Monitor for photos and gaming

    Hi!


    I couldn't get the "find models"-function to work(got 404), so I'll try posting here.


    I'm hunting for a new monitor. I'm considering the Dell 2209WA, since I think sRGB will be fine for my photography needs and because it doesn't seem to need that much calibration, which is good, since I have no plans for buying calibration hardware. The one thing that it would need to be perfect though, is RGB or SCART-input so I can use it for my PS2 as well. I don't want to have two monitors, but I don't want one that doesn't cover sRGB well either. My budget is flexible, but somewhere around the 2209WA is prefereable. My preferred size is 22inches and I do want it to do portrait mode, which I realize limit my options quite a bit.


    Thankful for any answers!

    Hej Glassbil,


    jag hoppas att jag kan hjälpa dig (jag älskar att skriva på svenska, men jag kan inte mycket bra - så jag vill försöka på engelska) ;-):



    Zitat

    I'm considering the Dell 2209WA, since I think sRGB will be fine for my photography needs and because it doesn't seem to need that much calibration


    The DELL is a good idea. It has a color space very close to sRGB. The only problem could be the standard gamma of 1,8 (that's why the variations in the gray values are so high).


    What is your "pain barrier" in terms of price? Anyway I would suggest to buy calibration hardware (iColor + DTP94 would be a good choice). You should also consider a display with wide color gamut - when it is calibrated and profiled you can work without problems in sRGB and have the chance to work in wider color spaces too.


    Best regards


    Denis

    Gruß


    Denis

    Hej, och tack för att du tog dig tid att svara! :)


    From what I understood from the review, the gamma deviation was easy to correct, but maybe I misunderstood something. I'm pretty new to looking at monitors this way and I absolutely love the site. It's really the perfect place to go for a thorough review!


    My pain barrier is mostly related to price/value, but I have been looking at the Eizo S2231WE-BK before, and I think that's about where it goes. My gripe with calibration hardware is that it's a lot of money for something that's just going to be used once. I'd rent one though, if it was possible :D


    I've been reading a few discussions on wider colour spaces and aRGB, and it seems to me that it's really not necessary most of the time. I'm not a pro, and from what I understood, the size of the palette stays the same no matter which colour space you're working in. I feel that I learned something about it from this thread at dpreview.



    I'm really grateful for your help. Right now I'm on my Macbook through a...what is it?..5 year old LG LCD-TV, so I guess even a cheap TN would be better than what I have now :D

    Zitat

    Hej, och tack för att du tog dig tid att svara!


    Ingen orsak! Jag glädjas över besök från Sverige :)



    Zitat

    From what I understood from the review, the gamma deviation was easy to correct, but maybe I misunderstood something.


    I haven't tested the DELL myself but the value of 2.2 was archived after calibration via "manipulation" of the videocard LUT. But I have read that with a contrast setting of 50% (standard: 75%) the gamma should be quite near to 2.2 (but that will at least reduce white level and introduce a little banding) which is good when working without color managament.


    Zitat

    My gripe with calibration hardware is that it's a lot of money for something that's just going to be used once


    It is *very* helpful. You won't need it only once, as calibration and profilation should be repeated periodically. iColor + DTP94 colorimeter should cost about 200 Euro. It is worth it. For example would it be no problem to calibrate the DELL with a Gamma of 1,8 => So you maintain the full range of tonal values in non color managed environments - the CMM (color management module) of your software (e.g. Photoshop) will "compensate" if the profile of the picture has a different gamma (e.g. sRGB or 2.2).


    Zitat

    but I have been looking at the Eizo S2231WE-BK before, and I think that's about where it goes.


    A very nice display with wide color gamut. Calibration/ Profilation is mandatory here. An alternativ could be the NEC 2490WUXi. A test will be soon released here.


    Best regards


    Denis

    Gruß


    Denis

    Shouldn't it say in the review if they had to manipulate the graphics card?


    It doesn't really feel like I can motivate buying calibration hardware at the moment. I also have doubts whether I'd benefit from a wide color gamut. I think sRGB will do the trick just fine as long as the calibration is decent. It'd be nice to know what you'd recommend among simpler displays.


    I really appreciate your advice.

    Zitat

    I think sRGB will do the trick just fine as long as the calibration is decent. It'd be nice to know what you'd recommend among simpler displays.


    The NEC 2490WUXi has no wide color gamut, a very stable angle of view and some other nice features. Eizo has the S2431W



    which has also no wide color gamut. Both displays are clearly more expensive than the DELL. A - in this regard - true alternative is difficult to find because we are in the range of displays with TN-Panel then.


    Best regards


    Denis

    Gruß


    Denis

    The price difference is striking. With those alternatives, a wide colour gamut display would seem like the better choice. I am leaning towards the Dell though, and judging from your first reply, that isn't too bad a choice either. I'll consider calibration hardware later and maybe talk to my brother who's also into photography if he's interested in splitting the cost.


    Am I correct if I assume that the Dell would be the best choice in it's price class? I can currently order it for €220 from a dealer here in Sweden.

    Zitat

    Am I correct if I assume that the Dell would be the best choice in it's price class?


    From my point of view it is. I rarely have to do with Apple systems. But after thinking again I would guess that the standard gamma of 1,8 is maybe even quite good for you because the unmanaged parts of the operating system will surely depend on this "mac typical" gamma (probably also Quicktime). If you have a correct monitor profile the CMM will - as I said - compensate if the source file has a profile with a different gamma.


    The responsible editor should still have the display profile. Although it is not absolutely ideal I will try to get it for so you would have a systemwide gamma close to 2.2. I will try to get a profile created with gamma 1,8 too.


    Best regards


    Denis

    Gruß


    Denis

    I guess it's pretty much settled then. Thanks a lot for your help and for going through the trouble to get the profiles for me!
    I'll be sure to send my friends here when they need a new monitor :) It's really a first-class site.

    Einmal editiert, zuletzt von Glassbil ()

    Zitat

    I guess it's pretty much settled then.


    Fine - I have already asked for the profiles and will notify you when I have got them.


    Zitat

    I'll be sure to send my friends here when they need a new monitor :) It's really a first-class site.


    That's nice to hear - tack så mycket!


    Best regards


    Denis

    Gruß


    Denis

    Zitat von Sailor Moon

    I haven't tested the DELL myself but the value of 2.2 was archived after calibration via "manipulation" of the videocard LUT. But I have read that with a contrast setting of 50% (standard: 75%) the gamma should be quite near to 2.2 (but that will at least reduce white level and introduce a little banding) which is good when working without color managament.

    this does seem to be the case:-
    Brightness 10%
    Contrast 50%
    gives a gamma of 2.2


    I've also reduced the red as recommended in the review - the red @ 100% was definitely too high. (I realise that individual monitors will vary, and I'm afraid I dont have a calibrator - I did use QuickGamma () to check the gamma).


    But subjectively, I find the resulting picture a bit dark and contrasty and a bit over-saturated even.
    I'm wondering are there others out there with this model and what you think of the monitor at these settings (or similar).
    I just want to be able to mess around with my photos (sRGB) a bit and be able to trust the screen image (I'm not looking for perfection, just to get in the ball park).


    thanks for any help, Tom



    [edit] anwsers here - auf deutsch aber :) [/edit]

    Einmal editiert, zuletzt von tomos ()

    What about the HP LP2065?
    Its having tons of pixels (1600x1200 is more than the Dell), is fast for gaming, works great in pivot because of the IPS panel and has good sRGB display out of the box. Old is not always a bad thing. That's why they still make it I guess. You'll need a S-video-VGA converter for 19 euro though to connect your PS2, but you'll need it for the Dell too. And it is 4:3, PS2 games are meant to be 4:3.

    Einmal editiert, zuletzt von blankaj ()