[Darryl]

I am enjoying using my new camera, the rebel xt. It has a video output, which would enable me to use an external monitor, which is what I'd like to do. Problem is the quality isn't good. I'd rather have the image which is sent via the usb port to view on a monitor. Using PictBridge technology, the camera sends a chosen image via that port, so I'm looking to find an lcd monitor which can use this signal directly. The built-in lcd display shows info if desired, so it won't matter if the external monitor shows that as well. (not likely to since the image is usually destined for a printer). In short, I want to be able to view a shot within moments after taking it, and in a quality that's only limited by the quality of the external display showing it. The camera can select the image to be displayed, rotate it, etc, so all the display needs to be able to do is just display the sent image. It does need to be portable, so I will have to power it from a dc source, which is the least of my concerns. I may carry the display with me, or I may just use it in the vehicle- this is more a problem of running it, which is something I can do easily. It won't require anything from the camera except an image file to display.

I didn't think this was going to be such a daunting task to find such a thing. There's a ton of display modules called picture frames, but all I've seen seem to require a memory card to be plugged in. This works, I'm sure, but who is going to stop, pull the card, plug it into the frame, download, select, view, then return the card to the camera for use again- not me.

An obvious option is to use a laptop with appropriate software, but that's overkill, and isn't particularly conducive to doing this either. Besides, it's not in my budget.

The available options are- backup camera systems for vehicles, some of which have a second video input, or dvd players, again ones which can work with a video input. Apparently, some GPS systems can display an outside source through a video input as well. The problem I have with these is the poor display of the signal from my camera, so I guess I have to say these really aren't options.

Anybody have any ideas?