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Advice on entry level display meter

post #1 of 12
12/3/12 at 8:47am
Thread Starter 
Hello, I am interested in buying some entry level calibration for home use. After researching it seems I have a couple options in my price range (around ~250 dollars).
I can either go with a SpectraCal C3 meter bundle for around 150ish,
http://store.spectracal.com/c3.html
or go with the EyeOne Display 3 (i1 Display Pro) meter and use free software such as HCRF and then perhaps purchasing software at a later date.

Would you recommend going with the more expensive EyeOne Display 3 (i1 Display Pro) meter over the SpectraCal C3? Is it the superior meter for 100 dollars more? I will only be calibrating Plasma TVs with it, no projectors if that matters. I understand at some point I may want to get spectrograph to use in conjunction, but that's out of my budget at the moment.
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post #2 of 12
12/3/12 at 8:58am
I would suggest the i1 Display Pro OEM probe, and then you have all options available for any software...

I would not go for the Retail version, as that will limit your choices.

Steve
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post #3 of 12
12/3/12 at 9:14am
Thread Starter 
Ahh i didn't realize, that was the difference in the Retail version, thanks for your reply. So the i1 Display Pro OEM is worth the price increase over the SpectraCal C3? I was struggling finding a lot of detail around the C3
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post #4 of 12
12/3/12 at 9:39am
Yep - I think it is worth a bit more as you will have a lot more flexibility.

The C3 is an older contact only probe, based on the old i1 Display 2.

Steve
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post #5 of 12
12/3/12 at 9:42am
Quote:
Originally Posted by slippery44 View Post

Ahh i didn't realize, that was the difference in the Retail version, thanks for your reply. So the i1 Display Pro OEM is worth the price increase over the SpectraCal C3? I was struggling finding a lot of detail around the C3

The C3 is based on the colormunki smile.
The tech specs for the meter are here at the bottom:
http://store.spectracal.com/consumer/meters/c3.html

The C3 is a very good meter compared to spyders, i1 Display 2, or even an old chroma5. But it isn't as good as the i1 Display Pro. The i1 Display Pro has optics, sealed filters, and better sensors (better lowlight sensitivity).

That said, you can get the C3 with tutorial license for $150 and it's $350 for the i1 Display Pro with a basic license. Apples to Apples it's $250 for a C3 with the basic license.
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post #6 of 12
12/3/12 at 9:43am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Light Illusion View Post

Yep - I think it is worth a bit more as you will have a lot more flexibility.
The C3 is an older contact only probe, based on the old i1 Display 2.
Steve
No it isn't.

That is not correct.
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post #7 of 12
12/3/12 at 12:40pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Light Illusion View Post

I would suggest the i1 Display Pro OEM probe, and then you have all options available for any software...
I would not go for the Retail version, as that will limit your choices.
Steve

Why does the retail version limit choices?
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post #8 of 12
12/3/12 at 12:52pm
Here is a list of all the versions and what works with what. The reason has to do with license agreements and how Xrite makes money..
http://www.avsforum.com/t/1342422/x-rites-revolutionary-new-colorimeter/1100_100#post_21528740
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post #9 of 12
12/3/12 at 1:02pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by airscapes View Post

Here is a list of all the versions and what works with what. The reason has to do with license agreements and how Xrite makes money..
http://www.avsforum.com/t/1342422/x-rites-revolutionary-new-colorimeter/1100_100#post_21528740

It's also about support costs and warranty.
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post #10 of 12
12/3/12 at 2:26pm
I guess it comes down to spend $149 for a complete package with the C3 or $249 for a D3 OEM and try to figure out how to use it with HCFR or a software bundle with a D3 for much more.

Also as Joel pointed out the C3 is not a rebadged D2. The D2 has been out of production for sometime. Yes the C3 looks like a D2 but that is all its has in common. The C3 has more in common with the Chroma5 than any other meter. Which in it's day the Chroma5 was the go to meter before the D3 or C6 came out.
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post #11 of 12
12/4/12 at 9:40am
The i1Display Pro retail will work with the newer versions of HCFR.
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post #12 of 12
12/5/12 at 6:27am
Thread Starter 
Thank you to everybody who took the time to reply to my post. As always everyone on this board is great and a ton of help. You've definitely given me enough information to help me decide which I'm going to go with.
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