2008Monitors forum
Professional HD on-camera monitor features and comparison for steadicam use
18 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.
DisputedParticipants disagreed and reached no conclusion. Read the findings as positions, not as an answer.
What the thread found
- The CineMonitor HD SBL 6 inch model with 1000 nits brightness costs approximately 8000 dollars with optional frame and level accessories
- Optional features for this monitor include digital bubble level, adjustable framelines that can store up to three different marking configurations with color and shading control, and waveform/vectorscope
- Adjustable framelines differ from basic marker lines included in the base model, allowing customization and selective blackout of screen areas
- The bubble level indicator displays multiple types but cannot be repositioned and appears in the bottom fullscreen area or in black areas during 16x9 and anamorphic shooting
- Lemo connections on professional monitors can carry both power and standard definition video but not HD-SDI, which must run separately from camera to monitor
- Boland 8.4 inch HD monitors offer similar specifications and capabilities to Transvideo at approximately half the price
- Tiffen UltraBrite2 monitor features 1400 nits brightness, multiple power input options, frame lines and level indicators, and external LED level lighting for HD signals since HD overlays cannot carry on-screen levels
- On-camera level and frameline overlays only function with NTSC signals, not HD signals piped through post-production chains
- Steadicam operators frequently use NTSC signals for on-screen level reference even during HD shoots because assistants typically focus by eye rather than monitor
- Tiffen UltraBrite2 includes multiple connector types, assignable hot buttons, image flip and mirror functions, PIP capability, and tally lights
Depends on
- Pricing information is from 2008 and may not reflect current costs
- One participant reported difficulty obtaining customer response from Boland during a specific demo request period
- HD overlay limitations for levels and framelines were noted as an unsolved technical constraint at the time of discussion
- One participant suggested Tiffen monitor design may be based on Boland platform but this claim was not confirmed
- Direct sunlight performance comparisons between monitors mentioned without quantified nit ratings for all models