Small, inexpensive field monitor brands and models?
May 1, 2009 12:02 PM   Subscribe

I'm looking for a small, inexpensive "field" video monitor rather than a perfect production monitor.

I'm looking for a small, inexpensive "field" video monitor (the field is indoors, but you get the idea), rather than a perfect production monitor.

I will usually be connecting to a Sony HDV playback deck (HVR-M15AU, thanks, Izner Myletze!) and will either be getting SD or HDV out of it via the RCA plugs. Most of field monitors seem to take BNC video, which I can live with, since I can convert from RCA video plugs to BNC reasonably easily.

The use is mostly for things like going through the onscreen menus for various decks, checking video before it hits the computer, checking aspect ratio, etc. Nothing terribly fancy. I've been liking the JVC TM-A101GU for under $400, but I could be wildly off. I tend to work with video in a digital format, so I am very unsure of myself when it comes to analog video components. In fact, I have a strong suspicion I am not even searching on the right terms: "field monitor" and "production monitor."

Musts:
small size (7" to 13" screen)
reasonably portable
color
audio
NTSC
displays SD (4:3) or HD (16:9)

Would be nice, but can live without:
two tiny inputs for "stereo" audio
handle

Unimportant:
super accurate color reproduction
PAL
batteries
SDI inputs
various synchronization inputs

I am not looking for anything cobbled-together or playing video back on a camera and looking at the little flip-out monitor. This is definitely a purchase item, rather than a rent item.

So, what brands and models did you like, or dislike? Are there must-have features I have overlooked?
posted by adipocere to Media & Arts (6 answers total) 1 user marked this as a favorite
 
Response by poster: I should mention that my idea of "inexpensive" is under $1,000.
posted by adipocere at 12:58 PM on May 1, 2009


Best answer: Does it have to be new? You may have luck skimming eBay (e.g. this one) for a brand you're used to and are familiar with.
posted by spiderskull at 3:12 PM on May 1, 2009


A small LCD TV or portable DVD player with a video in would do the trick, and it'd be a hell of a lot more portable than any of those big grey pro monitors.
posted by Sys Rq at 4:21 PM on May 1, 2009


Response by poster: Can I even run what will probably be 1080i to a monitor like this?
posted by adipocere at 5:11 PM on May 1, 2009


You want a Marshall monitor.
posted by tomierna at 10:00 AM on May 2, 2009


Aw crap. Disregard my suggestion. They don't have audio.
posted by tomierna at 10:02 AM on May 2, 2009


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