LCD monitor for editing / viewing photo

[SeineRiver]

I don't know if this topic has been discussed before.

My first question is does LCD affect your ability of editing / viewing photo significantly?
If yes then which LCD brand/model are recommended for the use of photography

Quang Huy

[aryanto]

Originally Posted by SeineRiver I don't know if this topic has been discussed before. My first question is does LCD affect your ability of editing / viewing photo significantly? If yes then which LCD brand/model are recommended for the use of photography Quang Huy

I think microcosm can say one. I forgot already cos I am still using my CRT. I will use it until it goes in smoke like my previous one (maybe I should overplay diablo III when it is out cos the old one died when I was playing diablo II ) and then I will switch to LCD.

[egnaro]

Originally Posted by SeineRiver I don't know if this topic has been discussed before. My first question is does LCD affect your ability of editing / viewing photo significantly? If yes then which LCD brand/model are recommended for the use of photography Quang Huy

yes it does, there is no good or bad monitor. difference monitor give you difference colour. (even same brand)

to get it right for editing and printing, eg. the red you see may not be the red your print or the red others monitor see. therefore, you will need a monitor calibrator such as Eye1 or Syder and etc. these calibrator able to help you to calibrate your monitor and printer.

join us in coming outing, Microcosm will explain this more in detail and this is the agenda for the next outing too.

hope this help
cheers!

[SeineRiver]

Originally Posted by egnaro join us in coming outing, Microcosm will explain this more in detail and this is the agenda for the next outing too. hope this help cheers!

Thanks a lot, as I'm thinking of buying a new LCD. Perhaps this time should get a LED LCD for better color display ha ha.

Btw, I'll join the outing :P Sounds very attractive to me. Quite sometime haven't seen you guys.

[egnaro]

Originally Posted by SeineRiver Thanks a lot, as I'm thinking of buying a new LCD. Perhaps this time should get a LED LCD for better color display ha ha. Btw, I'll join the outing :P Sounds very attractive to me. Quite sometime haven't seen you guys.

cool see u there then...

[aryanto]

Originally Posted by egnaro cool see u there then...

This outing in Nov is even especially useful for you probably because Microcosm is going to cover post-processing and invite us to bring our laptop for calibration.

[SeineRiver]

Originally Posted by aryanto This outing in Nov is even especially useful for you probably because Microcosm is going to cover post-processing and invite us to bring our laptop for calibration.

Should I bring my LCD there

[VR Man]

Depends on your output medium. Who will be viewing your images?

No point buying an Eizo top of the line LCD and your only output jpegs for the web.

LED backlit LCDs are the way forward.

Waiting for Apple's Cinema Displays with LED backlit.

[Mikefellh]

Well, there are different qualities of LCD monitor, many don't have a uniform backlight, with lighter and darker patches.

But the biggest thing is the type of LCD technology...most are cheap TN (Twisted Nematic). But the better ones like the "Eizo top of the line LCD" mentioned above are S-IPS (Super In-Plane Switching). There are improvements on S-IPS like the 2002 AS-IPS (Advanced S-IPS), A-TW-IPS (Advanced True White IPS), and the 2006 H-IPS (Horizontal IPS).

You can read all about the types on:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TFT_LCD

If you share your images either on the net or a at camera club where everyones' images are all shown on the same monitor/projector you should calibrate your monitor no matter what monitor you get.

Personally though I still use a non-trinitron flat screen CRT monitor.

[say123]

Originally Posted by VR Man Depends on your output medium. Who will be viewing your images? No point buying an Eizo top of the line LCD and your only output jpegs for the web. LED backlit LCDs are the way forward. Waiting for Apple's Cinema Displays with LED backlit.

LED backlit is indeed the way forward.
However, the increase in color representation may cause some unnatural colors.

Apple's display with LED is already out. 24"

[say123]

in my view, it is okay to get a TN panel under budget constraints.

However, I think it is important to choose one monitor that covers 100% sRGB and adobe gamuts. After that, calibration is needed.

IPS panel is good for viewing from all angels. If you are doing editing with only one monitor, a good TN will save you some money.

Also, generally, TN have better contrast ratio than IPS and VA types. (dynamic is not impt here).

[VR Man]

Originally Posted by say123 LED backlit is indeed the way forward. However, the increase in color representation may cause some unnatural colors. Apple's display with LED is already out. 24"

Yeah the "MacBook" companion version is out. Waiting for the entire line to be LED backlit to see if there is any higher end LCD.

[olymac]

Originally Posted by SeineRiver ..... does LCD affect your ability of editing / viewing photo significantly? If yes then which LCD brand/model are recommended for the use of photography ...

Yes.

Easiest .. and prob most cost effective ... use a Macbook. How much are you willing to spend?

[Mikefellh]

Originally Posted by olymac Easiest .. and prob most cost effective ... use a Macbook. How much are you willing to spend?

Not when you factor in having to replace all your software (assuming you are currently using a PC), as well as time and frustration required to learn the new computer; every time I'm forced to use a Mac I want to throw the thing out the window!

[microcosm]

Originally Posted by VR Man Yeah the "MacBook" companion version is out. Waiting for the entire line to be LED backlit to see if there is any higher end LCD.

Temptations...

[SeineRiver]

Originally Posted by olymac Yes. Easiest .. and prob most cost effective ... use a Macbook. How much are you willing to spend?

Not sure if it's cost effective. In term of hardware only, the new Macbook Pro would cost you around 4k which you can by a PC (or Laptop) with similar configurations and a 24'' LED display, e.g. the new 24'' Cinema display of Apple (converter needed).

Actually, at 1.5k that 24'' is not more expensive than the similar high end LCD S-IPS panel I think

So tempting :P

[microcosm]

Originally Posted by egnaro join us in coming outing, Microcosm will explain this more in detail and this is the agenda for the next outing too. hope this help cheers!

Bro, since when you became Robin Hood and go around shooting arrows ah? hahaha...

Originally Posted by SeineRiver Btw, I'll join the outing :P Sounds very attractive to me. Quite sometime haven't seen you guys.

Would love to have you down at our gatherings and sharing sessions... always good to meet the community in real life and share.

Originally Posted by aryanto This outing in Nov is even especially useful for you probably because Microcosm is going to cover post-processing and invite us to bring our laptop for calibration.

Right on.

Originally Posted by VR Man Depends on your output medium. Who will be viewing your images? No point buying an Eizo top of the line LCD and your only output jpegs for the web. LED backlit LCDs are the way forward. Waiting for Apple's Cinema Displays with LED backlit.

Spot on bro.

Originally Posted by SeineRiver Not sure if it's cost effective. In term of hardware only, the new Macbook Pro would cost you around 4k which you can by a PC (or Laptop) with similar configurations and a 24'' LED display, e.g. the new 24'' Cinema display of Apple (converter needed). Actually, at 1.5k that 24'' is not more expensive than the similar high end LCD S-IPS panel I think So tempting :P

I am using an iMac, which honestly, is more than what I need at the moment. Less than $3k with everything upgraded. Ended up spending more money on 3 dual bay RAID 0 enclosures on FW800.

- - -

Back to the topic, without getting too technical, some of you got the idea right when you mentioned the various screens out there.

My questions are :

(1) What is your final output for your images? For web? For print? For press?
(2) What is the range of colours you want to output?
(3) Your budget?

The thing is, standard consumer screens has a limit to the number of colours that it can display, but if your work is mainly for web (jpg output as mentioned by VRMan) or the occasional print, spending a lot of money on a high end Eizo or Quato might not justify it. BUT... a good high end screen does last a longer time because it is a better build... so if you have the spare cash... why not? A good screen and well calibrated comes with a big bonus... it trains your eye to see colours better and more accurately... this is the one important step to becoming a better colourist... something that is not easy...

I am using mid range Viewsonic monitor and the iMac's built in monitor for my colour work, and calibrated using a EyeOne calibrator (thanks to VRMan for the lobang... grateful) and that has been my workhorse for a while now. So far for print and web work, it has served me well... I might not be the best colourist out there, but good enough for some simple commercial work.

Unless you are working for pre-press, print company and needs a high end, reliable, Adobe RGB ready monitor, then yes, spend that $$$ on a good high end monitor like Eizo and Quato. They rock bananas...

[egnaro]

Originally Posted by microcosm Bro, since when you became Robin Hood and go around shooting arrows ah? hahaha...

Ya, I realise I been shooting arrow recently, my bad... but I am helping the others to solve the issue from the right person. haha...

everyone here are here to help and share and that is why u and the many cser are active in this forum because u guys are very helpful and willing to share unselfishly.

bro, we should minute down all our meeting and post it in the forums. now who to take minute? (not me)

[olymac]

Originally Posted by SeineRiver Not sure if it's cost effective. In term of hardware only, the new Macbook Pro would cost you around 4k which you can by a PC (or Laptop) with similar configurations and a 24'' LED display, e.g. the new 24'' Cinema display of Apple (converter needed). Actually, at 1.5k that 24'' is not more expensive than the similar high end LCD S-IPS panel I think So tempting :P

You may not need a MacBook Pro even ... the Macbook itself is fairly adequate. Again, just my thots; that is if you are starting from scratch and low budget.

[VR Man]

The non-LED backlit LCDs on the MacBooks are bad, just bad. Color shift and very narrow viewing angles. I move my head or adjust the display by 20˚ and the colors shift.

The MacBook Pros are a different story altogether.