monitor confusion

Elaine

I've been reading and following links all morning and I'm not sure I'm getting anywhere! (Is there a smiley that pulls its hair out?!) We're hoping to move all my photo stuff over to a Mac system, and at this point we're looking at the iMac with a second monitor option. We'd like to go ahead and get the second monitor now and then the iMac a little later. Since the second monitor will be my primary editing monitor, we're trying to be somewhat picky. But, we'd like to keep the expense level down around $500.

I know I don't want a TN panel.
I think I want S-IPS (don't know what that means though). Although it seems that some higher-end monitors are S-PVA.
I know I don't want glossy.
I know I want 8 bit per channel and 16.7 million colors.
I know I'd like something at least 22".

Can anyone help me narrow down my choices or pass along some recommendations? Anything else I should be considering? I'd really appreciate the feedback!

eoren1

Hi Elaine,
I'm in a similar boat and just posted about my upcoming move to Mac (though I'm going the macbook route). I am also looking to upgrade my monitor.
Found this site for a description of the different panels:
http://www.pchardwarehelp.com/guides/lcd-panel-types.php
For less than $500, I've found an NEC 20" at newegg:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824002319
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DavidTO

I don't know the model #'s but the Dells are supposed to be awesome. I believe Andy has a couple. Maybe he'll chime in...

jdryan3

I have a Dell 2405 FPW that is almost 2 years old. I ran it on my PC and now as the 2nd (and primary) monitor on my Mac Book Pro. Works very well. ABSOLUTELY need to calibrate it (I use Spyder 2).

I'm not sure how the video card in the iMac works when it comes to the LUT anb if you sahe one profile across the monitor or if you can create a separate one for each like I can on the Mac Book Pro.

Make sure you follow DavidTO's advice to use 2.2 gamma setting.

Hope that helps

cmason

DavidTO wrote:

I don't know the model #'s but the Dells are supposed to be awesome. I believe Andy has a couple. Maybe he'll chime in...

Dell Ultrasharps are it. The 20" model is supposed to be S-IPS ( Dell 2007WFP), the 24 is PVA ( Dell 2407WFP).

Found via google:

Model/Panel Index


Acer
Acer AL1951Cs - 19" TN Film
Acer AL1916ws - 19" WS TN Film
Acer AL2016ws - 20" WS Chunghwa Picture Tubes TN Film
Acer AL2032wa - 20" WS AU Optronics P-MVA (M201EW01 V0) OR LG.Philips S-IPS (LM201W01)

BenQ
BenQ FP202W - 20" WS Chunghwa Picture Tubes TN Film

Dell
Dell 1905FP - 19" Samsung PVA (LTM190E4-L02) or AU Optronics P-MVA (M190EN03 V0)
Dell 1907FP - 19" TN Film
Dell 2001FP - 20" LG.Philips S-IPS (LM201U04)
Dell 2005FPW - 20" WS LG.Philips S-IPS (LM201W01)
Dell 2007WFP - 20" WS LG.Philips S-IPS (LM201W01)
Dell 2007FP - 20" LG.Philips S-IPS (LM201U04)
Dell 2405FPW - 24" WS Samsung PVA (LTM240M1-L01)
Dell 2407WFP - 24" WS Samsung S-PVA (LM201W01)
Dell 3007WFP - 30" WS LG.Philips S-IPS (LM300W01)

Gateway
Gateway FPD2185W - 21" WS Samsung S-PVA (LTM210M2)

HP
HP F2105 - 21" WS Samsung S-PVA (LTM210M2)

Hyundai
Hyundai L90D+ - 19" Samsung TN (LTM190EX-L01)

NEC
NEC LCD20WGX2 - 20" LG.Philips AS-IPS (LM201W01)

Sceptre X20G Naga II 16ms 20" P-MVA
Sceptre X20G Naga II - 20" WS P-MVA

Samsung
Samsung 930B - 19" Samsung TN Film
Samsung 940B - 19" Samsung TN Film
Samsung 940T - 19" Samsung PVA (LTM190E4)
Samsung 940MW - 19"WS Samsung TN Film (LTM190M2)
Samsung 204B - 20" Samsung TN Film (LTM201UX)
Samsung 215TW - 21" WS Samsung S-PVA (LTM210M2)
Samsung 244T - 24" WS Samsung S-PVA (LTM240M2)

ViewSonic
ViewSonic VA1912W - 19" WS Chi Mei Optoelectronics TN Film (M190A1)
ViewSonic VP912B - 19" AU Optronics TN Film (M190EN04 V1)
Viewsonic VX922 - 19" AU Optronics TN Film (M190EN04)
Viewsonic VX924 - 19" AU Optronics TN Film (M190EN04 V5)
ViewSonic VP920 - 19" TN Film
ViewSonic VP930 - 19" AU Optronics P-MVA (M190EG01 V0)
ViewSonic VA1912W - 19" WS Chi Mei Optoelectronics TN Film (M190A1)
ViewSonic VA2012WB - 20" WS Chunghwa Picture Tubes TN Film
ViewSonic VX2025WM - 20" WS AU Optronics P-MVA (M201EW01 V0)



Good place to visit:

http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/guides.htm
http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/articles/panel_technologies.htm

eoren1

The problem with Dells is that they have a history of putting out S-IPS panels, getting great reviews, and promptly switching to S-PVA panels without warning. The 20" model (2007 WPF) went through this. At this point, it is basically a coin flip on which panel you get when you buy this model.
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cmason

You may want to read this thread, lots of good info:

http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?p=532836#post532836

I am not sure how big a deal the IPS vs PVA thing is...it is argued constantly. One of the most popular LCDs for photo work, and a panel used by many DGrinners is the Samsung 215TW, a PVA panel.

This is a link I had as well, good info here too: http://textblog.anands.net/archives/11

Elaine

Thanks for all the feedback! I'll sort through it all and let you know what we end up doing!

Elaine

I've read about a few of the monitors that seem popular (a couple Samsungs and an NEC) that say they have a beautiful glossy screen. If I'm trying to avoid the glossy iMac as my primary editing monitor, why would I opt for one of these others that are also glossy? It seems that glossy is all the rage...is a glossy a glossy a glossy? Or are there variations of glossy?

EDIT: Well, it seems that at least in some cases, "glossy" refers to the frame or screen casing, rather than the actual panel.

eoren1

Hi Elaine,
Just an update from me. Pulled the trigger on the NEC I linked to above. Just got it today and calibrated it. I'm coming from a 17 inch Dell that has a TN panel. I have to say that this thing is just unbelievable. Absolutely no difference in colors or contrast at any angle! Beautiful widescreen. It's got some cool extras like a built-in TV tuner so that you can watch the Red Sox game while working in Lightroom and posting to Dgrin (as I'm doing now...). You really can't beat the price ($375 after rebate) for a 20 inch S-IPS from NEC.
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