Need a new monitor

[ozzfreak]

I am looking to get a new monitor to go with my new build. I currently have a NEC 90GX2. I can't seem to get it calibrated correctly, so I'm looking for a new one. What would you recommend that would be good for color accuracy on photos? I probably am going to go with a 300 dollar budget. Possibly more if I HAD to, but i prefer not to go over if possible. Thanks.

[ozzfreak]

surely someone has a suggestion for me

[golfer]

Check on the computers part of this forum and you may find more info.
I have a Dell flatscreen 2708 and have been very happy with the color. I use a Spyder to balance it and it holds that color very well. So well I may only check it about every 4 months.
The light is adjustable and it has a very good stand. I had a 24" Dell before that worked great until it was stolen.
Hope that helps.
Best wishes.

[JDArt]

Originally Posted by ozzfreak

I am looking to get a new monitor to go with my new build. I currently have a NEC 90GX2. I can't seem to get it calibrated correctly, so I'm looking for a new one. What would you recommend that would be good for color accuracy on photos? I probably am going to go with a 300 dollar budget. Possibly more if I HAD to, but i prefer not to go over if possible. Thanks.

$300 is not that much. I would stick with NEC LCDs for their ability to be calibrated. I love the 2180UX and the 2690WUXi. The Samsungs are less expensive, though, and also quite good.

[ozzfreak]

maybe it's my calibrator that is worthless then. It just won't calibrate my monitor, or my lcd tv if i hook it up to my computer. It's a spyder2 express. I should have spent more. Anyone want to buy it? lol Not a good salesman am I?

[golfer]

ozz; I can't think of any reason why you spyder won't work with you NEC.
Did you go through the setup properly?

[ozzfreak]

yes, did it all, probably 50 times. I even sent in for a replacement, and the new one does the same thing. Tomorrow I'll do it again, and take a picture of what it is doing so you can see. Right now I'm completely uncalibrated because I absolutely can't stand the look it gives. Off to work I go, thanks.

[OzzyJim]

Gday,

Have you got a spare CRT laying around or can you borrow one (cheapish 2nd hand shop maybe) to test out you setup?. I have been thinking about looking into decent CRT's now due to the dislike of how most LCD's react as to where you are positioned relative to the screen.

James.

[ozzfreak]

no, sorry. I actually gave my last crt away about 4 months ago.

[blumesan]

Originally Posted by ozzfreak

Right now I'm completely uncalibrated because I absolutely can't stand the look it gives. Off to work I go, thanks.

I recall reading somewhere (sorry I can't remember the link) that when using a poorly calibrated monitor for some time, your eyes eventually make their own adjustment (i.e. they "calibrate" themselves to your monitor). In such cases, when you do finally calibrate your monitory properly, the colors look very strange at first until your eyes "recalibrate".

I cannot attest to this theory from personal experience because I have always used a calibrated monitor. In any case the ultimate test is how your prints compare to what you see on your monitor.

[golfer]

ozzfreak; If you have gone thru the setup a number of times, the spyder may not be using the profile you set up.
Take at look at your profile chooser and see how many profiles you have in there. You may have to clean them out and go back to the default profile you screen came with. The run the spyder again.
Let me know what you find.

[ozzfreak]

blumesan: I don't think pink toolbars in firefox is normal, lol.

golfer: There is only one profile, which is the spyder2express one

[golfer]

ozz; you are doing something wrong, because for example; if you did 50 setups, there would be 50 profiles pluse your original default profile.
Would you care to go thru your procedure with me?

[ozzfreak]

All I'm doing is plugging in the calibrator, turning on the program, and going through the steps. It never makes more than one profile, it just replaces the same one. It doesn't give me an option to rename it because it already exists. I just ran it again. The colors look pretty darn good this time. Match my "base print" I use with no color correction from mpix. But, I'm getting this issue. Anything, especially on skin tones, that is just almost over exposed, I get this. Sorry for the bad picture, just giving an example of what it looks like..........

[ozzfreak]

hopefully you can see what i'm talking about. I took a picture of my monitor which is why it looks really bad, and the colors are probably off, used auto white balance.

[golfer]

ozz; When you begin the setup with you spyder, the program asks you details relative to your monitor, have you reviewed that and tried perhaps a different selection than before.
On mine I ws able to use the defaults but your monitor may be different.
From your photo, it appears there is too much red in your system. There is a point also during the setup where spyder asks you to adjust your sliders or system to match the color outputs the spyder puts on your monitor; have you been able to do that?
Hope you don't mind the 1000 questions, it's the only way I know to be helpful.

[ozzfreak]

yes, this picture does have too much red, I was just showing the odd skin texture. I am using spyder 2 express, it doesn't give options with sliders. You just tell it what settings like brightness and contrast, or backlight your LCD has, and that's about it. I have tried different settings on it, and nothing changes. I think I may just buy a new calibrator, a pro, whether it be a eye one or huey or whatever. Any recommendations? I think I'll stay away from spyder's.

[golfer]

ozz; mine is the spyder pro and that may be where our breakdown is. Mine allows adjustments to the monitor.
If you want a different unit, you might ask the question in another thread. You will probably get better response.
Best wishes.

[Bob_P]

I have learned much about monitors over the last few years. Here is what I can pass on about choosing a monitor for photo editing.

Choosing a Monitor

The secret to choosing a monitor for photography is the electronics, the software and the way the back light works as well as the quality control.

Most low budget monitors fall short in the following departments:

Viewing angles
Anything below 170 degrees both horizontal and vertical is not acceptable for serious photo editing.


Shadow detail or deep blacks.
Most monitors cannot display deep blacks and some that can, loose in Shadow detail.


Brightness levels too high for photo editing.
People that work in very bright rooms need the extra brightness most monitors today can offer, but for critical photo editing we should be working in low light environment and the ideal LCD monitor brightness should be well below the 120-140 candelas that is generally accepted as "normal".


Color shifts when viewed at an angle.
Even some good monitors suffer from color shifts when viewed at an angle even if their viewing angle measurements are above 170.


Light uniformity and light leakage.


Color gamut.
This should be higher in the list but unless you get a monitor with TN panel and 6bit color the problem will not be that big. Stick to IPS or VA panels with more than 16milion colors and it will not be your biggest problem.

There are at least three technical specifications that you should never look at.
Contrast ratio, response times, and latency. Although they are necessary for gaming or use in bright offices, none of them is important or relevant to the qualities of a monitor for photo editing.

There is at least one technical specification that what is good for most is not good at all for photo editing and that is brightness. You DO NOT want a bright monitor for photo editing.

There are three basic types of panels for LCD monitors, TN, VA, and IPS. Of all three only VA and IPS panels meet the standards & specs acceptable for photography.

TN PANELS NOT RECOMMENDED FOR PHOTO EDITING


To check the panel type go to this site and use the search function in the grey box in the middle of the page. It will tell you the panel type used.


I just found a nice Samsung 943T 19" with a PVA panel for $290 on NewEgg.com Not that big but a decent price. And using it as your main monitor along with your other monitor still gives you some real estate.

Good Luck.

Bob

[ozzfreak]

wow, thanks for the informative post. I learned a lot from reading all of that. Thanks a bunch.