what type of monnitor do i need

[JC_PHOTOGRAPHY]

i need a new monitor for pp work need ideas as to what to look for or any recomendations on brands sizes etc as i bought a cheap widescreen an it no longer works all or any advice would be very appreciated thanks in advance

[brindyman]

i never buy cheap computer gear never have never will......my current monitor i bought for 449 it has gone up since then but i dont care i love it so much im getting another one for $495....quiet a few of the benq range uses the same panel as the dell....so that might be something to look out for......of course im going to be bias and say get a benq.....partly from the fact that i love my one so much :D :)

[jev]

What you want is an 8-bit PVA panel (a.k.a. "S-PVA"). Not the cheapest perhaps but at least they're good and usable for working with photo's.

You can find a lot on specs and recommendations on flatpanelshd (http://www.flatpanelshd.com/focus.php?subaction=showfull&id=1229341472) and Prad (http://www.prad.de/en/index.html). There's a very good interactive tutorial on 3M solutions (http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/Vikuiti1/BrandProducts/secondary/optics101/) on the subject of LCD technology if you want to know the technical backgrounds.

Brands: look at Samsung, Eizo and LaCie. Dell has a couple of great monitors too.
Sizes: that's a personal choice. I've got a 24" iMAC and the monitor on that beast is large enough for me - YMMV.

[Philr]

I have a 23" HP 2309m and I love it! I'm sure everyone has their own favourites though:)

[clm738]

Hi Guys,
Sorry to step into this thread but my question might also help JC.
I have been tossing up between a Sansung or a Benq. Can you advise which is the best and what specs you have to take into account for photography?

[Kym]

Don't forget calibration! Best results if you have a calibrated monitor.

[clm738]

Thanks Kym, I haven't forgotten about calibration (a Spyder or similar is on my list), but can you tell me if a Benq is better than a Samsung, what specs to look for and if I should go for a shiny or flat monitor?

[clm738]

Thanks Kym, I haven't forgotten about calibration (a Spyder or similar is on my list), but can you tell me if a Benq is better than a Samsung, what specs to look for and if I should go for a shiny or flat monitor?


The reason I am asking is because I have been through so many web sites and they have all recommended something different, have been mostly US & UK sites and so some of their recommendations are not available in Australia and most of the sites are a few years old and therefore out of date and they don't explain why the particular specs are important.

[Spyke]

Check out this list (http://www.pchardwarehelp.com/guides/s-ips-lcd-list.php) of IPS-based LCD panels, as these are better for colour critical work. There's a link on the page that explains the different LCD panel types.

Regardless of the monitor, as the others state you need to calibrate the monitor for your working environment.

Whether to go for glossy or matte, it's an individual preference. This is a hot topic on many creative forums, with proponents for both. The best thing is to see the screens in action if you can, in a similar environment to which you'll be using them. At a basic level glossy = richer colours with higher reflections. Some people get headaches from using glossy screens in a bright environment with lots of reflections. Matte = colours that are not as vibrant but more accurate colour representation. Personally, I prefer the matte screens.

[JC_PHOTOGRAPHY]

i think this looks ok
Dell G2410 24 inch Full HD LED Widescreen Flat Panel Monitor

Practical and Versatile
Designed to cut energy consumption, the G2410 24" offers great performance for office productivity

* High efficiency for minimal power consumption
* Made with environmentally preferable materials
* Designed and packaged to help reduce environmental impact
here are the specshttp://www1.ap.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/monitor-dell-g2410?c=au&l=en&s=dhs&cs=audhs1

please let me know if anygood

[clm738]

Hi Spyke, Thanks for your input, the list is a big help. I will try to check out flat & shiny monitors in action.

Hi JC, I just read in Spyke's list that TN monitors are not the best for photos.