An Alternative Monitor...

[Jeff Emery]

Don't you just hate that tiny LCD screen on your camera? I know I do.

There are many alternatives available. The third party camera mountable LCD screens like the ones by varizoom are nice but they run a few hundred bucks.

Now to many this won't be news but one good alternative is a portable DVD player with an AV IN feature. I use the Magnavox 8.5" Portable DVD Player, model # MPD845 which is available at Walmart.com for about $120 USD.

In fact, I used it today on a shoot. This is a very good unit. The color was pretty accuate and the resolution was more than sufficient to frame the shot and get a great focus. It allows you to choose between 16:9 and 4:3. Since I shoot with a Sony VX2100 the 4:3 is my choice. You use the included AV cable to run from the DVD player to the Composite out of the VX. For camcorders that have the miniplug output to composite, you'll just need the inexpensive coupler to join the two cables' composite ends together.

Eventually, I'll likely opt to get a "pro" on camera monitor like the varizoom. But in the meantime, I'm satified with the performance and capability of the lowly Magnavox. And the clients got a kick out of being able to watch the action on the screen.

Jeff

[DennisVogel]

Great idea.  Someone somewhere on a forum I read in the past few weeks wondered out loud about using one of those LCD picture frames that play back photos from memory cards as an external monitor.  The biggest issue is finding one with AV inputs.  I saw some recently in a store but, of course, they didn't have AV in.

I'm wondering why it would even be needed for this kind of application but, hey, you never know what someone might throw on one of these things just to try to differentiate it from they other guy's gadget.  I keep looking whenever I get somewhere they sell these things.

If anyone knows of a make/model with AV in, let us know.

Good luck.

Dennis

[Nigel1500]

Ive just got a AWA 7" LCD- Not the best monitor, but i did some tests with it and there are no problems (connected to my gs500).
The screen isn't a great resolution, but its excellent for framing and just getting a bigger picture. only downside is no battery compartment, so i need to stay close to the mains....or a cigarette lighter in a car.
Good value though-AUS$100

[Atwinator]

Great ideas guys. Any chance of posting pics of the setups?

[Atwinator]

Do you know the resolution of that one you got Jeff?

[Jeff Emery]

Sorry Ed,

I don't know the exact numbers on the resolution. A call to the maganovox support center was a waste of time. Looking in the manual, all I could find is that it's an NTSC video system and has more than 500 lines of horizontal resolution.

It's great for getting a focus and seeing things on a larger scale than a camcorder LCD. It adjusts for 4:3 and 16:9. I don't think it's that great of a dvd player but I don't really use it for that anyway.

Jeff

[Rinso]

I just picked up a TEAC AXIA 12in DVD player/TV which has all the inputs you'd need. Very compact, tidy unit with a good handhold and adjustable prop. It eats and ejects the DVD the same way the Car CD players do.

[Guy Bruner]

That Teac looks like a nice unit.  I haven't seen anything comparable here in the US, though.

[Rinso]

When I did a web search on the unit it only showed up in NZ. One link suggested AU well.

TEAC AXIA LCDV1201, 31cm widescreen, High Resolution (1280x800), LCD/DVD Combo Television, Built in side slot DVD player, 200cd/m2 Brightness - 500:1 Contrast, NICAM Stereo, AC/DC, 12v DC compatible, Net weight 2.1 kg, 10 page teletext function.

[Atwinator]

Wow that looks great. The resolution sounds decent and I see there are component inputs on the side as well. How much was it if I may ask Rinso? What does the other side look like? Are there any more inputs there?

[Rinso]

I paid $NZ444 reduced in a sale from $599. It seems I got it for about the lowest you can get around here. The DVD slot is on the other side from the plugs.

[Jeff Emery]

You say it's DC compatible. Does that mean if you don't plug it in to the wall (AC) you can plug it in to a car's cigarette lighter or power point? Does it have an internal battery?

Jeff

[Rinso]

You say it's DC compatible. Does that mean if you don't plug it in to the wall (AC) you can plug it in to a car's cigarette lighter or power point? Does it have an internal battery?Jeff

Re DC it says: "DC Supply - DC 12V, 5A"

It doesn't have and internal battery.

[Jeff Emery]

Great ideas guys. Any chance of posting pics of the setups?

Ed,

I'm finally getting around to posting some pix. Go to:

http://jeffemery.com/lcd_tripod

It's pretty easy to follow along with the pix of how I did it. I used an old cheap tripod. I attached the tripod plate to an "H" that I made out of some flat aluminum left over from another project. The only "special tool" I needed was a tap set. I had that already. It's just a drill bit and threading tool. For better balance, I offset where I anchored the tripod plate to compensate for the weight of the DVD player once mounted.

For now, I use duct tape to hold the DVD player on the tripod. I plan to add some stick-on Velcro strips to the bottom of the player and the "H". I haven't gotten around to that yet.

If I were to estimate the cost of building this entire rig from scratch (DVD player, tripod, "H" ), it would be around $135.


Jeff

[Atwinator]

Looks like a really nice setup Jeff! And definitely the price is more attractive than most of the on camera monitors available. I see RCA cables coming from the unit. Does it also take component by any chance? I don't think I have RCA on my camera but I'm not entirely sure what I could hook up tp my BNC port. I'll have to consult the manual.