I think my LACIE photo 20 vision II is on its way out. My recent calibration could not get the brightness to my chosen 90 cd/m2 and the color temperature was so off that I had to push the blue channel to 100 to get to 6500 K.
I need some suggestions on LCD monitors in the 20 to 22 inch range, that preferably has full color controls and a high contrast ratio and I don't know if any monitors out there can cover Adobe RGB, but I think I read somewhere that the Ezio monitors can do that know.
I purchased a reconditioned NEC MultiSync P221W a few months ago, and have been very happy with it. I bought mine from NEC . The price they quoted me was significantly lower then the estimated street price that is posted.
Ditto on NEC. I sold a 22" Eizo and bought the 30" NEC and I've been thrilled with it. I would recommend getting one that comes packaged with their calibration kit which works great with these wide Gamut monitors.
I definitely recommend the SpectraView software. You need to have a compatible colorimeter, though. If you don't, I suggest you purchase the calibration kit that Mike mentions. It comes with the SpectraView Software and an EyeOne-Display-2 colorimeter. If you already have a compatible colorimeter, you'll save about $200. The software is $100.
I have the EyeOne-Display photospectrometer and the EyeOne Match 3 software for calibration. Is it compatible? I mean I am sure I can use the software I have and calibrate the monitor through the video card's LUT, but if the monitor has its own I would rather use that.
Youssef
You may wish to consider the Dell Ultrasharp 2209WA - a fine IPS monitor at a very good price. Dells model nomenclature is a bit confusing so make sure you go for that exact model. See link.
Simon
Youssef, given your photographic needs, I would try to stay at least at the level of the NEC monitors. Those monitors, plus the Eizos and Lacies, are designed for high end color graphics work (professional photographers, for example).
Posted by Tony Kuyper on July 27, 2010 at 10:37 PM
I'm considering a new monitor too, so this thread is very interesting to me. In Michael Gordon's blog link, he references David Brooks Shutterbug article. In it, Brooks says:
"I have found that the typical white luminance of now obsolete CRTs of 90.0 CD/m2, in practical terms, provides a display that will reproduce prints that match the display image. (Here, for photography, there may be an apparent difference with the 140.0 CD/m2 that is the SpectraView’s default, apparently based on user photographer preferences)."
In other words, it seems like Brooks is simply setting his LCD screen darker to compensate for darker prints and then calibrating the darker LCD screen. Why not just use the 90.0 CD/m2 recommendation on any/all LCDs intended to be calibrated printing. Wouldn't that solve the problem of too-dark prints or is the NEC P221W with the Spectraview software somehow better when set at 90 CD/m2 than other LCD monitors? Not really sure how to even ask the question, but it seems like maybe setting the sceen to 90 instead of 140 CD/m2 might be key to improving the performance of all LCDs with regard to calibrating better with prints.
Posted by David Bostedo on July 28, 2010 at 12:33 AM
Why not just use the 90.0 CD/m2 recommendation on any/all LCDs intended to be calibrated printing?
Tony, I can't find a link unfortunately, but the first reason is that a lot of LCDs can't be made that dim even on their lowest setting. The second reason is that even if they can, they don't work well when turned down that low - colors get funny and other monitor issues show up more.
Posted by Mike DiVita on July 28, 2010 at 12:40 AM
Does anyone have one of new NEC PA series monitors? I'm considering the PA271 but it's a lot of money for a somewhat unkown monitor. I can't seem to find to any reviews yet on any of the PA monitors.
My LACIE can control the luminance and in the Eye-One Match 3 software for calibrating LCD it also recommends 140 cd/m2 as well. I have been using 90 cd/m2 for years to match my prints the way my old CRT did. I thought this was common knowledge. But right now, at the brightness level of 100 on my monitor and a color temperature of 6500 K I can only get about 67 cd/m2 according to the final calibration data. So I can't imagine this monitor has much calibration life left in it.
Preston thanks for the link. That is a manageable price even new, but it does not say if the monitor comes with the spectraview software or not, I am sure it comes with it if you get it with the Eye-One V2 colorimeter. Maybe will give NEC sales a call and find out.
The suggested retail price quoted at NEC is for the monitor only. You can buy a kit that includes the monitor, Spectraview software, and colorimeter. B&H has the kit for about $700.
If you have a colorimeter that is compatible with SpectraView, you can order the software separately and save $200--that's what I did.
Discussion
13 repliesI need some suggestions on LCD monitors in the 20 to 22 inch range, that preferably has full color controls and a high contrast ratio and I don't know if any monitors out there can cover Adobe RGB, but I think I read somewhere that the Ezio monitors can do that know.
Any insights would be greatly appreciated.
Check out the NEC MultiSync P221W:
http://michaelegordon.wordpress.com/2010/07/09/lcd-calibration-issues-and-prints-too-dark-one-solution/
I purchased a reconditioned NEC MultiSync P221W a few months ago, and have been very happy with it. I bought mine from NEC . The price they quoted me was significantly lower then the estimated street price that is posted.
Harold
I just purchased a NEC 221W. It covers about 96% of Adobe RGB gamut. I really like this monitor! I bought mine new from B&H.
Here's another thread that may answer some questions for you...Anyone Using NEC P-Series Monitors?
I definitely recommend the SpectraView software. You need to have a compatible colorimeter, though. If you don't, I suggest you purchase the calibration kit that Mike mentions. It comes with the SpectraView Software and an EyeOne-Display-2 colorimeter. If you already have a compatible colorimeter, you'll save about $200. The software is $100.
--P
You may wish to consider the Dell Ultrasharp 2209WA - a fine IPS monitor at a very good price. Dells model nomenclature is a bit confusing so make sure you go for that exact model. See link.
Simon
"I have found that the typical white luminance of now obsolete CRTs of 90.0 CD/m2, in practical terms, provides a display that will reproduce prints that match the display image. (Here, for photography, there may be an apparent difference with the 140.0 CD/m2 that is the SpectraView’s default, apparently based on user photographer preferences)."
In other words, it seems like Brooks is simply setting his LCD screen darker to compensate for darker prints and then calibrating the darker LCD screen. Why not just use the 90.0 CD/m2 recommendation on any/all LCDs intended to be calibrated printing. Wouldn't that solve the problem of too-dark prints or is the NEC P221W with the Spectraview software somehow better when set at 90 CD/m2 than other LCD monitors? Not really sure how to even ask the question, but it seems like maybe setting the sceen to 90 instead of 140 CD/m2 might be key to improving the performance of all LCDs with regard to calibrating better with prints.
Here's the specs for the NEC P221W...P221W Specs from NEC.
Hope this helps,
--P
Mike
Preston thanks for the link. That is a manageable price even new, but it does not say if the monitor comes with the spectraview software or not, I am sure it comes with it if you get it with the Eye-One V2 colorimeter. Maybe will give NEC sales a call and find out.
The suggested retail price quoted at NEC is for the monitor only. You can buy a kit that includes the monitor, Spectraview software, and colorimeter. B&H has the kit for about $700.
If you have a colorimeter that is compatible with SpectraView, you can order the software separately and save $200--that's what I did.
--P