As a film director, its key to never lose sight of your director’s monitor, especially if you want to focus on details that otherwise could be easily missed. Depending on the setup, however, it may be difficult to keep an eye on the camera’s perspective all the time due to certain limitations related to the necessity of using cables to bridge the monitor and the camera itself.
The alternative solution – a wireless system. You’re going to want one that has a long range, reliable connection between the receiver and transmitter, and very low latency. Luckily, filmmaker Tom Antos has already got one in mind as he reviews the Cinegears 600M Ghost-Eye Wireless Video System in the video below.
In a nutshell, the kit allows you to transmit uncompressed, 1080p60, 10-bit, 4:2:2 video up to 2000 feet (600m) with less than 1ms of latency. It safely supports up to four receivers (sold separately) simultaneously on each channel and is cross-compatible with any Ghost-Eye receiver model.
Furthermore, the system comes in a waterproof hard case with various power cables (for D-tap power connections), instruction manual, and both the wireless transmitter and receiver (if you paid for both). Each unit is constructed with a sturdy dark-grey aluminum material with several antenna ports on the top (two for the transmitter and five for the receiver).
The transmitter unit has an SDI in and out port, as well as HDMI in and out. There is also a small screen alongside the navigation buttons to show the settings you are currently using. The device is powered by a Sony NP-F type battery and granted that you buy a big battery, it will hold a charge for a long time.
Meanwhile, the receiver features a V-mount battery plate as well as SDI and HDMI outputs that you can utilize to tether it to your monitor. The unit also has a small LED screen to indicate the strength of the signal and allows you to view settings such as the transmission channel. You can also interchange the use of SDI and HDMI if required. (i.e., SDI input from the camera and HDMI output to the monitor, or vice versa).
If you’re wondering how good is the Ghost-Eye system in terms of signal range, I would say it’s impressive. Just as a reference, it took Tom Antos a distance of around 420 feet (or 128 meters) before the video actually cut out. Essentially, between two streets and four houses that were emitting their own interfering signals, the Ghost-Eye wireless system was still able to carry a full 1080p encrypted video, allowing the filmmaker to effortlessly monitor the live feed from a considerable distance.
CINEGEARS Ghost-Eye Wireless HDMI & SDI Video Transmission Kit 600M Highlights
- Transmit 1080p60, 10-Bit, 4:2:2 Video
- 2000′ Range
- Low Latency of <1 ms
- Transmitter with L-Series Battery Plate
- Receiver with V-Mount Battery Plate
- Uses License-Free 5 GHz Frequency Band
- Supports 4 Receivers on Each Channel
- HDMI/SDI Cross-Conversion
- Adaptive Small Obstacle LOS Compensation
- Auto-Relink/Timecode/Signal Encryption
- Price: $2,599
Of course, the signal performance of the system will depend on the surroundings of your particular production. For example, areas with thick concrete walls and with many sources of signal transmissions will deteriorate performance.
Nevertheless, the Ghost-Eye 600M Wireless Video System is perfect for those who are looking for a way to monitor the action from very long distances and are also ready to shell out $2,600 which is currently the retail price of the entire system.
[source: Tom Antos]
Order Links:
CINEGEARS Ghost-Eye Wireless HDMI & SDI Video Transmission Kit 600M (B&H, Amazon)
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate partner and participant in B&H and Adorama Affiliate programmes, we earn a small comission from each purchase made through the affiliate links listed above at no additional cost to you.
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