i'm still having 2nd thoughts in upgrading to an LCD mon since a CRT is much much better to view/ edit pictures & movies.

your thoughts?

in line with what willy has stated, would anyone recommend what they think the best CRT monitor is? how much would this cost? what are indispensable accessories are needed with such a monitor?

replies greatly appreciated..

On other forums in the US, this question is almost like what is better, Canon or Nikon, PC or Mac? But without going that direction, there are many things to consider. I for one do not use a CRT anymore. I have a iMac G5 and the monitor is the best that I have ever seen. I don't think I've seen images, their details, as clear and sharp as this. I also feel that the color rendition is excellent. If you are serious about your photography, I think this is the way to go.

Now for budget constraints, you should be thinking CRT. The LaCie monitors are well respected by graphics professionals. I don't know if they can be found here though. I would probably advise to go with a high-end Samsung or ViewSonic. Both companies make excellent products and are respected in the graphics industry.

I recommend that you get a tool to calibrate your monitor. In my opinion this is absolutely vital. I used to play around with the Adobe Gamma function in Photoshop to calibrate my older monitors but this is very subjective. You can't always trust your eyes. Pick up the Monico Optix if you are serious about your photography. It will probably cost as much as your CRT though! And note that CRTs need to be calibrated more frequently than LCDs.

If Nino reads this post, he can probably comment something about graphics/video card etc. He is the expert when it comes to that stuff.

Sir Nick,

About monitor calibration, would you know of a place that does this service? For someone like me who doesn't have the funds yet to get my own unit, this kind of service would be most welcome. I'm currently using a PB 12" G4.

Thanks :)

If Nino reads this post, he can probably comment something about graphics/video card etc. He is the expert when it comes to that stuff.

In Photoshop world, the graphics card doesn't play a big role in rendering your images. A 64MB video card will actually suffice for any editing. But if you're in to 3D and gaming that's a different story. I'd recommend at least a nVidia 6600GT for that (off topic already).

As for LCD and CRT... average lifespan of a CRT... give or take 3 years. After that, colors tend to shift already, or one of the tubes dies out. LCD however, doesn't get affected by such. The only problem I see with LCD is the viewing angle. If you view your photos on a different angle at different times, you may think something is messed up with the colors.

Personally, I'll get a LCD. It's thinner and cooler. Have it calibrated as well. :Dum:

Sir Nick,

About monitor calibration, would you know of a place that does this service? For someone like me who doesn't have the funds yet to get my own unit, this kind of service would be most welcome. I'm currently using a PB 12" G4.

Thanks :)

GLOBIS INC. I'll get you the contact details as soon as I can find their biz card in my stash. For now, kindly google it. :D

hmmmm you guys got me thinking :Dum:
would a DVI input help a lot? i mean in picture QA

hmmmm you guys got me thinking :Dum:
would a DVI input help a lot? i mean in picture QA

For photoshop, no. Picture quality, no also.

From the nvidia website:

Digital flat panels are sharper and offer superior images detail compared to any analog CRT or display; display brighter and truer colors than analog CRTs; offer more efficient use of desk space and have a cooler look and appeal; are better ergonomically and cause less eye strain; are more user friendly, requiring less manual set-up, adjustment, and tuning; and are a better technical match for today's graphics processors.

With regards to photoshop usage, i see no visual difference between a LCD via DVI versus LCD via analog. but for gaming (being a very heavy gamer spending at least 6 hours per day) i notice that overall system performance seems to be a little better.

hmmmm you guys got me thinking :Dum:
would a DVI input help a lot? i mean in picture QA


.

For HDTV, HD program viewing - Yes!

:)

I can offer monitor calibration service (LCD or CRT) at a very reasonable price.....just send me a message. I'm located at Ortigas area.

There's a lot of information asserting that LCD's are better than CRT.
There are two concerns though for me that make me stay away from them. Both of them have to deal with color and tone.
1st - the fact that the angle of view affects the appearance of brightness, contrast, and even color is still a big problem. Though some LCD monitors have improved in this regard, it is still an issue. Since I run a professional color managed photo lab, I have had to calibrate a lot of our clients monitors and we usually have a lot of issues with LCDs. Those that use them sometimes get confused as to what is the correct viewing angle for critical edits. They assume a certain angle, edit from that point, and get dissapointed when the print comes out. Then when we investigate we find that if the person just sat upright or tilted the monitor a certain way, then the image and print would match.

2nd - its is difficult to get a really good calibration and profile for an lcd monitor for some reason. Even some of the color management experts still find problems in this area. Many LCD monitors don't allow individual RGB adjustments which is a compromise for calibration. Also, its hard to get a good match in terms of luminance levels between an LCD monitor and a print. LCDs are always so brilliant in their appearance that it is hard to get a match with the print. The monitor looks so much more vivid as against the print. With a CRT it is easier to get a match.

There's also another school of thought. Yes, the images look better, sharper, more vivid, on an lcd. But if your main output would be prints, then it might be better to have a monitor that more accurately matches how a print would be seen in terms of sharpness, contrast, and color. I mean, it might be awesome for you to have a monitor wherein your images appear tremendously fantastic, but if your output are prints that can't live up to your monitor, then it can be quite frustrating. There you are editing on your monitor making sure that all these little nuances of details, lights and shadows are vividly seen but then later realizing that these can't be rendered the same way on print.

In the end of course, whatever works best for you and that pleases you in terms of results is what matters.

speaking about monitor calibration, are there any available here in Makati or within Metro Manila? How much?

Also, I have a notebook computer which I use for most of my editing. Will getting an LCD monitor and connect it suffice?

Louie,
Hope you can answer this. I read somewhere that LCDs these days are automatically set to a white point of 6500K. Someone wrote that if you use your colorimeter or spectro to set it at a different white point, it gets ugly. Maybe because you can't control the individual RGB guns as you mention. Would this be the reason why GTI now is promoting viewing booths set to 6500K rather than 5000K because the market is going towards LCD? I'm just curious. What's your take in all of this?

Thanks.

Any opinion on AOC brand? I'm planning to get 1 lcd 17". price range 15k below. any suggestion?

Thanks,
Rich

Hi guys! I wonder if you can help me. I am planning of getting a 19" LCD monitor. I was wondering what you would suggest for better image processing, a Widescren or a 4:3 ratio screen? I figured the 16:9 screen would give me only the height of a 15" screen. advantage / disadvantage? Thanks!

Dex

What can you say about samsung 740n lcd monitor? Is it worth buying it?

ty
rich

I can calibrate your monitor (CRT or LCD) MAC or PC mga bosing pero nandito ako sa cebu, but to those photographers base in cebu you can call me @ 032 2555908, Im using monaco OPTIX and Xrite for monitor calibration ang profile maker, I can make a profile also for your printer, you are very much welcome also to see the new LCD of Apple HD Cinema Display 30" and have a comparison to old Apple CRT Cinema display, GLOBIS Inc. is our supplier for color management system. What you see in your monitor is what you get when you print it.




www.flickr.com/photos/mannymanuel

kung may mga tanung kayo bosing you can call Wisen,Aries or Mr.JT sa GLOBIS Inc. tel number 02 7405751-56.

What can you say about samsung 740n lcd monitor? Is it worth buying it?

ty
rich

I'm not too familiar with this model but I believe Samsung is the manufacturer of the Apple Cinema displays. I personally love the Apple Cinema displays. Cost is not cheap but if you are serious about your photography should be seriously considered. The 20" runs for around P50K. Monitors are a critical part of digital photography and should seriously be considered.

I'm not too familiar with this model but I believe Samsung is the manufacturer of the Apple Cinema displays. I personally love the Apple Cinema displays. Cost is not cheap but if you are serious about your photography should be seriously considered. The 20" runs for around P50K. Monitors are a critical part of digital photography and should seriously be considered.


50k for the apple cinema display, if you are into serious photography, i believe that 50k is immaterial, but is it compatible with the PC system?

50k for the apple cinema display, if you are into serious photography, i believe that 50k is immaterial, but is it compatible with the PC system?

If your Video Card has DVI out and can handle WXGA i'm sure pwede yung Apple Cinema LCDs :D

Nick, I read the 20" DELL widescreen is same with the Apple 20", less than half the price and no DVI :(

:D

Dex,
Can you point me to the distributor of the DELL LCD? You got me curious now.

Sir Nick,

About monitor calibration, would you know of a place that does this service? For someone like me who doesn't have the funds yet to get my own unit, this kind of service would be most welcome. I'm currently using a PB 12" G4.

Thanks :)


I represent Globis Inc. We offer calibration and profiling services of input and output devices. Monitor is one of them. However, one should always take note, calibrating the monitor once would mean your monitor is forever calibrated. Depending whether you use CRT or LCD monitor, age of the monitor at the very least will affect the frequency you need to calibrate the monitor. In saying so, calibrating the monitor once in a blue moon is useless. It is like taking vitamins everyday, it's a maintenance thing that needs to be done regularly.

Furthermore, many I have encountered in the past always tells me they wanted their monitor calibrated. When it's calibrated, then what? The color displayed on the monitor have to match a certain reference. Have you determine which is your reference? This discussion may take too long on this thread. If you would like to find out more details on what to look out and prepared for before calibrating that monitor, drop me a mail thru globisinc@gmail.com and I can forward my contact number to you.

Dex,
Can you point me to the distributor of the DELL LCD? You got me curious now.

Hi Nick!

I can't help you with the DELL LCD distributor here in Pinas, especialy 'coz I'm from Davao :D hehehe... but I do know my cousin asked details about his Dell Core Duo through a DELL rep (from it's new gigantic call center building) toll free from Davao.
anyways -- here's what I can do for you... read the first paragraph of this Review (http://www.neoseeker.com/Articles/Hardware/Reviews/aceral1916w/5.html).

Let me know if you manage to find one and how much :D

Nick, you might be interested. :D

http://www.tipidpc.com/viewitem.php?iid=505400

Regarding Dell LCD Monitors, drop me an email @ rain_director@yahoo.com. I can help you direct to the distis and some resellers.

Try also to look at Viewsonic monitors. Affordable but professional quality.

guys what do you think of this Dell LCD prices, can't find them here in stores but they sell them online. which is a better choice Dell or Viewsonic, i just torn between two.....

http://www1.ap.dell.com/content/products/category.aspx/monitors_hk?c=hk&l=en&s=bsd

If you would ask me, I'll go for Dell but if budget's problem, Viewsonic would be ok. Check at villman.com. They have Dell and Viewsonic prices. But if you want to get them cheaper, give me an email. I can direct you to some friends in the IT business.

Oh, sir willy, I noticed you're in China :-( Sorry, I can only help you to get them locally.

I just replaced my crt with lcd last month. I'm very satisfied with my samsung 740n lcd. The only cons is you can not adjust the height.

i havent read the entire thread. but im using a crt for my images now and really appreciate the calibrated colors, brightness and so on.

I just really hate the size and the fact that after 3 hours straight your eyes start to strain.. dont get that when im using a laptop...

same thing with my Acer 19" wxga lcd, i've to put these rubber stoppers on the front end to tilt it a little to the back coz it doesn't have height/tilt adjustments on it's base/stand. :(

I'm using a Viewsonic 17" LCD previously using a Samsung 17" CRT because of the switch of the CRT was somewhat broken and it is difficult to power-up the monitor. In my point of view when comparing my prints, the output viewd from a CRT is a little closer than the output from an LCD which is like +1 / +2 stops in terms of the exposure setting in your camera, because LCD's are brighter and more vivid than a CRT like what another member says here.

Though just using my eye on calibrating my monitor against my reference prints, and it is much easier to calibrate the CRT than the LCD.


Sau

Willy,

I have a 17" Viewsonic LCD model VA721, it's very sharp and only got it for $189.00. I also have an Acer 17"LCD which is more sharper for $220. That was a year ago, then all LCD prices went down, now you can get a ViewSonic VA1912wb Black 19" DVI 8ms Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 500:1 Built in Speakers 0.294mm Pixel Pitch for only $209.00 If you have a friend here in the US and if he/she can do you a favor, it's much cheaper here.

Check out this website www.newegg.com (http://www.newegg.com)