Monitors « Nikon Rumors Forum

Nikon Rumors Forum » Other Nikon stuff / news / commentary

Monitors

(120 posts) (37 voices)

Started 3 years ago by Gentoo
Latest reply from mirtos
Related Topics:
1. Flipbac for fixed monitors
2. What LCD monitors do you recommend for Windows?

Tags:

No tags yet.

« Previous 1…345 Next »

Drab

preferred member
Joined: Aug '10
Posts: 540
offline

I don't know what online tools you've used, broxibear, but the advantage of a Spyder-type product extends beyond just colors.

It can create a quite complex luminance curve, far beyond what simple linear contrast (stretch) and brightness (shift) adjustments can do.

I don't get why one would consider a $500 monitor and expect great results w/o using a $50 (used) calibration tool.

Seems to me about the same as buying a D3s putting a 18-55 DX kit lens on it and talking about its great qualities while not having actually experienced them.

EDIT: Just came back to say that last comment was not personally directed at you, broxibear, though I could see how it could easily be seen that way. My apologies. Just musing and playing with metaphors out loud.

Posted 2 years ago #
broxibear

preferred member
Joined: Oct '10
Posts: 254
offline

It's cool don't worry about it Drab.
You're right I should have a proper calibration tool, don't think it's quite a D3s on a 18-55 DX kit lens but point taken.
I know my tonal range has been pretty good so the colours will just have to wait...I've spent too much already in the past few months on equipment.

Posted 2 years ago #
aetas

preferred member
Joined: Dec '09
Posts: 273
offline

Hello broxibear, thanks for the help. I think i will be getting a spyder for mine but thats just because I am super weird about colors being right. Knowing me though I will end up buying a lens or something and not get either.
~cheers

Posted 2 years ago #
scoobysmak

preferred member
Joined: May '10
Posts: 226
offline

Well I am also looking for a fairly good monitor, any one used a NEC PA271W-BK-SV. I Have looked into the Dell U2711 as well but the NEC does cost a bit more but has a calibration device along with it. I am looking for the best bang for my buck with a 27" or larger screen under $1500. It will be used on a desktop and unfortunatly I believe I will need a new video card for the DisplayPort input type.

Posted 1 year ago #
SkintBrit

preferred member
Joined: Jul '10
Posts: 1,149
offline

Hi scoobysmak, as you may know I bought a Dell U2711 at the end of last year. I've had no problems and would recommend it, but it does have 2 drawbacks that I don't know if they are common on other equipment? Firstly the reports that it's maximum resolution can ONLY be achieved by connecting it to your computer via a DVI-D to DVI-D lead are correct. My laptop only has an HDMI output, so I bought a DVI-D to HDMI hoping this would work......nope! Secondly I read that the anti reflective coating in the screen can be intrusive sometimes for photo editing, yes it can be, although I think I'd rather have that than the glare from a screen with just plain glass (apple iMac). I'm not familiar with the NEC range, but understand they make good ones. The best option is to see them in the flesh before deciding if you can. Good luck!

Posted 1 year ago #
sevencrossing

preferred member
Joined: Sep '10
Posts: 1,265
offline

It will cost a few more bucks, but Dell 3008WFP Ultrasharp 30, has a lot of bang
Check your proposed new graphic card is available and backward compatible with you desk top, before you part with any money

Posted 1 year ago #
swame_sp

senior member
Joined: Apr '10
Posts: 96
offline

Hey all, new wishes to all my buddies here.

So here I'm with a monitor question. I would like to buy a IPS panel monitor (bcos of better viewing angle) for photo editing as well as for my day to-day usual work like browsing and HTML coding (dreamweaver) and may be movies once in a while.

I have the following monitors shortlisted:

NEC EA232WMi (23")
DELL U2312 (23")
HP ZR2440W (24")

I would like to know which of these would fit me and my budget is around $500. Should I buy a calibrating device to use for photo editing?

I do not GAME, so please guide me accordingly.

EDIT: To be used with mbp 13" (No apple cinema displays as they are very expensive)

Posted 1 year ago #
adamz

The Predator
Joined: Mar '09
Posts: 3,461
offline

I would go for dell 2407WFP better than U2312. yes You should buy calibrating device.

Posted 1 year ago #
swame_sp

senior member
Joined: Apr '10
Posts: 96
offline

@adamz, I believe dell 2407WFP is a TN display. I'm inclinded towards IPS panel.

Posted 1 year ago #
sevencrossing

preferred member
Joined: Sep '10
Posts: 1,265
offline

I think it is quite hard to buy a bad IPS monitor
Quite often they have similar guts but different branding
Yes you definitely you need to get it calibrated
If you cannot borrow something like a Spyder 3, then include that in you budget
unlike CRTs, Led monitors tend not to need recalibrating every few weeks, so a sharing a calibration device is a viable option, if you are not a full time professional

Posted 1 year ago #
msmoto

big gun cougar
Joined: Mar '10
Posts: 2,736
offline

I guess this is the monitor calibration station....

So, here is a nice image from which we can all have a base line.

Posted 1 year ago #
SkintBrit

preferred member
Joined: Jul '10
Posts: 1,149
offline

The one I like msmoto (as I still haven't got round to buying a calibration tool) is this free little test at
http://xritephoto.com/ph_toolframe.aspx?action=coloriq
Although I think getting a perfect test result has as much to do with the quality of your eyes, as that of your screen :-)

Posted 1 year ago #
JesusFreak

member
Joined: Mar '12
Posts: 10
offline

What do you all think of the latest iPad with the Retina display for monitor purposes? It has much higher resolution then most of the monitors out there.

Posted 1 year ago #
msmoto

big gun cougar
Joined: Mar '10
Posts: 2,736
offline

SkintBrit said:
The one I like msmoto (as I still haven't got round to buying a calibration tool) is this free little test at
http://xritephoto.com/ph_toolframe.aspx?action=coloriq
Although I think getting a perfect test result has as much to do with the quality of your eyes, as that of your screen :-)

I got a 28 with 0 being the best and 99 the worst for my age group, I think....

I will calibrate my monitor sometime with my Huey Pro and then see what I get...

The color chart is a standard and one can see how the various colors once out. Of course it helps to have the original in hand.

Posted 1 year ago #
TaoTeJared

preferred member
Joined: Apr '10
Posts: 2,422
offline

JesusFreak said:
What do you all think of the latest iPad with the Retina display for monitor purposes? It has much higher resolution then most of the monitors out there.

Resolution has little to do with a good monitor - correct color, contrast and brightness is different then "Pleasing" color. One key to me is the difference in using a mat (non-glare) screen.

Posted 1 year ago #
scoobysmak

preferred member
Joined: May '10
Posts: 226
offline

Well I went the cheap route for now (based on my prior monitor selection). I got an ASUS PA246Q (24" IPS monitor) roughly $450-500 if you catch a sale or not. I have only used it once so far but was impressed with how much better it was than the 19" tft panel it replaced (wasn't hard to beat). I need to get a calibration device before I really give it the thumbs up but for now I am happy with it.

If I can get my printer and internet pictures to improve it will be a success.

Posted 1 year ago #
Kurve702

member
Joined: Mar '12
Posts: 18
offline

I had a ton of headaches over color calibration and printing for a while and slowly figuring things out for my self. The key for me was buying color calibration unit and a proper IPS LCD monitor it makes a huge difference. The biggest mistake i find people make as well as i did for the longest time was keeping your cdm2 levels at a proper level as many lcds can really get bright but that will just correlate to darker images in print. So i found a good range of 90cdm2 when calibrating my IPS monitor. I always process my images in a similar lighting conditions also, I calibrate my monitor every time i process for print this is a must. Its also good to use a photo lab that you can soft proof the labs profile into your process.

With this said it always starts with a good monitor and color calibration unit.

Posted 1 year ago #
sevencrossing

preferred member
Joined: Sep '10
Posts: 1,265
offline

Kurve702 said:
I had a ton of headaches over color calibration and printing for a while and slowly figuring things out for my self. The key for me was buying color calibration unit and a proper IPS LCD monitor it makes a huge difference. .

Same here

Posted 1 year ago #
mtkmmt

member
Joined: Apr '09
Posts: 23
offline

broxibear said:
D3s on a 18-55 DX kit lens

It allways amazes me how few are willing to pay for good monitors. We all know that hardware calibrated Eizos ( 900-6000usd ) are really the only option but still people with 20000usd worth of camera gear are buying 250usd monitors that are presenting 40% of rgb color range.

Posted 1 year ago #
msmoto

big gun cougar
Joined: Mar '10
Posts: 2,736
offline

mtkmmt said:
It allways amazes me how few are willing to pay for good monitors. We all know that hardware calibrated Eizos ( 900-6000usd ) are really the only option but still people with 20000usd worth of camera gear are buying 250usd monitors that are presenting 40% of rgb color range.

I never should have reignited this thread... now I may have to get a decent monitor rather than use the screen of my Macbook.

So, here is the question: If we are using all this megabuck NIKON equipment, which monitor, and in what size, seems, in the experience of those on the forum, works best? Maybe some technical data such as number of colors, manufacturer, price, ease of use, could be placed on the thread. I actually experience a lot of frustration in that I will post a photo on PAD, go back to Lightroom and revise, then edit with a new image. And this is due to a monitor issue I am certain. So, if I can learn something here, then set up a monitor with a set of color, tonal range guides on the side, illuminated by a constant light source, maybe I can improve.

Thanks

Posted 1 year ago #
sevencrossing

preferred member
Joined: Sep '10
Posts: 1,265
offline

msmoto said:
, which monitor, and in what size, seems, in the experience of those on the forum, works best?

I use a 30" Dell, no longer available, and calibrate it with a spider 3

I bought the Spider after I got a photo book back from Blurb were the color balance was off

I do my own printing and the colors on my prints are sufficiently close to those on my monitor for my purposes,

At the end of the day, there are only two judges, you and your client(s)

But beware, clients sometimes dont complain, they just go elsewhere

Posted 1 year ago #
mtkmmt

member
Joined: Apr '09
Posts: 23
offline

msmoto,

i use Eizo CG223WBK 22 which is about 1400usd at Adorama. 270 cd/m2 brightness and covers 95% of the Adobe RGB color space. And most of all, it is hardware calibrated which means that it is stand alone device that doesn't count your computers video card or profiles at all. Same file looks allways same, no matter what computer is running it. For calibration i use spyder 3 and Eizos own software.

Posted 1 year ago #
tcole1983

preferred member
Joined: Feb '10
Posts: 1,553
offline

SkintBrit said:
The one I like msmoto (as I still haven't got round to buying a calibration tool) is this free little test at
http://xritephoto.com/ph_toolframe.aspx?action=coloriq
Although I think getting a perfect test result has as much to do with the quality of your eyes, as that of your screen :-)

I got a 4...pretty good I guess.

Posted 1 year ago #
TaoTeJared

preferred member
Joined: Apr '10
Posts: 2,422
offline

I use a Samsung 22" calibrated with a spider device. I'm using a PC rather than a Mac as well. One thing I have noticed is the difference in loading to the web of files Adobe RGB vs sRGB and using a PC vs. MAC. Printing I have been using Adobe RGB but am moving to ProPhoto RGB due to a wider color gamut. Web I always export files sRGB. Choosing a gamma also makes a difference as well.

All of it can move colors. I primarily focus on printing rather than worrying about web posts for any color movement.

The biggest thing is to pick one direction, stick with it and allow the rest to slide (within reason.) If you try to get it to be the same across everything - it just becomes a major headache and I find it unproductive especially for posts on flickr or here.

Posted 1 year ago #
elvishefer

preferred member
Joined: Sep '10
Posts: 496
offline

I've been investigating printing, and the first step to printing (from my very early perspective) is an improved monitor. Being a computer nerd from way back, I think I want a 2560 x 1600 resolution display.

I've always like a bit of extra height in my display, and I find the 16:9 aspect ratio tends to be a bit short. Apple monitors like the new Thunderbolt display and its predecessor have a 2560 x 1440 (16:9) display. I'm a PC guy so I am not sold on Apple for the sake of Apple, but the monitors look really good and at $999 here in Canada (and refurbished models for $849) they become a contender. Jumping to 2560 x 1600 is possible but the price gap to a higher end display is HUGE.

After my research I'm thinking I should get a Spyder calibration unit for my current Samsung and patiently wait for the next gen of displays to hit the market.

Come onnnnnnnn 4k displays... ;)

Posted 1 year ago #