Want to watch what I'm filming on a moniter while I'm filming it. Help!!!

[baer77]

Hello everyone, new here. Ok, so I am filming a puppet show and want to be able to watch what I'm filming while I'm filming it. The quality on the monitor doesn't have to be great. I just need to be able to see where I am in the shot, how the puppets look, etc. I have a sony hd handycam with hard drive or memory card memory. For my moniter I basically have 3 options:
1. is an older flat screen lcd hp moniter with a vga. The camera came with av cables so I was thinking of trying to find a vga/av converter. They are online and super cheap but I don't know if this would work. This moniter is not hooked up to a computer and the vga is the only input it has besides speakers and power cord
2. is an hp laptop with vista. It does not have av inputs, so maybe I could find a usb/av converter. When I looked online these seemed to be a little more $$$ than the first option and I don't even know if it would work
3. is my MAC desktop osx. It's a great machine but it doesn't have av either. It has firewire I believe (so does option 2) but the camera doesn't have firewire. I would be looking at a usb/av converter???

Also, I don't even know if any of these options would work at all! I'm very new at this! I did hook up my camcorder to my tv since it has av just to see if it would work, and it worked great. I was able to record and watch myself on the tv. Unfortunately my tv is 50" and is mounted on the wall and I need something a little more portable!

Thanks so much everyone!!!

[edDV]

#4 doesn't you cam have analog composite video out in camera mode? Get a TV set with A/V inputs. That was Sony's intent. In most cities you can get up at 6am and find working models left for trash.

The other options have issues that we can discuss further.

[baer77]

I have a tv set with a/v inputs, but it is huge and mounted on the wall. I really can't afford to buy a new tv set just for this. that's why i was hoping to sort of convert one of my computers into a tv, if that's even possible. I'm not really sure what you mean about analog composite video out. sorry, i am very new at this!

[edDV]

#1 Camcorders are not designed to drive VGA monitors. A composite to VGA converter will have low quality and cost more than a small Craigslist TV.
http://www.google.com/products/catalog?hl=en&source=hp&q=composite+to+VGA&oq=&um=1&ie=...wAQ#ps-sellers

#2 If you use a USB capture device, there is a probability the laptop display will have a second or more delay. Try it and see.

#3 Firewire is a live feed but you didn't buy an HDV format camcorder. Even so when I run my hand in front of my Firewire camcorder to iMovie Firewire capture I can count "one one thousand, two one..." before I see my hand on the Mac screen.

I doubt this would work for puppetry.

[edDV]

Here are some suggestions in no particular order
http://cgi.ebay.com/MAGNAVOX-PHILLIPS-AC-DC-9-RD0946-COLOR-TV-VERY-NICE_W0QQitemZ29040...9#ht_500wt_947
http://cgi.ebay.com/MAGNAVOX-PHILLIPS-AC-DC-9-RD0525-COLOR-TV-Car-Boat-RV_W0QQitemZ250...#ht_500wt_947]
http://cgi.ebay.com/9-AC-DC-LCD-TV-with-ATSC-Digital-Ready-Tuner-SC-499D_W0QQitemZ3003...#ht_3995wt_844

Make sure they have composite A/V inputs so they can connect to your camcorder.
RF or antenna input is no help.

[baer77]

Here are some suggestions in no particular order
http://cgi.ebay.com/MAGNAVOX-PHILLIPS-AC-DC-9-RD0946-COLOR-TV-VERY-NICE_W0QQitemZ29040...9#ht_500wt_947
http://cgi.ebay.com/MAGNAVOX-PHILLIPS-AC-DC-9-RD0525-COLOR-TV-Car-Boat-RV_W0QQitemZ250...#ht_500wt_947]
http://cgi.ebay.com/9-AC-DC-LCD-TV-with-ATSC-Digital-Ready-Tuner-SC-499D_W0QQitemZ3003...#ht_3995wt_844

Make sure they have composite A/V inputs so they can connect to your camcorder.
RF or antenna input is no help.

Hey this is a great idea! I could look at Goodwill or something. I think surely they would have something like this!!!

[edDV]

Here are some suggestions in no particular order
http://cgi.ebay.com/MAGNAVOX-PHILLIPS-AC-DC-9-RD0946-COLOR-TV-VERY-NICE_W0QQitemZ29040...9#ht_500wt_947
http://cgi.ebay.com/MAGNAVOX-PHILLIPS-AC-DC-9-RD0525-COLOR-TV-Car-Boat-RV_W0QQitemZ250...#ht_500wt_947]
http://cgi.ebay.com/9-AC-DC-LCD-TV-with-ATSC-Digital-Ready-Tuner-SC-499D_W0QQitemZ3003...#ht_3995wt_844

Make sure they have composite A/V inputs so they can connect to your camcorder.
RF or antenna input is no help.

Hey this is a great idea! I could look at Goodwill or something. I think surely they would have something like this!!!

Yes, people bought these to watch broadcast TV. When broadcast went digital these small TV sets were useless unless they had A/V (RCA) inputs.

[baer77]

Thanks for your help! This may be the simplest way to do it. I really love my camera. The quality is amazing for a decent $$, so I didn't want to have to change. Goodwill tomorrow!