Hi all,
Other forum memeber recomomended my to buy a Spyder2 or pro to calibrate my pj.
If anyone have one for sale let my know, because I live in South America (hard place to find one), please contact me at serraniruben@hotmail.com
If this post void some rules of the forum, delet it.
This is the only way that have to contact others memebers.
Thanks!
Rubén

They do come up on Ebay fairly often; perhaps one of the sellers will ship internationally.

Hi Alan,
I do a search
Thanks!
Rubén

You can just buy the cheapest spyder2 package (express) and use the free HCFR software to calibrate a projector's color balance. The pro version includes software along with the sensor and is wasted money IMO. The sensor should be identical. I have used this combination to set color balance/grayscale on my CRT projector, but it should work well for any type of projector. There is plenty of info on how to do this in the forums do a search on HCFR and spyder2.

The spyder2 is not the best colorimiter out there, but for the price it is a good budget option. I am very pleased with the resulting image post calibration, and that what really matters anyway.

I got it on amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000ES4PYU


software (can't find the english version of the page, but here's a link:
http://http://www.homecinema-fr.com/colorimetre/index_en.php

Be aware: according to my testing, you CANNOT use the Spyder2 **pointing at the projector**. When I tried this, I got completely random/unrepeatable results that changed with distance, angle, etc. Apparently the Spyder2 cannot accurately read a point source. Reading off the screen worked just fine -- just be sure the probe doesn't "see" its own shadow. I made a simple baffle (1/2 of toilet paper tube painted black inside) to limit the area that the S2 sees, so the 3-color shadow isn't in its field of view.

the spyder it not recomended for crt pj. I have tryed, and it's not good on greyscale. I have talk with proffesonals, and they say that the spider is more like a toy. ...

Ok Guys,
Wich colorimeters do you recommend that work fine and not break the bank?
Where can search?
Thanks!
Rubèn

While many of the guys here have used colorimeters on their PJ's, the best source for information on this subject is over on the "Display Calibration" forum here on AVS. There you will find comparisons between the different low-cost colorimeters.

I think the Spyder2, properly used, is an OK tool for a casual hobbyist. There are a few others that cost a bit more that probably do a bit better, but the S2 is OK for a budget choice. I don't think any CRT owner needs to drop $300-500 or more for a colorimeter.

rds.. You did start this thread asking for a solution that would not break the bank...

While I agree that the spyder is not the best colorimeter out there, maybe even a toy, I can say that I have used it to calibrate CRT PJ (9PGXtra) and it gets the job done to a very respectable result. Flesh tones look very natural, whites look great, and I would be shocked if color reproduction could be significantly increased from what I have been able to attain with the spyder2/HCFR software combo.

You can spend hundreds, and even thousands on one of these devices, but for a hobbyist that will likely use it a few times, and is on a budget it is hard to beat the spyder2's value performance.

Do a search in the CRT forum and calibration forums for threads containing "spyder and hcfr".. plenty more to read there

I compared a spyder 2 with a much more expensive color meter (I think it was called graphic eye one or something) and the readings were identical.

This was with the spyder facing the pj and the other meter taking readings reflected from the screen.

The spyder responds to the changes you make with each colors bias and gain in such a way that leads you to think it is working well.

I got mine for about $70 in one of the budget packages. Since I like to perform all aspects of my pj setup (focus, geometry and color) I wanted something of my own.

I'm happy with it.

HFCR is great too.

-Brian

Interesting. I wonder if mine is faulty? It wasn't at all reliable when pointed at the projector. Did you have the baffle/filter thingie on?

I always use it pointing at the screen. It seems to be much more reliable that way.

Hi all,
Anyone kow if this colorimeter work with front pj
http://www.lacie.com/products/product.htm?pid=10900
They sell for $260
The cinematografic industry use this colorimeters for calibrate the monitors.
Regards
Rubén

Hi all,
Anyone kow if this colorimeter work with front pj
http://www.lacie.com/products/product.htm?pid=10900
They sell for $260
The cinematografic industry use this colorimeters for calibrate the monitors.
Regards
Rubén

Given that you have to stick it right on the surface of a light-emitting screen, I would say that no, it will not work.

Not necessarily. The Spyder2 is also designed to be stuck onto a monitor. It can still be used to read off the screen just fine, and some people can apparently get reliable results pointing it at the projector.

Gary,

The comparasion I did with the Spyder2 and the Graphic Eye 1 or whatever the other meter was happened a few years ago. The graphic eye thingie had to read reflected light. I set up the Spyder to read facing the pj direcly.

Our readings were almost perfectly identical. Really, ... Really, ... close. I think you could have compared 2 of the same meter and had more variance in results.

The other person at this "test" sold his color meter shortly there-after.

I don't suppose the Spyder2 is the best solution but for something cheap it seems to work fairly accurately.

-Brian

p.s. I had the white thing on if that's what you mean by the filter. I popped that off for the first time today and I'm eager to run though measurements again without it.

i'm curious too. there is a spyder3 probe that is out as well now.

I just ordered the Eye One DT From an ebay store. I' should get it tonight. I read that this one is better than the SP2 on the lower IRE's. Any one have experiance with this one?

Athanasios

p.s. I had the white thing on if that's what you mean by the filter. I popped that off for the first time today and I'm eager to run though measurements again without it.
I'll be interested to see how that works. I was never real clear on exactly when/why you'd use that filter. I had my filter off, and the pointed-at-pj results were totally unreliable. Changed with distance, angle, etc. I should try it again with the filter on.

Hey Gary,

There's some confusion (at least for me) whenever people discuss the "filter" of the Spyder 2. There is a filter of sorts included that is supposed to be for LCD screens and then there is also a white opaque plastic piece that is mounted in front of the sensors directly.

When I tried without that white platic thingie my results were way, way, way off. I got crazy results without that thing on.

Now,.. the thing that's supposed to be for LCD's is pretty simple and looks like it would cut down on reflected light getting into the sensor and pass direct light without problem so I actually use that thing.

I just did a run though today because I recently downloaded the newer 2.01 version of HFCR and got great results. The primary and secondary colors measured close to where they should be and the grey scale reposonded correctly (if I bumped the blue bias .. I got more blue on the low end and so on.)

I'm very happy with the sensor and the results. I can get great results by eye too but since I have this thing (bought it likely 2 or more years ago) I may as well use it.

-Brian

I just ordered the Eye One DT From an ebay store. I' should get it tonight. I read that this one is better than the SP2 on the lower IRE's. Any one have experiance with this one?
Is this the same as the DTP-94 probe? If so, I find it much better than the S2, especially for <30 IRE

I just ordered the Eye One DT From an ebay store. I' should get it tonight. I read that this one is better than the SP2 on the lower IRE's. Any one have experiance with this one?

Athanasios

is this the same as the X-Rite i1Pro spectroradiometer?

Its not the pro ita the eye-one display 2. I got it on E-bay for about 170. Was playing around with it using HCFR. Nice program i dont think i calibrated the eye-one properly. How are you supose to calibrate it to 100%IRE when your display is off? What should you be using to calibrate in HCFR?

Athanasios