Sony revamps LUMA lineup to meet highest-quality demands

By Ken Kerschbaumer

Sportscasters and others waiting patiently for an LCD monitor that can meet the strict demands of quality control and master control operations are waiting no more as Sony has redesigned its LUMA line of professional monitors with three new one-piece, widescreen models.

Sony says the new monitors are as solid as the classic Sony BVM tube monitors that are still standard issue for many professionals despite the fact that the monitor world, increasingly, is flat.

“High-quality video monitors are just as important in the field as in a high-end studio or post house, whether users are reviewing footage on-the-fly, previewing content for clients or editing video,” said John Kaloukian, director of Sony Electronics’ professional display group. “These new models build on Sony’s experience in developing LCD technology and they represent our ongoing efforts to develop technologies that meet professionals’needs.”

There are three models with the LMD-2450W 24-inch and LMD-2050W 20-inch displays (viewable area, measured diagonally) holding the most allure for high-end sportscasters. The panels can accept 1080/60P signals via a standard DVI input and feature 10-bit processing. The 2450W has 1920×1200 WUXGA resolution while the 2050W has 1680×1050 WSXGA+ resolution.

A key technical innovation, says Sony, is ChromaTru color processing. Sony says the technology compensates for variations in LCD color levels commonly caused by differences in chromaticity coordinates, color temperature and gamma curves.

ChromaTru processing is based on color space conversion and white balance adjustment. Color space conversion adjusts chromaticity and coordinates color temperatures and gamma curves. And white balance adjustment delivers broadcast-quality gradation while maintaining standardized gamma characteristics. The technology allows each model in this series to closely color-match not only other LUMA monitors but also the SMPTE-C, EBU or ITU-BT709 color standards traditionally used in CRT models.

The LMD-2450W and LMD-2050W displays offer wave-form monitoring and audio level meter display. Also available are EIA608 closed-captioning capabilities, which is a new feature in the LUMA series and a requirement for the U.S. broadcast market.
A multi-display function allows two images from different sources to be displayed side-by-side, and both models can automatically detect an HD or SD source.

Also new is the LMD-2030W 20-inch display (viewable area, measured diagonally), the first member of the LUMA family with HDMI input connectivity. It is designed for compatibility with HDV camcorders and decks in portable video production applications such as event videography or on-location shooting It also has WSXGA+ resolution of 1680×1050.

Sony is positioning the LMD-2030W model has a great replacement option for PC-type monitors traditionally used in portable video production. The inclusion of an HDMI inpu and support of composite video, Y/C, RGB, component as standard and DI-SDI as an option, Sony believes, gives it an edge.

All the new monitors can accept multiple sources, including both video and PC (DVI-D and HD15). These models support composite video, Y/C, RGB, component as standard and SDI (D1/HD) as options. In addition to HD15, automatic detection of DVI sources is available as a standard feature.

Expect the monitors to be shipping in May.