By Dan Chung
Ikan have a whole new range of monitors called the D series which feature In-Plane Switching (IPS) technology. The D5, D7, D7w and D9 will replace the existing VX series of HDMI and SDI monitors and have a completely new design and feature set.
The IPS technology gives wider viewing angles, more consistent colour and vivid images and is used on higher end computer monitors and laptops. My own monitor is a 30 inch Dell Ultrasharp which has IPS and it has a fantastic image – if these new Ikans have the same clarity then I’ll be impressed.
So far Ikan have only shown pictures of the D7 and D7w models which have a black anodised aluminum chassis and 1280 x 800 resolution. They have HDMI and SDI with loopthrough capability and support all the usual HD framerates and resolutions. As with the previous VX models they also feature peaking, false colour and pixel-to-pixel magnification function.
The D7w additionally features a vectorscope, waveform monitor and RGB parade for more precise image setup.
On paper these would seem to be an interesting option to rival my current favourite – the 5.6 inch SmallHD DP6. I’ll be keen to check out how the Ikans perform at NAB 2012.
The D7 will list at $1099 and the D7W at $1299. The D7 will also be upgradable to the D7W spec for $300.
For more details check out the Ikan blog.
