Spectro choices

[Jeff-Grant]

My i1io needs a service and i'm not inclined to pay the requested service fee. I'm now in the market for a replacement. The only other new device that I know of is a Barbieri. I could probably find an old DTP too. Does anyone know of any other device?

I know that it is expensive and that I could get a lot of profiles for the price etc. I have always hated hand scanning of targets so it's a price that I am willing to pay.

[Rhossydd]

The Barieri is seriously expensive, next down the list of pain is the X-Rite isis, followed by the newer io.
Other than that you're going to be searching eBay and old good auto spectros are pretty rare.

The above models turn up s/h now and again, as do the older Spectroscan and DTP-70. Buying secondhand has risks associated with it, unless the calibration has been recently re-certified it will be a bit of gamble with respect to reliability and accuracy.

[Jeff-Grant]

Buying second hand is definitely not my first choice. I1P doesn't support them, and I would probably need to bring it in from the US. I'm not inclined to buy Xrite again. I just can't come at their service model which forces me to pay $A1800 flag fall for removing one screw and replacing one part.

As I understand it Barbieri is solidly built and can be repaired locally. They are certainly expensive.

[Rhossydd]

Buying second hand is definitely not my first choice. I1P doesn't support them,

That depends on what workflow you use.
I use a DTP-70 measuring with Colorport 2 then I can drop the files straight into i1P or PM5

[Jeff-Grant]

Thanks. I'll look at that. Colorport is so clunky that it didn't occur to me as a goer.

[Jeff-Grant]

What happens when a DTP-70 fails. Does Xrite still repair them?

[Rhossydd]

Colorport is so clunky that it didn't occur to me as a goer.

Yes, it's hardly cutting edge software. What is allows is the continuing use of older X-Rite(GMB) hardware into newer software, assuming you have a system that has drivers available. The older spectros that were so expensive when new often still perform excellently and getting a full length life from them makes all sorts of sense.

An old cheap laptop running the required OS makes a decent intermediary for an old spectros like a Spectrascan or DTP, measurements can then be networked across to your current main system. An attractive option when autospectros can take a substantial time to scan big targets and be annoyingly noisy in use.

[Rhossydd]

What happens when a DTP-70 fails. Does Xrite still repair them?

Having started this thread on the basis of how expensive X-Rite's service costs are, would you think it likely to be cost effective if they were able to repair them ?

[Jeff-Grant]

Hardly, good point. I can buy close to 2 DTPs for the io repair cost. If I could find one in Australia, it would be more attractive.

[Rhossydd]

If I could find one in Australia.....

I don't think s/h autospectros are easy to source anywhere.

[Jeff-Grant]

There are two on Ebay now. One as-is, and the other supposedly a goer. I'd really want to eyeball it going before I paid.

[Jeff-Grant]

I have found a DTP 70 locally. That solves the problem for now.