With the recent price drop by Sony and a good deal at newegg I could resist no longer and ordered the 23" display.
I'll report back to this thread when I've had a chance to play with my new toy.:oogle
I went with a 23" back in November. What a difference! (mine's the ViewSonic)
You're going to like w i d e. Great for editing, and not bad for looking at two full size browsers simultaneously. Anyone else looking at it will have screen envy.
My Smugmug
"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take" - Wayne Gretzky
I went with a 23" back in November. What a difference! (mine's the ViewSonic)
You're going to like w i d e. Great for editing, and not bad for looking at two full size browsers simultaneously. Anyone else looking at it will have screen envy.
...I was wondering what resolution you use?
The Sony has the specs and I haven't read a bad user review yet. My Sony 18.1" LCD is 3 1/2 years old and it is as good as when it was new. I hope the new one follows suit!
I'm glad to hear that it makes editing easier...my eyes need it.
1920 x 1200 is native res., and I have kept it there since day one. Some fonts are very very tiny though.
Most all these monitors are very good. Hard to go wrong. One week after I bought the vp231wb, they released the newer replacement (model 2330)with 800:1 and the HD specs for Vista.
My initial concerns about color accuracy were unfounded. This is my first LCD. Previously I had been using a 19 inch Sony CRT (branded as Gateway). Since digital photography is all about numbers and histograms, true 100% accuracy (impossible anyway) isn't the most uber important goal. I still don't know if I'll ever bother with a monitor calibrator. Seems that this rig has an sRGB display mode which yields very good results on its own. Time will tell - I'm still getting used to it.
My Smugmug
"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take" - Wayne Gretzky
Ric G.
So good to hear from you again. This seems to be graduate school for STF. While Sony sure is expensive, they sure do make some of the best stuff, not unlike Canon. Like S-85, the big screen is very usefull. And very nice for the tri-focal wearing eyes. But the Dual screen makes all other issues secondary, believe me!
Regards, David.
So good to hear from you again. This seems to be graduate school for STF. While Sony sure is expensive, they sure do make some of the best stuff, not unlike Canon. Like S-85, the big screen is very usefull. And very nice for the tri-focal wearing eyes. But the Dual screen makes all other issues secondary, believe me!
Regards, David.
STF! :argue Used to be a valuable resource.....oh well.
Was the link you provided correct? It took me to a 19" PCTV....or did you buy two and a video card to support them?
It is a 19" monitor that has a built in HDTV tuner. My Media Center Computer also has a TV tuner. Picture -in Picture can be done on both monitors as my video card supports dual screens (as do most modern cards).
Got it!
Well, my Sony 23" monitor came Tuesday evening via UPS ground. The box was beaten up and wet! So my initial reaction :cry was not what I'd hoped for. Seemed like it was okay so I set it up. Digital did not work properly and I was having a fit.:eek1
After some thought and research, I came to realize that my graphics card (nVidia GeForce FX 5200) wasn't stout enough. Today I went over to Best Buy and purchased a new card (nVidia GeForce 6600), installed it and booted up.
Now, I am happy.
What an outstanding view! All that detail I didn't even know existed. The Sony is a great looking monitor.
Viewing and editing photos is a pleasure instead of a chore.
I have the Eye-One Match 3 software and screen puck. I have not profiled it yet. Thanks for the reminder!
Now if I can only get some of the internet sites to up their resolutions and automatically scale like dgrin does I'll have it made.
Having just gone through several hours of learning and perfecting my skills using that very software, I'm curious to see what you think of the results. Trying to line up those RGB arrows is an interesting experience.
Having just gone through several hours of learning and perfecting my skills using that very software, I'm curious to see what you think of the results. Trying to line up those RGB arrows is an interesting experience.
Always used "easy" setting for calibration in the past.:crazy
This was my first attempt at "advanced". One thing I know for sure is that my monitor was WAY to bright. I had decrease from 100 to 35 to reach the target value!!!!!
Once I figured out how to navigate the screen adjustment menu....it was fairly easy to get my RGB values in line. I had to boost the red to 140 and decrease the green and blue to 124.
I looked at some photos and was pleased....although the contrast may be too high.
My Sony monitor has what they call an ECO mode where you can adjust the brightness of the back light in 3 settings ( H M L) plus an auto setting for changes in ambient light. Since you can predefine the values of each step, I calibrated in the M (medium) mode (where I will generally use it) so that if I want something a little brighter I can just switch it to H.
My biggest challenge was navigating the menu using those finicky touch controls. Seems like they never respond the same as the last touch!
When you were adjusting the RG and B, did they hop around a little or did yours move and then sit still until you made your next adjustment?
As you might be able to tell, mine kept hopping around a bit, so I finally settled for a majority of their hops being at 6500 with a luminance close to 100%. That seemed to be good enough for the final work by the Eye One, which delivered a 6500 and 99.2%.
I must say I'm glad I went to the trouble of muddling through and learning how to do this. The results are clearly superior to the 'easy' automatic mode, and to the Huey.
After several disappointing results last night, I finally figured out my monitor's controls and had the right kind of light. Now I'm not skeered of calibrating my monitor manually, anymore. Hurrah!
Congrats on the new view, Ric. Isn't the 23" wide perspective just way cool?
There is a honeymoon period where a 23" is very different and fun - and then in a few months you will get used to it. So much, in fact, that when you look over the shoulder of someone else with a 19" 4:3 monitor you think "how can they look at that thing?"
Pretty soon everybody will have these as they seem to go down $100 per month. But that's OK. Last year they were all $2,300 each.
Mine was factory adjusted way too bright also. In photo editing mode (sRGB), I don't mind since I need to see into the shadows, but the eyeball piercing factory settings are only supposed to impress the people in the large stores looking for a bright monitor. I wonder how many people never touch the buttons.
My Smugmug
"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take" - Wayne Gretzky
When you were adjusting the RG and B, did they hop around a little or did yours move and then sit still until you made your next adjustment?
They hopped a bit but I quickly learned to be patient and not move too much too fast. I think that was more due to the controls not giving the input as opposed to the software not responding.
Congrats on the new view, Ric. Isn't the 23" wide perspective just way cool?
There is a honeymoon period where a 23" is very different and fun - and then in a few months you will get used to it. So much, in fact, that when you look over the shoulder of someone else with a 19" 4:3 monitor you think "how can they look at that thing?"
Pretty soon everybody will have these as they seem to go down $100 per month. But that's OK. Last year they were all $2,300 each.
Mine was factory adjusted way too bright also. In photo editing mode (sRGB), I don't mind since I need to see into the shadows, but the eyeball piercing factory settings are only supposed to impress the people in the large stores looking for a bright monitor. I wonder how many people never touch the buttons.
The shadow detail is amazing. Heck I was taking better shots than I thought. Really it ALMOST makes you want to go back and reedit everything! (ain't gonna happen!):D
I paid $1053 delivered. Time will tell, but, right now I feel it was worth it. (Oh, and $199 for the graphics card)
When I think of all the photos I've shared and had comments on, and all the photos that I have commented on.....who's to say what someone else was really seeing or for that matter what I was seeing.
I have already come to the realization that I'm going to have to re-size windows where I want to read lengthly text. Trying to read across the full width of this screen is going to cause my eyeballs to fall out of my head!:lol4
I have already come to the realization that I'm going to have to re-size windows where I want to read lengthly text. Trying to read across the full width of this screen is going to cause my eyeballs to fall out of my head!:lol4
Yup. Normal browsing at 1920 x 1200 isn't all that useful, and is a pain in the arse for reading something lengthy.
I park two browser windows high onto the thing. Full screen browser windows are only useful if I'm looking at the TV scedule for all channels and 6 hours across or more.
Other than that, editing is easier full boat, as is some other applications. Spreadsheets come to mind.
My Smugmug
"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take" - Wayne Gretzky
That's real nice, Ric. Is that one of your pictures up as wallpaper?
Actually this is a digital rendering that has no real basis in reality. Bryce...I think.
I downloaded this from DigitalBlasphemy"s web site. Ryan Bliss has created many wonderful works of art. Since I got this widescreen monitor and he has 136 widescreen wallpapers to choose from, I ponied up for a subscription ($25/yr.)....well worth it....I think.
Comments
I went with a 23" back in November. What a difference! (mine's the ViewSonic)
You're going to like w i d e. Great for editing, and not bad for looking at two full size browsers simultaneously. Anyone else looking at it will have screen envy.
"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take" - Wayne Gretzky
Good luck with that massive screen; looking forward to hearing about its use. I chose this onehttp://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_DisplayProductInformation-Start?ProductSKU=MFMHT95&Dept=computers&CategoryName=cpu_Displays_PCTV because it also had a HiDef tv also, and The second display carries the pallettes from CS2.
Cheers, David
Alpha 99 & VG, 900x2 & VG; 50mm1.4, CZ135 1.8; CZ16-35 2.8, CZ24-70 2.8, G70-200 2.8, G70-400, Sony TC 1.4, F20, F58, F60.
...I was wondering what resolution you use?
The Sony has the specs and I haven't read a bad user review yet. My Sony 18.1" LCD is 3 1/2 years old and it is as good as when it was new. I hope the new one follows suit!
I'm glad to hear that it makes editing easier...my eyes need it.
Thanks, David.
Hopefully I'll be jumping for joy when I report back.
Looks like you got yourself a nice display. Sony has the way to get in your wallet with all the cool stuff they make.
Most all these monitors are very good. Hard to go wrong. One week after I bought the vp231wb, they released the newer replacement (model 2330)with 800:1 and the HD specs for Vista.
My initial concerns about color accuracy were unfounded. This is my first LCD. Previously I had been using a 19 inch Sony CRT (branded as Gateway). Since digital photography is all about numbers and histograms, true 100% accuracy (impossible anyway) isn't the most uber important goal. I still don't know if I'll ever bother with a monitor calibrator. Seems that this rig has an sRGB display mode which yields very good results on its own. Time will tell - I'm still getting used to it.
"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take" - Wayne Gretzky
So good to hear from you again. This seems to be graduate school for STF. While Sony sure is expensive, they sure do make some of the best stuff, not unlike Canon. Like S-85, the big screen is very usefull. And very nice for the tri-focal wearing eyes.
Regards, David.
Alpha 99 & VG, 900x2 & VG; 50mm1.4, CZ135 1.8; CZ16-35 2.8, CZ24-70 2.8, G70-200 2.8, G70-400, Sony TC 1.4, F20, F58, F60.
Can be had here:
http://www.techonweb.com/products/productdetail.aspx?id=B28124&src=PG
STF! :argue Used to be a valuable resource.....oh well.
Was the link you provided correct? It took me to a 19" PCTV....or did you buy two and a video card to support them?
Alpha 99 & VG, 900x2 & VG; 50mm1.4, CZ135 1.8; CZ16-35 2.8, CZ24-70 2.8, G70-200 2.8, G70-400, Sony TC 1.4, F20, F58, F60.
Well, my Sony 23" monitor came Tuesday evening via UPS ground. The box was beaten up and wet! So my initial reaction :cry was not what I'd hoped for. Seemed like it was okay so I set it up. Digital did not work properly and I was having a fit.:eek1
After some thought and research, I came to realize that my graphics card (nVidia GeForce FX 5200) wasn't stout enough. Today I went over to Best Buy and purchased a new card (nVidia GeForce 6600), installed it and booted up.
Now, I am happy.
What an outstanding view! All that detail I didn't even know existed. The Sony is a great looking monitor.
Viewing and editing photos is a pleasure instead of a chore.
Soooo, what are you gonna use to calibrate it?
Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam
http://www.mcneel.com/users/jb/foghorn/ill_shut_up.au
I have the Eye-One Match 3 software and screen puck. I have not profiled it yet. Thanks for the reminder!
Now if I can only get some of the internet sites to up their resolutions and automatically scale like dgrin does I'll have it made.
Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam
http://www.mcneel.com/users/jb/foghorn/ill_shut_up.au
This was my first attempt at "advanced". One thing I know for sure is that my monitor was WAY to bright. I had decrease from 100 to 35 to reach the target value!!!!!
Once I figured out how to navigate the screen adjustment menu....it was fairly easy to get my RGB values in line. I had to boost the red to 140 and decrease the green and blue to 124.
I looked at some photos and was pleased....although the contrast may be too high.
My Sony monitor has what they call an ECO mode where you can adjust the brightness of the back light in 3 settings ( H M L) plus an auto setting for changes in ambient light. Since you can predefine the values of each step, I calibrated in the M (medium) mode (where I will generally use it) so that if I want something a little brighter I can just switch it to H.
My biggest challenge was navigating the menu using those finicky touch controls. Seems like they never respond the same as the last touch!
When you were adjusting the RG and B, did they hop around a little or did yours move and then sit still until you made your next adjustment?
As you might be able to tell, mine kept hopping around a bit, so I finally settled for a majority of their hops being at 6500 with a luminance close to 100%. That seemed to be good enough for the final work by the Eye One, which delivered a 6500 and 99.2%.
I must say I'm glad I went to the trouble of muddling through and learning how to do this. The results are clearly superior to the 'easy' automatic mode, and to the Huey.
After several disappointing results last night, I finally figured out my monitor's controls and had the right kind of light. Now I'm not skeered of calibrating my monitor manually, anymore. Hurrah!
Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam
http://www.mcneel.com/users/jb/foghorn/ill_shut_up.au
There is a honeymoon period where a 23" is very different and fun - and then in a few months you will get used to it. So much, in fact, that when you look over the shoulder of someone else with a 19" 4:3 monitor you think "how can they look at that thing?"
Pretty soon everybody will have these as they seem to go down $100 per month. But that's OK. Last year they were all $2,300 each.
Mine was factory adjusted way too bright also. In photo editing mode (sRGB), I don't mind since I need to see into the shadows, but the eyeball piercing factory settings are only supposed to impress the people in the large stores looking for a bright monitor. I wonder how many people never touch the buttons.
"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take" - Wayne Gretzky
They hopped a bit but I quickly learned to be patient and not move too much too fast. I think that was more due to the controls not giving the input as opposed to the software not responding.
The shadow detail is amazing. Heck I was taking better shots than I thought. Really it ALMOST makes you want to go back and reedit everything! (ain't gonna happen!):D
I paid $1053 delivered. Time will tell, but, right now I feel it was worth it. (Oh, and $199 for the graphics card)
When I think of all the photos I've shared and had comments on, and all the photos that I have commented on.....who's to say what someone else was really seeing or for that matter what I was seeing.
I have already come to the realization that I'm going to have to re-size windows where I want to read lengthly text. Trying to read across the full width of this screen is going to cause my eyeballs to fall out of my head!:lol4
Yup. Normal browsing at 1920 x 1200 isn't all that useful, and is a pain in the arse for reading something lengthy.
I park two browser windows high onto the thing. Full screen browser windows are only useful if I'm looking at the TV scedule for all channels and 6 hours across or more.
Other than that, editing is easier full boat, as is some other applications. Spreadsheets come to mind.
"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take" - Wayne Gretzky
Ain't she purdy!?!
Resized only.
That's real nice, Ric. Is that one of your pictures up as wallpaper?
"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take" - Wayne Gretzky
Actually this is a digital rendering that has no real basis in reality. Bryce...I think.
I downloaded this from DigitalBlasphemy"s web site. Ryan Bliss has created many wonderful works of art. Since I got this widescreen monitor and he has 136 widescreen wallpapers to choose from, I ponied up for a subscription ($25/yr.)....well worth it....I think.