Monitor recommendations?

[jagdpanther]

Im toying with the idea of buying a new monitor as mine is cack, old and slowly killing itself.

Now I do a lot of photography and obviously need a monitor that can give me sharp, accurate detail when processing pics, but I dont want to be bent over on a price.

Im looking for 19"+ possibly widescreen depending on the details and price, but what kind of inner details should I be looking for?

What kind of max resolution and refresh rate?????

Any help would be appreciated

[jagdpanther]

Forgive me for being a bit thick, but how do you do that?

[jagdpanther]

ginettag27 said:

jagdpanther said:

Forgive me for being a bit thick, but how do you do that?

What graphics card have you got?

Make, model/number...

+ How old is the PC itself?

Erm, less than a year old

Running AMD Dualcore 5200 processor

1gb SataII memory

I think I have an Asus motherboard with 256mb onboard gfx, but cannae be sure

[jagdpanther]

xiphias said:

Most importantly, whats the budget?

I will be aiming for about £90-150

[jagdpanther]

xiphias said:

Is colour reproduction essential? That tends to affect the price somewhat...

I do a shedload of photography so take what you need from that I suppose

[jagdpanther]

cyberface said:

jagdpanther said:

xiphias said:

Is colour reproduction essential? That tends to affect the price somewhat...

I do a shedload of photography so take what you need from that I suppose

Then forget the 'glossy' screen types hyped up by various manufacturers and look for quality, not quantity.

Unfortunately getting photog-standard colour range, ease of calibration, high resolution *and* zero dead pixels costs quite a lot of money. Hardly any manufacturers will guarantee zero dead pixels (especially on a big screen) but the better brands tend to use the top-end 'bins' (like CPUs, LCD display panels are graded, and the same panel with a few dead/stuck pixels will be sold for less than a perfect one).

For example, Apple use the same 30" panel as Dell (as in the same manufacturer and model, I think it's Samsung, but not sure so don't quote me), and the Dell is cheaper. However I rarely hear of Apple HD display users complaining of duff pixels. My two are both perfect.

Apple's screens are pricey though, Eizo's top end panels are arguably better, so I'd consider them... also NEC do proper calibrated screens. LaCie have a dedicated photographer's range of individually factory-calibrated screens, and also sell a hardware calibration device.

If you're doing photography seriously, then a good screen is vital... I'd be looking for colour space reproduction well before considering widescreen or not (which is irrelevant for anything but widescreen video).

The way I look at it is that I currently have a shagged out old Olivetti which is as near to 12 years old it makes no difference.

Its really starting to fall to pieces:

Its on one of those pre-amped speaker base things, which has been disconnected, but it works on the pan & tilt mechanism which snapped and is now carefully "perched" on top of its base

The screen flickers like merry hell

According to those people that havent used mine (including my mother who is in no way computer savvy) they say its fuzzy and blurry around the edges and the pics are really flat

Oh and it must weigh about 40kgs

Anything I buy is bound to be an improvement

[jagdpanther]

BLOOOOOOODY HELLL

What a techno argument and waaayyy too much information to digest the morning after heavy intake of ale

Im guessing overclockers would be a good place to buy from due to them offering up the in depth details of the panel tech and monitor features then?

[jagdpanther]

Mattt said:

jagdpanther said:

Im guessing overclockers would be a good place to buy from

Run by a PHer too

ReeeheeeheeeeHHEEEAAALLLLLYY :Scratchchin:

Might have to have a word then