Your computer monitor?

[Exdsc]

What kind of computer monitor do you use for image editing and viewing?

A friend who constantly upgrades his cameras and lenses has not upgraded his monitor since 2007, and its not some high-end monitor, its a Samsung 205bw. Needless to say he always complains about "image quality", "contrast", "colors" and not to mention other people's photos don't "look right" to him. :bang:

 

[btgc]

I have cheap office TN panel based LCD and haven't complained so far that colors are wildly off on prints or other monitors. My notebook shows uploaded B&W pictures with bluish tint, though, so I don't use it for editing.

Obsessing too much w/ monitors, calibration and color spaces isn't any better than "testing" bunch of 50mm's against walls and newspapers, in my humble opinion.

 

[Sejanus.Aelianus]

This page says it all, in my opinion: http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/monitor-calibration.htm

Of course, there's always an opportunity for monitor GAS...

😀

 

[lam]

Whatever apple gives me because apple is best.



j/k.
But seriously I only view a 27" iMac and a 13" Macbook Air.. colors never an issue with me.
I do have an external ASUS LED monitor which has wildly high contrast and saturation, and sometimes I Use it for image editing but calibrate it first.

 

[Doug Smith]

I just use the monitor on my laptop, but it is calibrated. Works well for me.

 

[Exdsc]

IPS panels have become so cheap that there is no reason why every photographer should not use one. Maybe monitor GAS is a cure for image quality GAS.


Monitor calibration is only important if that monitor is used to make prints, for web display, a monitor that is at default setting makes more sense so other "normal monitors" that people use will display the images without too much variance.

 

[ZeissFan]

I had been using a Sony Trinitron, an excellent CRT monitor. Now, I'm using a Sony LCD, but it needs to be profiled, because the colors seem slightly off.

 

[Paddy C]

I've been using a wide-gamut NEC with NEC calibration tool for a number of years.

If you spend a lot of time in front of a monitor I think it's important to buy a good one and make sure it's properly calibrated.

It's easy to adjust your images so they will look good (or "right" ie corrected for SRGB) to most people but there's no sense (IMHO) for working at that level all the time. Don't throw info away – you can't get it back.

 

[icebear]

NEC W273 calibrated regularly with Spider 4 pro.

 

[willie_901]

I use a 27" Apple Thubderbolt display calibrated using OS X's calibration utility.

Tomorrow an Asus 24" PA248Q Widescreen LED-LCD display will arrive and I will use that as a second monitor for text and for image selection in LR. I find I spend less time in LR when I use two monitors.

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

I've been using a wide-gamut NEC with NEC calibration tool for a number of years.

If you spend a lot of time in front of a monitor I think it's important to buy a good one and make sure it's properly calibrated.

It's easy to adjust your images so they will look good (or "right" ie corrected for SRGB) to most people but there's no sense (IMHO) for working at that level all the time. Don't throw info away – you can't get it back.

This is 100% correct. I use an NEC PA241W with the Spectraview calibrator. Worth every penny. Those of you who think a good monitor is a 'waste of time/money" or who think its 'fussing' have not had to deliver files to clients across the country from you who need them perfect, ready to send out for offset printing on a book, ad, CD cover, etc. You use a cheap or improperly calibrated system and send a file that 'looks good on my screen' and it doesn't print perfect, you'll have serious issue on your hands.

Good monitors are not expensive. This is just like scanners. Guys on here bitching that they can't afford a good scanner, but they have $20,000 worth of Leicas and Hasselblads. Same with monitors. Damned stupid, but I guess monitors and scanners aren't fun or sexy, right?

 

[kuzano]

You are so right!!!

You are so right!!!

This is 100% correct. I use an NEC PA241W with the Spectraview calibrator. Worth every penny. Those of you who think a good monitor is a 'waste of time/money" or who think its 'fussing' have not had to deliver files to clients across the country from you who need them perfect, ready to send out for offset printing on a book, ad, CD cover, etc. You use a cheap or improperly calibrated system and send a file that 'looks good on my screen' and it doesn't print perfect, you'll have serious issue on your hands.

Good monitors are not expensive. This is just like scanners. Guys on here bitching that they can't afford a good scanner, but they have $20,000 worth of Leicas and Hasselblads. Same with monitors. Damned stupid, but I guess monitors and scanners aren't fun or sexy, right?

No young lady ever jumped my bones because I had a Nikon 9000ED scanner on a strap around my neck, even if I put a red dot next to the power button.

Hard to imagine huh?

 

[ncc1701]

These are great affordable displays, I'm fighting monitor GAS:

http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...11307&cs_id=1130703&p_id=10235&seq=1&format=2

great reviews and huge Bargain!

Also, calibration is key! Get a Spyder or EyeOne.

 

[richardhkirkando]

These are great affordable displays, I'm fighting monitor GAS:

http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...11307&cs_id=1130703&p_id=10235&seq=1&format=2

great reviews and huge Bargain!

Also, calibration is key! Get a Spyder or EyeOne.

These, I believe, use the same panels as the 27" Apple and Dell monitors. I have one made by an unknown Korean manufacturer, and it's great - at least as good as my Dell Ultrasharps.

 

[willie_901]

I seriously considered the 27" MonoPrice monitor. The panel is the same as Apple's.

The reviews all indicated the stand was extremely flimsy (and unmovable). The whole thing swayed about. The MonoPrice could be a great deal if you are on a concrete floor and/or a very firm workspace.

Right now the desirable features are LED back lighting, IPS technology and the most dense pixel array per screen size.

 

[Phil_F_NM]

Aside from my laptop, I use a Hitachi SuperScan Pro 800 CM800U. It's an incredible CRT and when it dies I'm going to be really sad.
That is in storage now though so I'm just using the screen on my IBM laptop till I get more settled.

Phil Forrest

 

[richardhkirkando]

The reviews all indicated the stand was extremely flimsy (and unmovable). The whole thing swayed about. The MonoPrice could be a great deal if you are on a concrete floor and/or a very firm workspace.

The nice thing about it is that still has a VESA mount, so you can replace the stand with much nicer 3rd party ones. I'd highly recommend going that route, particularly if you have a dual (or more) monitor setup.

 

[kanzlr]

http://www.prad.de/new/monitore/test/2009/test-nec-p221w.html

profiled with a ColorMunki. Totally decent, I'd say 🙂

 

[Ronald M]

Without correct calibration, you need to depend on the lab to color correct. With it, I can order the economy non color corrected prints and I don`t have someone fooling with the files.

I mac 27 " is ok but not perfect.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Without correct calibration, you need to depend on the lab to color correct. With it, I can order the economy non color corrected prints and I don`t have someone fooling with the files.

I mac 27 " is ok but not perfect.

Or yourself, with your own printer, knowing what you are doing.

Cheers,

R.