Looking For A New Monitor

rouxsterrouxster Registered Users Posts: 143 Major grins
edited May 11, 2010 in Digital Darkroom
I need to get a new monitor. My current monitor sucks! I have a Dell Ultra Sharp 2209. I really like Dell monitors and this one was on sale at a great price from Dell. Now I see why. For the past year, I have had the hardest time getting this monitor calibrated, which I did not have with my previous 19" Dell Ultra Sharp. I bought two very good calibrators. I am currently using a Color Munki. I am using a Geforce 9800GT, so my video card is not lacking or cheap.

Anyway, I am looking at another Dell, the U2410. It gets some pretty good reviews, but all of the reviews compare it to gaming performance. I want to get photographers opinions on which monitors you all think are the best.

Thanks.

Comments

  • NewsyNewsy Registered Users Posts: 605 Major grins
    edited April 26, 2010
    rouxster wrote:
    I need to get a new monitor. My current monitor sucks! I have a Dell Ultra Sharp 2209. I really like Dell monitors and this one was on sale at a great price from Dell. Now I see why. For the past year, I have had the hardest time getting this monitor calibrated, which I did not have with my previous 19" Dell Ultra Sharp. I bought two very good calibrators. I am currently using a Color Munki. I am using a Geforce 9800GT, so my video card is not lacking or cheap.

    Anyway, I am looking at another Dell, the U2410. It gets some pretty good reviews, but all of the reviews compare it to gaming performance. I want to get photographers opinions on which monitors you all think are the best.

    Thanks.

    Are you talking about the Dell 2209WA? or the S2209W or one of the other 2209 variants that Dell used to have? Can you check your monitor label?

    If the 2209WA, no offense intended, I find it hard to believe you are having so much trouble and that is why I ask for the model number suspecting that perhaps you have been shipped one of Dell's lesser 2209's in error. I've read hundreds of posts from very satisfied users in the past year for this monitor and there are several in depth reviews from top sites that speak very highly of this monitor. In fact, its' factory RGB calibration is reasonably good.

    Maybe I can help?

    As to the U2410.... that monitor is its' own can of worms starting with the fact it is wide gamut and many people have a hard time coming to grips with the demands of a wide gamut monitor. Then there are all the problems people have had with the tint issue - green on the left and red/pink on the right. Not to mention the dithering seen in sRGB mode that has now been corrected with the latest "A01" firmware.

    http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/peripherals/f/3529/t/19302919.aspx

    http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/peripherals/f/3529/p/19297120/19583801.aspx#19583801

    .
  • rouxsterrouxster Registered Users Posts: 143 Major grins
    edited April 26, 2010
    Newsy wrote:
    Are you talking about the Dell 2209WA? or the S2209W or one of the other 2209 variants that Dell used to have? Can you check your monitor label?

    If the 2209WA, no offense intended, I find it hard to believe you are having so much trouble and that is why I ask for the model number suspecting that perhaps you have been shipped one of Dell's lesser 2209's in error. I've read hundreds of posts from very satisfied users in the past year for this monitor and there are several in depth reviews from top sites that speak very highly of this monitor. In fact, its' factory RGB calibration is reasonably good.

    Maybe I can help?

    As to the U2410.... that monitor is its' own can of worms starting with the fact it is wide gamut and many people have a hard time coming to grips with the demands of a wide gamut monitor. Then there are all the problems people have had with the tint issue - green on the left and red/pink on the right. Not to mention the dithering seen in sRGB mode that has now been corrected with the latest "A01" firmware.

    http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/peripherals/f/3529/t/19302919.aspx

    http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/peripherals/f/3529/p/19297120/19583801.aspx#19583801

    .

    Thanks for your insight. I'm pretty sure it is the 2209WFP. The FP is what I'm not sure about. I think the FP designates it as an Ultra Sharp. I get my pics printed either through Mpix or Miller's, dependin on the size of the order. I have worked with them both extensively and although they are coming out better, I can't get the colors just right. It's very frustrating. The factory calibration was very cool. Until I got the Color Munki, I never saw true white on this monitor, it was always a bluish white.

    The problem that I am having now is skin tones are always too warm and a little too dark. What I am seeing in Lightroom, is not what I am seeing on my picutres. I have edited in the dark, with only some light from the TV about 15' behind me.

    I have changed my white point and my luminence to 5000 and 100 when calibrting with Color Munki. This helped a slight bit. I have been told not to go too much lower.

    If you have any suggestions, I will be more than happy to give them a shot.

    Thanks.
  • NewsyNewsy Registered Users Posts: 605 Major grins
    edited April 26, 2010
    rouxster wrote:
    Thanks for your insight. I'm pretty sure it is the 2209WFP.
    Let's get the monitor right first. There was no Dell model 2209WFP. There is only 2209WA, S2209W, and E2209W.

    Can you read the model # off the label on the back of the monitor or off the slide out paper on the side of the monitor?

    The FP is what I'm not sure about. I think the FP designates it as an Ultra Sharp. I get my pics printed either through Mpix or Miller's, dependin on the size of the order. I have worked with them both extensively and although they are coming out better, I can't get the colors just right. It's very frustrating. The factory calibration was very cool. Until I got the Color Munki, I never saw true white on this monitor, it was always a bluish white.
    What was the calibrator you used before the Munki?

    The problem that I am having now is skin tones are always too warm and a little too dark. What I am seeing in Lightroom, is not what I am seeing on my picutres. I have edited in the dark, with only some light from the TV about 15' behind me.
    I don't endorse calibrating or editing in a very dark room.

    I have changed my white point and my luminence to 5000 and 100 when calibrting with Color Munki. This helped a slight bit. I have been told not to go too much lower.
    5000K only works well if you edit in a moderately lit room where the lighting is controlled and consistent and is also 5000K. The point of a 5000K screen is that when you print and hold up the print next to the monitor, the reflected ambient 5000K light off the print will match the colors on the back lit screen as best they can. However, don't expect a precise match between back lit and reflected.

    .
  • vdotmatrixvdotmatrix Registered Users Posts: 343 Major grins
    edited May 2, 2010
    Well before I made a new post I saw this thread on monitors.

    I have been looking for a monitor for 2 days. What I've read about his 2209WA sounds impressive. Wondering about the brightness issue and using an Eye1 Display2 to calibrate it. My current Dell 1900fp is tired and I need a replacement.

    Can you suggest a few other comparable models that won't break the bank?

    Consumer reports talked about an LG model....
  • NewsyNewsy Registered Users Posts: 605 Major grins
    edited May 3, 2010
    vdotmatrix wrote: »
    What I've read about his 2209WA sounds impressive. Wondering about the brightness issue and using an Eye1 Display2 to calibrate it. My current Dell 1900fp is tired and I need a replacement.

    Don't worry about it. The i1D2 will handle the 2209WA just fine.

    Can you suggest a few other comparable models that won't break the bank?

    Read this thread first:
    http://dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=163026

    and then this if necessary...
    http://dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=165207

    .
  • NewsyNewsy Registered Users Posts: 605 Major grins
    edited May 4, 2010
    vdotmatrix wrote: »
    Consumer reports talked about an LG model....

    You mean the LG Flatron W2043T ??

    Discontinued. 6bit TN TFT LCD panel.

    The Dell 2209WA, NEC EA231WMi, HP ZR22w, and HP ZR24w blow it away.


    Please.... no more reading CR for shopping for image editing monitors. Their reviews are outdated and they just don't "get" what image hobbyists need. Stick with real monitor review sites like these:

    http://www.prad.de/en/monitore/reviews.html
    http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/
    http://www.flatpanelshd.com/reviews.php

    .
  • vdotmatrixvdotmatrix Registered Users Posts: 343 Major grins
    edited May 5, 2010
    Dell 2209WA vs NEC EA231WMi IPS monitirs
    Newsy wrote: »
    You mean the LG Flatron W2043T ??

    Discontinued. 6bit TN TFT LCD panel.

    The Dell 2209WA, NEC EA231WMi, HP ZR22w, and HP ZR24w blow it away.


    Please.... no more reading CR for shopping for image editing monitors. Their reviews are outdated and they just don't "get" what image hobbyists need. Stick with real monitor review sites like these:

    http://www.prad.de/en/monitore/reviews.html
    http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/
    http://www.flatpanelshd.com/reviews.php

    .

    I have tried to read everything I can find about these 2 monitors and have run out of sources....

    Is there anything else people can say about the NEC????
  • vdotmatrixvdotmatrix Registered Users Posts: 343 Major grins
    edited May 5, 2010
    I went with the
    EA231WMI-BK

    from NEC and should be here monday!

    Thanks for your helps!

    wings.gif
  • vdotmatrixvdotmatrix Registered Users Posts: 343 Major grins
    edited May 11, 2010
    vdotmatrix wrote: »
    I went with the
    EA231WMI-BK

    from NEC and should be here monday!

    Thanks for your helps!

    wings.gif
    It took many many hours to figure out what i needed to flip the display to portrait.....firstly i blew a gasket reading their non-product manual pdf...

    then, when i could figure out how to display in portrait i attacked the forums for an answer and as well as NEC teksupport (oh brother).

    I figured out that my graphics drivers hadn't been updated in 3 years...

    OH WELL..



    So, the monitor calibrated fine. pretty color. weird 16:9

    going from landscape to portrait is a royal PITA.

    This has to be done at the graphic card level and then the OSD doesn't flip and you have to futz around with the mouse which will be upside down or backwards while you confirm the display change-if you've rotated the thing right.

    It is a pretty monitor but some pretty irritating features.

    Am I not following directions for this monitor or is this how this thing is...

    I am almost ready to take the 15% restocking fee for the Dell2209WA.

    I dunno.

    I am not thrilled with new stuff.
  • PupatorPupator Registered Users Posts: 2,322 Major grins
    edited May 11, 2010
    I almost bought that monitor today but got the Viewsonic VP2365wb instead. It was $299 at Amazon. If I don't like it, I'm going to try the HP ZR24w.
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