Why are external SDI-3G monitors so expensive? Alternatives?
Posted:
Wed Aug 21, 2013 4:26 pmby commercialguy001
I didn't realize how expensive they really are until I was at FRYs electronic store and saw all these giant 40", 50" and 60" HDTVs by well known brands for nearly half the price of what Ikan/Marshall/SmallHD wanted for these small 7" on camera monitors! It's crazy how you can buy a giant 50-60" Led TV for the same price of these Ikan/Marshall type monitors.
http://www.frys.com/category/Outpost/Vi ... televisionhttp://www.bestbuy.com/site/Televisions ... 3400050017The ikan D7w 7" monitor is $1,169.10 at B&H:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/8 ... DI_HD.htmlThe Marshall Electronics V-LCD70MD-3G 7" is $999 at B&H:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/8 ... nitor.htmlThere has got to be an alternative solution that is cheaper. For the price of the Ikan you can damn near get a brand new Macbook Pro. You would think that even an IPad would possibly work with a waveform app or whatever app you need added to it. Maybe it's time we get creative with monitors to save money.
Re: Why are external SDI-3G monitors so expensive? Alternati
Posted:
Wed Aug 21, 2013 4:37 pmby Gabe Darvas
get a hdmi monitor and a sdi-hdmi adapter....
Re: Why are external SDI-3G monitors so expensive? Alternati
Posted:
Wed Aug 21, 2013 5:11 pmby Dustin Svehlak
Your best bet is the refurb outlet from Ikan. I'm thinking of getting a refurb D5 evetually-
http://ikancorp.com/productlisting.php?id=156
Re: Why are external SDI-3G monitors so expensive? Alternati
Posted:
Wed Aug 21, 2013 6:43 pmby Denny Smith
Welcome to the world of Pro/Broadcast video. 3G SDI monitors are made in limited quantities, as they are aimed at Pro/Broadcast market, which by its very nature has higher costs. Equipment is better built than the TVs at the local "Box" store. I use Ikan and Marshall monitors because you can count on them for being accurate representation of the signal. You are using the monitor to both frame and judge quality of your pix. Accuracy counts here, as does ease of use. You do not get "False Color" audio levels, or "Focus Assist", not to mention "Zebras" for cameras that do not generate these "tools". All this,adds,to,the cost.
$500 to $1,000 for a good monitor is a bargain, try $1,200 to $3K for a typical Sony broadcast field SDI monitor (used price!), and it won't mount to the camera rig either. A HDSDI will be three times as much!
Re: Why are external SDI-3G monitors so expensive? Alternati
Posted:
Thu Aug 22, 2013 4:09 amby rick.lang
You should look at the latest Flanders Scientific colour grading monitors (with LUTS for the Blackmagic cameras). Say a modest 17" CM171, HD video, 12 bit SDI signal processing, true 10bit colour, and starting at only $3,295. Someday I hope to own that... Or rather whatever model they release next that will take the 6G-SDI signal from the BMPC4K.
Rick Lang
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
Re: Why are external SDI-3G monitors so expensive? Alternati
Posted:
Tue Aug 27, 2013 11:14 pmby Dustin Svehlak
Just wanted to say that I received an Ikan D5 (refurb for $500) and its pretty great works seamlessly with the BMCC, even with guides turned on.
Re: Why are external SDI-3G monitors so expensive? Alternati
Posted:
Wed Aug 28, 2013 1:10 amby Jonathan Hardison
Those refurbished Ikans (D5 and D7) look really nice, but it seems that they don't have audio meters, which would make them useless for me. Can anyone confirm?
Re: Why are external SDI-3G monitors so expensive? Alternati
Posted:
Wed Aug 28, 2013 2:13 amby Dustin Svehlak
If there are audio meters on the D5 I'm unaware of how to activate them. There is a headphone jack though (not that it's any consolation, but since there is audio piped through perhaps it is something that could be added to the D5 via firmwaHHHHH OMG!!! Between this monitor and the BMCC, I'm in a firmware upgrade wait TORNADO!!!!
