Displays, I need a new one, but I have no clue which one.

[Sheiky]

Hey,


I currently use a Samsung T240HD 24" full HD 1920*1200 TV/Monitor combination, but it's truly a disaster for me. The viewing angle is terrible and the output is just not right. Even with the help of my Datacolor Spyder Elite 3 I cannot get good results. Better yet, I have better results without it.


Anyway I tried my brothers cheaper 21" Benq screen lately and while it's a lot cheaper and has less resolution. It worked much better.


So I started looking for a new screen, this time I won't need the TV analogue plug in ability. Since I watch practically no TV. Anyway I started looking, but I honestly have no idea what's good and what isn't. Plus most reviews are based on videogames, so not a really good comparison to photoediting. Plus I'm totally new to the LED thing, is it good or not? What type of interface do I need? What is an IPS panel and do I really need it? The expensive monitors seem to have it all. I also looked at the Eizo's and so, but they seem quite overbudget for me []


Here's what I like to have:


- 23" minimum, preferable 24 or larger


- Full HD resolution, min 1920 * 1080, Now I have 16:10 ratio, but 16:9 is also good


- A simple but good screen.


- Budget 700 dollars at the absolute max = 500 euros at this point, but if I get more for less, that's of course better []


Thanks in advance,


Jan

[Sheiky]

Right so I did some more research and I think that I want an IPS panel for my next screen.


It's hard to find good reviews though, since pretty much every monitor review is about games [:S]


Anyway I have found a few displays that took my interest:


- NEC <span class="Apple-style-span" style="widows: 2; text-transform: none; text-indent: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font: medium 'Times New Roman'; white-space: normal; orphans: 2; letter-spacing: normal; color: #000000; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"]<span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 18px; font-family: arial, helvetica, 'liberation sans', 'dejavu sans condensed', sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"]MultiSync<span class="Apple-converted-space"]EA231WMi - It's a 23" 16:9 monitor it seems very nicely priced. Cheapest of the three. 350 euros


<span class="Apple-style-span" style="widows: 2; text-transform: none; text-indent: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font: medium 'Times New Roman'; white-space: normal; orphans: 2; letter-spacing: normal; color: #000000; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"]<span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 18px; font-family: arial, helvetica, 'liberation sans', 'dejavu sans condensed', sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"]- HP ZR24W - 24" 16:10 monitor. It seems to be good, but I heard some stories about the Dell being better. 390 euros


<span class="Apple-style-span" style="widows: 2; text-transform: none; text-indent: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font: medium 'Times New Roman'; white-space: normal; orphans: 2; letter-spacing: normal; color: #000000; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"]<span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 18px; font-family: arial, helvetica, 'liberation sans', 'dejavu sans condensed', sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"]- Dell U2410 - Also 24"16:10 monitor, which seems to be pretty good in this price range. It looks very good to me, however it's price is also a lot higher...540 euros...is it worth it?


<span class="Apple-style-span" style="widows: 2; text-transform: none; text-indent: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font: medium 'Times New Roman'; white-space: normal; orphans: 2; letter-spacing: normal; color: #000000; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"]<span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 18px; font-family: arial, helvetica, 'liberation sans', 'dejavu sans condensed', sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"]


<span class="Apple-style-span" style="widows: 2; text-transform: none; text-indent: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font: medium 'Times New Roman'; white-space: normal; orphans: 2; letter-spacing: normal; color: #000000; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"]<span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 18px; font-family: arial, helvetica, 'liberation sans', 'dejavu sans condensed', sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"]Somebody please give me some good advice, since I have absolutely no knoledge about this. User-experiences are also very welcome. Also other user experiences like IPS/PVA screen vs Tn etc.


<span class="Apple-style-span" style="widows: 2; text-transform: none; text-indent: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font: medium 'Times New Roman'; white-space: normal; orphans: 2; letter-spacing: normal; color: #000000; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"]<span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 18px; font-family: arial, helvetica, 'liberation sans', 'dejavu sans condensed', sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"]Thanks,


<span class="Apple-style-span" style="widows: 2; text-transform: none; text-indent: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font: medium 'Times New Roman'; white-space: normal; orphans: 2; letter-spacing: normal; color: #000000; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"]<span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 18px; font-family: arial, helvetica, 'liberation sans', 'dejavu sans condensed', sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"]Jan


<span class="Apple-style-span" style="widows: 2; text-transform: none; text-indent: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font: medium 'Times New Roman'; white-space: normal; orphans: 2; letter-spacing: normal; color: #000000; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"]<span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 18px; font-family: arial, helvetica, 'liberation sans', 'dejavu sans condensed', sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"]

[Daniel Browning]

Run, don

[btaylor]

I use the Dell u2410 and I like it a lot. Colours are accurate and it's big enough that you can watch your favourite episodes of "The Young and the Restless" on it [:P]


It is an excellent monitor though and comes pre-calibrated to sRGB. The only gripe I have is that it has a multi-format card reader on the side that takes everything but CF cards.


Ben.

[Sheiky]

Run, don't walk, to the nearest NEC MultiSync 2490WUXi2. It's only $700 at B&amp;H

Well...here's the disappointing factor, it's exactlythe same price here....albeit not in dollars, but in Euros [:P] And the big brother gets close to 1000 euros here...so definitely not an option unfortunately.


The three monitors I have found are pretty much the only "good" reviewed monitors in my budget. There were some other brands, but haven't read much positive about them.


I'm using an online printing service with the ability of using my own ICC profile and stuff, but generally speaking I will work in sRGB mode, since that's how most of my will be viewed anyway.


Out of these three, which one would have your vote?

I use the Dell u2410 and I like it a lot. Colours are accurate and it's big enough that you can watch your favourite episodes of "The Young and the Restless" on it [img]/emoticons/emotion-4.gif[/img]

That's great news Ben, I'm sold! []


To be honest, eventhough it's the most expensive out of the three I selected so far, it seems to be the best as well. You're happy with it? Is it accurate enough for an ambisious amateur photographer?


The card-reader isn't a big deal for me. I always directly use USB on my camera.


Thanks for the replies!


Jan

[Daniel Browning]

Out of these three, which one would have your vote?

I have no idea, sorry.

[Colin500]

Right so I did some more research and I think that I want an IPS panel for my next screen.

You definitely DON'T want a TN (or STN), even just for the horrible viewing-angle behaviour. It's been a while since I was monitor-hunting, so I can't give you any concrete recommendation, I'm still really happy with my 5 year old Samsung SyncMaster 213T (21.3", 1600x1200) that makes everybody used to only TN panels go "wow!" You'd have to check whether Samsung has anything similar in their offerings now.


Regarding the LED backlight, it's a nice feature, but not absolutely essential; the LED supposedly uses less electricity, and has a longer life; it also comes on instantly and doesn't change colour or grow dimmer with age.


What you should avoid if you don't primarily use the monitor for gaming and/or watching movies is the "dynamic contrast" stuff that gives you these quasi-fake "up to 20000x contrast" or wherever they have arrived nowadays; dynamic contrast (can have different names) means that the backlight is modulated to fit the content, AFAIK independently in several zones of the screen; this of course makes any kind of calibration rather difficult... (At least that's the last I had heard regarding this feature, perhaps somebody can chime in with updated info.)


Regards, Colin

[btaylor]

Hey Jan, sorry for the late reply - I

[Sheiky]

Hey Jan, sorry for the late reply - I've been really tied up fishing and camping the last few days. Honestly it's been terrible

I bet it was...blegh camping and fishing with this weather [st][]


Alright I want to thank you all for replying. I really appreciate the effort. [Y] And while I didn't directly reply due to being very busy, I did read the replies in the e-mails and I took notice of the things you all said.


Tomorrow I will be picking up my new display. I'm going with the Nec EA231WMi. IPS was a definite need. It's not as big and nice as the Dell whoch was my first choice, but after some thinking and budgetting I had to go with the Nec. I didn't see the pros of the Dell to justify the extra 200 euro's (45% price increase). I aslo didn't really need the qide-gamut after thinking about it and the Nec offers me practically the entire sRGB range, which I and most people who see my pictures will see. It's an inch smaller and the scale is different. Also the Nec get&acute;s a lot of credit on reviews, with results matching or even outperforming the Dell.


I will see how I like it. I will be seeing 16:9 instead of 16:10 now. Which might actually be nice when I'm watching movies or processing a full hd time-lapse....


I&acute;m very confident at the moment that I will like it and I hope that just like Ben, my pictures will turn out spot on. (I also have a Spyder 3 elite [])


Thanks a lot for the input guys! I think I will enjoy editing a lot more now so be prepared for some "show and tell" or other topics to be filled with my crap.


Cheers,


Jan