Posted April 1, 2013 Share Posted April 1, 2013 http://www.convergent-design.com/Products/Odyssey7.aspx#Overview-19 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgharding Posted April 1, 2013 Share Posted April 1, 2013 I'm currently selling one, used it once, I just don't get on with them, I prefer using the on-camera one TBH http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/200910884929?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FilmMan Posted April 1, 2013 Author Share Posted April 1, 2013 Thanks for all the replies. Good to hear different points of views. Cheers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Negrete Posted April 26, 2013 Share Posted April 26, 2013 I like the toughness of the small HD however I’m not planning on using my monitor as a hockey puck. Regardless, I often use an ikan D5w. I use it mostly on a DSLR. It is pretty lightweight but rather powerful. The D5w is a monitor for reference, but also an evaluation monitor that will help you get the shot right based upon your meter, instead of relying just on the screen capacity to render color. Eg. Waveform and false color feature help me do just that.(in or out and when wearing glasses.) Btw It is under 1k fully loaded... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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