Digital Video - September 2007 - (Page 24)

reviews V8000HD 8” LCD Monitor ikan Corp., $795 BY MATTHEW JEPPSEN The plastic-encased ikan monitor comes with standard accessory-shoe mounting hardware. B ecause aperture and focus can often be difficult to determine on low-cost HD camcorders that have weak, low-resolution viewfinders and LCD panels, it often becomes essential to use a larger external display for monitoring. One option is the ikan V8000HD. This 8” widescreen LCD monitor is capable of handling a wide variety of SD and HD inputs and formats. I tested the V8000HD on a Panasonic HVX200 outfitted with a Cinevate Brevis 35mm adapter and Zeiss 85mm PLmount prime. Because most 35mm lens adapters invert the score Pros Sharp image, lightweight, can utilize standard Sony L-series batteries. Cons Plastic construction, no blueonly calibration, finicky auto-off feature. Bottom Line Perfect for simple focus and framing, and a great value for lightweight 35mm adapter rigs. This is not the unit you rent— this is the monitor you can afford to own. image, the monitor was anchored to our 15mm rod system and mounted upside down using a Zamerican arm from Zacuto (similar to a Noga arm). It attaches to the monitor’s single standard mount point, located on its bottom. The V8000HD case measures 8.1” x 5.7” x 1.2” and is comprised entirely of plastic. From a weight-saving standpoint, this is good news. Steadicam and handheld operators will be happy to hear that it weighs just over 1 lb. This also makes mounting it to your camcorder’s top accessory shoe less worrisome, as there is very little weight stressing the mount. The V8000HD comes with standard accessoryshoe mounting hardware. However, the downside of plastic construction is that the ikan probably won’t hold up to abuse like a metal-cased unit would. The V8000HD accepts NTSC/PAL component, S-video and composite inputs via BNC jacks located on the back of the case. It’s 16:9 and 4:3 aspect switchable, and features a matching video pass-through jack for each input. There is no available blue-only or calibration mode, even though it appears as a grayed-out option in the system menus. (We were informed by ikan that the blue-only feature is not a planned update.) The monitor can be powered using the included AC adapter or standard Sony L-series batteries, which simply slide into a slot on the back of the unit. When the AC adapter is powered, it can trickle-charge your L-series battery. The 8” diagonal widescreen display is anti-glare coated and has a wide 65-degree viewing angle. Image is sharp and clear on the display’s 800x480 resolution. I had no problem pulling focus on the V8000HD, even with the 85mm lens aperture wide open and a DOF of mere inches. We shot in a variety of configurations with the 35mm adapter, including handheld. In each situation, the crisp image of the monitor made determining focus and framing a simple task. However, I did note that the display is not quite as bright as I would prefer, even with brightness setting bumped to maximum. ikan rates the display brightness at 400cd/m2 and contrast ratio at 200:1. One concern is the monitor’s auto-off feature. This power-saving function automatically detects when a video input goes black and puts the monitor into standby mode. Unfortunately, the auto-off is overeager: it will occasionally engage when you are simply panning across a very dark area, or if you block the lens. Unfortunately, there appears to be no way of toggling it off in the system menus. In conclusion, the ikan V8000HD is a very useful lightweight framing and focus monitor. The plastic construction and lack of certain features may be of concern to some, but I believe you will find it to be an excellent value. ■ Filmmaker Matt Jeppsen is the founder of production info source FreshDV.com, and a contributing partner with cineastfilms, an international wedding cinematography production company. 24 DV SEPTEMBER 2007 WWW.DV.COM http://www.dv.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Digital Video - September 2007

Contents News AG-HPX500 HD Camcorder First Look: Color V8000HD 8" LCD Monitor Shoulder Mount System Instant Expert Close-Ups Fest Cercuit Q&A Flight Plan Cutter's Way Imagination in Action Motion Graphics Production Diary

Digital Video - September 2007

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