LCD monitors for Video

prairiedogpics wrote on 12/30/2002, 8:28 AM
Okay, my old CRT just fried itself. Time for a new monitor. I would really like to get at new LCD flat panel monitor as a space saver, but I'm not sure if there are any major disadvantages to editing video with them (I can use a TV for monitoring). Any thoughts on this? Is response time and smearing a problem with LCDs? Any current models anyone can recommend?

Thanks,

Dan

Comments

BillyBoy wrote on 12/30/2002, 10:01 AM
I've been using a LCD monitor (ViewSonic VG175 18 inch) for over a year and LOVE it! The contrast and brightness is superior to conventional CRT monitors. My particular model supports swivel, so with some included software, you can rotate the monitor between landscape and portrait mode which I like for writing documents in Word and also for detail work in Photoshop for many images.

There is no smearing and the focus is very crisp with tiny text very readable. The one downside is ViewSonic and I assume other makers of LCD's recommend you use the default resolution which for my model is 1280x1024 with a refresh rate of 75 Hetz. I can go lower, not higher. The DPI is 96.

Of course you should NOT make any level or color adjustments off any computer monitor, using the preferred external monitor method. However for all other editing a LCD monitor works great.
vonhosen wrote on 12/30/2002, 1:16 PM
I have a Eizo Flexscan L565 17" - never going back to CRT
Al S wrote on 12/30/2002, 10:20 PM
Or, you can go hog wild crazy and get a Cornea Systems CT1702T, 17 inch LCD. Not only is the picture really good, but this LCD also has a built in TV tuner, and SVHS and composite inputs. Plus speakers (not great). But it subs as a 17 inch TV (at half the price for a 17 inch LCD TV) and works as your monitor as well. Add a $70 DVD player, and you got a movie system for the auto or RV.

Should be able to find one for about $600.
kirkdickinson wrote on 12/30/2002, 11:44 PM
Hey that monitor looks cool. I could have gotten two of them and still had beer money left over compared to the last monitor that I bought.

I just got a Mitsubishi DP2060u-SV w/Spectra View color correction.

22" monitor is nice for VV though.

Kirk
Finatic13 wrote on 12/31/2002, 8:46 AM
using an NEC 21inch LCD here, love it to bits, never go back to CRT
regards
Si
Al S wrote on 12/31/2002, 9:18 AM
Nice thing about LCD's is the huge reduction in eye strain. You don't even think about the lack of flicker...

I had a 21 in Viewsonic CRT years ago, it weighed 1/2 ton at least, lasted about 4 years, and crapped out. Cost 2 plus Corneas as I recall. Viewsonic wanted $350 to repair, not including shipping charges! Ouch.
papawillow wrote on 12/31/2002, 10:12 AM
I have a Samsung 172T... one of the best purchases i have ever made.
also check out this thread for a visual of the latest hitachi...
http://www.tech-pc.co.uk/hitachi_lcd-1.php
swarrine wrote on 12/31/2002, 11:02 AM
The only caveat I would say is if you are producing video for the web. CRT and LCD seem to produce different brightness levels on the same video. What looks good on an LCD may be too dark on a CRT.

I have not explored this issue very much yet, maybe others have and can comment or maybe we could set up a test.
BillyBoy wrote on 12/31/2002, 1:21 PM
That's the same 'don't make level or color adjustments issue' which applies regardless if you have a CRT or LCD computer monitor. You need to make those kind of adjustments off a external monitor or a NTSC monitor.
doormill wrote on 12/31/2002, 1:28 PM
I love the reduced eye strain and the quality is even better. I got a Envision 17" model at Costco with a TV tuner and S-Video and Rca inputs and Speakers(not very good) for $549.00. Great picture.


Have a great New Year!!!
jboy wrote on 12/31/2002, 2:48 PM
What about the ghosting issue ? Every caveat I see regarding LCD usage in video editing mentions the ghost trailing that may accompany fast action. Any of you guys notice this ?
BillyBoy wrote on 12/31/2002, 3:01 PM
That was a problem for older LCD's, not the newer models. I've played all kinds of videos off the LCD monitor and they play fine with no ghosting at all even in fast action scenes, like a hockey game, car races, etc..

Perhaps I should clarify how I do "editing" using my LCD monitor. As I've said many times I use an external monitor anytime I'm applying FX filters so I get a very close approximation as to color levels and hues PRIOR to rendering and viewing either from a rendered file played off a DV tape connected to a TV or burning a DVD disk.

As far as "editing" ie I'm now referring to cutting, moving scenes around that kind of stuff, I prefer to view the preview window off the LCD computer monitor.Again, no ghosting.

ClipMan wrote on 12/31/2002, 3:04 PM
...gave up my IBM 18.1" LCD for a Cornerstone P1500 .22 dot pitch CRT...sorry, LCD at 75 refresh just can't compare ...
doormill wrote on 1/2/2003, 3:02 PM
I have no ghosting problems either with the exception of scrolling text really fast like on a web page. Never a problem playing any video previews or even watching a DVD.

Good Luck
swarrine wrote on 1/2/2003, 4:11 PM
Hi BillyBoy-

"That's the same 'don't make level or color adjustments issue' which applies regardless if you have a CRT or LCD computer monitor. You need to make those kind of adjustments off a external monitor or a NTSC monitor."

Video for the web, as in mov, wmv, rm. They are viewed by the end user usually on either CRT or LCD. All I am saying is that if you produce a video using an LCD monitor, it is my experience that it shows up darker and sometimes too dark on a CRT monitor for the end user.
BillyBoy wrote on 1/2/2003, 9:28 PM
That's true. Also true if you do web graphic stuff on a Mac and its viewed by Windows users and the reverse because the default gamma setting is different on each platfrom. I forget where it is for Lynix. Then of course there is the UNIX crowd. Drat computers!

The way the market is moving CRT monitors well be dead ducks in a few years. The LCD's are all they sell in the far East, been so for some time.