Can I monitor my 5D Mark II/Mark III video recording on an iPad?

ChasWG wrote in post #14099826
I did say it was expensive. Oh well, just pointing it out as an option. people always want everything on the cheap around here. Problem is, video and audio isn't exactly cheap really.

Very true.

ChasWG wrote in post #14099826
people always want everything on the cheap around here.

I paid $829 for my iPad, so I'm not exactly cheap.

My camera and my iPad have everything it takes to do this except software. As I said before, I would curse Apple for being ultra-anal control freaks about such things, but I don't think there's an Android tablet that does this either.

I think this would be a nice app, and hopefully in the future we will have it.

Thanks everybody for your help; I appreciate it!

Oh, I didn't mean you in particular InterMurph. I meant that people will pay a lot of money on things they think is important and then when they want that one more thing (like audio) they want it cheap because, well, they already spent their money on L lenses, or a great camera body, or a great computer.

Video, audio and the associated bits around it just aren't cheap. There's a reason why only the pros buy the best stuff, because they have to to exist in that world.
I can't do my job (sound mixer/recordist for TV shows) with the bottom of the line wireless systems, mixers and mics. My total expenditure for my audio kit is probably somewhere in the $50K to $60K range. And now I need to think about spending another $10K for more stuff because that's the way things are headed. So to me, $1500 for a WiFi transmitter is nothing really.

I guess its perspective.

One year later, and I have just filmed two more school plays. I lugged my 24-inch monitor for focus, and it got the job done. But I am now looking at getting a small external monitor to mount on my tripod.

I am looking at the SmallHD web site. The DP6 model mentioned above has a 5.6" screen, and starts at $799. The AC7 model has a 7" screen and starts at $599.

What justifies the DP6's $200 premium?

Thanks.

InterMurph wrote in post #15724042
One year later, and I have just filmed two more school plays. I lugged my 24-inch monitor for focus, and it got the job done. But I am now looking at getting a small external monitor to mount on my tripod.

I am looking at the SmallHD web site. The DP6 model mentioned above has a 5.6" screen, and starts at $799. The AC7 model has a 7" screen and starts at $599.

What justifies the DP6's $200 premium?

Thanks.

Nothing really except higher PPI since its a smaller screen. However IIRC the $599 price of the AC7 is an introductory price. Also it will be replacing the DP6 as I understand it.

I like the 7" size of the AC7, and the PPI is still very good. I ordered one; I will let you know what I think after I test it out.

Thanks.

ChasWG wrote in post #14102220
My total expenditure for my audio kit is probably somewhere in the $50K to $60K range. And now I need to think about spending another $10K for more stuff because that's the way things are headed. So to me, $1500 for a WiFi transmitter is nothing really.

Yes, spending that amount seems a perfectly reasonable proposition for a hobbyist to film a school play.

InterMurph wrote in post #14091663
... I am tempted to curse Apple's obstinacy on such things, but I don't think there is an Android table that does this either.

No, go ahead and curse your Apple product because my Asus Nexus 7 Android tablet can work as a monitor and it does it amazingly well! I've rented $600 production monitors that were supposed to be great that didn't do as well as my set up.
The tablet with an app called "DSLR Controller" allows me total control of all functions of my camera in either video or still mode. It's not a full HD signal as the control of the camera has to happen through mini USB port. But the image looks great on the Nexus 7. And there is a focus assist option as well. I have set the focus assist color to red and it works great. I can adjust ISO, f stop, aperture, white balance and focus all from the touch screen.

The cost of all that is: $250 for the Nexus 7, $20 for the DSLR Controller app, $30 for the RAM mount. I created the aluminum block that attaches the mount to the magic arm, $0.

romanv wrote in post #15736355
Yes, spending that amount seems a perfectly reasonable proposition for a hobbyist to film a school play.

I never said you had to spend that amount of money on audio gear. But so many people blow off audio and only concentrait on the visuals and expect they can get great or broadcast quality sound with $300 worth of audio gear. To get great quality sound you need great gear and a lot of experience to pull it off. That is all.

ChasWG, when I first posted a year ago, no Android tablet could do this. Now the Nexus 7 can do it, but via USB, not HDMI.

My research on the DSLR controller app indicated that 1) it was unreliable, requiring occasional restarts, and 2) the video is delayed by a noticeable amount.

So I decided to go with a dedicated solution, which will allow my kids to play Minecraft on their Nexus 7 while I am filming a school play.

Yes, there is a slight delay, but nothing that will keep a person from using this app. And in all the times I have used my Nexus 7 as a monitor with this app I have yet had to restart it. So I can speak from a personal stand point that it is reliable. This app is also still in Beta form, so there are some glitches for sure, but its a pretty damn good Beta version if you ask me! And when pulling focus and controlling the camera, do you really need that HDMI signal? The screen is pretty darn sharp to begin with and the image is more than enough to do what I am asking it to do. I don't need a full HD signal to see if something is in focus or composed properly. For the price and what this system can do, I'll take it over some of the other options out there.

How do you have it mounted?

I have the magic arm threaded into a 15mm accessory clamp attached to the left rail. Then the other end threads into the home made bracket attachment on the back of the RAM mount. The accessory clamp is readily available off of Amazon or eBay.

I own both an SmallHD AC7 and a Nexus 10 and use both on my 7D. I can tell you that as awesome as the display is on the AC7, that the Nexus 10 running the DSLR Controller app is actually better. The resolution quality is amazing on both. But running a Nexus 10 (and a 7 would be the same), you can actually control every aspect of the recording process on screen. Yes there is a very slight delay in the video transmission, but it is nothing that you cannot work through. And being able to fully control the camera on screen offsets any minor delay issues. I've considered picking up the Nexus 7, but I know if I do I will end up letting my brand new AC7 collect dust. I've had zero issues with the controller app as well.

ChasWG, can you post a link to the clamp you are using?

decraig, how do you have your Nexus 10 mounted?

Thanks.