Is there a reasonable priced monitor to have on your computer to do all your color correcting on?

I have looked at some and they do not even have common computer hook ups.

thanks

Is there a reasonable priced monitor to have on your computer to do all your color correcting on?

The short answer is "not really."

The bare minimum for color correction work is a monitor that provides the color space of your target. If it's the web, sRGB. If it's HDTV in NA, it's Rec. 709. If it's SD in NA, it's Rec. 601. Then you need the monitor calibrated. Then you need the proper signals to the monitor to drive it. If you are missing any of the above, you're just shooting in the dark, literally.

All this is much more than a single posting can discus. Look around here and other forums. This topic has been discussed in detail in numerous other threads.

"Reasonable" is a relative term. Less than 10 years ago, a 20" CRT with HDSDI would have set you back at least $16k. Now a grade 1 24" LCD can be had for less than half that. I'd say that's pretty reasonable.

Since my target is a TV, I've been thinking of trying to color correct using the TV. I have a Samsung 32" flat screen with a PC plug that can hook up the computer and I can use it as the monitor.

Bill,

I have been doing that for years. The problem lies with the fact that they all seem so darn different.

I use a color LCD tv with hdmi as my main monitor, then I check my footage as blu ray on a 50 inch Panasonic plasma. I guess thats what I will continue to do. 8,000 is more than I have to play with in this regard. Looked at a jve at 2700 but do not know how I would hook it into the computer system as apposed to just the camera.

My images are not terrible, just wondered if I could improve them via this route.

thank you all for the responses.

CRTs were the standard for colour correction for years and IMHO, still produce the best colour. If you don't need ultra high resolution, you can pick up a used CRT field monitor for under $200

CRTs were the standard for colour correction for years and IMHO, still produce the best colour. If you don't need ultra high resolution, you can pick up a used CRT field monitor for under $200

It's getting very hard to maintain CRTs. Replacement tubes are no longer available for most models, and they will become less accurate with age. Also, very few shops are able to service them. They can no longer find parts.

For under $3,000, you can get an Eizo CG243W and a Quadro 2000 with Displayport (if on a PC, which I assume because you make Blu Rays). The Eizo is 10bit and the Displayport from the Quadro is 10bit. All you need is software that can output 10bit such as Windows 7, Premiere Pro CS5 and maybe Photoshop. However, you don't absolutely need a 10bit pipeline. This setup is what I use but with a Quadro FX3800.

The Eizo has factory calibrated presets for Rec 709 and 601 (aka SMPTE-C) in addition to custom calibrations.

One thing I want to stress is calibration every 1-2 months of use (or 100 hours). My custom calibration went from perfect to not enough red because LCDs change color over time and I went 1300 hours between calibrations. For broadcast, this caused many problems and for the web, everything was way too red or orange. Also, you need to turn off the lights during the calibration process.

If you do get this Eizo, change the Brightness to 20% in the presets which gives you roughly 100 cd/m2.

Another great strength of this Eizo is color and brightness uniformity across the screen. I think that there is a max delta of 4-5% in uniformity across the screen. Compare that to a new $500 ASUS which varies 20% from left to right.

It's getting very hard to maintain CRTs. Replacement tubes are no longer available for most models, and they will become less accurate with age. Also, very few shops are able to service them. They can no longer find parts.

I disagree. The monitors normally get used only a fraction of the number of hours a normal CRT television gets (got) used. My JVC Professional monitor has been going for years with no signs of deterioration. I would guess that the overpriced LCD monitors won't last half as long. (Just a hunch).

John

What about the HP Dreamcolor? That came highly recommended a while ago and was about $2500ish

Also, regarding CRTs. . .if you're going to get one, I recommend looking into the Sony PVM14m2u. It's a 13" CRT with all the pro features, 4:3/16:9 switchable, blue gun, etc. It has p22 phosphors, which, as I understand, while not AS GOOD as SEMPTE C phosphors for color accuracy, are still pretty good. I have and use one and have never been shocked when seeing stuff I've corrected online/on a projection screen/on another TV. Last I looked on ebay they were going between 50-200 used.

I disagree. The monitors normally get used only a fraction of the number of hours a normal CRT television gets (got) used. My JVC Professional monitor has been going for years with no signs of deterioration. I would guess that the overpriced LCD monitors won't last half as long. (Just a hunch).

John

Most of the post houses I've been in monitors tend to be left on all the time. Also, LCD monitors don't suffer from screen burn like CRTs do.

I disagree. The monitors normally get used only a fraction of the number of hours a normal CRT television gets (got) used. My JVC Professional monitor has been going for years with no signs of deterioration. I would guess that the overpriced LCD monitors won't last half as long. (Just a hunch).


Most of the post houses I've been in monitors tend to be left on all the time. Also, LCD monitors don't suffer from screen burn like CRTs do.
June 21st, 2011 06:54 PM

To your first point, the Original Poster is not asking for a monitor recommendation for a "post house". It is for his own personal editing.

To your second point, I agree (if one wants it for a "post house").

John

While it's certainly far from "perfect", you can get devices fairly cheaply to calibrate your existing monitor - they hang in front of your screen, display a series of colors, then produce a profile that more or less makes your monitor properly balanced.

It ain't perfect, but it's within the reach of an average hobby user, and you'd be surprised how much better everything looks after you've used one of them to calibrate your screens.

Over the years I've used "Spyder", "Huey", and currentlly "Colormunki" (will profile multi-monitors, where the basic Huey does just one, but otherwise is great and compensates for room light).

For the $$ expended, it at least gets your displays in the ballpark rather than the parking lot where most screens seem to be!

To your first point, the Original Poster is not asking for a monitor recommendation for a "post house". It is for his own personal editing.

If you're trying to buy a used, pro grade CRT, the odds right now are that it came from a post house or some other pro suite. And, more likely than not, it will have a lot of hours on it. Which may be why it's for sale.

Just sayin'...