Portable LCD Monitor for DIY Jib

wexler1775 · 11-03-2009, 11:31 AM

Hello, all. First post of mine but hopefully not the last. I'm in the process of assembling the infamous $60 Jib and noticed that the design is conspicuously missing an auxiliary monitor so the DP can have a constant eye on what he's shooting, regardless of where the camera is. (I'm guessing that's what keeps it at $60.)

But I simply can't allow my camera to be floating around and maybe getting the shots that I want, I really need to know what it sees. So I was wondering, can anyone out there vouch for a small (5 to 8 inches) LCD screen that I could mount on the tripod? A compatible A/V in would have to be present, 16:9 aspect ratio is pretty much a must, and of course I'd love something with a battery. Pristine picture isn't my top priority, so long as my DP can get a good sense of the frame, movement and blocking, also keeping on the lookout for my equally amateur boom mic.

For the record, and please stifle your laughter, I'm shooting on a Sony HDR-SR1, which has component, composite, and HDMI out. I'm hoping that I can snag an LCD for something like $100, the cheaper the better. Thanks for your input.

blitzkrieg · 11-03-2009, 12:21 PM

Go to your electronics store and look at portable DVD players with A/V in jacks. They are usually less than $100, are portable (hence the name), and battery powered. I've seen many of those 8" screens in the 16:9 aspect ratio. Take a look.

wexler1775 · 11-03-2009, 12:44 PM

I had considered that as one option. Here's a technical question, though. Most of the portable DVD players and the like out there have an "A/V In" which uses a 3.5 mm plug which looks a lot like a garden variety stereo mini, the other end being the iconic red/white/yellow male RCA connectors..

Meanwhile, the composite out on my camera has a proprietary connector at the camera end, and those same male RCA connectors at the other end.

So, I guess the question is, how would I make that connection? Would RCA female-female couplers do the trick? If I could get away with it, all I'd bridge would be the "yellow," as I'm not too concerned about sound, but then again it might be a nice option to bridge the audio as well, as we could get a second set of monitor headphones running from the DVD player.

Thanks for the idea, and let me know what you think.

blitzkrieg · 11-03-2009, 01:35 PM

You can get RCA couplers at Radidio Shack or any electronics store. Those should work just fine. I like the idea of joing all three and then using the headphone out jack for monitoring... That's not a bad idea.

What's your audio setup going to be? If you rely on just the built-in camera mic, you're in for a world of hurt with sh*tty audio!

wexler1775 · 11-03-2009, 01:58 PM

I'm really still amassing my arsenal right now. I've had the good fortune to work with some good prosumer equipment in the past, but I'm currently trying to get my small production group off the ground with our first project, which is the immediate impetus for buying and constructing this hardware.

Microphone comes next. I know that the built in mic, which "boasts" 5.1 surround recording is a big old gimmick with a capital G that rhypes with P and stands for POOR. Still shopping around for a shotgun mic in my price range.

Tentative audio monitoring setup would be two sets of headphones, one connected to the jack on the camera, the other on the DVD player, which is really what I'm considering now. That second would remain optional in case we wanted a second set of ears, just to ensure we're picking up what we want.

On an unrelated note, what do you think as far as the headphones? I already ordered some Sony studio headphones that got rave reviews. On principal, should the second set I buy be a match, to ensure consistency, or should they be a different model, so the two listeners intentionally pick up distinct kinds of audio, ensuring that all of our bases are covered?

Right now I'm thinking of going for a match.

blitzkrieg · 11-03-2009, 02:38 PM

Make sure they are full muff over the ear headphones. By covering the whole ear, you get better monitoring of sound, you better isolate outside sounds, and it's more comfortable to wear. I go with a matched set of headphones. This way both people wearing them will hear the same thing, i.e., better monitoring.

JRHermle · 11-04-2009, 04:53 PM

Try checking out CVS (a pharmacy store). I know the website is offering a 7" LCD 16:9 portable TV for $89.99. I plan on using that for my DIY polecam.

wexler1775 · 11-04-2009, 05:18 PM

I'm thinking I'll do one better for my poor little wallet. After doing a little research on eBay, there are quite a few portable DVD players going for next-to-nothing because the DVD mechanism is broken. I realize that it's a crap shoot, but I might just chance getting one of those, in the hopes that the rest of it still works, and won't fail me before I can finish principal shooting.

My next question related to the project is actually in another thread. I'm amazed and pleased by how active and intelligent a community of independent filmmakers makes up the IndyMogul crowd.

11-03-2009, 11:31 AM	#1
wexler1775 Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2009	Portable LCD Monitor for DIY Jib Hello, all. First post of mine but hopefully not the last. I'm in the process of assembling the infamous $60 Jib and noticed that the design is conspicuously missing an auxiliary monitor so the DP can have a constant eye on what he's shooting, regardless of where the camera is. (I'm guessing that's what keeps it at $60.) But I simply can't allow my camera to be floating around and maybe getting the shots that I want, I really need to know what it sees. So I was wondering, can anyone out there vouch for a small (5 to 8 inches) LCD screen that I could mount on the tripod? A compatible A/V in would have to be present, 16:9 aspect ratio is pretty much a must, and of course I'd love something with a battery. Pristine picture isn't my top priority, so long as my DP can get a good sense of the frame, movement and blocking, also keeping on the lookout for my equally amateur boom mic. For the record, and please stifle your laughter, I'm shooting on a Sony HDR-SR1, which has component, composite, and HDMI out. I'm hoping that I can snag an LCD for something like $100, the cheaper the better. Thanks for your input.

11-03-2009, 12:21 PM	#2
blitzkrieg Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Abita Springs, LA	Go to your electronics store and look at portable DVD players with A/V in jacks. They are usually less than $100, are portable (hence the name), and battery powered. I've seen many of those 8" screens in the 16:9 aspect ratio. Take a look. __________________ www.LaFilm.net - Louisiana's Independent Film Network

11-03-2009, 01:35 PM	#4
blitzkrieg Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Abita Springs, LA	You can get RCA couplers at Radidio Shack or any electronics store. Those should work just fine. I like the idea of joing all three and then using the headphone out jack for monitoring... That's not a bad idea. What's your audio setup going to be? If you rely on just the built-in camera mic, you're in for a world of hurt with shtty audio! __________________ www.LaFilm.net* - Louisiana's Independent Film Network

11-03-2009, 02:38 PM	#6
blitzkrieg Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Abita Springs, LA	Make sure they are full muff over the ear headphones. By covering the whole ear, you get better monitoring of sound, you better isolate outside sounds, and it's more comfortable to wear. I go with a matched set of headphones. This way both people wearing them will hear the same thing, i.e., better monitoring. __________________ www.LaFilm.net - Louisiana's Independent Film Network

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11-03-2009, 12:44 PM	#3
wexler1775 Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2009	I had considered that as one option. Here's a technical question, though. Most of the portable DVD players and the like out there have an "A/V In" which uses a 3.5 mm plug which looks a lot like a garden variety stereo mini, the other end being the iconic red/white/yellow male RCA connectors.. Meanwhile, the composite out on my camera has a proprietary connector at the camera end, and those same male RCA connectors at the other end. So, I guess the question is, how would I make that connection? Would RCA female-female couplers do the trick? If I could get away with it, all I'd bridge would be the "yellow," as I'm not too concerned about sound, but then again it might be a nice option to bridge the audio as well, as we could get a second set of monitor headphones running from the DVD player. Thanks for the idea, and let me know what you think.

11-03-2009, 01:58 PM	#5
wexler1775 Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2009	I'm really still amassing my arsenal right now. I've had the good fortune to work with some good prosumer equipment in the past, but I'm currently trying to get my small production group off the ground with our first project, which is the immediate impetus for buying and constructing this hardware. Microphone comes next. I know that the built in mic, which "boasts" 5.1 surround recording is a big old gimmick with a capital G that rhypes with P and stands for POOR. Still shopping around for a shotgun mic in my price range. Tentative audio monitoring setup would be two sets of headphones, one connected to the jack on the camera, the other on the DVD player, which is really what I'm considering now. That second would remain optional in case we wanted a second set of ears, just to ensure we're picking up what we want. On an unrelated note, what do you think as far as the headphones? I already ordered some Sony studio headphones that got rave reviews. On principal, should the second set I buy be a match, to ensure consistency, or should they be a different model, so the two listeners intentionally pick up distinct kinds of audio, ensuring that all of our bases are covered? Right now I'm thinking of going for a match.

11-04-2009, 04:53 PM	#7
JRHermle Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2009	Try checking out CVS (a pharmacy store). I know the website is offering a 7" LCD 16:9 portable TV for $89.99. I plan on using that for my DIY polecam.

11-04-2009, 05:18 PM	#8
wexler1775 Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2009	I'm thinking I'll do one better for my poor little wallet. After doing a little research on eBay, there are quite a few portable DVD players going for next-to-nothing because the DVD mechanism is broken. I realize that it's a crap shoot, but I might just chance getting one of those, in the hopes that the rest of it still works, and won't fail me before I can finish principal shooting. My next question related to the project is actually in another thread. I'm amazed and pleased by how active and intelligent a community of independent filmmakers makes up the IndyMogul crowd.