looking to get LCD monitor - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

03/25/2006 12:30:15 PM · #1

and i would like to know what to look for. some have a polarizor (which i think will make photos look dark when they really arent). I want either a 17" or a 19" to go with the computer my husband is building for me to do my photos on.Ive been on walmarts site looking at maybe this one [url=Sceptre X7G-Naga V 17" SXGA TFT LCD]17"TFT[/url].

I want a flatscreen LCD monitor that is going to have the most realistic look. Is there a difference in a TFT LCD versus one that is just a LCD?

Im quite ignorant when it comes to what i need here...help!

awpollard

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

03/25/2006 12:49:12 PM · #2

Wide (16:9) or regular format (4:3)? Are you restricted by the space you are puttiing it?

DB-15 standard VGA connector or DVI comming from your video card?

Costco has the 20" Sceptre for 350.00 (320.00 after rebate) Costco LCDs

Watch your Native Resolutions... the cheaper ones like to be run natively at 1280x1024 (and thats the max) photo editing is easier at higher resolutions.

Refresh rate 8ms, 12ms etc... is not as important to a Photo Editor only as it is to gamers or those who watch HD and do video editing.

Contrast ratio 500:1, 800:1, 1000:1... higher CR seems to give better depth in photo editing.

Message edited by author 2006-03-25 12:49:45.

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

03/25/2006 01:18:03 PM · #3

Originally posted by awpollard:

I definately dont want a wide screen. I would think that it would distort a photo...wouldnt it?
It has the VGA connector. and no space requirements right now. I currently have a 17"crt monitor on my desk and still have plenty of room for the rest of my junk!I didnt think the refresh rate was that important either for photo editing. Thanks for explaining the CR..makes better sense to me now.
As for the resolutions...what is a good size to look for?

and what about the polarized screen thing? any know anything about this? is it a good or bad thing to have inclided for photo editing and differences in my monitor and a reg CRT?

awpollard

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

03/25/2006 01:45:27 PM · #4

Wide will give you more desktop space to work on. It will not distort your shot, just give you more room. Also some of the wides will rotate (and the screen/desktop automatically) making it easier to work 4x6, 5x7 crops.

I know some Gateway and Dell LCDs do this. The one thing that you have to make sure is that your video card does the somewhat odd resolutions (for those accustomed to standard resolutions 800x600, 1024x768, 1280x1024 etc). I know that my all my nVidia card run these reses.

As to the Polarizers I'm not sure... I believe that is more for Anti-Glare than to darken the screen. The field of view will be cut down with anything that darkens the screen.

My Fujitsu laptop has a Crystal View screen which is glossy and has the dark anti-glare component produces an awesome almost too sharp and contrasty picture. However viewing photos edited on my laptop or my PC and vice-versa with a Samsung LCD the photos are identical in characteristics (colors, brigthness, sharpness etc)...

ED: I stand corrected on resolutions for 4:3 LCDs after looking around 1280x1024 is the (max) standard for affordable models.

Message edited by author 2006-03-25 13:57:17.

Spork99

OM System OM-1

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

03/25/2006 02:02:48 PM · #5

I have the Dell 2005 FPW, it has the same s-ips lcd that is used in the apple diplays. I recommend it highly, as do many others.

Take a look at this earlier thread to learn why.

If you're going to all the trouble to build a high performance computer specifically for photos, you shouldn't cheap out on the monitor

Refwhett

Nikon D300

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

03/25/2006 02:12:38 PM · #6

The Dell screens are very good as are of course the apple cinema line. If money is not an option Eizo aer considered the best in the market. Fantastic monitors. You can get som models for a good price. I have the FlexScanS1910 and am very pleased with it. Has a CR 1000:1 and very realistic colours (as far as I can tell -sllightly comlorblind...)as well as wide view angle.

BrennanOB

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

03/25/2006 02:13:31 PM · #7

the wide screen is a huge advantage to the way I work, since I can have a photograph up in photo shop ( not distorted in any way ) at the maxumum pixel size allowable and in the extra space the wide monitor provides I have all the editing menus. When surfing the web, the extra space allows me to keep open my favotites. Besides it makes watching dvds much prettier.

DanSig

03/25/2006 02:20:36 PM · #8

just narrow the search down to LCD with 8 bit color, gamers screens have only 7 bit color.

then when you've narrowed it down, take a good circular polarizer with you to the store, look through it at the LCD and turn the polarizer, if all pixels dissapear and the monitor turns black at some point then it's a good monitor, if you see lit pixels on the screen when you turn the polarizer a full circle then it's a cheap matrix that didn't pass quality control for the brand names ;)

I have the 23" Apple cinema display and it turns completely black at one point, and I have a 19" sony LCD that doesn't, I can always see some pixels lit.

dleach

Canon EOS-20D

Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

03/25/2006 02:31:29 PM · #9

How about the Dell 30 inch monitor

03/25/2006 02:32:51 PM · #10

Originally posted by DanSig:

ok...whats a circle polarizer?

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

03/25/2006 02:37:03 PM · #11

Originally posted by dleach:

How about the Dell 30 inch monitor

That would be sweet!! you wanna buy it for me ;p

awpollard

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

03/25/2006 02:39:02 PM · #12

Originally posted by smilebig4me1x:

Originally posted by DanSig:
just narrow the search down to LCD with 8 bit color, gamers screens have only 7 bit color.

then when you've narrowed it down, take a good circular polarizer with you to the store, look through it at the LCD and turn the polarizer, if all pixels dissapear and the monitor turns black at some point then it's a good monitor, if you see lit pixels on the screen when you turn the polarizer a full circle then it's a cheap matrix that didn't pass quality control for the brand names ;)

I have the 23" Apple cinema display and it turns completely black at one point, and I have a 19" sony LCD that doesn't, I can always see some pixels lit.

ok...whats a circle polarizer?

He's talking about the filter kind that you would put on your camera, hold it up to the monitor (not on a lens or camera) and turn it and the screen should go black.