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With its unique ability to add features via firmware download, the SmallHD DP6 5.6-inch 1280 x 800 on-camera field monitor has become the first to display HDMI output from Canon EOS DSLR cameras without the imbedded pillarbox and letterbox seen on other monitors—made possible by DP6 firmware version 1.1.

(Cary, NC) With its unique ability to add features via firmware download, the SmallHD DP6 5.6-inch 1280 x 800 on-camera field monitor has become the first to display HDMI output from Canon EOS DSLR cameras without the imbedded pillarbox and letterbox seen on other monitors—made possible by DP6 firmware version 1.1.

The DP6 is able to zoom, stretch and squeeze any input signal using a unique image manipulation feature called "CustomScale". Specific settings from this feature have been programmed into a quick-access preset, allowing hands-free "full-screen-width" viewing of Canon DSLR output signals for the first time ever.

To see a live demonstration of the DP6's "DSLR Preset" in action go to: http://videos.smallhd.com/

In addition, this custom DP6 preset overcomes a second major issue found only in the Canon 5D Mark II and Canon 550D. Now with the ability to detect when these two DSLRs switch from "Live View" (1080i / 16:9) to "Record" (480p / 4:3), the DP6 automatically adjusts the image to fill the entire screen, even though both the resolution and the aspect ratio of the signal changes. See a side by side comparison at http://www.smallhd.com/images/DP6-DSLR-Preset-Diagram.jpg

"This monitor is compensating for the camera in an unheard-of way", says Weston Phillips, SmallHD's Co-Founder and CEO. "Live View mode on a Canon DSLR sends a 1080i 16:9 HDMI output. Unfortunately, two black pillars of pixels are imbedded into the signal by the camera itself, and only 1620 of the full 1920 horizontal pixels are used to display an actual image. Monitors think the image is filling the screen because they are deceived by these black pillars on the left and right. Currently, the DP6 is the only monitor with the ability to automatically scale this 1620 x 1080 image up to the appropriate size so the DSLR's pillarbox disappears completely. No pixel is wasted, and every inch of screen is used."

By providing this true "fullscreen" view, the DP6 uniquely presents a larger physical viewing area of the actual Canon DSLR image than many competing monitors with larger screens—giving the 5.6-inch screen of the DP6 a wider viewing area of the DSLR signal than even a 7-inch 4:3 monitor.

"The best part is, no resolution is lost during this upscale process—actually, you get the opposite effect", says Dale Backus, SmallHD's Co-Founder and Lead Designer. "In this mode, the DP6 is simply scaling the 1620 x 1080 DSLR image to its 1280 x 800 screen. Similar to 1:1 pixel mapping, you're actually gaining visual detail by zooming in a bit. Much like the DSLR's ability to zoom into its sensor to check critical focus before a shot. The bottom line is that finding critical focus with the DP6 just got easier."

"We built the DP6 specifically to address many of the challenges facing the DSLR shooter. Its bleeding-edge raw components, combined with the ability to add such unique features via firmware download has allowed us to essentially 'future-proof' the DP6", Backus adds. "In fact, we can't wait to show you what we'll be adding to it next."

SmallHD's DP6 is the world's smallest HD monitor. With a screen size of 5.6 inches and a resolution of 1280 x 800, it exceeds the minimum standard for HD resolution of 720p (1280 x 720) and comes in two flavors:
-DP6-SLR (HDMI, Component, Composite)
-DP6-SDI (SDI, HDMI, Component, Composite)
-DP6 Product Info: http://www.smallhd.com/Products/DP6.html
-DP6 Product Video: http://videos.smallhd.com/dp6-product-tutorial/

Hi resolution images of the DP6-SLR and DP6-SDI
http://www.smallhd.com/images/SmallHD-DP6-Canon5D-Front.png
http://www.smallhd.com/images/SmallHD-DP6-Canon5D-Back.png

Canon DSLR Cameras Supported
EOS 7D
EOS 5D Mark II
EOS Rebel T2i
EOS 60D
EOS-1D Mark iV

Canon and EOS are registered Trademarks of Canon, Inc.

Resources:

http://www.smallhd.com

HDSLR Channel:
http://www.studentfilmmakers.com/hdslr_accessories.shtml