Spyder3 Pro or ColorMunki Display

Mark1616Mark1616 Registered Users Posts: 319 Major grins
edited December 5, 2011 in Digital Darkroom
A while ago my Huey Pro died and I've not yet replaced it so looking to choose between the Spyder3 Pro or ColorMunki Display. Is anyone using either of these and what are your thoughts?

I'm here to learn so please feel free to give me constructive criticism to help me become the photographer I desire to be.

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  • ziggy53ziggy53 Super Moderators Posts: 24,130 moderator
    edited December 2, 2011
    Moved to the Digital Darkroom, where we discuss computers, monitors and associated equipment.
    ziggy53
    Moderator of the Cameras and Accessories forums
  • Mark1616Mark1616 Registered Users Posts: 319 Major grins
    edited December 2, 2011
    ziggy53 wrote: »
    Moved to the Digital Darkroom, where we discuss computers, monitors and associated equipment.

    Oops, sorry. Thanks for moving it though :)

    I'm here to learn so please feel free to give me constructive criticism to help me become the photographer I desire to be.

  • ziggy53ziggy53 Super Moderators Posts: 24,130 moderator
    edited December 2, 2011
    http://bit.ly/vYNF63

    http://bit.ly/sNib5i
    ziggy53
    Moderator of the Cameras and Accessories forums
  • NewsyNewsy Registered Users Posts: 605 Major grins
    edited December 2, 2011
    Mark1616 wrote: »
    A while ago my Huey Pro died and I've not yet replaced it so looking to choose between the Spyder3 Pro or ColorMunki Display. Is anyone using either of these and what are your thoughts?

    Personally, I would only acquire a calibrator that has a software with the option for direct control over adjusting the the brightness of my monitor(s). In particular, this is because I run a dual monitor system and want both my monitors to have the exact same brightness level.

    The Spyder3 Pro does not offer "direct control". The Spyder3 Elite does.

    http://spyder.datacolor.com/s3compare.php

    With the Spyder3 Pro you will be given the white luminance value of your monitor at the end of the calibration. If it is 140 cd/m2 but you wanted 120 cd/m2, then you will have to redo the entire calibration, make your adjustments to the Brightness control at the beginning of the cycle, work your way through all the RGB adjustments (or just use the easy auto mode where you don't touch the sliders), until it is done and you get the new white luminance value. Big time waster imho.

    The Spyder3 Elite does it all in one set of screens before moving on to setting the color temperature (white point) and gamma via RGB sliders or easy auto no touch option.

    Of course, you could also set the brightness separately via open source third party software such as HCFR or Argyll, or a paid program like ColorEyes, and then use the Spyder software for the remainder. Just takes more time. Consider that most experts suggest calibrating your monitor periodically - some say every month, others say for current LCD's it is only required a couple of times a year. Certainly for a brand new monitor with a CCFL back light, I'd calibrate it at least 4 times in its' first year due CCFL back lights tend to fade a fair bit in the first year of use.

    Note that the ColorMunki Display is "locked" so it can't be used with third party software such as the following. The similar i1Display Pro is not locked.


    HCFR
    Download >> http://www.homecinema-fr.com/colorimetre/index_en.php
    Help forum >> http://www.curtpalme.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=10457
    Help forum >> http://www.marcelpatek.com/hcfr.html


    Argyll
    Download >> http://www.argyllcms.com/
    GUI >>http://hoech.net/dispcalGUI/
    best help post I've found >> http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1006&message=38157360

    ......................

    As to the choice between a Spyder3 or a ColorMunki.... while Spyder3's have had darts thrown at them in the past (18 months to 24 months ago) for quality control, I believe recent claims of quality checks and reports of very good customer service should have you considering them.

    I have used a Datacolor Spyder2 Pro (equivalent to current Spyder3 Elite) in the past and currently use an X-Rite i1Display2. The S2's software installed seamlessly and worked well on my Vista 64bit system. Not the same story for my i1D2. If the ColorMunki software is as problematic as my i1D2's, I would stay away. That's not what I'm reading though in posts from ColorMunki users but maybe not many of them use a dual monitor system like I do, which is where I continue to have to use a workaround.

    Regardless, this next report on calibration hardware should be of interest to you. It was recently updated (Oct 2011) and now includes data on the new ColorMunki Display and i1Display Pro.

    http://www.drycreekphoto.com/Learn/Calibration/MonitorCalibrationHardware.html

    .
    http://newsy.smugmug.com

    .
  • Mark1616Mark1616 Registered Users Posts: 319 Major grins
    edited December 2, 2011
    Thanks a lot Newsy for your help :) I will look at the elite, but might just go pro and then I have the option for a software upg. Still thinking.

    I'm here to learn so please feel free to give me constructive criticism to help me become the photographer I desire to be.

  • Mark1616Mark1616 Registered Users Posts: 319 Major grins
    edited December 5, 2011
    Just ordered the Elite so looking forward to getting it now :)

    I'm here to learn so please feel free to give me constructive criticism to help me become the photographer I desire to be.

  • FoquesFoques Registered Users Posts: 1,951 Major grins
    edited December 5, 2011
    just FYI.. Elite and Pro have the same calibrator, just different software.
    Last time I needed the software, I downloaded the elite from their site, by accident. It worked. Calibrated everything.. :)
    Arseny - the too honest guy.
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