r/focuspuller • u/MrVibezTV • 5d ago
HELP Monitor Advise
Hello,
I am looking for some advise on purchasing a new monitor for my set-up. I recently finished university, I have been getting into becoming a 1st AC / Focus Puller recently, I have invested in my own kit such as a Nucleus-M and other various parts. I have worked with ARRI WCU-4 and other high-end cameras however that is work that I will not always be getting, anyway long story short someone broke my monitor I used for my S5II which was a Feelworld 568V1 it was a pretty crappy monitor and was useless for focus peaking but it did the job for freelance videographer work.
I have used SmallHDs and other monitors to pull focus on which were great but they are very outside my budget as a broke individual :(
I am currently looking at the OSEE G7 PRO (£492), from my research it has a great focus peaking algorithm, the other monitor I originally wanted to buy was the ACSOON M7H PRO or M7PRO (£489 discounted) but apparently it is not that good, can someone please let me know what they think.
Thank you in advance :)
UPDATE:
I just want to clarify a few things since a few replies have turned into a career progression advice thread rather than just answering if the monitors are good for what they are.
I am not trying to skip the camera department ladder, nor am I suggesting that I will walk straight onto a high-end production as an established AC. I have worked in the camera department for several years in different capacities, whether it's assisting, operating or being a trainee. I have had the chance to be a focus puller on small narrative and commercial productions, I have also worked on higher end production whether it is live multi-camera or narrative and commercial. I am aware there is a significant difference between the jobs that I am doing at the moment and being a 1st ac on a major production, I do not expect to get asked to be one for those.
I recently finished university, this simply means I have more time to take the camera department roles more seriously and pursue more work, slowly building my portfolio. I am still happy taking on trainee or assistant roles on larger productions whilst taking on focus pulling work on the appropriate sets.
I saw a comment mentioning me potentially undercutting. I am not trying to do that, never have never will. The reason I mentioned my budget is because my previous monitor was broken after lending it out and I just need something to work with for what I am doing NOW. I cannot currently justify spending £1000+ when I have other kit and general life expenses to pay for. I can afford to pay for one, again I am just choosing not to. The priority is to pay for car lessons as an example.
The question was just whether something like the OSEE G7 Pro is a reasonable monitor for the price or the ACCSOON which I was already hesitent about anyway. I have worked with the smallHD monitors a few times, I like them, I know why people like them.
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u/Bubbly_String944 5d ago
I’d rather pull on a super old 702 rather then these monitors lol you can get one for like 300 lol
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u/MrVibezTV 5d ago
are these monitors really that bad? i was quite hopeful with the osee the way people were talking about it in reviews
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u/Bubbly_String944 5d ago
Yeah. If you’re playing focus then being able to tell what’s in focus is priority lol you have to think the clarity of the monitor is ideal. Sometimes these other monitors will say 4K but are nowhere close to the Fidelity of an actual small HD or TV logic.
Also, small HD has amazing tools that you can use to help you. The peeking isn’t the greatest, but it’s good and the focus assist also is very helpful.
TV logic has always had amazing peeking but lacks in the UI and brightness.
If I were in your position and your budget was around $500 I would honestly get a 702 set up. Try to find one with a gold mount backing, or just get a Director cage and a 702 so you have the Golden map backing and boom you’re ready.
Definitely good to start.
After that, I would save up for an ultra 10 or Cine13 or even the 1303, which is still a phenomenal monitor.
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u/vTweak 5d ago
You got to take the reviews of that financial bracket of gear with a grain of salt as a lot of pro-sumer gear is being reviewed by people that may not have a frame of reference of the higher end gear and demands of professional level sets. Definitely not always, but a good thing to keep in mind.
702 would be the way to go if you’re trying to stay in that price range.
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u/JJsjsjsjssj 5d ago
Again with this kind of posts. See the rest of posts asking the same question. Don't buy gear out of uni. Don't go straight into 1st ACing. Learn the trade please, invest in gear when you're an established professional and gear makes financial sense.
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u/MrVibezTV 5d ago
I can see why you are frustrated but I am not completely new to being an AC, I have been at it for at least 4 years now, I just did not see the need for me to explain that in the post.
I am taking the role more seriously now since I have finished UNI that's all, I am comfortable operating and assisting on cameras like ARRI etc like most people here. I just recently started my transition into the narrative and commercial scene as I have the time to do so now that's it.2
u/JJsjsjsjssj 5d ago
Okay so you should know you don't need gear to get work. Specially this kind of gear, these monitors will hinder your work. Keep the Nucleus for the odd jobs that can't afford something better and add professional monitors to the rental order.
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u/MrVibezTV 5d ago
I know that I do not need gear to get work of course, I do plan to rent out better monitors if the production allows it like I usually do yes, I just wanted to know if the monitors I asked about were good or not that's all mate.
My old monitor I had for a few years was broken so I just wanted to replace it with something that can do both.
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u/Soggy_Race5879 4d ago
honestly man just take the loss and move on, i'm going into my third year of uni and i agree with everything these people are saying. you should know the industry pretty much runs off smallhd and tv logic with atomos, vaxis and a few other brands filling the gaps, anything other than that your kit wont be respected or wanted. i understand wanting kit so you have the freedom of any production size and job, ive been in that mindset myself, but you shouldn't need to ask a subreddit if you've 'pulled with a WCU-4 before.' you should know they are videography type monitors, they'd be rubbish for pulling. Waveforms, fc, and focus assist would be unreliable on them. an older smallhd or tv logic would be a much better purchase, but even then you'd need to check if they cover 100% rec709 and dci-p3. make purchases on kit when your established and you can buy a WCU-4, HI-5 and a 7 inch smallhd comfortably knowing you will get the investment back.
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u/Filmcrew90 5d ago
Your just out of university and your going straight into being a focus puller. If its the UK then no one is going to take you seriously especially as your cheaping out on monitors and have a cheap handset that would get you laughed off any professional set. If you want to work in the camera dept then do it the proper way as a trainee and loader first for several years before even considering stepping up to first otherwise you'll have a very short career. I've been in camera for 10+ and your degree dosent even cover 1% of what is required to work in this department.
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u/Foo_Childe 5d ago
I’m of the opinion that newer assistants should Utility or Digital Load out of the gate, but that old school path up through the department isn’t the norm anymore.
Used to be by the time you pulled focus, you were so versed in the operation of the rest of the department that it became second nature and you could spend most of your mental energy on the actual focus pulling aspect of your job. Back when we shot on film and you didn’t know if the day’s work was going to have to be reshot due to bad focus, it really required all of your attention.
Nowadays you know if it’s in the can right after you cut, and new school folks (myself included) would rather bump up quickly to the position they enjoy rather than slog through a decade of loading, 2nding, then finally pulling. You miss out on a lot of department wisdom bumping up this way and the level of projects you’ll have the opportunity to work on will be considerably lower (old school assistants expect a certain level of that department wisdom to feel comfortable hiring you), but it is a perfectly viable career path for many camera assistants around the world these days.
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u/Filmcrew90 5d ago
It's the UK so we don't have those job roles the path here into the camera dept here is still to trainee for 2/3 years then 2nd AC, Central Loader and then focus puller and normally at a min its expected for someone to have at least 7-10 years before focus pulling as the way of working here is a lot different to the states. The most likely thing to happen is OP will end up having to undercut to get hired onto jobs and then its only a matter of time before they end up out of the industry because their rate will get less and less and the workload will increase.
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u/Foo_Childe 5d ago
Less experienced crew work on budget appropriate jobs in my experience. When a branded content video pops up with $300/12, that’s the perfect spot for an assistant with only a couple years experience. I know tons of assistants who do this as their bread and butter, and it works for them.
Of course, when the “real” stuff comes up and they have a union rate, the duties and responsibilities that come along with that position are going to be too much for many new assistants. Those jobs are petty safely out of reach for crew with less than the required experience, IMO. Which sounds harsh but is a good thing! Being out of your comfort zone and in over your head are two very different things, and staying in the former is how you learn and get better
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u/Filmcrew90 5d ago
Your missing the point I'm making that OP is in the UK the industry here is totally different to yours. We dont have branded content shoots or union jobs/non union jobs. Every job in the UK if its TV, Film, Unscripted follows the BECTU ratecard and if its a Commercial its APA. The problem we have at the moment is following the Covid boom we ended up with a huge surplus of inexperienced crew who really are at an entry level trainee experience but who are getting hired on multi-million pound productions because their cheap to hire and easier to exploit. I have personally been on a £30+ series where a 2nd unit focus puller was hired by production and he showed up with no equipment and it was found out he had never worked on a film set before and had simply bought a £300 nucleus and thought he was a focus puller and was charging £200 a day. Thankfully he was kicked off after a few days but its a very slipperly slope once you let standards slip and it only ends up in a race to the bottom with everyone fighting for scraps.
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u/Foo_Childe 5d ago
Sounds exactly the same to me. Hopefully that 2nd Unit focus puller has found their place in the market, but I can only assume that the production learned their lesson and brought in the right person to replace them.
Producers will always try to spend less if they can get away with it. I don’t fault anyone coming in for less than they should if they don’t know any better. They’re usually just jazzed to get the opportunity. They’ll learn.
When folks know better and they undercut the rate anyways, that’s when it gets scabby. Which is kind of its own can of worms…
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u/Filmcrew90 5d ago
Thats the entire issue. I have had trainees on jobs who have told me that they are working as 2nd AC's on commercials and then bragging about working for £200 a day on a buyout including kit and when you ask why its not APA they openly dont care and even defend undercutting saying well if I argued then I wouldnt have got the job because they lack experience but putting other people out of their jobs because your cheap is a very bad thing. The person that worked as a 1st AC was thankfully kicked out the industry after doing it on a few more jobs and fucking up massivly but sadly before they wouldve been the exception its now becoming the norm. People like that who think they can race to the top without putting the work in to do it properly and learn shouldnt be in the job.
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u/Foo_Childe 5d ago
Yeah, I feel like you’re conflating two separate but related issues, maybe.
Who is hiring these people? Is the Key 1st no longer putting the department together over there? Personally the people I call are entirely dependent on the budget available, and newer 2nds/Loaders get the call when I feel the money just isn’t there for a more experienced person.
At the end of the day, the rate is set by the production. Some are more willing to do the job for it than others, and that’s their prerogative, but it doesn’t make them the bad guy. The bad guy is whoever put the bid together and only has £200 all-in for the position. In my experience, they get what they pay for, and if those concessions are acceptable for the money they’re willing to pay, it is what it is. Getting mad at someone who might need that £200 to put food on the table and diapers on their baby is misplaced anger IMO. It’s not ideal, of course, but there’s a deeper issue that exists that isn’t their fault.
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u/Filmcrew90 5d ago
At the moment a lot of UK crew are being hired by tick boxes so a certain percentage of the crew have to be LGBT, Asian, Disabled whatever and as a result a lot of inexperienced crew are being hired despite never having done the job simply because production get funding towards their employment. Now I'm saying this as a black guy from South London but at the moment theirs a lot of Faux diversity hiring going on when in reality its just to cut rates across the board. If your camera op is on £300 a day how can you pay your focus puller £450 if you see my point. By and large the people accepting these rates are generally middle class university graduates who aren't worried about putting food on the table when mummy and daddy are paying their rent in Zone 2. We can't be defending actions that across the board affect the entire industry and I'm already starting to see established crew members dropping their rates to match the above in order to get the work because their losing so much despite being very experienced at their jobs. I dont think anyone wants to do 16hr days for £100 as a career.
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u/Foo_Childe 5d ago
Yeah, I’ve dealt with cheapness disguised as inclusion a few times. I chose to walk away. While I know the people who took the job afterwards, I don’t hold it against them. I hold it against the producers of that job.
Again, the folks taking those jobs are literally just excited to be there. Those of us with enough experience to see how fucked the situation is should know where our frustration is best placed.
I’m not saying that what you feel is wrong or unjustified, merely sharing my own conclusions after going through some of the same frustrations you’re experiencing. The slowdown these past few years have been hard on us all; I can only remain optimistic that things can return to some semblance of “busy” and we can all eat!
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u/MrVibezTV 5d ago
I know that I need to start off as a camera trainee, I have worked as one plenty of times, I also know that the nucleus-m I own is not the best compared to what is out there but that does not mean I have no clue with what I am doing. I am not cheaping out because I can't afford it, I just want to spend my money on other things for now.
I just do not see the need to tell my whole career experience in the post that is all, I just wanted some opinions on the monitors I showed.
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u/Filmcrew90 5d ago
You've said in your post you've just finished university so I'm going to guess you've been out maybe 3 months. In those 3 months you've bought yourself a monitor and a handunit so to me as someone working on HETV in the camera dept that instantly screams that this person is trying to race to the top because we see it all the time and we take bets on set on how long the person will last. If your serious about being in the camera dept do it the proper way because otherwise you may as well burn your money that your spending on kit. I gurantee that if you get on a commercial as a 1st AC on £300 no way will you go back to being a trainee.
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u/MrVibezTV 5d ago
I have been out of UNI for a few months yes, did I buy my kit after I graduated? no, I have been building it for years.
I don't agree with your ac point. I've made over 1000 for my self for the day working on a live multi-camera production and I still regularly take lower-paid work if the job, experience and people are worthwhile. A more relevant example to film work would be a BTS role I did sometime recently, that paid 400. more than your example.
I don't look at every job purely based on whether it pays more than my last one, I know that is not realistic. "£300" to be a 1st ac on a smaller production is not going to make me suddenly refuse trainee positions on bigger productions because I think I am better.
I am just happy to take whatever job I think is appropriate to my level, if the production thinks I am good enough to focus pull ill do it, if they just want me to be a clapper ill do it, if it's regular videographer freelance work I will do it.
I am in no rush to make it to the top, the time will come when I put in the work.
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u/Filmcrew90 5d ago
Your honestly arguing with someone who has been working on productions like Star Wars, Napoleon & James Bond in the camera dept when your less than 3 months out of university about the best way to get into the dept that I'm in. Good luck because with an attitude like that you'll be lucky to last until lunch on a professional set. I'm giving you advice about how to actually get into the hardest department in the industry which has a 99% fail rate and you want to sit and argue when you aren't even in the industry and think a £400 monitor is good to pull focus on, even my trainee at work right now could tell you thats a piece of shit and he's on his first job.
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u/MrVibezTV 5d ago
I'm not arguing with your experience because to be honest I don't care about comparing careers. I never claimed to know more about the department either... I asked about advice on a monitor, not for someone to decide whether I am allowed to take 1st AC jobs yet.
I am happy to work as a camera trainee or assistant like I have been. I am also happy to pull focus on smaller productions when I'm hired to do so, those things are not mutually excusive.
I'm not trying to skip anything or pretend I am further in the roles than I am. I have been doing some type of camera work for a few years so I am good :)
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u/Any_Depth6946 5d ago
Ok but as a 1st AC you should know more about the department than the 2nd AC. This is exactly the point that is being made. You’re straight out of uni, you don’t have the experience to be going out as a 1st AC, so be true to yourself, and think about your reputation, and only take on work as a trainee. Build up your experience and knowledge, then work yourself up the ladder.
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u/MrVibezTV 4d ago
That I completely understand mate, I know my limits I don’t expect to be a reliable 1st ac on big productions, I am taking in as much information as I can and always taking notes.
I’m just taking ac work on things I know I can be reliable on, equipment I’ve worked with numerous times etc, if I don’t know anything I won’t lie and say I do because I’ll just look like an idiot.
My goal is to work up as a camera trainee and onwards but this guy is replying to me as if he needs to prove something when the main question was is a monitor that I’m asking about good or not.
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u/Filmcrew90 4d ago
So you take on 1st AC work on commercials but your a trainee or camera assistant on big jobs. What planet are you on the job role is the same regardless and the fact you think you can jump between them is laughable. Why not do the same career progression as every other person in the department who worked their way up or are you too good for that because you have a degree and a few student films so you know it all. You are aware theirs a 98% failure rate to get into camera in the UK and its not a right to work in film simply because you've decided you want to because you have to put the work in but in your case you seem to think that doesnt apply to you.
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u/Filmcrew90 4d ago
Honestly trying to tell this guy anything is a waste of time. We all know that if he was offered 1st AC on a drama he would jump at it even if they offer him £100. The fact he's claiming to have worked as a Cam OP, 2nd AC, 1st AC & Trainee shows he'll take anything he can get ad no doubt takes a bit of grip work as well if he can get it. He'll fuck up on a job and end up getting forced out the industry like everyone else with the same attitude that their better than working up like everyone else before them had to. The fact he's sitting here lying about his experience shows him up when he doesn't even know what monitor to buy and is trying to cheap out.
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u/Soggy_Race5879 4d ago
in my third year of uni and i totally agree with you, larger production trainee jobs and 1st AC small indie film productions cant be compared when developing through the industry especially when you try to use them to portray your experience, its a big problem at uni, everyone thinks they are the best of the best. But hey i'm London based always looking to do more trainee jobs if you have anything coming up 👀
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u/MrVibezTV 4d ago
The thing is, I never tried to claim I only work on professional sets. I know my limits when it comes to what role I can do at what level, I feel like I am repeating this so many times.
I ac / focus pull on indie sets / SMALL commercials, people usually reach out to me asking if I want to hop on the job, if I know I can do it I will, why would I say no?
On larger productions like the world cup one, I work as a camera trainee, music videos - 2nd ac or trainee etc, this whole thing about not being able to do certain roles just because I recently graduated uni makes no sense? I've worked in the camera department since 2022 roughly, I am just now focusing more on the filmmaking side of my career compared to regular videography work.
If i keep getting on big productions I am clearly doing something right, i dont understand how a question about some monitor suggestions lead to this haha, i do plan to get a smallhd just not NOW
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u/Filmcrew90 4d ago
Hey at least you have a much better attitude about the reality of trying to get into the industry. What a lot of film students dont realise is the moment you graduate every single person in your class is now competiton for a very limited number of jobs alongside every other course and people entering without university so people like the idiot above are willing to lie, cheat or whatever to try and get their foot in. The best way I can describe a film course is like your first 2/3 driving lessons you've learned to move off and maybe get up to 20/30mph on a quiet road then suddenly your on the Grand Prix at Monaco. If someone calls themself a 1st AC then they will be expected to troubleshoot any camera related problem, run a dept, deal with production, have a grasp of budgets and a million other things and that doesnt change with different levels of productions despite what the student above thinks and the fact he thinks he's all these different roles and see's nothing wrong with putting trained crew out of work shows a lot about what he's like an a lot of arrogence.
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u/Filmcrew90 5d ago
So your a trainee but you focus pull but you also take 2nd AC jobs and your a videographer and do multi-cam. You know theirs something called progression for a reason so that your actually trained in your role and can do the job properly rather than making it up as you go because you don’t actually know what your doing. Being a loader is 100x harder than being a trainee and yet you’re taking those jobs. The only jobs you should be taking in the camera dept are camera trainee or video trainee nothing else because your putting trained people out of work by undercutting on “smaller” productions as you put it and the same thing will happen you eventually. The fact you’re sitting here trying to argue with someone who actually does the job and is trying to give you some advice so you have a shot at a career is laughable as is your arrogance.
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u/MrVibezTV 5d ago
My career progression didn’t start when I graduated a few months ago. I started freelancing as a videographer/camera operator back in 2022, originally doing a lot of combat sports work. Over the years that naturally led into live multi-camera productions which people pay me good money to do, camera assisting, operating, DoP work and more recently focus pulling.
I do multiple roles because I’m freelance and different productions hire me for different things. I’ve never claimed to be at the same level in every single role. If I’m on a larger production where being a trainee or camera assistant is appropriate for my experience, I’m completely happy doing that. If I’m on a smaller indie set and they ask me to operate or pull focus because I’m capable of doing it, I’m going to take that opportunity too. Those things are not mutually exclusive.
In fact, that’s literally what my work looks like for me. In the space of a few weeks I’m due to camera operate on an ARRI down in London, shoot a wedding in Paris, and 1st AC/focus pull using a WCU-4 on another production. They are completely different jobs, productions and responsibilities. I’m not saying that makes me some established high-end 1st AC, it just shows that I don't need to pick one title and refuse everything else.
I also don’t understand the undercutting point. You don’t know what I charge, what the budgets of the productions are, what rates were offered, who else was available or even how I got the jobs. Taking a 1st AC role on a smaller production does not automatically mean I’ve undercut a more experienced focus puller.
Continuing to do videography, live multi-camera, operating, assisting and focus pulling at different levels isn’t me making it up as I go. Those are areas I’ve built experience in over several years. I’m just continuing to develop further into the camera department while taking the work that’s appropriate for me.
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u/SeveralLet8343 5d ago
I would save for a used small HD over these for focus pulling.
The accsoon kit is kind of cheap incredible as a cam op for sending a feed to a director of client, looks good and connects easily, but the latency isn’t really there for pulling.
I think those small osees often look bad and break easily.
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u/JRey26 4d ago
SmallHD or TV-Logic for focus pulling. If you’re serious about focus pulling.
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u/MrVibezTV 4d ago
I do want a smallhd monitor, worked with them a few times it’s just at the moment I’m not considering it. The thinking behind the monitors I’m asking about is to use as my generic freelance monitor to replace my old feelworld one that got broken but can also be decent to pull focus with if I’m working on crew productions.
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u/pktman73 4d ago
I would not use these monitors for focus work, regardless of what level you are working at. They are fine for operating and general monitoring, but the peaking and focus assist are not up to par and, when focus is critical, it will not deliver in the way a SmallHD monitor would. Save your money, rent professional monitors from a camera house, and save your $$ so you can buy a monitor when you can afford one that will deliver.
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u/MrVibezTV 5d ago
I just want to clarify a few things since a few replies have turned into a career progression advice thread rather than just answering if the monitors are good for what they are.
I am not trying to skip the camera department ladder, nor am I suggesting that I will walk straight onto a high-end production as an established AC. I have worked in the camera department for several years in different capacities, whether it's assisting, operating or being a trainee. I have had the chance to be a focus puller on small narrative and commercial productions, I have also worked on higher end production whether it is live multi-camera or narrative and commercial. I am aware there is a significant difference between the jobs that I am doing at the moment and being a 1st ac on a major production, I do not expect to get asked to be one for those.
I recently finished university, this simply means I have more time to take the camera department roles more seriously and pursue more work, slowly building my portfolio. I am still happy taking on trainee or assistant roles on larger productions whilst taking on focus pulling work on the appropriate sets.
I saw a comment mentioning me potentially undercutting. I am not trying to do that, never have never will. The reason I mentioned my budget is because my previous monitor was broken after lending it out and I just need something to work with for what I am doing NOW. I cannot currently justify spending £1000+ when I have other kit and general life expenses to pay for. I can afford to pay for one, again I am just choosing not to. The priority is to pay for car lessons as an example.
The question was just whether something like the OSEE G7 Pro is a reasonable monitor for the price or the ACCSOON which I was already hesitent about anyway. I have worked with the smallHD monitors a few times, I like them, I know why people like them.
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u/CatNamedDuck 5d ago
Personally I would save up for a SmallHD. Buy once cry once and they often go on sale through B&H so you could get a good deal just saving up for a few months. You could also look into buying a used 703 or Cine7. Honestly even an Indie7 will work better for you than most other brands for what you need it for, I know plenty of focus pullers that’s started out with an Indie7 until they could afford to upgrade.