My Gear: Monitors

VL: This monitor is the first Marshall that allows you to loop through to an additional HDMI monitor (or as many as you want).  This is extremely helpful in that it allows multiple people (Director, DP, AC’s, etc.) to monitor or work off of a live image at the same time.  This eliminates the need for a convertor box, and makes setting up a video village much easier.  It also has been updated to correctly interpret the camera’s output signal during record mode, and adjusts the image to fill the monitor screen.  The Marshalls also have quite a few bells and whistles – all of which can be accessed through the easy to navigate menus – or with the touch of a button – the Marshalls have 4 programmable function buttons:a. The monitor can show false colors – so you can judge skin exposure, blown-out highlights and crushed blacks – "by the numbers" if you will – or in this case "by the colors."  Therefore on a bright sunny day – you don’t need to trust your eyes and are less likely to be fooled. b. you can flip the monitor for when you mount it upside down – with the touch of a button. c. you can freeze a frame into memory – a snapshot if you will – to show someone at a later time or to use as a reference. d. Peak Filter – this helps you critically focus. e. A variety of markers – from a center marker, to different aspect ratios and TV-safe. f. you can see each of the RGB fields one at a time and B&W g. Pixel-to-pixel magnification – ergo you can see the full 720p signal coming out of the camera. h. you can use a variety of batteries – from small sony batteries all the way up to Anton Bauer batteries.

Description (from Marshall Electronics): The V-LCD70XO-HDMIPT features  cast metal front panel, adjustable backlight and markers, manual gamma adjustment, Image Flip, 1/4"-20 mounting on all sides, and a more robust power switch.  It is the first monitor with HDMI loop through capabilities on the market.

VL: Basically – the LCD on the back of your HDDSLR is simply not a professional solution for monitoring your video.   I typically travel to any job with 2-4 Marshall monitors – for use onboard the cameras, for the 1st AC’s use (focus puller) to pull focus from and also so that the client can monitor our progress.These monitors do several key things:1. On the most basic level – they allow you to view the video you are shooting – from any angle that is convenient – either on camera or at a great distance (when the camera is on a JIB or mounted remotely for example.)    As you well know the HDDSLR’s LCD is not well positioned for video shooting – it cannot swivel and has limited resolution.  The monitors come in both HDMI in and HDSDI in configurations – and some offer the option to do both with user swappable inputs.  If you’re going to go straight from the Canon HDDSLRs into the monitor – you’ll want to use the HDMI input.  But if you’re going to get into multiple monitor setups and with other professional video wireless transmitters and connections – you’ll default to the HDSDI models with the use of a BlackMagic (see bottom of this page for details) HDMI to HDSDI converter. Some monitors also display scopes – which is the video equivalent of a histogram – as all still photographers know: this feature is INCREDIBLY important and worth its weight in gold.  There is one general rule with ANY monitor in the world (under $10K-$20k) and that is to NEVER trust your eyes.  Always use the the scopes/waveforms/histograms to judge exposure, color, highlight and shadows.  No matter how expensive your reference monitor is – you can and may be fooled by the ambient light level and color you are in – so knowing how to read these mathematical displays is an invaluable skill. You can see the way we use the Marshall Monitors at numerous points throughout this video, as well as the BlackMagic (marker 2:27 in the video) converter, and Boxx (2:41 mark) Unit :

2010 HDDSLR Gear Video from Vincent Laforet on Vimeo.

Description (from Marshall Electronics): The V-LCD651STX-HDA is the latest update to Marshall’s line of Super Transflective Outdoor Monitors. This 6.5" portable field / camera-top monitor is designed specifically for outdoor applications with high ambient light. Please note that 1st ACs prefer this slightly smaller monitor over the 7" model – as it has a 1024 X 768 resolution which allows you to see the full resolution 720p output coming out of the cameras.  Whereas the 7" model offers an 800 X 480 resolution.

Description (from Marshall Electronics): The V-LCD70XP-HDMI is the latest update to Marshall’s successful and popular line of portable field / camera-top monitors. These monitors have been upgraded with even more features and versatility, but without additional cost. New features include cast metal front panel, adjustable backlight and markers, HDMI Auto Color Space and Ratio detect, manual gamma adjustment, Image Flip, 1/4"-20 mounting on all sides, and a more robust power switch.

VL: Please note that 1st ACs prefer this slightly smaller 6.5" monitor over the 7" model – as it has a 1024 X 768 resolution which allows you to see the full resolution 720p output coming out of the cameras.  Whereas the 7" model offers an 800 X 480 resolution.

VL: This has become an essential piece of kit – HDMI simply isn’t the way to go when you get into more comples systems – HDSDI is – therefore this box solves that problem and can be powered via AC power or with an Anton Bauer batter on a battery plate w/ P-Tap adapter – or by the Viewfactor cage as well with a Lemo cable.   See this unit in use in the video below at the 2:27 Mark:

2010 HDDSLR Gear Video from Vincent Laforet on Vimeo.

Description (from BlackMagic Design): Mini Converter HDMI to SDI is ideal for converting from HDMI devices to SDI video with the choice to embed SDI audio from HDMI, AES/EBU or balanced analog audio inputs. Now you can add SDI outputs to cameras with HDMI connections, or if your computer supports HDMI compatibility via DVI to HDMI adapters, then you can add SDI outputs to computers. Also features a built in hardware down converter to connect HDMI video to SD-SDI equipment.

VL: This is a pretty essential unit for any serious production in my opinion – when you want to shed cables.  The price point of this unit makes it a likely rental item – but for my productions it’s an essential unit.  This is one of the most reliable HD wireless transmitters out there – it’s closest competitor is 3-4X as expensive.  This will allow for a 1st AC to pull focus live off of a high definition monitor – and for totally wireless operation of the body on a Steadicam or pretty much any configuration.  See the video below for a good illustration of how we use this unit.  See this unit in use in the video below at the 2:41 Mark.

Description (from Boxx TV): The Meridian system has been designed for high quality, zero delay, short range transmissions.  In line with our existing product range, the Meridian system uses licence exempt channels and offers secure encrypted transmissions. It can be used for a variety of applications including large screen presentations, award ceremonies and live broadcast events.