@Vitaliy_Kiselev I had a look at the Ruige monitors, but non of them fits my needs. They are either to small (10") or not even FullHD or only 110/240V powered (and quite heavy).

You are probably right that the display won't be "top class" but the thing also only costs 122 EUR;-) Do you think it won't be possible to focus correctly with this monitor and why? (All other things like colour, contrast, lighting,... will be viewed on another monitor.)

I see a lot of laptop display on Ebay that would be perfect (and quite good quality) but I don't know what is needed to connect them to a HDMI source.

I am planing to go in a similar direction (for quite a long time already..). My actual plan is to get a M$ Surface Pro (Windows 7) tablet with USB 3 and see if I can get the Blackmagic Shuttle working with it. Add a 100 $ HDMI video transmitter and you have no annoying cables on set. While this is for sure not a cheap way, it would allow the focus puller to roam freely - for example to the shadow, so he can not only judge sharpness but also other aspects of the picture. Last but not least with the right software you can add additional sharpening, false colors and much more helpful things - and, well, as side effect you suddenly own a M$ Surface Pro. Much more useful than a 15" HD Monitor in a Box. ;-)

edit: I just red Vitaliys reply, its pretty much the same attempt. But I would stay away from normal laptop, and outdoor set with rain, dirt and dust is simply the wrong place for it.

@Vitaliy_Kiselev I was thinking about that solution, but then I would have to buy a new laptop as well (my old Macbook has no card slot, no fast CPU/GPU,... ;-).

@Meierhans Good idea, but its going to be quite expensive.

As my remote follow focus is Arduino based, both solutions would also give me the possibility to make pre defined/pre programmed focus pulls directly from the laptop. But thats some thing for the future, as I have to finish the remote focus system first.

Does anybody know how to use one of this laptop displays without a laptop? Is it possible to get a monitor controller board with HDMI input?

It will still be around 300+ EUR for the notebook and 150 EUR for the HDMI card and then I have to carry around a lot of things I won't need (e.g. the HD and keyboard of the notebook).

I still don't understand, why nobody is putting those cheap laptop screens in a housing and adding a HDMI->monitor controller?

Or why the suppliers for camera/DSLR equipment are still using those old low resolution displays - thats just B.S. for HD work.

Has anybody seen another 15"-17" monitor with

• HDMI input
• physical resolution of 1920x1080
• low voltage (5-24V) input

?

Please post a link - as more options are always better;-)

@mythmaker When pulling focus with SLR lenses with lens markings in the wrong place and a 90 degree throw, I'll take any assistance I can get. Monitor every time, until I can afford lovely cine-lenses,...i.e. likely never.

@mythmaker Have you ever tried to get accurate focus with a focus-by-wire (photo) lens or while using a steadycam?

The main goal for my setup is to work with a steadycam AND also do the job when on a normal tripod. And as @itimjim said, I can't afford lenses where focus is 100% repeatable.

15" is not big when having 1920x1080 pixels. I have the smallHD 10" monitor and its perfect on the steadycam for aiming and frameing, but getting perfect focus on a screen that scales (1280x720) is a nightmare. I have had it several times that the picture looked good on set, but in post on a bigger screen I could see that I was off focus by a small amount. Granted, it gets better with experience but until then everything that helps is a good thing. Its my hobby not my job ;-)

A 15" monitor for pulling is huge! Is the puller Mr Magoo? @mythmaker - I agree, but if you must use one, don't use one so large that the illumination from it could contaminate the lighting!

I actually have been sittin under a black tent for some days two years ago, staring at a 24" Full HD while operating a high quality remote FF. It worked like a charm, much better than blindly trying to hit your exact marks while walking with the dolly. For slow moves you could even forget about marks and... well.. just focus. It was in no way stressful, sure I was jumping in and out the tent when DP needed filters, batteries or anything.. the usual madness. However, the only reason holding me back repeating this experience itm is that quality remote FF (speak: repeatable) are either DIY or very expensive.

@balazar 1:1 pixel mapping is ok, but if you have to change focus from one object to another and both are on different sides of the frame you are in trouble.

The ideas is to have everything visible on screen in its native resolution but in a small form factor.