Looking for a good monitor to check HD footage that is also affordable isn't too hard. In this price range, you'll be looking primarily at consumer-grade, 4:3 aspect ratio CRT (cathode ray tube)-based sets with component video inputs, though similar LCDs are getting easier to find, and prices are getting lower every day.

The one major drawback in using an SDTV to monitor HD is the color space factor. The color space of high-definition video is different than standard-definition video. Anyone who works in Photoshop has seen this when exporting a file for standard definition (NTSC) video-the colors shift in the video itself due to the differences in color spaces.

If you need an HDTV in this price range, an LCD would probably be your best bet. Many of the new, smaller LCDs (up to 17 inches) support both 60Hz (Hertz, or cycles per second) and 50Hz, something important if you're shooting with the Sony HVR-Z1u, which supports 60i and 50i shooting. However, you should be aware that CRTs generally have greater color accuracy than LCDs.

A CRT-based HDTV would be ideal in this price range, and many of this type of HDTVs can be bought from a litany of major manufacturers (see the Manufacturer Listing). Prices on many 1080i widescreen CRTs have come down, and a widescreen TV is better than a standard, 4:3 model, which is the most common.

Low-end professional LCDs generally start around $800, but they are only available in SD, not HD, in this price range.

For around $1,000, JVC offers a 10-inch multi-format monitor, the DT-V100CGU, which supports 1080i/p, 720p and SD video (with optional accessory).

In this price range, a consumer-grade 1080p LCD HDTV might be a good investment. There are also some excellent plasma HDTVs, as well, though 1080p plasma displays are outside this price range. Watching HD that you shot on a 37-inch and larger LCD may be great at home, but taking it on set or in the field may be too awkward.

That's why a portable, professional monitor is ideal for viewing HD and HDV footage, but be prepared to shell out at least $3,000 for an HD display. There are also HD SDI-equipped monitors for an additional price. This is an ideal connection to have if you own one of the more expensive HD camcorders that have HD SDI outputs, such as the Canon XL H1 or XH G1, or the JVC GY-HD250.

From there, most professional HD monitors from the three biggest professional video manufacturers (Sony, JVC, Panasonic) start at $4,500 and go up from there.

When you are selecting a monitor or HDTV, don't forget to keep in mind what flavor of HD you're shooting in, 720p or 1080i/p. For field production and editing, the smaller and more portable, the better. Consider using a small SDTV, but keep in mind the caveats of color space.

Also, if you're editing native HDV .m2t files without additional hardware, you won't be able to see your footage play back on your external viewing monitor. You'll need an add-on card to convert your footage on-the-fly to HD, which will be seen and heard on your monitor and speakers.

Heath McKnight is a filmmaker and writer. He recently co-wrote "HDV: What You NEED to Know," volume 2, from VASST.