US manufacturer of professional on-camera monitors, known for color-calibrated displays with high brightness output.
Technical Details
Flanders Scientific monitors utilize LCD panels with LED backlight systems, achieving brightness levels of 100-1000 nits. The CM series offers 24", 31", and 42" screen sizes with native 4K resolution (4096×2160). The FSI BoxIO system allows connection of up to four different video signals via 3G/6G/12G-SDI, HDMI 2.0, and DisplayPort. The integrated Look-Up Table (LUT) supports 1D and 3D LUTs with up to 65³ control points. The proprietary DM-240 Color Management System automatically calibrates to various color standards and gamma curves.
History & Development
Bill Beck founded Flanders Scientific in 2000, initially as a service provider for CRT monitors. In 2005, the company developed its first in-house LCD reference monitor, the CM170, for color grading suites. The breakthrough came in 2008 with the CM250 series, which for the first time enabled affordable 2K reference monitors for smaller post-production companies. In 2012, FSI introduced HDR-capable monitors, followed in 2016 by the AM series for on-set applications with more robust housings and battery operation.
Practical Use in Film
Colorists use FSI monitors as master displays in DI suites, as factory calibration guarantees consistent color reproduction. On "Mad Max: Fury Road" (2015), colorist Eric Whipp used FSI CM250 monitors for HDR grading. On-set, AM Series monitors serve as Director's Monitors or for Script Supervisors for continuity checks. The BoxIO system allows live LUT previews of different looks during shooting. The monitors support Anamorphic Desqueeze for 2:1 and 1.3x factors without external hardware.
Comparison & Alternatives
FSI primarily competes with Sony (PVM-X series), Canon (DP-V series), and Eizo (ColorEdge CG series). While Sony monitors dominate in broadcast environments, FSI has established itself particularly in independent and mid-budget productions due to its better price-performance ratio. Canon offers more robust on-set solutions, but FSI excels in color accuracy. Eizo monitors are primarily aimed at photographers and graphic designers, less so at motion picture-oriented workflows. FSI monitors cost approximately 30% less than comparable Sony models with similar specifications.