Simultaneous monitoring 5D Mk4

[simonjrogers88]

Hi,

I find the simultaneous monitoring on the 5D mk4 refuses to work with some monitors. Does anyone have similar problems or have any idea what might cause it? It works on either the screen or external screen with all the monitors I have tried, but wont display on both on some of them.

Thanks in advance.

Simon

[Waddizzle]

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@simonjrogers88 wrote:

Hi,

I find the simultaneous monitoring on the 5D mk4 refuses to work with some monitors. Does anyone have similar problems or have any idea what might cause it? It works on either the screen or external screen with all the monitors I have tried, but wont display on both on some of them.

Thanks in advance.

Simon

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What does "refuses to work" mean?  Are you getting no HDMI signal display?  

It is most likely caused by a ground loop being create when the HDMI cable is plugged in.  This can be caused by either the cable, or the actual HDMI port not being grounded properly..  By a better HDMI cable, and cross your fingers the cable is ground isolated.

I once had a device with multiple HDMI ports.  I connected two HDMI cables to two monitors, and one monitor would go blank.  If I connected either monitor by itself, it worked.  But, if I connected two HDMI devices, one or the other would always blank out.  I bought better cables, instead of the Price Club 2-pack special, and that fixed the problem.

You can also get a ground loop from AC/DC adapters.  What I mean is one device was on battery power, the ground loop goes away.

[simonjrogers88]

The signal gets to the external monitor everytime. But when I try and use the simultaneous monitoring feature, on some monitors, I only get the display on the back of the camera. I get the same issue when I try to link the external monitor to a directors monitor via SDI. The same monitors that wont work with the simultaneous display are the same montors that I am unable to connect a further monitor via SDI.

[simonjrogers88]

I should add that all of the monitors work with a 5D mk2, so it is certainly an issue with the camera or a compatability issue with certain monitors.

[Waddizzle]

What does "work" mean?  You're not describing your issue very well. What should you be seeing on the displays?

Have you set the video output mode?  If you're getting video output, suitable for a recording device, then your camera is fine.  Look elsewhere.

[Waddizzle]

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@simonjrogers88 wrote:

I should add that all of the monitors work with a 5D mk2, so it is certainly an issue with the camera or a compatability issue with certain monitors.

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Does it work if everything is running on battery power, if possible?  Still sounds like a potential ground loop issue to me.

[simonjrogers88]

My set up is a HDMI coming from the camera to an external 7 inch monitor. I then want to go from the 7inch to the directors monitor via SDI. My issues are 1 the signal doesn't carry from the 7 inch to the directors monitor and I just get a no signal indicator on screen. I know this is a 5d mk4 issue because when I switch it for a mk2 the signal carries fine and the image is on the directors monitor. Using a 'SmallHD' monitor the signal carries fine with the 5dmk4 too. My other issue is that the simultaneous display also fails when using anything but the 'Small HD' monitor. I get picture on the back of the camera only and no picture on the 7 inch. All of the monitors I've tested so far are able to display the image from the mk4, just not in conjunction with the LCD on the camera.

[Waddizzle]

I seem to keep asking questions, but getting no answers.  Have you checked the camera's HDMI output setting, because the LCD should blank in all modes, except for one?  Is everything runnig on battery, or are there any AC/DC adapters?

I still think you're seeing a ground loop.  Good luck.

[simonjrogers88]

Everything is on battery. The HDMI output is set to 50i as the monitors are, but I did try auto and 50p too to see if it made a difference, but had no luck. Yes, there is one option where it should display on both the external monitor and the LCD on the back. Thanks for your help, I'll look into the ground loop tomorrow and see if I can find a solution.

[RobertTheFat]

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@simonjrogers88 wrote:
Everything is on battery. The HDMI output is set to 50i as the monitors are, but I did try auto and 50p too to see if it made a difference, but had no luck. Yes, there is one option where it should display on both the external monitor and the LCD on the back. Thanks for your help, I'll look into the ground loop tomorrow and see if I can find a solution.

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I sort of favor Waddizzle's explanation of a ground loop (possibly because I think he may be an electrical engineer and I'm not one). And/or maybe it's a consequence of the 5D4 drawing more power than the 5D2.