Comments on: monitors

Question: monitors

sgt.serenity — Tue, 14 Jun 2005 16:04:58 -0800

If You're doing Digital photography and using photshop , which is the best type of monitor ?

By: matteo

matteo — Tue, 14 Jun 2005 16:24:50 -0800

Apple cinema screens look indeed awesome. a friend is using the new Vaio (the G5-lookalike unit Sony did, only black) and the screen looks so pretty also. a freidn swears by some LaCie monitors but I have never used them

By: SpecialK

SpecialK — Tue, 14 Jun 2005 16:44:28 -0800

I have a Dell ultra-sharp LCD and it works great. I think that it used to be that CRTs were better because there were more existing utilities for them and the drivers and displays were more mature, but now I think LCDs are far superior. Just make sure you get something with ultra-fine or ultra-high resolution... that's the important part.

By: Optimus Chyme

Optimus Chyme — Tue, 14 Jun 2005 16:48:44 -0800

If you're interested in color management, be sure to get a CRT and not an LCD, at least at this point. If you're dead serious about the best monitor for this type of work, definitely go with a LaCie CRT.

By: -harlequin-

-harlequin- — Tue, 14 Jun 2005 16:50:37 -0800

LCDs still don't give consistant colour. CRT is definitely better for photoshop, but LCD is more convenient. I use LCD a lot for photoshop, but anything where colours, brightness, or contrast are important, I'll either do on a CRT, or do it on LCD but do a final check and tweak on a CRT.

As to actual monitor brands/models, sorry, no help there :)

By: ryanrs

ryanrs — Tue, 14 Jun 2005 16:51:35 -0800

Warning--I've seen complaints that the new Apple displays have a pink or yellow bias.
See: a google query.

By: pmbuko

pmbuko — Tue, 14 Jun 2005 16:57:06 -0800

If you're leaning toward LCD, definitly check out Formac's offerings. Their picture quality, imho, is better than the best Apple displays.

I would agree, however, that CRT is still the better way to go. It's a highly mature technology.

By: Civil_Disobedient

Civil_Disobedient — Tue, 14 Jun 2005 17:02:23 -0800

Definately don't get a LaCie Electron Blue IV, since it's just a rebranded NEC/Mitsubishi 2141SB, for more money.

By: Optimus Chyme

Optimus Chyme — Tue, 14 Jun 2005 17:19:50 -0800

I did not know that, C_D. What about the other LaCies?

By: krisjohn

krisjohn — Tue, 14 Jun 2005 17:22:06 -0800

CRTs may have better colour, but a digital LCD has no distortion, and Photoshop can adjust for an overall colour bias.

By: shepd

shepd — Tue, 14 Jun 2005 17:31:06 -0800

CRTs generally offer more contrast than LCDs. Dunno if that matters to you... I'm partial to a good trinitron monitor, myself.

By: -harlequin-

-harlequin- — Tue, 14 Jun 2005 17:41:01 -0800

Krisjohn:
Photoshop can't adjust for the bulk of the LCD colour/contrast issues. Once I've been using them a few weeks/months, I feel confident to do it mentally most of the time, but for example, the problem with the contast being almost entirely based on how you're sitting in your chair, never goes away, you just get better at minimising it, and mentally compensating for it.

By: ig

ig — Tue, 14 Jun 2005 17:54:35 -0800

I have both, and still don't think I can trust LCD displays. Images look different depending on viewing angle, there is always some kind of cast, etc. Regardless of which kind you choose, proper calibration and learning about color management are essential.

By: Civil_Disobedient

Civil_Disobedient — Tue, 14 Jun 2005 20:06:51 -0800

What about the other LaCies?

LaCie doesn't make a single piece of equipment, if memory serves. They're just a big rebranding outfit.

For example: LaCie 321 LCD (ooh, Futura!) vs. NEC 2180UX.

Oh, and to directly answer the question: Get a CRT if you care about color clarity off-axis, and make it an NEC/Mitsubishi. That's not to say LCDs aren't up to the challenge, however. There are some amazing LCDs that would blow away just about any CRT. But they cost (a lot) more.

For $650 or less, there's nothing you can get in LCD that will beat a good CRT (like the NEC FP2141, for example).

By: Civil_Disobedient

Civil_Disobedient — Tue, 14 Jun 2005 20:10:14 -0800

Oh, here's another fabulous LCD (slightly less expensive at only ~$6000) that can display in Adobe RGB colorspace. Suffice to say, it's k-rad to the xtreme.

By: Thorzdad

Thorzdad — Wed, 15 Jun 2005 13:05:49 -0800

No matter which monitor you get, proper color management requires that you calibrate it and create an ICC profile for use on your system.
A tool like this one is highly recommended.