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| JVC DT-V9L1DU 9-inch Portable HD LCD Monitor |
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By Geoff Poister, October 15, 2008
The JVC DT-V9L1DU is a portable 9-inch LCD monitor ideally suited for HD monitoring in the field. This is the smallest of JVC’s series of monitors that range from 9 to 24 diagonal inches. The 9-inch DT-V9L1DU offers portability without sacrificing reliable image quality. It accepts SD/HD-SDI, component or composite inputs and can run on AC or a battery that can be mounted on the rear of the unit.
The DT-V9L1DU monitor features a 16:9 high-resolution LCD display designed for portability and ease of use in the field. It is housed in a rugged metal case with a carrying handle and weighs 6 lb. without the stand.
To make it truly field-worthy, the JVC DT-V9L1DU can run on 12-17V batteries such as the Anton/Bauer Dionic 90 or the IDX ENDURA-75, both of which can be securely mounted on the rear of the monitor. The LCD panel includes a screen protection filter, and a moveable stand can be attached to provide better viewing angles.
Despite its size, the DT-V9L1DU maintains high performance specs. Its 8-bit processor is designed to produce clear images whether the content is slow or fast and to eliminate jagged lines and block noise. Screen resolution is 800x480 with 16.2 million colors and a 400:1 contrast ratio.
The rear panel has inputs for SD/HD-SDI, analog component and composite video. An RCA in and out jack is provided for analog sound monitoring. The monitor can also be controlled through a PC using the RS-232C interface or a MAKE/TRIGGER system.
The front panel maintains a familiar and simple set of controls that is not overly reliant on a menu. Physical rotating knobs control phase, chroma, brightness and contrast. Input is selected by pressing one of two buttons: SDI or video/component. The selected button glows green so you always know which input is active. Audio volume controls are simple buttons that activate an on-screen indicator that displays the volume setting.
When monitoring HD-SDI, up to 12 audio channels are embedded in the signal. You can select which channels you wish to monitor on the screen by adjusting the settings in the menu. This workflow allows you to monitor both picture quality and audio levels on the same display.
The DT-V9L1DU is a fully professional monitor and includes “screen check” controls for correct calibration. Pressing the “screen check” button changes the screen from normal to monochrome, red, green or blue. The familiar blue screen enables you to calibrate the monitor to SMPTE color bars.
The monitor offers several features that add to its effectiveness as a field monitor. One is a simple button labeled DYNAMIC, which, when depressed, significantly brightens the image to increase visibility in outdoor conditions. You can achieve similar results in the menu by increasing the “backlight” setting, but the DYNAMIC button offers more brightness and is faster to access. There is also a FOCUS button, which greatly increases the detail level of the image. This is actually a very effective way to achieve accurate focus levels from the camera.
SUMMARY
This monitor provides a crisp image that accurately reproduces color and contrast faithful to the original source signal. It is more rugged than most field monitors without adding too much weight or bulk. It is built in a roadworthy housing that can stand a bit of rough treatment. In terms of image quality, price ($2,450) and durability, this is a monitor everyone should consider when seeking a high-performance HD unit that is as useful in the field as the editing suite.
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