Monitor recommendations for image editing?

[Kermit power]

Hi All,

I am contemplating the idea of getting a second monitor. This is as much to make work easier than it is specifically for image editing, but one thing I would really like is a monitor which isn't quite so sensitive to viewing angle as the one I have at present.

Any recommendations for a 21" or so monitor that won't break the bank, but will allow me a reasonable angle of vision horizontally and vertically?

[Major Bloodnok]

I recently picked up a Dell S2209W from PC world for about £150. Not bad - 22" wide screen 1920x1080 pixels. Coupled with my old 17" Philips, it's not a bad setup.

[VxDuncan]

Kermit power said:

Hi All,

I am contemplating the idea of getting a second monitor. This is as much to make work easier than it is specifically for image editing, but one thing I would really like is a monitor which isn't quite so sensitive to viewing angle as the one I have at present.

Any recommendations for a 21" or so monitor that won't break the bank, but will allow me a reasonable angle of vision horizontally and vertically?

Big old CRT. It's what I use at home, big gamut, no colour shift and analogue signal means you don't get the pixel boundaries sharpening the image.

Granted the new high end TFT's are pretty good, but I'll stick with the 21" CRT until I win the lottery.

[leeb]

i am also on the lookout for a new monitor. I would like to run a 2 monitor setup, and ideally put all the photoshop tools and icons etc on the small monitor, and work on a larger one so i have the full screen available.

Anyone doing this at the moment?

Would love to see some photos of anyones setups if poss.

(sorry for the thread hijack, its kind of relevant, as im also looking for recomendations)

[Kermit power]

leeb said:

i am also on the lookout for a new monitor. I would like to run a 2 monitor setup, and ideally put all the photoshop tools and icons etc on the small monitor, and work on a larger one so i have the full screen available.

Anyone doing this at the moment?

Would love to see some photos of anyones setups if poss.

(sorry for the thread hijack, its kind of relevant, as im also looking for recomendations)

No need to apologise, it's a good idea!

Edited by Kermit power on Sunday 15th March 21:36

[Gemm]

I still use a CRT too. It doubles as a heating device, which is handy in winter.

(but I would also be interested to know if there's any good LCD's)

[gingerpaul]

I was looking for an LCD screen recently and wanted something that would more accurately reproduce colour. After some research it turns out there are different technologies in the screens. To summarise you probably want something with an IPS panel in it. The most well known screens to have those panels are the Apple Cinema range. There aren't many of this type about because they cost more for no apparant gain when you compare the specifications with screens with TN panels, but they really are worth the extra. They're in a completely different league. The only problem is I can now see that the quality of my Canon G9's pictures are really quite bad. Bugger!

I got an HP LP2475w in the end. It's 1920x1200 and has all the newfangled connections. If you get one of these be aware that the standard set up isn't very good and you have to adjust the settings, paricularly the brightness, to get something sensible.

Edited to add that Dell do a screen similar to the one mentioned above called the 2209WA and this has an IPS panel in it. The S2209W has a TN panel.

Edited by gingerpaul on Sunday 15th March 21:58

[_dobbo_]

leeb said:

Would love to see some photos of anyones setups if poss.

I run a 20" dell alongside a 15" dell, with the image on the big screen and all the tools on the small one. Definitely the best way of working.

If I was in the market now (secretly I'm trying to find reasons to buy these) I'd buy two Samsung Syncmaste T220s.



Excuse the mess, I'd just taken delivery of lots of camera gear and I was like a kid on christmas morning!

[Fordo]

Dell and Apple are pretty good- ive heard they use the same panels, but different back lights. So apples cinema displays remain more colour accurate when you turn the brightness right down.

Personally, i still think apples monitors are a bit high priced, and i'd go with dell

As mentioned, if you have the space, go CRT. We've got an old Mitsubishi Diamond monitor, and the colour response is great, even next to cinema displays and the hp monitors we have

Edited by Fordo on Monday 16th March 16:04

[S. Gonzales Esq.]

I'm using a side-by-side pair of LaCie 19" CRTs. They're only at 1024x768 so I don't have a huge amount of desktop space, but the ability to split PS menus onto a separate screen is great. I think I got some of the last ones LaCie made as I didn't like the look of the LCDs available at the time.

I've seen an LCD I would like though - the Samsung XL24 with LED backlighting. There was one on display at Focus last year, and it was showing colours I've never seen on screen before. I'm not sure I'll be able to justify the £1k cost for a while though.

One more thing - if you're going to have an extended desktop, you'll probably need a larger graphics tablet - I've got an A5 Wacom, and it's only just big enough when mapped to the larger desktop.