LCD screen for image processing

mdebets

Has anyone experience with the DELL LCD screens for image processing?
Are they usable for image processing and is there a difference between the UltraSharp and the normal LCDs?

Thanks

GristlyEnd

Excellent timing this post as I'm interested in a Dell monitor as well.

mathias

Regardless of what screen you get , you should be able to calibrate it properly for colour , once this is done then it should be fine for image work , I have used my spyder to calibrate some no name LCD's for colour and they work fine as image tools , you can take it that its a safe bet that no monitor is properly calibrated out of the box.

My latest monitor is a samsung , but these units work on any screen ,

http://www.northlight-images.co.uk/article_pages/spyder2pro.html

copacetic

there are some good reviews and comparisons online, do a search for apple v dell and there is a comprehensive one on the newer HD displays. If I recall they are both LG panels with variation in the front end HW...

edit, these aren't the ones I remember but will get you started:
http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-10442_7-6470175-1.html

http://www.anandtech.com/displays/showdoc.aspx?i=2400

in general the dell displays are good and widely used for image processing.

Valentia

mathias wrote:

Regardless of what screen you get , you should be able to calibrate it properly for colour , l

Not true unfortunately. LCD screens that I have used are not capable of getting the brightness up to the correct level. I just recently got a Dell 2007WFP and it has been a revelation colour wise. The only thing I would have against it, coming from a 19" CRT, is that it doesn't have enough height. It seems quite small after the 19". The problem is that if you want to go for a 24" Dell it costs a bloody fortune. The monitor can be rotated and it is amazing to see an horizontal pic at its full size.

The Dell ultrasharps are definately worth the money. A different level from the budget jobbies.

BTW before anyone goes off and googles the 2007 and reads about the banding problem, that has been sorted in the newer models.

JMcL

Having been in the market for an LCD myself before Christmas, I did some research on the matter, and surprise, surprise, it's more complicated that I thought.

What's crucial is the technology used to make the panel. Best is S-IPS (used in the Apple cinema displays), next and supposedly almost as good is S-PVA, which is used by some ferociously pricey Eizo monitors. Almost all the cheaper models use TN panels, which are almost useless for photo work, as you have a very narrow viewing angle, before the image starts to look off, regardless of manufacturer claims.

The only problem with the Dells is that, like everything else in the Dell world, the panel type gets switched depending on what is in stock, or has a good volume discount that week. Initial screens used S-IPS panels, and were supposedly excellent, however they seem to have switched to S-PVA panels late last year, and not very good ones at that. To make matters worse, there's absolutely no way of determining from the model number what they use. If you go to DPReview and search there you'll find probably 50/50 happy/unhappy campers.

In light of all this, I decided to look elsewhere, and ended up with the HP L2065, which is an absolutely first rate screen. It's more pricey than the Dell, but it'll probably last me a couple of computers connected to it

GristlyEnd

Valentia wrote:

I just recently got a Dell 2007WFP and it has been a revelation colour wise. The only thing I would have against it, coming from a 19" CRT, is that it doesn't have enough height. It seems quite small after the 19". The problem is that if you want to go for a 24" Dell it costs a bloody fortune. The monitor can be rotated and it is amazing to see an horizontal pic at its full size.

Danny, would you recommend the 24" or the 20"? I have a 17" 4:3 monitor and I'm looking for a fairly large widescreen. I have also been looking at the Apple 23".

copacetic

JMcL wrote:

Having been in the market for an LCD myself before Christmas, I did some research on the matter, and surprise, surprise, it's more complicated that I thought.

What's crucial is the technology used to make the panel. Best is S-IPS (used in the Apple cinema displays), next and supposedly almost as good is S-PVA, which is used by some ferociously pricey Eizo monitors. Almost all the cheaper models use TN panels, which are almost useless for photo work, as you have a very narrow viewing angle, before the image starts to look off, regardless of manufacturer claims.

The only problem with the Dells is that, like everything else in the Dell world, the panel type gets switched depending on what is in stock, or has a good volume discount that week. Initial screens used S-IPS panels, and were supposedly excellent, however they seem to have switched to S-PVA panels late last year, and not very good ones at that. To make matters worse, there's absolutely no way of determining from the model number what they use. If you go to DPReview and search there you'll find probably 50/50 happy/unhappy campers.

In light of all this, I decided to look elsewhere, and ended up with the HP L2065, which is an absolutely first rate screen. It's more pricey than the Dell, but it'll probably last me a couple of computers connected to it

interesting stuff, it does seem Dell can be a bit erratic from one unit to the next, you can always return them if not happy though. We have ben trying HP displays recently too and they are good. microaid.ie do the HP and Apple HD displays, we have used them when not buying Dell. Site design is terrible but they have been reliable so far..

Borderfox

I think if you are going to do a lot of editing then spend the money and get one of the La Cie models.

http://www.lacie.com/products/range.htm?id=10016

copacetic

i personally don't believe lacie in general are any better than any of the other brands. they generally use NEC panels, i'd buy an NEC display rather than a lacie to save money...

Borderfox

You are entitled to you opinion. Depends how serious you are, if its your business then thats a given that you will buy what's best for Performance/Clarity/Accuarcy, If its a hobby then you compromise.

copacetic

it's certainly not my hobby and I don't agree that lacie are any better in performance, clarity or accuracy. they buy in panels the same way everyone else does..

Borderfox

daveym wrote:

it's certainly not my hobby and I don't agree that lacie are any better in performance, clarity or accuracy. they buy in panels the same way everyone else does..

I said you are entitiled to your opinion. Calm down

digitalage

This is a very handy link which tells you what type of panel TN, S-IPS, S-PVA...is in your monitor not all manufacturers give out this information.

http://www.flatpanels.dk/panels.php

As already mentioned the best LCD are those with the S-IPS technology as they render better colour.

copacetic

Borderfox wrote:

I said you are entitiled to your opinion. Calm down

you are entitled to yours too, but you are trying to be condescending for some reason with no facts to back you up.
apparently if people don't buy the display you think is best they are hobbyists?
where am I not calm? I simply said I don't agree with you...

Valentia

JMcL wrote:

Having been in the market for an LCD myself before Christmas, I did some research on the matter, and surprise, surprise, it's more complicated that I thought.

What's crucial is the technology used to make the panel. Best is S-IPS (used in the Apple cinema displays), next and supposedly almost as good is S-PVA, which is used by some ferociously pricey Eizo monitors. Almost all the cheaper models use TN panels, which are almost useless for photo work, as you have a very narrow viewing angle, before the image starts to look off, regardless of manufacturer claims.

The only problem with the Dells is that, like everything else in the Dell world, the panel type gets switched depending on what is in stock, or has a good volume discount that week. Initial screens used S-IPS panels, and were supposedly excellent, however they seem to have switched to S-PVA panels late last year, and not very good ones at that. To make matters worse, there's absolutely no way of determining from the model number what they use. If you go to DPReview and search there you'll find probably 50/50 happy/unhappy campers.

In light of all this, I decided to look elsewhere, and ended up with the HP L2065, which is an absolutely first rate screen. It's more pricey than the Dell, but it'll probably last me a couple of computers connected to it

Fair play John, you did your homework

I did some treading too before I got the Dell and, even though I can't remember the exact details, I got a very different impression about the newer 2007's. that's why I bought it. Apparently it is possible to tell which panel it has (Rev 3) and the word is that the newer panel suffers from none of the serious problems (like banding) that the previous one did. It is strange how you have the opposite view. My big disappointment is the size, as I mentioned. But the 24" is too expensive for me.

DarrenG: If you can afford it go for the 24". the 20" is very narrow, top to bottom, if you are used to anything bigger than a 17" CRT.

mathias

TN panels, which are almost useless for photo work

Not true , as long as the screen can be calibrated it will be fine , I dont have a habit of trying to work looking sideways at the screen. I do weddings , the pro prints match the screen ( calibrated ) and I have had no customer complaints , results are top class , calibration is the key , if it can be done , the monitor is fine !!

Valentia

JMcL wrote:

What's crucial is the technology used to make the panel. Best is S-IPS

After a bit of research I have been able to find a secret service menu for my Dell 2007WFP and it does indeed have a S-IPS panel

Fionn

the original screen (18") i had with my system went belly up last year but was still under a three year warranty it was this one i think - (Dell 1800 (*) has a 18 inch 30 ms IPS panel)
they replaced it with a new (19") which i think is this one - Dell 1905FP (*) has a 19 inch 20 ms PVA (Samsung LTM190E4-L02) eller et 8 ms P-MVA (AUO M190EN03 V0) panel according to the web site that was posted.
The screen is fine and i don't have too any probs with it apart from the fact that i couldn't calibrate it with adobe because some the options are greyed out for the monitor options menu, so i'm not entirely sure how accurate my colours are.
We got a 19" from Dell in work too and it's not a patch on my one here and like the one in work has double the video ram and all the bells and whistles, I must check the model and that and find out which one it is.

JMcL

Actually, looking at my previous post, I take back one thing. The HP I bought is actually considerably cheaper than the Dell 20"! If anybody can buy as a business (or talk nicely to their boss), it's available from pcwb.ie for €387 (ex VAT - about €465 with). This is about €80 less than the Dell. This was the best price I found by a long shot, DABS stock it, but it was over €500

The above of course ignores the fact that there're offers on the go for these all the time, so what you might actually pay could be a lot lower.

Danny: Glad to hear you got a good one. I'd guess given the people that'd most likely buy these displays they couldn't afford to let quality slip as much as they apparently did after the panel change for long.

I've read about people sending them back, until the got a S-IPS panel display, but, hey, I figure life's too short! I'd much rather be out with the camera than dealing with Dell's customer support

Valentia

I got the Dell for 396 incl VAT early in January. They had a promotion on at the time and, touchwood, no recourse to customer service yet anyway.

311

Had to dig this thread up ,excuse ..

Does anyone know if A-SI is the same as S-IPS ?
I've found that amorphus silicone is a good method of producing monitors ,but is it the same as Sips. ??