2008Video Assist and Video Accessories forum
Small monitor solutions for wireless Preston hand units during handheld camera work
18 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.
What the thread found
- Wristwatch-style small televisions can be attached to Preston focus transmitters using velcro and provide a lightweight solution for monitoring during handheld work
- Small handheld monitors like the Casio or RCA models powered by four AA batteries can be mounted on Hand Unit 2 using brackets from specialized mounting suppliers
- Hand Unit 3 does not have a standard mounting point for monitors, requiring custom solutions or requesting modifications directly from the manufacturer
- Small monitor displays have adequate image quality for focus monitoring despite low resolution due to their diminished screen size
- Internal battery monitors require multiple units to allow continuous operation while one charges
- Custom monitor solutions for Hand Unit 3 can draw power from the Zoom Lemo port connector on the unit
- Standard mounting brackets designed for small commercial televisions can work with Preston hand units when adapted with custom bracketry
Depends on
- Small monitors can make it difficult to assess composition and subject matter in wide shots
- Wristwatch-style monitors with internal batteries cannot have batteries swapped in the field
- Wristwatch-style monitors are difficult to source from retail outlets
- Hand Unit 3 mounting solutions were not widely available at the time of the discussion
- Single-channel Preston focus units do not have mounting points comparable to full-size hand units