Monitor Recommendations

[Munsell]

I've done some searching around, but can't find any good info. I'm looking for a monitor in the ~$500 range. I don't do day to day production, and can't really warrant a $1200 plus LaCie or Quatro or even a Mac Cinema Display. While I would get really great use out of a top of the line monitor, the people who approve my purchases would never go for it.

I would like a monitor that takes well to calibration and can be used for viewing color in relation to doing press color corrections. S-IPS would probably be nice, so several people can look at the screen and not see different colors, but I'm not sure if thats available at this price range. Any suggestions would be great.

[Alith7]

find a couple year old Imac.
you can find them for around $500 and get the great quality of an Apple monitor.

[WharfRat]

CinemaView: Innovative Multimedia Products

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MSD

[Munsell]

Any other recommendations other than stuff like Apple Cinema Displays? We do have mostly iMacs, but in general, I've heard the screen really isn't the best for crucial color. I guess as long as its able to be calibrated its not a huge deal though. I found another thread that spoke rather highly of the Dell Ultra Sharp U2410 as a decent mid range monitor. Anyone else have experience with this monitor?

Wharf Rat - I am rather intrugued by the Cinema View monitor. Do you have experience with this? It looks like its basically a knock off ACD. What really attracts me most to the ACD is how it looks. This one definitely fits the bill in terms of looks, but does it hold up? Everything I'm reading says they are just cheapie TN monitors inside a nice case.

[Alith7]

Munsell~
I have used the Dell Ultra Sharps also, I put them on all the office PCs not just for the higher quality monitor reducing eye strain, but all so the built in USB ports are very helpful.
I tried them on one of my G5 towers when the monitor died thinking it would be pretty good, especially with Apple's built in calibration. It worked OK, but not great. It tended to be VERY hot in the oranges and Reds and bit dull on the contrast no matter what I did.

However, for the Apple displays, I frequently can hold my press sheet next to my iMac with an almost exact match. Is there a reason that you're against them?

[Munsell]

No specific reason. I'm not really against them, I was just trying to figure out if there was anything else out there that was slightly more affordable. The more I look around though, the more I see that a monitor with similar specs to the ACD (similar resolution, IPS etc) cost about the same or more. I think I may have trouble getting approved to buy any $1000 monitor, but it looks like if I want something I don't have to worry about, I'll have to spend about that much.

[Lukas Engqvist]

Are you alone approving or do you do colour correction with a client having his/her opinion? If you need to be more than one to discuss what you see on the monitor I only know of the Quato Intelliproof that are able to preserve colour accuracy across viewing angles. Quatographic Technology GmbH, but it's expensive.

[WharfRat]

I have had 3 of the Collins displays in heavy prepress duty for over a year.
I use the i-1 on them about every 3 months
For me - they are great.
The background gray matches the Apple Cinema -
so I figure the colors are matching pretty well .

Low points:
The resolution is a bit lower than the MACs. Not quite as crisp.
(definitely not deal closing problems)

I have them set up dual with Apple 20" displays.
I do all my work on the Collins with the tools on the Apple
except
Photoshop - I have the image on the Apple and the tools on the Collins.

For the price - I do not think you can beat them.
I have a crap load of various Dell (and other) monitors
on machines around the shop.
They are OK but
and they do not compare.

MSD

[Alith7]

I would look at used apple monitors. if you shop carefully, ebay and the apple Refurb store are GREAT places. I've had a LOT of luck buying monitors that way.

this generation of Apple display has a VERY wide viewing angle, and the matte screen really cuts down on glare.
APPLE 20" Flat Panel A1081 HD Cinema Display NR! | eBay

I wouldn't recommend the one listed above, but shop ebay carefully and look for sellers with high ratings on used comp equipment, as well as make sure they have a good return policy.

If you can find a good deal on the apple refurb area, those come with full warranties like a new monitor.

[seejay]

Hi there,

I've using a Phillips specraview for the last 18 months. Good monitor, calibrates really well (using its own supplied software) and was hitting a verification mark of 93% using bodoni's viewsign software.

The cost was reasonable, about 1/2 the price of a high-end monitor. MY take is that this monitor is a good compromise between price and quality.