2012Monitors forum
Options and placement for electronic horizon indicators in HD monitors for Steadicam sleds
14 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
- Marshall manufactures an electronic horizon indicator that works with their monitors at a sensitivity setting of 10, but the USB connector location on the monitor side creates operational difficulties
- Multiple manufacturers have developed or were developing HD-compatible horizon indicators, including efforts from Cinetronic and others, though quality and compatibility varied
- Transvideo includes a horizon sensor in their Cinemonitor HD series that can display level information from a Phantom-V sled's sensor
- Sensor placement philosophy differs: some operators prefer sensors mounted on the sled base for consistency between sessions, while others argue gimbal center placement minimizes error signals
- Monitor tilt angle and bracket misalignment can introduce sensor orientation errors when the sensor is housed in the monitor itself, whereas a fixed sled-mounted sensor maintains consistent calibration
- Sensor location has different practical effects depending on camera movement type: monitor-based sensors may have marginal advantages during circular movements around subjects, while sled-based sensors may be preferable during panning movements
Depends on
- Discussion from 2012 reflects product availability and capabilities from that period
- Some claims about unreleased products lack confirmation of their final specifications
- The practical significance of sensor placement effects remains debated without conclusive testing results presented
- Phantom-V system uses sled-based sensors that communicate to monitor display, making it not directly comparable to standalone monitor-mounted sensor systems