Difference between monitor calibration devices?

ftpaddict · 12-20-2008, 11:53 AM

I see there is quite a substantial difference in price between an entry-level monitor calibration tool (such as the Spyder 2 Express and the Spyder 3 Pro), so I ask you: why is there a price difference? What does the Pro have that the Express version doesn't?

ftpaddict · 12-20-2008, 12:43 PM

Bump in case you haven't noticed this thread yet.

MRRiley · 12-20-2008, 01:04 PM

Check out the Huey. It works well with my monitor. No complaints on accuracy for prints made either on my inkjet or from the pro lab I use.

roentarre · 12-20-2008, 01:15 PM

There is a monitor spider thing that charged about 150 US dollars or so. It sits on the monitor and caliberates the colour and contrast for your monitor taking 10 minutes each run.

**Kerrowdown** · 12-20-2008, 02:17 PM

Sorry ftpaddict, I noticed but I dunno the answer, that's why I'm sitting quiet in the corner, waiting for more clever folk than me to reply.

ftpaddict · 12-20-2008, 02:29 PM

Originally posted by roentarre

There is a monitor spider thing that charged about 150 US dollars or so. It sits on the monitor and caliberates the colour and contrast for your monitor taking 10 minutes each run.

I know what they are and how they function; I was just wondering what makes the more expensive models better than the cheaper ones.

Accuracy? Software bundle?

I don't need one because I don't print my pictures (unfortunately). It's just curiosity.

Damn Brit · 12-20-2008, 03:15 PM

Originally posted by ftpaddict

I know what they are and how they function; I was just wondering what makes the more expensive models better than the cheaper ones.

Accuracy? Software bundle?

I don't need one because I don't print my pictures (unfortunately). It's just curiosity.

Doesn't the more expensive one do printer calibration as well? That would be one explanation for the price difference.

ftpaddict · 12-20-2008, 03:16 PM

Originally posted by Damn Brit

Doesn't the more expensive one do printer calibration as well? That would be one explanation for the price difference.

There's an entirely different device dedicated to calibrating printers exclusively, and that's the most expensive of the bunch!

roentarre · 12-20-2008, 03:32 PM

Originally posted by ftpaddict

I know what they are and how they function; I was just wondering what makes the more expensive models better than the cheaper ones.

Accuracy? Software bundle?

I don't need one because I don't print my pictures (unfortunately). It's just curiosity.

Accuracy is not really an issue as Joele has bought several versions of that to test out. He gets them free at work. For that, I am so jealous.

Software bundle is not an issue with spider pro I thinkl but there is some reported compatability issues surrounding other brands.

flyer · 12-20-2008, 04:55 PM

Originally posted by ftpaddict

There's an entirely different device dedicated to calibrating printers exclusively, and that's the most expensive of the bunch!

The X-rite "Color Munki" calibrates both the monitor and will get ICC profiles from the printer. You don't actually calibrate the printer, but you "adjust" the input from the computer to give you a picture that looks like what you get on a calibrated monitor. And you have to use the word "looks" kind of loosely. You can never get a print to look like a computer screen, no matter what. One is backlit and the other one reflects the image. Guess which one looks brighter?

ftpaddict · 12-20-2008, 05:34 PM

Originally posted by roentarre

Accuracy is not really an issue as Joele has bought several versions of that to test out. He gets them free at work. For that, I am so jealous.

Software bundle is not an issue with spider pro I thinkl but there is some reported compatability issues surrounding other brands.

Then why? Why are there several types of colour calibration tools with different price tags?

pingflood · 12-25-2008, 08:20 PM

I bought a Spyder2Express. Not a bad piece of gear, and it looks to do quite well. The biggest limitation to me is that it will only allow you to do one monitor, though it seems to just restrict this by the filename of the saved profile, so it's not exactly difficult to get around if you want to break the rules.

The reviews I read on it vs the cheapest Huey said that they performed pretty much identically as far as accuracy.

SpecialK · 12-25-2008, 08:52 PM

Originally posted by ftpaddict

Then why? Why are there several types of colour calibration tools with different price tags?

Marketing. Some people think the most expensive thing is better, others want something cheap. Take your pick :-)

I've only ever used this freebie...
http://www.jasc.com/support/kb/articles/monitor.asp

zaurus · 12-25-2008, 11:00 PM

ftpaddict, you sound totally confused.

Are you talking about the hardware -- Spyder2 vs. Spyder3?
Or, alternatively, are you talking about the software -- Express vs. Pro?
Or, you have no clue, and want to hear a diversified plethora of opinions?

Please do clarify if you want to hear a coherent maybe meaningfull reply.

Originally posted by ftpaddict

I see there is quite a substantial difference in price between an entry-level monitor calibration tool (such as the Spyder 2 Express and the Spyder 3 Pro), so I ask you: why is there a price difference? What does the Pro have that the Express version doesn't?

JuraFajt · 12-26-2008, 08:03 AM

Originally posted by MRRiley

Check out the Huey. It works well with my monitor. No complaints on accuracy for prints made either on my inkjet or from the pro lab I use.

Hi Mike,
which version of Huey do you use, Huey or Huey Pro ? Don't you know if there is a significant difference ? And, do you use the periodical profile-changing feature, which modifies saved profile according to ambient light ?

Thanks, Jura

12-20-2008, 11:53 AM	#1
ftpaddict Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Yurp Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,666	Difference between monitor calibration devices? I see there is quite a substantial difference in price between an entry-level monitor calibration tool (such as the Spyder 2 Express and the Spyder 3 Pro), so I ask you: why is there a price difference? What does the Pro have that the Express version doesn't?

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12-20-2008, 12:43 PM	#2
ftpaddict Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Yurp Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,666 Original Poster	Bump in case you haven't noticed this thread yet.

12-20-2008, 01:04 PM	#3
MRRiley Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Sterling, VA, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,275	Check out the Huey. It works well with my monitor. No complaints on accuracy for prints made either on my inkjet or from the pro lab I use.

12-20-2008, 01:15 PM	#4
roentarre Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 11,783	There is a monitor spider thing that charged about 150 US dollars or so. It sits on the monitor and caliberates the colour and contrast for your monitor taking 10 minutes each run.

12-20-2008, 02:17 PM	#5
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,835	Sorry ftpaddict, I noticed but I dunno the answer, that's why I'm sitting quiet in the corner, waiting for more clever folk than me to reply.

12-20-2008, 02:29 PM	#6
ftpaddict Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Yurp Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,666 Original Poster	Originally posted by roentarre There is a monitor spider thing that charged about 150 US dollars or so. It sits on the monitor and caliberates the colour and contrast for your monitor taking 10 minutes each run. I know what they are and how they function; I was just wondering what makes the more expensive models better than the cheaper ones. Accuracy? Software bundle? I don't need one because I don't print my pictures (unfortunately). It's just curiosity.

12-20-2008, 03:15 PM	#7
Damn Brit Guest	Originally posted by ftpaddict I know what they are and how they function; I was just wondering what makes the more expensive models better than the cheaper ones. Accuracy? Software bundle? I don't need one because I don't print my pictures (unfortunately). It's just curiosity. Doesn't the more expensive one do printer calibration as well? That would be one explanation for the price difference.

12-20-2008, 03:16 PM	#8
ftpaddict Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Yurp Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,666 Original Poster	Originally posted by Damn Brit Doesn't the more expensive one do printer calibration as well? That would be one explanation for the price difference. There's an entirely different device dedicated to calibrating printers exclusively, and that's the most expensive of the bunch!

12-20-2008, 03:32 PM	#9
roentarre Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 11,783	Originally posted by ftpaddict I know what they are and how they function; I was just wondering what makes the more expensive models better than the cheaper ones. Accuracy? Software bundle? I don't need one because I don't print my pictures (unfortunately). It's just curiosity. Accuracy is not really an issue as Joele has bought several versions of that to test out. He gets them free at work. For that, I am so jealous. Software bundle is not an issue with spider pro I thinkl but there is some reported compatability issues surrounding other brands.

12-20-2008, 04:55 PM	#10
flyer Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ste-Anne des Plaines, Qc., Canada Posts: 2,013	Originally posted by ftpaddict There's an entirely different device dedicated to calibrating printers exclusively, and that's the most expensive of the bunch! The X-rite "Color Munki" calibrates both the monitor and will get ICC profiles from the printer. You don't actually calibrate the printer, but you "adjust" the input from the computer to give you a picture that looks like what you get on a calibrated monitor. And you have to use the word "looks" kind of loosely. You can never get a print to look like a computer screen, no matter what. One is backlit and the other one reflects the image. Guess which one looks brighter?

12-20-2008, 05:34 PM	#11
ftpaddict Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Yurp Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,666 Original Poster	Originally posted by roentarre Accuracy is not really an issue as Joele has bought several versions of that to test out. He gets them free at work. For that, I am so jealous. Software bundle is not an issue with spider pro I thinkl but there is some reported compatability issues surrounding other brands. Then why? Why are there several types of colour calibration tools with different price tags?

12-25-2008, 08:20 PM	#12
pingflood Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Borås, Sweden Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,169	I bought a Spyder2Express. Not a bad piece of gear, and it looks to do quite well. The biggest limitation to me is that it will only allow you to do one monitor, though it seems to just restrict this by the filename of the saved profile, so it's not exactly difficult to get around if you want to break the rules. The reviews I read on it vs the cheapest Huey said that they performed pretty much identically as far as accuracy.

12-25-2008, 08:52 PM	#13
SpecialK Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: So California Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,481	Originally posted by ftpaddict Then why? Why are there several types of colour calibration tools with different price tags? Marketing. Some people think the most expensive thing is better, others want something cheap. Take your pick :-) I've only ever used this freebie... http://www.jasc.com/support/kb/articles/monitor.asp

12-25-2008, 11:00 PM	#14
zaurus Inactive Account Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Southern California Posts: 35	ftpaddict, you sound totally confused. Are you talking about the hardware -- Spyder2 vs. Spyder3? Or, alternatively, are you talking about the software -- Express vs. Pro? Or, you have no clue, and want to hear a diversified plethora of opinions? Please do clarify if you want to hear a coherent maybe meaningfull reply. Originally posted by ftpaddict I see there is quite a substantial difference in price between an entry-level monitor calibration tool (such as the Spyder 2 Express and the Spyder 3 Pro), so I ask you: why is there a price difference? What does the Pro have that the Express version doesn't?

12-26-2008, 08:03 AM	#15
JuraFajt New Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 14	Originally posted by MRRiley Check out the Huey. It works well with my monitor. No complaints on accuracy for prints made either on my inkjet or from the pro lab I use. Hi Mike, which version of Huey do you use, Huey or Huey Pro ? Don't you know if there is a significant difference ? And, do you use the periodical profile-changing feature, which modifies saved profile according to ambient light ? Thanks, Jura