Hardware Calibratable Monitor Recommendation

You can't compare these two.


You would have to compare the Nec Spectraview series with the Eizo ColorEdge series.


But even there (on the paper) the Eizo beats the Spectraview with it's 16bit Lut vs 14 bit Lut.


You can have endless discussions which one is better.


As both use an IPS (H-IPS and P-IPS) panel they are both not that great for video post production.


Both (Nec and Eizo) include in their current colormanagment bundle an OEM version of the EODIS3. But I don't know if their software also suport the retail version.


But if you go for e.g. Basiccolor 5 you can use your retail EODIS3.



Quote:
Originally Posted by AV-Freak  /t/1415968/hardware-calibratable-monitor-recommendation/0_100#post_22138447


Most monitors I have seen in post production are still "old" monitors as the IPS panels have very poor black levels.

I have been told that many prefer S-PVA panels because it has better black levels. But I am not in this kind of business.

So I can only say what I have been told.

For CG and photo editing we use Eizos CG series. A very neat feature of Eizos software (ColorNavigor) is the device emulation (e.g. designing something for the iPad, ...)

Click to expand...

*VA monitors are completely unsuitable for this task. They're higher contrast, but have extremely limited viewing angles, to the point where even if you're looking straight at the display, the corners are going to be suffering from viewing angle-related degradation.


Not the best comparison (PVA vs S-IPS) but the first example I could find:


As you can see, the viewing angle is considerably better on this S-IPS panel. (looks like this chart is from a number of years ago due to the peak contrast numbers though)


*VA panels also suffer from severe gamma/color shift problems at wider viewing angles, whereas IPS panels (mostly) just lose contrast. IPS panels tend to be far more uniform as well, even ignoring viewing angle. High-end monitors will have uniformity correction built in, but it's far better to start with a uniform panel than correct it in software.

Display uniformity is far more important in video production/image editing than contrast ratio. (though it also matters, of course)


S-PVA panel on the left, IPS panel on the right:


Even looking straight on, the left edge of the S-PVA panel is showing viewing angle problems.



As you move off to the side, the S-PVA image severely degrades. Source.



While you're probably not going to be watching too much moving content, *VA panels tend to have uneven response times, whereas IPS panels have relatively uniform response times across the whole color gamut.

@ all: thank you for your replies, very informative !


@ AV-Freak: absolutely, I was mistaken, I thought the Spectraview series is called Multisync in the US (and just looking at the brief specs they seem almost identical), since I can't find the Spectraview Reference series on NEC's US website, but I easily find them on their European sites. Also, when you wrote H-IPS I'm assuming you were referring to the Eizo ?


@Light Illusion: Penta HD2line are 8-bit, correct ?


I have a few follow up questions:


1) What is the main difference (downside or advantage) between the NEC Spectraview 301 and the NEC Multisync 301 ?


2) Are both the NEC Spectraview 301 and the Eizo CG275W true 10-bit displays or is one of them 8bit+2FRC ?


3) Where could I order a NEC Spectraview 301 (it's not on their website) in the Unites States ? I'm located in Los Angeles, CA.


4) I have basICColor 5 and the i1 Display Pro - any recommendation which one does a better (basICColor 5 or manufacturer's color management software) for either the Eizo or NEC ?



Thanks again.


- M



Quote:
Originally Posted by AV-Freak  /t/1415968/hardware-calibratable-monitor-recommendation#post_22138205


You can't compare these two.

You would have to compare the Nec Spectraview series with the Eizo ColorEdge series.

Click to expand...

Hi, can someone please clarify this statement... Initially I thought there was only the NEC Multisync series in the US with or w/o the calibration kit (about US$250.00 difference). Given this statement by AV-Freak, I was now under the impression that there is a separate Spectraview series but I was unable to find it in the US - I can find them in Europe on NEC's European websites.


So I just called NEC US sales department and they tell me there is only the Multisync series with (PA301W) or w/o the calibration kit (PA301W-BK-SV). When I told him about the advertised Spectraview series in Europe he decided to ask his work colleague and will get back to me...


I also found this article which refers to 2 different series: http://www.photographyblog.com/news/nec_spectraview_reference_301_nec_multisync_pa301w/



Can anybody shed some light on this ?



Thanks.


- M