Blackmagic Forum

I was wondering if anyone has had any experience with these inexpensive Chinese made hdsdi-hdmi converters.








http://www.camera2000.com/en/1080p-1080 ... apter.html

I would like to use my Zacuto EVF with my BMC (when I receive it). I will already have an external 12 volt power source on my cage rig I have built for the camera so powering it will be easy. The price is very attractive ( I have seen them for as little as $131.00, less than half of most of what else is out there. I really don't want to spend a lot of just getting my EVF to interface. If I was sending the signal to an on set monitor I might be concerned but this is only to get my EVF to work.

Here are the specs on it:

This is HD-SDI digital video to HD-MI digital video converter box, this converter is specially designed for HD-SDI high definition camera connecting to large size HDMI plat LCD TV.

Features:
Input: HD-SDI
Video Format: 1080P@25/30/50/60; 1080i@25/30/50/60; 720p@25/30/50/60
HDMI output: HDMI without HDCP
Data Error: Auto detect
Cable Lost: Auto detect
HDMI Port: Auto detect
Power: 12V 300mA
Body construction: Aluminum
Protection: Indoor use
Temperature: -20C~60C
Dimensions: 115mm X 64mm X 27mm
Weight: 120g


Thoughts or previous experience anyone?

Why would you get cheap Chinese knock-offs when Black Magic makes the exact same thing for $145 in the ultra studio mini monitor??? http://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/ultrastudio/

Heck, I'd even pay the $300 for the Battery Converters with the built in battery. http://www.blackmagicdesign.com/product ... onverters/

Maybe I'm missing what you need exactly, and what the UltraStudio Mini Monitor does...but from what I can tell it's the perfect solution for you.

Thanks Nic for your reply.
This is why this forum is important: to both share and learn from others knowledge.
First, I didn't know about the Utra studio mini recorder.

Thanks to you, I have now researched it and based on what I could find out it inputs either HDSDI or HDMI but outputs video signals only via Thunderbolt? It seems like it is meant for a computer interface.

Do you have information different than this?

I need HDSDI input and HDMI output to run my Zacuto EVF.

As an aside, since much of the high end, name brand electronics we now enjoy are made in China, including our iphones etc. I don't any longer assume it is poor quality. Remember the days when Made In Japan was scoffed as inferior? Toyota, Honda, and Sony have been kicking our asses ever since. I proceed with caution when buying any and all goods and try to find the best value for the money wherever I shop.

The only reason I have been looking into the Chinese made converter is everything else I have found was overkill cost wise for the purpose I want to use in for, a simple in out peripheral. if Black Magic had included HDMI out in their camera I wouldn't have to be searching.

Hopefully you are right and the ultrastudio mini will do real time conversion as an HDMI out?

any information on that would be appreciated. certainly I would rather give my money to Black Magic as I am thrilled with what they are doing in both the software and hardware end.

That's a cool looking box but it looks like it only has HDMI and HDSDI input, and the only output is thunderbolt. Not sure if it has other modes for adapting?

It would be kinda surprising they would undercut their own adapter product:
http://www.blackmagicdesign.com/product ... onverters/

I have one of the HDMI to SDI converter and I can definitely recommend getting the version with the battery because it is a minor pain to have yet another other power source for the adapter box.

i also highly recommend the "Battery Converter" version. I'm using it with Zacuto EVF and the BMCC and it works a treat. the audio meters even work doing it this way!

Here ya go, i did a rather in depth review of one of these little devices. Overall i'm satisfied

Wonder if the folks at Blackmagic are reading this and seeing that there are many clients that are using the Zacuto EVF, and that they might need a converter packaged with the camera that has everything thought out, including mounting options, etc.