Got my review finished up and posted today. This isn't a head-to-head or vs review, as the Bolt and Arrow are at different price points and have different features. But I think you can't go wrong choosing between these two Wireless HD units. They're the best around, without spending $20,000.
You can read the full review right here.
For the last couple of weeks, I've been working with two very capable wireless HD systems: the HDMI-based Paralinx Arrow and the HD-SDI-based Teradek Bolt Pro.
I should have a review posted within two weeks, but I can say that both systems are remarkably good at deliverying a high-quality HD signal from your camera to a monitor, without a damn cable. The Paralinx is smaller and more affordable at $1199, but the lack of HD-SDI connections is obviously a deal-breaker for some. The transmitter also broadcasts to just one receiver.
The Teradek Bolt Pro works with HD-SDI, can broadcast to multiple receivers, and also features a built-in battery for its camera transmitter, so you don't have to worry about plugging in a USB external battery or plugging into a bigger battery's power tap. But the Bolt costs pretty much double what the Arrow costs at $2490.
More in a couple of weeks!
CreativeCOW recently posted my review of Panasonic's new 9" monitor, the BT-LH910. I love this monitor. I had been using a 7.9" BT-LH80 for the last couple of years, but when I did side-by-side comparisons, the 910 blew the 80 out of the water. Watching footage on a 9" screen feels luxurious, and 910's image is very sharp at 1280x768. PLus, it's only a half pound heavier than my LH-80, so I can still mount it on top of a Varicam, or hand it to a producer. It's got two 3G HD-SDI input/outputs, a headphones jack, audio meters, waveform and vectorscope, 3D calibration tools, a built-in screen protector (not velro'd on), and an HDMI input for DSLRs, etc. It also comes with a viewing stand if you want to place it on a desk or table.
Shortly after getting the 910 for review, I decided to put my LH-80 up for sale on eBay, and bought the 910. It's not cheap ($3500 list, but $3000 on the street), but it felt like a monitor that could suit me for a good 5 years.
Here's the CreativeCOW review.
P.S. The screen shots below show the 910 with the older BT-LH80.
I recently got ahold of Panasonic's newest field monitor, the 9", 720p-resolution BT-LH910. I'll be reviewing it shortly, but can say I was very impressed with its size/weight/picture quality. It's about as big as you can get while staying in the "field monitor" category, and is very sharp. And it's big enough, in my opinion, to work as a studio monitor.
You can read its specs here on Panasonic's site.
It's pictured next to my trusty BT-LH80 (7.9" monitor), using some test footage I shot last fall of a Civil War re-enactment in California (a rare thing in these parts, unfortunately!).
;)
Creative COW just posted my review of Anton/Bauer's Tandem 150 "modular power system" ($995 list). Basically, it's a lightweight charger head and power supply that can power a camera system up to 75watts *AND* simultaneously charge a battery as fast as any other Anton/Bauer charger can manage.
PLUS, you can take the charger head alone (no power supply brick needed), and use a $195 cable to attach it to a car's cigarette lighter to charge a battery at full speed, or power your camera. And if you're out in the Great Outdoors, you can attach the charger head to Anton/Bauer's 60 watt solar panel ($1695), and charge a battery in 3.5 to 4 hours or so (weather dependent).
I needed a light-weight charger and was going to get the Tandem 70, which can only power a camera OR charge a battery, and doesn't have the car and solar options. But reviewing the 150 changed my mind, so I got the 150 instead. It makes battery charging too convenient to pass up.
You can read the full review here.
Apr 26, 2013
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