What kind of monitor do you use?

Just getting started researching a new monitor. For high res photography, what should I look at? I don't mind spending money to get a "next level" monitor. However, I don't want to spend that kind of money if you don't think its worth it.

Kane

Not many comments so far. Computers and monitors were discussed a bit last month (1/22) so this might be limiting the responses. You might want to take a look there. That said, I think most folks are using 24" IPS monitors around here.

My next monitor is FINALLY going to be an IPS panel which are way better than the standard TFT panel LCD. Problem is, they've always been WAYover a grand, made by Eizo and others. Now Dell has come out with one for $599 list, and I've often seen coupons and sales for $499 at the Small Business site which anyone can buy from. The model is the U2410, and it is getting very high reviews. Don't let the cheaper price for this IPS panel monitor concern you, they are finally coming down in price due to demand.

Oh, BTW, the new iPad will feature an IPS screen...

I'm a big fan of my NEC refurb, Kane. There's no comparison to my old Dell. You'll also want to factor in the price of a profiler like the Eye-One or Spyder.
BTW, they're selling this refurb for a really low price right now. It's gotten great reviews -
http://www.necdisplay.com/Products/Product/?product=cf1263c3-01ca-4cbf-868c-711fc4f210b5

I would recommend the Cintiq 21 by Wacom.

My monitor happiness skyrocketed a few years ago when I bought an NEC 2690wuxi, calibrated with NEC's SpectraView II and an Xrite spectrometer.

By the way, Paul's link is an incredible buy. All of the color accuracy, but cheaper than the big boys.

Zoinks, if you have a $2K budget for a monitor, yeah, try out that Cintiq 21!

Anyway, this is some choice range you have now, Kane. Nice NEC for $179, the IPS Dell for $499 (on sale right now, just checked with free shipping), or the killer Cintiq 21 for $1999 at Amazon. This is like HGTV... look at three homes and have to pick one before the show ends.

If price is really not an option, I believe that Ezio monitors are the best for critical color work. We're talking $2,400 for a 24" monitor.

- Dan.

I've been looking for a new monitor to replace my old Dell 24" LCD. It has been a good monitor, but there is no way to dial down the backlight to acceptable levels, thus my home prints are always too dark.

I've been looking at the NEC MultiSync 2690WUXi2, so glad to hear that Jesse has had such a good experience with it. I just can't justify $2K+ for an Eizo or LaCie...

I use the NEC 2690wuxi and use the eye1display2 to calibrate it and it works great. I understand the wuxi2 does not use a polarized light source whereas the wuxi does. Don't know if that makes a difference but I've been told it does, with the polarized version supposedly better.

Another vote for NEC. The make good high-end monitors, without the EIZO price tag.

I have been happy with my new HP LP2475W.. 24" IPS for $560

I currently use a 30" Apple monitor, but it's starting to show its age, and I am looking to upgrade to the NEC. They seem to be as good or better than the Eizo's, at a much lower price tag. Looking at the specs I'm not sure why the Eizo would be any better... maybe somebody can enlighten me.

I also use the NEC 2490wuxi with the SpectraView calibrator that came bundled with the monitor. Best monitor I've ever owned.
That refurb. that Paul pointed out looks like a sweet deal to me!

I'm using the Dell 2209WA 22" IPS monitor. Great monitor (especially for the price) and with the Spyder 3 calibration device, my prints are dead on with the monitor (and that is REALLY what is important).

Another vote for NEC. I've been using the NEC 2490wuxi with the SpectraView II calibration software and puck for a couple of years now. For the price and performance, I wouldn't consider anything else.

Well, I'm a happy user to the Eizo CG210.Yep, I cried for a while about spending $2200 on a monitor...until I got my first print back from West Coast imaging. This was the first print I ever got that truly looked like what I saw on the monitor. I previously had a LaCie 319...no comparison to the Eizo. Night and day really. Whether it is uniformity, gamut, color accuracy, or anything else...the Eizo is the best I've used. I tried a Samsung LED-backlit wide-gamut monitor...uniformity sucked. Same for the HP Dreamcolor. Most importantly, the Eizo works with a native 80 cd/sq.m brightness value. This permits near-perfect print matching. Most monitors function at closer to 120 cd/m2, which is too bright for print matching.