1st Choice) Anything made by Eizo or Lacie.
2nd Choice) Apple Cinema Display
3rd Choice) Dell Ultrasharp. Some of them use(d) the same panels as the Apples.
The Dells are great for the money, just be sure to avoid TN panel types .. look for IPS panels if possible, but some manufacturers are getting pretty secretive about their panels.
2-3 years ago, when I was researching it, NEC was making some high end ones. The Lenovo that was linked in my laptop thread sounds pretty good to, with 72% of the RGB color gamut. I've always heard good things about the Apple displays, too. Yeah, what they said about Lacie, too. I like my Dell ultrasharp just fine, too.
Some of you smoke crack, I'm sure of it. $5,000!!!!! Holy crap man. I'd be a liar if I told you I had heard of Lacie before today. I had no clue that was what they go for. Wow!!
As detailed in another thread on laptops, I've used Dells for years. I currently have a 24" wide screen, ultra sharp, hi-color monitor from them. I'm certain there are better if you want to spend ridiculous amounts of money. But, the screen has a nice matte finish, great color, is wide enough for the tools to not interfere with your images when working in LR...I love it. Without calibration, my prints done in Adobe color space are as close to my monitor as I have ever had.
That being said, I believe most LCD screens are actually produced by a small number of companies. ViewSonic is one of them. Check them out for best bang for buck.
looks like a high end TN panel with 170/170 degree viewing. Most of the time when you can tell that a monitor is made of a higher quality panel is when the viewable degree is more than 170.
Personally, I don't buy into the perceived necessity that you HAVE to have an IPS panel to achieve great results. Does it make life easier? Sure, but not all of us have thousands of dollars to spend on monitors. The same way not all of us have thousands of dollars to spend on 1Ds or D3X cameras, all top quality lenses, and top notch lighting. You just have to find something you can work with and still achieve consistent, satisfactory results.
Can that consistency be achieved with a TN panel? You bet...without a doubt.
I've been using a 24" HP monitor for some time now (w2408h), and have never had a single issue. My Spyder3Pro keeps it in check, and I know which angles to view from to ensure accuracy. Of course, I read several articles and commentary that suggested I should NEVER use such a monitor for critical color work, but it's all garbage in my opinion as my results continue to prove those opinions incorrect.
Of course, that doesn't mean every panel will work, but I certainly found one that did. YMMV.
I mainly use a laptop for all my needs and hook up a monitor to the video out which is the VGA port. Do you get enough quality to tell a difference using this type of connection or do you need a HDMI connection to see the difference. I have been tested and told that I was color defection on the red and greens. I be doing photography since I was a young teen. I can see most colors real well. It is the different shades of the same color that tends to give me trouble. So for me does it matter? Currently I am using a Envision 19" wide screen monitor.
Mattbtn wrote:
Personally, I don't buy into the perceived necessity that you HAVE to have an IPS panel to achieve great results. Does it make life easier? Sure, but not all of us have thousands of dollars to spend on monitors. The same way not all of us have thousands of dollars to spend on 1Ds or D3X cameras, all top quality lenses, and top notch lighting. You just have to find something you can work with and still achieve consistent, satisfactory results.
Can that consistency be achieved with a TN panel? You bet...without a doubt.
I've been using a 24" HP monitor for some time now (w2408h), and have never had a single issue. My Spyder3Pro keeps it in check, and I know which angles to view from to ensure accuracy. Of course, I read several articles and commentary that suggested I should NEVER use such a monitor for critical color work, but it's all garbage in my opinion as my results continue to prove those opinions incorrect.
Of course, that doesn't mean every panel will work, but I certainly found one that did. YMMV.
Amen, especially since I'm skeptical as to the ability of ANY back-lit screen, no matter how calibrated, to truly replicate the appearance of a printed paper.
Don't get me wrong: if you're doing serious volume and can't afford the time or effort to make test prints, then it totally might be cost effective to purchase a super-monitor. However, I suspect that for the kind of truly fantastic results for which one theoretically would buy such a monitor, ultimately print trials are the way to go.
For my budget, a calibrated Apple Cinema gets me close enough.
