Need a new Monitor, Wondering What's Out There In Accurate Displays???

[Pete JF]

Thanks for the read Andrew.

So..first major question..

Turns out Im not going to be able to use Spectraview in it's full effect on my G5..everything's fine for my more up to date Macs.

I couldn't find a software package to meet my needs and called NEC tech. The guy said this newer monitor won't work with the G5 in an officially calibrated state

..BUT, that I could take the profile I made for the NEC on my laptop and copy it over to my G5 Colorsync folder and then choose it..

I did this.

I Saw a change. Doesn't look bad..no clue as to how it's actually going to work. Should it work?

I also noticed that my Resplution choices in System Prefs  don't support the full resolution of the NEC.

[eleanorbrown]

I have a monitor question for Andrew.  Since all my pro equipment was knocked out by a direct lightening strike including my apple 30 inch display I also need a new monitor.  I will be getting the new Apple 6 core Mac Pro next week but have no idea what to do about a monitor.  I like the 30 inch size and am hearing a lot about the 4K displays.  However I also need top notch color management...computer to print and know NEC is an excellent choice but it is not 4k.  Should I stay away from 4K's right now ? I have heard there are still "issues" of various types ... Any advice? Thanks, Eleanor

[richardboutwell]

I have a monitor question for Andrew.  Since all my pro equipment was knocked out by a direct lightening strike including my apple 30 inch display I also need a new monitor.  I will be getting the new Apple 6 core Mac Pro next week but have no idea what to do about a monitor.  I like the 30 inch size and am hearing a lot about the 4K displays.  However I also need top notch color management...computer to print and know NEC is an excellent choice but it is not 4k.  Should I stay away from 4K's right now ? I have heard there are still "issues" of various types ... Any advice? Thanks, Eleanor

"pros" might use Eizo, but nowadays "pro" is often just another word for rich amateur. People in business, on the other hand, need to balance the benefits and quality of equipment with sustainable budgets.

I have a 30" NEC multisync 3090 with Spectraview and the previous generation (not the black trashcan) mac pro. It works like a dream and is so much better than the old apple 30' cinema display. I personally don't see the benefit of working with 4k if your intention is to make great prints from still photographs. However, if you are doing video...

[eleanorbrown]

Thanks...my intent is to make really good prints that match  my display.  I am coming from a 2007 Mac Pro so the trash can as you call it will be totally new to me.  At least I can have apple and photoshop's latest software updates which the 2007 was too old for.  The NEC has been what I've been leaning toward but just hearing more and more about 4K which has been confusing. Eleanor

"pros" might use Eizo, but nowadays "pro" is often just another word for rich amateur. People in business, on the other hand, need to balance the benefits and quality of equipment with sustainable budgets.

I have a 30" NEC multisync 3090 with Spectraview and the previous generation (not the black trashcan) mac pro. It works like a dream and is so much better than the old apple 30' cinema display. I personally don't see the benefit of working with 4k if your intention is to make great prints from still photographs. However, if you are doing video...

[digitaldog]

The "pro's use Eizo" comment is kind of worthless as simply stated as such and I've as yet not seen anything the Eizo provides at a higher price you don't get with the SpectraView system.
As for 4K, NEC is supposed to have one coming but I don't believe it's out and it will likely be rather expensive. So go with the PA302W-SV if you have to go 30" although I think the PA272W is plenty big. Put a sticker on it that says Eizo and now you can feel like a Pro that saved $$ 

[aaronchan]

The Eizo CS240 should be a very good option for you as well.
But I'm not sure is it available in the US market at this moment.
In Hong Kong, it cost around $900 USD.

aaron chan

[eleanorbrown]

Thanks Andrew.  one quick question, would I get any increase in image detail using the 27 inch NEC?  i.e.: same or near same pixel resolution but in a smaller package so to speak?    I'm also assuming the NEC does not have a glossy screen.  Thanks, Eleanor

The "pro's use Eizo" comment is kind of worthless as simply stated as such and I've as yet not seen anything the Eizo provides at a higher price you don't get with the SpectraView system.
As for 4K, NEC is supposed to have one coming but I don't believe it's out and it will likely be rather expensive. So go with the PA302W-SV if you have to go 30" although I think the PA272W is plenty big. Put a sticker on it that says Eizo and now you can feel like a Pro that saved $$ 

[digitaldog]

The 30" is a different aspect ratio from the 27" but no increase in detail and it both have a matt screen.

[Czornyj]

I have a 30" NEC multisync 3090 with Spectraview and the previous generation (not the black trashcan) mac pro. It works like a dream and is so much better than the old apple 30' cinema display. I personally don't see the benefit of working with 4k if your intention is to make great prints from still photographs. However, if you are doing video...

I own 3090WQXi and had a pre production unit of NEC PA322UHD for a week to test, and now can't stand my pathetic 30" display

Working on UHD was a pure joy - the resolution is mind-blowing, and the overall image quality is the best I've ever seen on LCD.

[Czornyj]

Thanks Andrew.  one quick question, would I get any increase in image detail using the 27 inch NEC?  i.e.: same or near same pixel resolution but in a smaller package so to speak?    I'm also assuming the NEC does not have a glossy screen.  Thanks, Eleanor

All new NEC PAxx2 series feature something I call "satin diffuser" - it has clean image and reduces flare as glossy display:

...but it also diffuses the reflections:

[AFairley]

I'd love the resolution of 4K if I could afford it.  But my concern with a 4K monitor would be whether I would get lag on the Lightroom sliders because of the increased number of pixels having to be refreshed.  I'm right at the limit with a Dell 30" and a Windows 7/Intel quad core machine.

[eleanorbrown]

Thanks for clarifying Andrew.  I had noticed that the pixel pitch and overall resolution was a bit different in the two sizes, and didn't know what to  make of it. Eleanor

The 30" is a different aspect ratio from the 27" but no increase in detail and it both have a matt screen.

[eleanorbrown]

I agree on this 4K concern (below)…also others….readable text size for one.  also I use Capture One Pro on most of my RAW processing….Lightroom for everything else and have heard the 4K monitors can run more slowly on very large files which I have in abundance….….Eleanor

I'd love the resolution of 4K if I could afford it.  But my concern with a 4K monitor would be whether I would get lag on the Lightroom sliders because of the increased number of pixels having to be refreshed.  I'm right at the limit with a Dell 30" and a Windows 7/Intel quad core machine.

[Benny Profane]

The "pro's use Eizo" comment is kind of worthless as simply stated as such and I've as yet not seen anything the Eizo provides at a higher price you don't get with the SpectraView system.

Well, what can I say. Go on advising amateurs. We're pros here, and we use Eizo. Simple.

[digitaldog]

Well, what can I say. Go on advising amateurs. We're pros here, and we use Eizo. Simple.

Are you really expecting anyone here to take this and the previous comments from you serioulsy? You've contributed to this forum 78 times and you're speaking for everyone (again) suggesting if you use an Eizo you're a pro and if you recommend another product, it's aimed at amateurs? Point of fact, as of 2010, Lula has more than 1.1 million unique readers each month; 3.5 million page views from some 50,000 people a day. You're suggesting they are all pros. Maybe you need to express what you mean by pro (anyone who can navigate to LuLa?).

Maybe you can provide a post that has some basis of fact about display technology and tell us, tell the OP, how the Eizo your company purchased for your use is superior from a technical capability from a comparable NEC SpectraView model (other than the sticker in the box that you wear that says: "I'm a pro."
You have any salient fact based opinions you can share based on display technology other than labels?
Well, what can you say Benny Profane?

[Benny Profane]

Well, what can I say, other than, don't obsess, buy a decent monitor that pros use that stays stable and is durable, and get to work. I'm intrigued by the new self calibrating devices, which makes it easier to strip away even more of the bs and get to work. Time is money. Life is short. The whole point is to make a nice image.

Or maybe dig out the old Barco from storage and fire that one up. You know, the monitor everyone obsessed over, what, ten years ago? I'll bet reams of paper or internet traffic was wasted trying to figure out if that was the product to buy. Oh, wait.......

OK?

[digitaldog]

OK?

Nope, I didn't think you could answer the specific questions asked of you. Further, there is nothing new about self calibrating devices.
You've got a lot of opinions about the technology and you are welcome to have them. You're not welcome to your own facts. Further, anyone reading your posts on this subject should be able to see clearly you have strong opinions that don't appear to have any basis on facts. At least you've failed to provide them. It would be useful if you tried to move towards an obsession to back up your opinions with salient facts a little.

[Benny Profane]

You don't take very kindly to differences to your opinions. You should fix that. Bye. Gotta get back to work.

[ned]

Does the Eizo self calibrator need to be calibrated like the I1 pro2? I noticed after sending my i1 in for repair that they recommend having it calibrated once a year.

[howardm]

it's an easy $350 (!!) for XRite to re-certify an i1.  For our needs, I can't see it needed.  In fact, I'd love to know, of the color professionals here on LuLa, how old is your i1Pro & when was the last time you sent it in for calibration.