Spyder or X-rite?

[Q-dog]

Hi,
I am looking into getting some not too expensive monitor calibration kit. Looks like Spyder 4 pro or X-rite Colormunki display are on the shortlist. They seem very much alike when looking at the specs. So what are your real life experience?

/Ola

 

[stompyq]

I have read of problems with the spyders. No real experience with them though. I use a ancient Xrite Monaco optix XR and it does a very good job. I have printed from Blurb and Adoramapix and the prints/books look very close to my monitor. Only problem is if I have to mess around with software fixes just to get the thing to run on a Windows & computer.

I'am guessing the newer Xrite products are just as good

 

[rscheffler]

Perhaps this will help, at least comparing X-rite against some other brands: http://www.drycreekphoto.com/Learn/Calibration/MonitorCalibrationHardware.html
Unfortunately it's a somewhat older review and doesn't include the latest Spyder model.

I ended up with the i1Display Pro at a good sale price from B&H earlier this year ($140). I'm happy with it profiling a variety of displays, including a 2009 27" iMac, cheap $100 IPS Phillips 1080 display and a 2011 MacBook Air, which previously with Eye-One D1 I couldn't get a reasonable profile, but now can. Sounds like the Colormunki is the same hardware but different software (slower) package.

 

[Q-dog]

Thanks for your input! Reading a bit it seems that X-rite comes out on top but just so. Probably both options will fill my needs.

Ola

 

[Clark.EE]

I have a spyder 3? I think.
I get the impression that after a week or so.
It uncalibrates itself!
Sort of jobs for the boys.
I minute it will be fine. The next. 2 or 3 stops brighter.
If you get what I mean.
Anyone else?

 

[sevo]

Not much difference there any more. I had one monitor that refused to be calibrated with a Colormunki, and have another that can be calibrated natively (without a computer) with one, so I have by now both systems around. On all my current monitors I can calibrate to no visible difference.

There used to be significant differences back when both were made by smaller independent companies, but now that either is just a side line under the umbrella of one of the two major industrial colour management companies, they have grown quite cooperative, and share common standards...

If the screen seems to un-calibrate, there may be some other calibrating software running on it - screen drivers often have their own gamma and colour adjustment system which you may have to disable, and Adobe software often came with a companion screen gamma tool notorious for interfering with proper calibration.

 

[Mephiloco]

Minolta CA-210?

 

[Samouraï]

I use X-Rite i1Display pro. It works alright, doesn't mess with the OS too much. I like it better than the ColorMunki I've used before.

 

[sevo]

Minolta CA-210?

That was a factory and test lab grade standalone manufacturing and test tool. I've seen it in use at motion picture rentals, for calibrating camera monitors. Price aside (even at the current rate for used ones a magnitude above the most expensive X-Rite and Datacolor devices) it could take many hours to convert its test reports to something a computer can use.

 

[Q-dog]

I use X-Rite i1Display pro. It works alright, doesn't mess with the OS too much. I like it better than the ColorMunki I've used before.

I got the impression that the difference between i1Display and ColorMunki was that the latter had slower software. Are there any other differences that are worth considering (for an amateur who will calibrate one, maybe two, displays at home)?

Ola

 

[ruben_c]

I work with a Spyder4Pro... calibrating before editing something I want to print.

Flyers and photo prints come as I softproofed them.

Measures the ambient light and adapts the calibration to it, which is important to have the correct contrast regarding the output...

 

[Bob Michaels]

X-rite lost me as a customer several years ago when instead of modifying their software to work with 64 bit operating systems, they offered us a "special factory direct price" on a new unit. Except their "special factory direct price" was significantly more than the B&H price for exactly the same unit. I had to throw away my X-rite unit as it was unsaleable at any price.

I replaced it with a Datacolor Spyder 3 Pro which has performed flawlessly with my large Dell monitor which is a re-branded Apple.