Yet another monitor question thread

RevLinePhoto

I am in the market for a new monitor due to my current 4 year old led samsung is now completely off on whites and colors. I am looking at ISP monitors and like a lot of people I don't have to large of a budget.
My background is I shoot for pleasure and some for my small business nothing to make a day job out of.

First monitor I would like to look at is the Asus pa238q
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/818913-REG/ASUS_PA238Q_PA238Q_23_LCD_Widescreen.html
Which has a bit of a history of having some light bleed but is well within the price range to be able to afford a spider4 pro at the same time.

Second monitor would not leave me enough to purchase a calibrator as well which is something I feel is needed knowing you can edit a picture completely wrong without knowing it.
This monitor is the Asus PA246Q
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/818913-REG/ASUS_PA238Q_PA238Q_23_LCD_Widescreen.html
Which is much more expensive however is said to not always accurate out of the box.

So I goes the question comes down to what is more important a calibrated lower range monitor or a uncalibrated slightly higher grade monitor?

Thanks for all help
Ryan

Newsy

RevLinePhoto wrote: »

So I goes the question comes down to what is more important a calibrated lower range monitor or a uncalibrated slightly higher grade monitor?

I'd go for a calibrated lower end or smaller monitor (with an IPS or PVA type LCD panel) every time.


You're comparing two very different monitors due their native gamuts.

The ASUS PA238Q offers a standard sRGB color space.

The ASUS PA246Q offers a wide gamut covering the sRGB and the AdobeRGB color spaces.


Working with a wide gamut monitor requires a fairly complete understanding of color management from the basic color management app found in Windows OS's (sorry, don't know the Apple equivalent), use of ICC profiles, and use of color managed software to view images. If you don't manage it correctly you could end up with some of the issues in this old old document - see page 4....

http://www.portrait.com/Controlling_Wide_Gamut.pdf


Other useful links re wide gamut...

http://www.gballard.net/photoshop/srgb_wide_gamut.html
http://www.gballard.net/psd/go_live_page_profile/embeddedJPEGprofiles.html#


You could always use the PA246Q in it's preset sRGB mode and switch to the User/Custom mode (wide gamut) when editing in Lightroom (ProPhotoRGB working space) or CS 3/4/5 (default AdobeRGB working space). Other than these two most of the basic editors (i.e. PS Elements) packaged with P&S cameras are not fully color managed and work best with a standard sRGB monitor.

There are plenty of decent quality monitors under $500.

http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/reviews.htm
http://www.prad.de/en/monitore/reviews.html


You could always go to a dual monitor system where you keep your old Samsung for use as the 2nd monitor to hold tool menus, email, etc while you use the main monitor for image viewing and editing. In this case a smaller 21.5" e-IPS monitor would work, give you a decent calibrated sRGB gamut work space, but with the use of your older monitor provide more effective screen real estate than a single 24" or 27" monitor.

Good 21.5" units with e-IPS tft LCD panels would include the Dell U2212HM, HP ZR2240w, LG IPS226V. I've seen the Dell and LG for under $180 CAD and I believe with coupons in the USA you can get to that level. Plenty of $$$ left over for a Spyder 4 Pro.

http://www.techbargains.com/coupons.cfm

They're all 6bit + AFRC but the new AFRC system is doing a very good job simulating an 8bit 16.7 million color depth. From most reviews you'll find few negative comments re banding issues or dithering artifacts.

.

RevLinePhoto

Thank you much for the information it looks like I have some reading to do

RevLinePhoto

Well I might have been duped I found the LG ips236v on a deal for $199 however I do have a decent amount of backlight bleed in the top right corner which I have found to be the cause is to tight around that corner of the screen. If I cant find a easy remidy I will be returning tomorrow.

Newsy

RevLinePhoto wrote: »

Well I might have been duped I found the LG ips236v on a deal for $199 however I do have a decent amount of backlight bleed in the top right corner which I have found to be the cause is to tight around that corner of the screen. If I cant find a easy remidy I will be returning tomorrow.

I think most reviews found the IPS231P to be a better 23" than the IPS236V. I saw the IPS231P for $179 CAD at Xmas.