| Author | Thread |
|
|
02/12/2007 02:44:17 PM · #1 |
I notice the 30" Dell LCD has come way down in price, about $1300.
I read a review comparing it favorably to the Apple 30" display (though the Apple was a bit better, especially if cost isn't a factor).
Any opinions on accuracy for photo editing?
Or would it be better to get two 24" displays (though I'm currently running two 19" LCDs and that has issues: not calibrated the same, my calibration can only do one), and some app dialogs are stupid and insist on coming up in the middle of the screen, so it falls across the two monitors).
|
|
|
|
02/12/2007 02:51:13 PM · #2 |
| I only have a 15" lcd (not a widescreen either) but my dad has a 24" dell and it's great to use when I go home! I can't imagine using a 30 inch, my tv here is only 20! I'd say stick to one monitor unless you're multitasking a lot of the time. For example my friend plays 4 poker games online at once and needs to see them all so he has 2 monitors for that. Hard to say what you should get because everyone has their own preferences. |
|
|
|
02/12/2007 03:08:33 PM · #3 |
| Neil, they also have a new 27" inch model. Only $15 cheaper than the 30", but the 27" has better contrast ratio. I'm not sure how they really compare though, but thought I'd pass it along to you. |
|
|
|
02/12/2007 03:16:44 PM · #4 |
My husband recently purchased this monitor (it's huge, bordering ridiculous ;). As far as photo editing, I liked it a lot when I was doing some minor cleaning (clone, dodge, burn), color adjustment; and layering on some of the photos we took this weekend. I also noticed that the images are sharper and crisper in his screen than in mine. It also helps that you don't have to scroll up and down, left and right.
I haven't really spent a whole lot of time editing on his machine (as he only got it last week), I'll probably be able to give more helpful input within the next few days. My husband raves about it, but personally I think $1300 is still steep (that's just the stingy side of me speaking though ;).
|
|
|
|
02/12/2007 04:00:28 PM · #5 |
Originally posted by Telehubbie:
Neil, they also have a new 27" inch model. Only $15 cheaper than the 30", but the 27" has better contrast ratio. I'm not sure how they really compare though, but thought I'd pass it along to you. |
Yes, thanks, I saw that. But the resolution is lower. The 30" basically has the same resolution (actually more, vertically) than I have on my two 19" monitors now. So it seems a good way to move forward and get rid of the crack between my screens (and the calibration differences). That is, if it's a good monitor!
Antsy: Thanks--I'd love to hear a progress report as you use it more!
Message edited by author 2007-02-12 16:00:52.
|
|
|
|
02/12/2007 04:04:55 PM · #6 |
I have the 24" Dell and it is the best monitor I have ever seen. What I mean is, I have seen thousands of monitors in the stores and at people's homes and I have not seen a better one. It also has the added functionality of many inputs, USB2 slots and a card reader for all cards on the side...it goes into portrait mode in one quick action...I have one...I would LOVE two!
At home I have 2 17" monitors side by side (Benq) and they are OK. Would LOVE a DELL at home as well.
I reckon a 30" would be a tad too big |
|
|
|
02/12/2007 04:42:43 PM · #7 |
Originally posted by nshapiro:
I notice the 30" Dell LCD has come way down in price, about $1300.
I read a review comparing it favorably to the Apple 30" display (though the Apple was a bit better, especially if cost isn't a factor).
Any opinions on accuracy for photo editing?
Or would it be better to get two 24" displays (though I'm currently running two 19" LCDs and that has issues: not calibrated the same, my calibration can only do one), and some app dialogs are stupid and insist on coming up in the middle of the screen, so it falls across the two monitors). |
Yeah, I was going to upgrade from my 20" Dell to the 24FPW since it's also at its lowest price in a while ($674, though it's been as low as $600 with coupons). But for $1,274 or whatever the 30" is right now, that's a great deal ... assuming your video card can handle the monitor.
The 24" is a stellar display and IIRC it's the same underlying display as the 23" Apple Cinema (not sure how one is rated 24" and the other 23" while still being exactly the same save for the bezel and controls, but anyway).
That said, the 24" is mega bright with factory settings and requires calibration for photo work ... otherwise the vibrant image you see onscreen will look like crap printed (very dull and muted, actually). I've read a number of reviews saying the same of the 30" ... that it's great for gaming and multimedia but "too bright" for proper photo processing. Can't speak to the 30" from experience like I can the 24.
|
|
|
|
02/12/2007 04:45:01 PM · #8 |
| I also knowticed that Dell seems to have Ultra sharp monitors vs ones that don't come with that description... What's the difference? |
|
|
|
02/12/2007 05:03:55 PM · #9 |
Originally posted by Rob O:
... assuming your video card can handle the monitor. |
That's an important point. Most (maybe all) 30" monitors require a dual-link DVI card. A single link card won't work. The point about calibration is also critical. Dell monitors are great... IF you calibrate them with an Eye-One or Spyder. Out of the box, they're way too bright and tend to have a blue cast. |
|
|
|
02/12/2007 10:40:31 PM · #10 |
How does one calibrate a two monitor setup? At least my Huey only seems to be willing to calibrate one of my two monitors. Do the Eye-One or Spyder handle that better? (Or maybe just handle it better on a Mac)?
I'm kind of hoping that given two monitors, on a dual-link card, eliminates the need for each to be calibrated separately. But that's certainly not true of my current setup (albeit I have on monitor on analog and another on DVI because of the lame ATI Fire card Dell sold me in my expensive Precision system (no there wasn't a choice when I bought mine).
|
|
|
|
02/12/2007 10:56:56 PM · #11 |
I just got two of the new Samsung SyncMaster 226BW 22" LCDs that have the 1000:1 contrast Ratio and 3000:1 dynamic contrast ratio (don't really know what that means but though i would mention it). These run at 1680x1050 at native resolution and I am very very happy with them. I have color corrected them with my Spyder2Pro and they calibrated like a champ. Both look identical even sitting side by side. These monitors only cost $400 each and I must say I am very happy with them and have no complaints at all. I'm very impressed with Samsung quality.
//www.flickr.com/photos/wrmiller/388635798/
I have a video card that had dual output and when windows loads, it can only load one ICC profile (Unless you have 2 separate video card or a dual EPCI video card). So, when windows loads, it loads the first (primary profile to both monitors and I simply just have to apply the second profile to the second monitor manually using the ProfileChooser software that came with the Spyder2Pro. Takes all of 1.5 seconds. Plus, I don't turn my PC off or restart that much so it doesn't matter to me anyway...
|
|
|
|
02/13/2007 01:38:42 AM · #12 |
Originally posted by scalvert:
Originally posted by Rob O:
... assuming your video card can handle the monitor. |
That's an important point. Most (maybe all) 30" monitors require a dual-link DVI card. A single link card won't work. The point about calibration is also critical. Dell monitors are great... IF you calibrate them with an Eye-One or Spyder. Out of the box, they're way too bright and tend to have a blue cast. |
Hey there Scalvert, Timmy here. I just got this monitor with a new Dell XPS410 system circa two weeks ago. It is very sweet. I bought a NVIDIA 8800 GTS graphics card by EVGA seperate (Dell only sells compatible cards with their much more expensive systems). This video card is awesome. Cost about $400, but it offers many many (did I say many already?) settings for the monitor image. I would be amazed if you could not choose settings that suited you.
Absolutely no regrets so far. : )
PS the NVIDIA GTX 8800 is the next model up for the NVIDIA card. It is about $150 more. I suspect it offers many of the same settings but is more powerful when it comes to moving data around, i.e. gaming.
Message edited by author 2007-02-13 01:41:21. |
|
|
|
02/13/2007 03:08:32 PM · #13 |
| FYI- You can get a refurb 30" Dell for $1049 shipped. |
|
|
|
02/13/2007 09:12:02 PM · #14 |
Update: I'm happy to say that I was able to do a complete fresh install of MS Vista Ultimate without any issues at all. I wrote below that with XP Pro I had to set the color profile for my second monitor manually using the ProfileChooser provided by Spyder2Pro. Well, good new, with Vista it supports color management separately for each monitor connected and applies the color profile to the second monitor automatically. I must say that I am so far very impressed with Microsoft Vista Ultimate. Love the sidebar feature. Interface is very nice and I had NO, I repeat NO driver issues and have so far had no software compatibility issues. The only thing I had to purchase to be Vista compatible was McAfee Virus Protection and I was about due anyway... Anyway, what I really wanted to say here is that Vista now supports and knows how to manage both monitors color settings even when using a single AGP dual head video card. WoooHoooo!!! Bye for now!
Originally posted by W.R.Miller:
I just got two of the new Samsung SyncMaster 226BW 22" LCDs that have the 1000:1 contrast Ratio and 3000:1 dynamic contrast ratio (don't really know what that means but though i would mention it). These run at 1680x1050 at native resolution and I am very very happy with them. I have color corrected them with my Spyder2Pro and they calibrated like a champ. Both look identical even sitting side by side. These monitors only cost $400 each and I must say I am very happy with them and have no complaints at all. I'm very impressed with Samsung quality.
//www.flickr.com/photos/wrmiller/388635798/
I have a video card that had dual output and when windows loads, it can only load one ICC profile (Unless you have 2 separate video card or a dual EPCI video card). So, when windows loads, it loads the first (primary profile to both monitors and I simply just have to apply the second profile to the second monitor manually using the ProfileChooser software that came with the Spyder2Pro. Takes all of 1.5 seconds. Plus, I don't turn my PC off or restart that much so it doesn't matter to me anyway... |
|
|
Home -
Challenges -
Community -
League -
Photos -
Cameras -
Lenses -
Learn -
Prints! -
Help -
Terms of Use -
Privacy -
Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2024 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 04/25/2024 10:38:58 AM EDT.
