Portable DVD Player as LCD

[Dust'n the Callipygous]

I've been looking into LCD screens to help me focus my new 35mm adapter. The 7" lilliput and xenarc monitors look good, but they need their own power supply and component/vga adapter. The monitor is already about $200, then you add in $50 for the adapter and another $100 for a battery. You're really spending like $350. I figured a battery-powered portable DVD player is a much better solution. They're easy to find, cost between $150 and $200, and will last all day (the above setup typically lasts like 2-3 hours).

I've tried out several of these portable DVD players, and the best one I've found to date is the Sony DVP-FX820. It has a swiveling 8" LCD with 800x480 resolution. That's higher than you'll be able to get through composite anyway. It can also get very bright. All of the LCD controls are on the bottom of the LCD and not on the DVD load tray (this is important, because once swiveled and folded, you can still make adjustments to the screen). It has really easy controls to adjust brightness and color and all that good stuff--oh, and the battery lasts up to 6 HOURS! For only $180, I don't see a better deal.

I'm sure there are others out there. I just say YOU MUST GET ONE THAT SWIVELS! Otherwise it will be too clunky and you might not get the viewing angle you want (which is crucial on these cheap LCDs that you can't see from anywhere off-center). I think it's a great, cheap solution for focusing--and if you ever need to figure out how to light something or run sound, just pop in an instructional DVD.

Just one problem at the moment. Does anybody have any suggestions for mounting one of these things to a rig?

[popnfresh]

hmm ive been contemplating how to work a portable dvd player into a rig.. does using velcro work in anyway?

I've yet to get my shrigg rig, but once i get it, im gonna do some testing so i'll try to report back.

[gatti]

Due to the great reviews this DVD player's LCD screen got on CNET and your personal review, I'm going to head to the Sony Style store this weekend to try it out. BH Photo/Video is selling it for $169 by the way. (I'll probably order it from there if I do wind up getting it. Sony Style stores are normally marked-up prices.)

Also, I think I remember someone here mention that we can actually run the green component cable from the HV20 into the player such as this for a sharper image but it'll only be black & white. Can you confirm that?

[Leo Versola]

I got one yesterday and tested it out quite a bit last night with an HV20/Letus Extreme combo. I found it to be perfectly acceptable for focusing/framing; MUCH nicer and easier than using the small LCD. The screen is actually quite nice; bright and sharp, even with composite signal. Great find!

Next task; experimenting with different mounting options.

[popnfresh]

hmm ive been debating between the Sony DVP-FX820 and the LG DP781.

The screen resolution of the Sony is 800x480 while the LG is 800x600. does that make a difference or is the extra on the LG just make it more widescreen.

Also wheres the best place to buy the unit online. I can't find a place in Toronto or Canada that carries the LG unit.

[Ten Ounce]

I've got a new product that I'm testing out that may work much better than a DVD player for an external LCD display. I'll be posting a video review (hopefully) before this weekend on some video glasses.

[Erik Bien]

Also, I think I remember someone here mention that we can actually run the green component cable from the HV20 into the player such as this for a sharper image but it'll only be black & white. Can you confirm that?

I just tried it with my old, el-cheapo Polaroid portable DVD player. IT WORKS!

(You have to set "Comp. out" to 480i instead of 1080i in the camera's menu first.)

UPDATE: I got excited thinking this might be a way to use both a small standard-def LCD for focusing and a large HDMI client monitor (since hooking up the composite out will blank the HDMI output), but no joy: it seems the only option to have two monitoring outputs active on the camera at once is HDMI + 1080i component.

[Dust'n the Callipygous]

I'd still go with the Sony. The max resolution you can get with composite is 720x480, so that extra little bit won't make a difference. The screen on the sony is also brighter, and it has all of the lcd controls right beneath the screen, whereas the LG controls are next to the DVD load tray. This is just more convenient to fold and mount, so you don't have to flip it back open to make changes.

As gatti said, B&H sells the Sony for $169 ($174 if you want black).

Leo, let me know when you figure out a good mounting option.

Ten Ounce, what's the resolution on that thing? I've always wondered about that option, but I've been a little reluctant to try one.

[Leo Versola]

This looks like it might work to mount it on a light stand or an arm of some sort:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...or_Holder.html

[David]

The screen resolution of the Sony is 800x480 while the LG is 800x600. does that make a difference or is the extra on the LG just make it more widescreen.

FWIW, That LG resolution is a bit unknown. I found multiple webpages that said that unit's resolution was 800x400 and not 800x600. Additionally, LG's own webpages (and spec sheet AND manual) don't list a resolution at ALL.

So I would say YMMV on the LG resolution.

[gatti]

So, I picked up the Sony DVP-FX820 and the focusing is definitely good enough for me.

However, only when I've tried to play DVDs on it, I noticed that there were visual artifacts (in 10-20 second intervals) that sometimes appeared. Has anyone else experienced this when playing DVDs?

[Leo Versola]

Someone on another board posted some pics of the inexpensive mounting design he built:

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthrea...001#post882001

[Bigbeaner]

So, I picked up the Sony DVP-FX820 and the focusing is definitely good enough for me.

However, only when I've tried to play DVDs on it, I noticed that there were visual artifacts (in 10-20 second intervals) that sometimes appeared. Has anyone else experienced this when playing DVDs?

How in the world did you connect the camera to the dvd player? I can't get the plugs from the HV20 into the dvd player. Do I need some sort of an adapter?

[Erik Bien]

Hi, Bigbeaner, and welcome to the forum!

Yes, you'll need an RCA female-to-female adapter.

[Bigbeaner]

Hi, Bigbeaner, and welcome to the forum!

Yes, you'll need an RCA female-to-female adapter.

Forgive my manners!

I've been reading the boards for so long now that I totally forgot this is my first comment. Thank you for the quick good reply, I'm going to go grab those adapters now.

[gatti]

Yeah, luckily there was a RadioShack in the same mall so I quickly ran and bought a tri-phono female coupler. ($6.50) to test on the Sony Style's store model. But low and behold... Radioshack is selling the exact same portable Sony DVD player too at $179 (+$10 off for the holiday weekend).

However, I had to run back to the Sony Style store because my wife was there with my rig :P

Long story short, I bought it at the Sony Style store on Thursday, but just exchanged it today because my first one had a glitchy dvd player.

[Bigbeaner]

I just ran and bought the tri-phono. The Fx820 is a good call for a monitor, highly recommend it. Now just got to make a mount and I'll be set.

[rottenpuppets]

As gatti said, B&H sells the Sony for $169 ($174 if you want black).

and as a heads up for New York people who want to avoid tax... newegg has it (DVP-FX820) for 179$ no tax / no ship. but if you got the email from newegg i got today you'll know already time is limited before they have to start charging TAX in ny now due to some new laws i guess.

no intent to jump your comment dust'n just trying to save the ny'ers who order online 10 bucks

[popnfresh]

if anyone has one w/ their rig, it would be awesome if you could post some pics. even so i could understand the orientation of the picture w/ a dof adapter.

[Ten Ounce]

I mentioned earlier that I had a solution that might work better, and I've been running this product through the paces the last few days and have been pretty happy with the results. Here is a link to the product on Cnet.

http://reviews.cnet.com/search-resul...-32057258.html

I should hopefully have a full review posted on the HV20 member page on my website and my blog.

[David]

I mentioned earlier that I had a solution that might work better, and I've been running this product through the paces the last few days and have been pretty happy with the results. Here is a link to the product on Cnet.

http://reviews.cnet.com/search-resul...-32057258.html

The first review on that page is "This product is Garbage"

[Ten Ounce]

The first review on that page is "This product is Garbage"

I found that pretty funny too. I guess it all depends on what you're using it for. Maybe people expect this to have HD quality when in reality having super high quality video in a small set of glasses just isn't feasible. Now, for using it as a monitor for your camera that's a different story. I've found it to work pretty well as an external LCD, and I've used it this weekend while driving out to the beach to watch videos from my Zune. Like I said, I'll have a detailed review shortly.

[Reeven]

If a portable DVD player were being used as a monitor, does it display only in black and white, or in color? If black and white only, would the LCD screen still be able to be used at the same time to see how the color looks?

Also, second/third/whatever number we're on to see a mount with this screen on it. If, say, http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...=553998&is=REG that would come into play.

[Reeven]

If a portable DVD player were being used as a monitor, does it display only in black and white, or in color? If black and white only, would the LCD screen still be able to be used at the same time to see how the color looks?

Also, second/third/whatever number we're on to see a mount with this screen on it. If, say, http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...=553998&is=REG that would come into play.

Bump on all of this, I could really use answers if anyone is able to give them, I'm on a time limit to decide on this.

[Dust'n the Callipygous]

Bump on all of this, I could really use answers if anyone is able to give them, I'm on a time limit to decide on this.

Mine is certainly in color--and yes, you can view the two at the same time. As far as the mount, that could possibly work, I'm just not sure about the straps blocking the screen.