Inexpensive seven-inch monitor that's compatible with Canons

Check this out: http://www.amazon.com …/ref=cm_cr_pr_p​roduct_top

I saw it at Best Buy (for 69 bucks), opened the box, and it comes with the connectors that will hook up to your camera (using your camera's cables as well). Looks like there's nothing additional to buy.

I haven't purchased and tried it yet, but I think it might just work for an inexpensive additional monitor that might help to focus better and frame (since the 7D, T2i and T1i don't have articulating screens).

Might even be good for 60D users since it's seven inches.

According to the reviews, one of the drawbacks is the short battery life. Most are saying they only get about and hour and a half with it. You could plug it in (if you are shooting in a stationary situation), but on the go it just might work.

What do you think?

MikeFairbanks wrote in post #11695247
According to the reviews, one of the drawbacks is the short battery life. Most are saying they only get about and hour and a half with it. You could plug it in (if you are shooting in a stationary situation), but on the go it just might work.

What do you think?

At that price break overlooking the power problems it could work as a very basic field monitor though I would prefer one that utilizes replaceable batteries.

Wayne

Looking at the pics on bestbuys site it doesnt look like it will be compatible with our 7D's. It comes with a mini jack to analog female rca for AV input. Our AV OUT is digital with mini USB I believe...

On another note... Sony is releasing a nice 5" clip on LCD monitor designed specifically for DSLR's. Comes out in March, couple of months, with no announced price.

SDSupra wrote in post #11696730
Looking at the pics on bestbuys site it doesnt look like it will be compatible with our 7D's. It comes with a mini jack to analog female rca for AV input. Our AV OUT is digital with mini USB I believe...

While I have never connected a field monitor to the 7D I thought one could connect the Canon supplied analog A/V cable to the USB port and export analog video to a monitor, though in this case it would require using RCA to RCA connectors to adapt the canon A/V cable to the supplied monitors A/V cable.

Now the output is not going to be HD as that would require using a HDMI cable from the 7D to a compatible monitor.

Wayne

Channel One wrote in post #11696764
While I have never connected a field monitor to the 7D I thought one could connect the Canon supplied analog A/V cable to the USB port and export analog video to a monitor, though in this case it would require using RCA to RCA connectors to adapt the canon A/V cable to the supplied monitors A/V cable.

Now the output is not going to be HD as that would require using a HDMI cable from the 7D to a compatible monitor.

Wayne

You are correct about that Channel One.

No, no. Guys, I checked. The RCA connectors that leave the DSLR's mini USB port are male. The RCA cables that come with the little TV are female, and then merge to plug into the 1/8 inch port on the side of the TV (and the port is labeled AV in). I think it will work.

I'll probably pick it up and try.

My main reason is focus and framing, not quality.

When I'm ready to shoot a scene I'll do a test first (using the lcd screen on the camera), get the settings I like, and then use the external monitor for framing and focus (since you can see detail better for focus---I hope).


The real question becomes: Will a seven-inch screen with lower quality and lower resolution give a better view of focus than a higher-quality 3-inch lcd screen on the camera.

MikeFairbanks wrote in post #11697343
No, no. Guys, I checked. The RCA connectors that leave the DSLR's mini USB port are male. The RCA cables that come with the little TV are female, and then merge to plug into the 1/8 inch port on the side of the TV (and the port is labeled AV in). I think it will work.

I'll probably pick it up and try.

My main reason is focus and framing, not quality.

When I'm ready to shoot a scene I'll do a test first (using the lcd screen on the camera), get the settings I like, and then use the external monitor for framing and focus (since you can see detail better for focus---I hope).

The real question becomes: Will a seven-inch screen with lower quality and lower resolution give a better view of focus than a higher-quality 3-inch lcd screen on the camera.

It will work Mike!
I have the same setup with a 7" Auvio TV I use sometimes.

The next question is the killer. It really won't help with focus. It's just not sharp enough.
It is great for framing and just to monitor, just not for focus work.

It's at it's best when the 7D is on a pole or somewhere else I can't get to and I don't want to hook a laptop up.

I also use it with some of the Smaller video cameras including my GoPro.

In all honesty, I bought it because I needed video of someone who did not want to be videoed by me, and was giving an interview in a TV station. I set it up so I could watch the interview then switch to monitor the camera on a tripod, then start recording with a wireless remote, as he walked out.

Otherwise, I'd never have a low res field monitor.

Here's some others you might want to consider: http://www.cinema5d.co​m/news/?p=2262

SmallHD is $900
ikan V8000 is also $900 (also 8")
ikan V5600 is $600, at 5.6"
The marshall in the review I believe has been replaced, but their V-LCD50-HDMI (5.6") is $600


IMO the "false color" in the marshall is a great way to check exposure.

^^ Talk about highly priced. I can make mine a touch screen if i wanted for that price.

The power problem is a very very easy fix as well as if you wanted to make it replaceable or just to last longer.

I have a 7" screen as well but you have to plug it in. I have had it for many years now and it was originally used to play xbox games on traveling (lol) but now i use it for my camera. I am working on putting a remote in it so itll be a screen as well as a remote that can change the aperture, shutter, iso, and some normal remote stuff. Its not difficult to do the batter but remote part is an annoying part as you have to do slight programing.

Just my $0.02

Look on amazon for the haier 7", I believe it's $50 and works great. Otherwise the axion that I seen at best buy had a coaxial input. There was another brand that I got from best buy last week that had minijack av input, but I forgot the brand.... I'll check it later tonight, but it works great!!!


EDIT:::
The Brand was Eviant. Model was T7DC and i got it for 74.99. great deal!!! definitely helps me with my focusing

Something else to consider (and this has more to do with photography than video) is elevated photography.

There's a relatively new field of photography called PAP (pole aerial photography) that works great for real estate, particularly properties on the water and more.

You see, the whole idea is to elevate your camera (usually to about 30 feet is the average) to get a great shot that includes not only the front of the house (all real estate shots do that), but the back of the house as well. If there's a lake back there or a beatiful pool, yard, beach, etc., then the potential customer sees a much better angle than the typical street view.

I have friends who do it for extra money and do quite well with it. I don't know anybody doing it full-time, but I'm sure some people do.

Here's a pic and a link of a business that does this(I know the owner and he doesn't mind). Southernballoonworks.c​om

I have the lilliput 7" and its great!

Channel One wrote in post #11696764
While I have never connected a field monitor to the 7D I thought one could connect the Canon supplied analog A/V cable to the USB port and export analog video to a monitor, though in this case it would require using RCA to RCA connectors to adapt the canon A/V cable to the supplied monitors A/V cable.

Now the output is not going to be HD as that would require using a HDMI cable from the 7D to a compatible monitor.

Wayne

I stand corrected sir! You're right. I didnt know what you guys were talking about with the connector so I looked in my original 7D box and there was the mini USB to male rca connector! lol Apparently I never took it out of the box, I always use HDMI.

I may be picking this up then, I have $70 of bestbuy giftcards and reward points I havent used yet...

My concern has mostly been focusing issues. I find it hard to focus using that small three-inch screen on the T2i. It's a fantastic screen, but it sure is small for shooting video (if using a shallow depth of field.

Stopping down to about 11 helps a lot, but once you get that image onto a big screen tv you can see the focusing mistakes really easily.

SO, those expensive monitors (that usually start at about 500 or more) are for tackling this issue.

It sounds (and someone else mentioned it) that the cheap one from Best Buy will only be practical for framing the subject.

That's great, however. And with the proper homemade rig will be able to articulate.

Bobabooey24 wrote in post #11698607
I have the lilliput 7" and its great!

interesting, might not be bad: https://www.eio.com …vgahdmi-or-dvi-input.aspx