Dear Respected Researchers,

I'm being driven mad in attempting to identify the right professional
video monitor for my nonlinear editing work.  In a nut shell, since my
final products will be viewed on TV screens, I must edit using a
device that will mimic this output, so I need a professional video
monitor.  If I edit using my computer monitor, no matter what kind it
is, I cannot know what I am producing until I burn it and watch it.  I
need a 12", 13" or 14" color monitor.

Since I don't have a lot of money, I need to buy a decent, used
monitor on eBay and have been following various monitor models for
about 3 weeks now to get a good feel for price and popularity. 
Although Sony is clearly the gold standard in video monitors, I have
been watching certain Pansonic and JVC models as well.  I now have
enough eBay data to feel good about buying.  However, I have been
working in parallel to find out what all the different models provide
so I will know which ones will be right for my needs, AND I HAVE BEEN
GOING CRAZY.  I have tried to mine information from the eBay items,
from places like Griffin Technology Monitor Database,
monitorworld.com, and the company websites themselves, but I can still
only find information on some of the models I have been following on
eBay.

My question is how or where I can get the following kind information
on the list of monitors below: approximate years of production (so I
will know how old the item is), whether the monitor has audio
capability (I DO NOT want this), screen resolution (number of lines)
and whether it is commonly used for professional video editing
purposes.


Sony: 1220, 1270Q, 1271Q, 1310, 1311Q, 1340, 1341, 1342Q, 1343, 1344Q,
1350, 1351Q, 1354Q, 1380, 1390, 14M2U, 14M4U, 14M6U, 14N1U, 14N2U,
14N5U, 14N10

Panasonic: BT-H1350Y, BT-H1390Y, BT-M1310Y, BT-S1300N, BT-S1360Y,
CT-1330M, CT-1330V, CT-1331Y, CT-1382Y, CT-1383Y, CT-1384Y, CT-1384VY,
CT-S1390Y, CT-1400MG, NT-1340G, WV-CK1420

JVC: TM-13U, TM-130SU, TM-1400, TM-1400SU, TM-A13SU, TM-R14U

Can you see my problem?  Even if I could get some very clear guidance
about 3 or 4 that would definitely meet my needs, that would help as
well.  I hope the price for the question is enough to get me some
help.  Like I said, I'm short on cash right now.  If you need more,
please indicate and I will see what I can do!!

Thanks very much for your help.

JCG

---

Request for Question Clarification by techtor-ga on 07 Oct 2003 03:40 PDT

Hello Jcg,
Given that brand new monitors may cost $95-$120 (see the next link
below):

Monitor Warehouse 15" CRT monitors
http://www.monitorwarehouse.com/15_CRT_Monitors/c3/2097/index.htm

...I would like to ask what your budget is for the monitor you want to
get? Even an estimate that may not be followed later on would do.

I realized you are fixed on getting the monitor brands or models you
mentioned below, but there some lower-priced brands that might do as
well. You might consider Viewsonic, AOC or MAG. AOC especially is a
good value purchase. Just a a suggestion.

---

Clarification of Question by jcg-ga on 07 Oct 2003 15:35 PDT

Dear Techtor and Denco,

First of all, thank you very much for the responses.  

Techtor, here is some clarification for you.  The monitors you refer
to are computer monitors, which are very different from professional
video monitors.  To see what genre I am working in, you can go to
eBay, search under Electronics and Computers, then Cameras and Photo,
then Professional Video Equipment, then Monitors.  A competitive price
for a new item (not my dream item, but one that would do the job) is
about $800.

Denco, I looked at the Floating Fish website.  They are very much an
audio house and the little bit of video production hardware/software
is not in the league I'm working in.

So I may be back to square one.  What I need is a source of
information for basic features of the various monitors listed in the
original query.  For example, what is the difference between a Sony
PVM-1351Q and a Sony PVM-1354Q?  Is the latter simply the newer
version or are they fundamentally different from one another?

Any and every comment is useful.  My thanks to all.

JCG

Howdy JCG,

Have you considered going the (relatively) low tech route?  I (and
others) have used the Commodore 1702 for editing purposes.

From Dave Farquhar's Silicon Underground website.
http://dfarq.homeip.net/index.php?p=858&c=1

"A video monitor is a must because your video will look different
on TV than it does on your SVGA monitors. ... I use an old Commodore
1702 monitor ... and it's fabulous ..."

They are almost always on eBay (there are currently 5 for sale there)
and I see them in thrift (Goodwill and such) stores all the time.
http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?query=commodore+1702

They will run $30-$50, 14" with NTSC (RCA plugs) inputs, etc.

Looking Forward, denco-ga

Dear Denco,

Thank you very much for your informative comment.  I will follow up on
Dave Farquhar's website and study eBay.  Do you (or are you aware of
others who) produce DVDs using this monitor?  Again, thanks a lot for
your interest.

JCG

Howdy JCG,

Not a definite, but Floating Fish Studios lists a 1702 in their
equipment, and it appears they are set up to produce DVDs.
http://www.floatingfish.com/equip.htm

"Commodore 1902 Color Monitor 
Commodore 1802 Color Monitor 
Commodore 1702 Color Monitor"
...
"MAC OS-BASED VIDEO PRODUCTION:
Sony DVMC-DA2 A/V Media Converter 
Apple iMovie 2.1.2 
Apple iDVD 2.1"

Contact information for them is here.
http://www.floatingfish.com/contacts.htm

Hope this helps!  denco-ga

Howdy JCG,

Aother place to check for comments on monitors would be through
the Google Groups search engine.
http://groups.google.com

Here are two message group posts re: the Commodore 1702 monitor
that might interest you.

http://groups.google.com/groups?q=dvd+editing+commodore+1702&selm=3c870543.62396887%40news.earthlink.net&rnum=1

http://groups.google.com/groups?q=editing+commodore+1702&selm=19980226025300.VAA21216%40ladder03.news.aol.com&rnum=11

To view more message group postings, you can use these searches.

Google Groups search on: edit Commodore 1702
http://groups.google.com/groups?q=edit+Commodore+1702

Google Groups search on: editing Commodore 1702
http://groups.google.com/groups?q=editing+Commodore+1702

Looking Forward, denco-ga