2011Monitors forum
Performance evaluation of Steadicam Zephyr SD monitor compared to older Flyer monitor and third-party alternatives
15 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.
What the thread found
- The Zephyr monitor is approximately one full stop dimmer than the Flyer monitor it replaces, measuring around 250-300 nits in practical brightness compared to the Flyer's 500 nits.
- The Zephyr monitor has the same 640x234 resolution as the Flyer but appears to have inferior scaling, resulting in softer-looking camera viewfinder readouts.
- The Zephyr monitor crops more severely at the top of the image than the Flyer, obscuring timecode readouts and TV safe areas.
- The Zephyr monitor shows worse off-axis viewing angles than both the Flyer and competitive third-party monitors, particularly in the vertical axis.
- Inexpensive third-party LCD monitors like the Lilliput can match or exceed the Zephyr's brightness and resolution at a fraction of the cost.
- It is more cost-effective to purchase the Zephyr rig with SD monitor and add a separate aftermarket monitor like the Marshall 7-inch model than to buy the advertised HD monitor option.
- Aftermarket monitors can be mounted to the Zephyr using standard 1/4-20 threaded holes with simple mechanical adapters, though the mounting may be less stable than the original bracket.
Depends on
- Brightness was measured using a Sekonic light meter in a dark room, not calibrated nits measurement.
- Testing was conducted in 2011 when this was the newest equipment.
- The manufacturer's stated brightness specification of 500 nits for the Zephyr was not verified.
- HD monitor options were not yet released or specified at the time of testing.
- The Zephyr monitor had no published specifications available during the review period.
- Off-axis viewing angle assessment was subjective rather than quantitatively measured.
Gear in this thread
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