Is it possible to find an NTSC production monitor for $600?

Question

I can't take it any more! Not only can they not be calibrated, but the consumer TV's that I've been using as monitors when working in FCP have those darn optimizing circuits that constantly adjust the picture based on the overall composition of each frame. My predecessors here obviously did not frequent this discussion board, or they certainly would have budgeted for a real monitor.
I've been browsing B&H but they're just so darn expensive! Does anyone know of any resources for cheaper or used options?
Thanks,
Zap

Answer 1

studio x is right and has provided some good links.
is a blue check critical? no. is it beneficial? you bet! in your situation where it's not going to be moved, you have to weigh the cost/benefit ratio of not using a filter to look through.
when i go on a job whether it's mobile or in a studio, invariably i have to set up a monitor, fast. route bars to the room or monitor in question and having to carry a filter is another pain in my patoot. hit the blue check, zip zam boom calibrated monitor to assuage some producer's poor vision or lack of vision. or, if i'm calibrating a monitor wall because it's not been done in years and some director is yelling about my video levels which are actually fine, it's far easier to use the blue check.
one thing to be careful about is whether the blue check displays in gray scale or actually deactivates the red and green guns and displays in blue. i hate gray scale blue checks and would advise you to stay away from them.
i've been doing this for so long as well that many times i just eyeball the cyan/magenta bars when it comes to chroma phase if this is just for a producer playback somewhere and isn't critical.
be careful with used monitors as well. you don't know how it's been treated, whether it's been retubed or needs it, or some lame video guy has been messing around with the yokes inside because he thinks he knows what he's doing. i used to work with a V1 who did this.
good luck.