Sony announced in the last NAB the entry to its line of professional monitors of OLED technology, which revolutionized the monitors for the consumer. The new PVM-740 model is the first outdoor monitor to use an OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode ) display panel equipped with the manufacturer's exclusive Super Top Emission technology to deliver high levels of contrast and brightly colored images, even under ambient lighting.
Andrew Nelles, Senior Marketing Manager at Sony Latin America, stated: "The 7.4" (188 mm) type portable monitor with 960x540 pixel resolution is suitable for a range of professional monitoring applications, including studio editing, electronic journalism, outdoor electronic production, outdoor transmission vans and even research and development. The versatile new monitor is also ideal for 3D camera platforms, thanks to its image reversal mode."
Sony said in the release announcement that the display panel creates gentle gradations of dark to bright parts, from scenes such as a sunrise or sunset. The PVM-740 offers exceptional high-contrast images, for example accurately representing the deep black of a night scene, although the black of an image does not level up or using applications that edit dimly lit scenes. Its fast, blurry response to fast movement is perfect for sports, for monitoring by panning cameras, or for scrolling text on the screen.
The monitor can invert an image horizontally or vertically without frame delays. This feature is useful when the user captures 3D images using a 3D camera platform with a pair of 2D monitors. The monitor is directly connectable to camera systems without having to use an external signal converter, simplifying system integration.
Its visual contrast, compared to that of a CRT monitor, is less affected by ambient light, allowing you to see clear images, even under a radiant sun. For added protection, the optional VF-510 ENG component set provides a visor, carrying handle and connector protector. An anti-reflective coating protects against scratches, and enables a high transmission speed of the internal light source to keep the image as bright as possible, while minimizing the reflection of ambient light. Consequently, high contrast persists in bright lighting conditions, even in the dark areas of the image.
The Sony 10-bit panel controller and ChromaTRU technologies work effectively, not only to emulate the colors and gammas of CRT monitors, but also to support emission standards (SMPTE-C, EBU and ITU-R BT.709). The new monitor also adds such things as DC/AC power operation, a comfortable control panel with assignable light buttons, a camera focus function, a waveform monitor, an 8-channel audio level meter, various marker settings, and native scanning capabilities.
The PVM-740 monitor is also equipped with a feedback loop system – a unique Sony system that helps to continuously monitor the lights emitted, feed back the results and adjust the white balance. The system also ensures color and gamma stability.
The PVM-740 is 3.8U high, with semi-rack width. Using the optional MB-531 mounting bracket, which has a continuous tilt capability of 10 degrees forward and 10 degrees backward, the user can install two contiguous units in a standard 19" (483 mm) EIA frame. Equipped with 3/8" (10 mm) and 1/4" (6 mm) threaded holes in its base, the PVM-740 is installable in a pedestal camera system, for example. The computer can represent a center marker and aspect markers. The brightness of those markers is selectable in gray or dark gray levels, and the outer area of the appearance markers is colorable by selecting matte gray.
A unique native scan function plays the images without changing the number of pixels of the input signal – matching, one by one, the pixel of the input signal with that of the panel. For example, when you enter an SD signal, the monitor reproduces the image of size 646 x 487 pixels in 480i and 480p, and the size 768 x 540 pixels in 575i and 576p. When an HD signal is entered, the PVM-740 represents a central part of the HD image.
The PVM-740 is equipped with standard interface connectors: one composite video, one 3G/HD/SD-SDI and one HDMI. The monitor accepts most SD or HD video formats. For greater mobility, it incorporates various video interfaces from the factory, including composite, SDI interface for SD-SDI, HD-SDI, 3G-SDI and HDMI interface. With the 3G-SDI interface, the monitor supports 1080/50p and 1080/60p formats, adjusted to the SMPTE 425 standard, which allows video data to be transmitted up to 4:2:2/10-bit 1080/60p and 1080/50p over an SDI cable. As sports and live productions move towards the adoption of 1080/p systems, this single-link 3G-SDI system may be the ideal solution.
HDMI connectivity further expands the monitor's potential applications. For example, the PVM-740 is connectable to professional video systems, such as those of Sony's XDCAM HD, XDCAM EX, NXCAM and HDV series. Consumer video products such as Blu-ray Discs and digital cameras are also pluggable, making it ideal for creating hypermedia on Blu-ray discs or previews of digital photographic images.
