Monitor For Photography + General Use (No Gaming)

alexw

alexw

alexw

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Joined
18 May 2004
Posts
121
Location
Glasgow
I've started on photography since Christmas and am desperately in need of a new monitor to replace my current freebie which was scavenged from being thrown away a while ago (it's a horrific old no-name 15'' I think).

As per the title I use the computer for general everyday stuff (internet yadda yadda) and viewing and working with my photos. I don't play any games at all, so any issues to do with that are no concern whatsoever.

Ideally I'd like to be able to get something for ~£200, if at all possible.

Pretty much all of the advice I could find focused on monitors to be used for gaming, so I was hoping for help on choosing something focused instead on general use and photography in particular.

Thanks
 
If you've got the space, go for a nice aperture-grill CRT. I'm sure you can pick something extremely decent up on the second-hand market, and you'll have enough of your budget left over to buy a dedicated hardware calibration unit to ensure your colours are as accurate as possible.
 
given the budget, if you're looking at TFT's you are quite limited. You are pretty much limited exclusively to TN Film models and these are more designed with responsiveness (ie gaming) in mind, and not for photo enhusiasts. Some modern TN panels do offer some decent colour reproduction quality and models like the Samsung 913N are abot as accuate as you're going to get for the budget. You might well be better looking for a CRT, but depends what you fancy :)
 
I almost certainly have the room for a CRT, so I'm happy to go that way if I can get something good quality within my budget.

I knew TFTs weren't supposed to be so good for colour reproduction and photo work, but am not really conversant with the details.

There's seems to be less readily available on the CRT front though unfortunately. Any specific tips on makes and models to take a look at?
 
If you can, and I'd highly recommend that you do, try and pick up a Trinitron, Flatron or Diamondtron tube - something from Sony, Sun or Mitsubishi would be a great buy.

Something like this would be a great buy, but you'll need to find one close to home and in good nick - P&P on a large CRT will probably be more expensive than the monitor itself!

I use a LaCie Electron Blue 22". Barring some initial problems with a weedy graphics card output, it's easily the best monitor I have ever used and I wouldn't replace it for anything less than a LaCie 319/321 - but they're £1,000+.
 
Thanks for the tips.

Unfortunately I don't have access to view the thread you linked to (I assume it was on the members market).

Just read the members market FAQ entry - ah well, I can't imagine I'll have 250 posts for several years yet. Sad times.
 
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alexxw, i was in the same position as you and after a bit of research i realised i wanted a top of the range 21/22" CRT Monitor. Basically a Sony G520 (F520 if i was rich), LaCie Electron Blue IV 22" or Mitsubishi equivilant.

After a bit more research i found that Dell/Compaq/HP all rebrand the Sony G520 as a P1130 (the G500 goes under P1110). These are always going on ebay for £50-£100. eg, now ;)

I now have two of them and they are absolutly superb, by far the best monitors i have ever used and they only cost £50 :)

If u really wanted to use all of your budget you could go for a Sony F520 or LaCie Electron Blue IV 22" or as already mentioned by Glitch a calibration unit.
 
Thanks, that looks very promising.

As long as the ebay seller is reliable, £100 for a 21'' CRT (admittedly refurbished) still sounds more than reasonable.
 
If your after a TFT dedicated to photography then probably the best make would be an EIZO. They don't come cheap though, so have a good look around.
 
Gonna have to jump on the "Buy a 2nd hand Lacie / Mitsubishi" bandwagon.

I have a 22" Mitusbishi Diamondtron, which I bought brand new about 2 - 3 years ago. Cost about £350 I think. If I were to sell it, I would think I would be lucky to get £100 for it. Large CRTs are SO cheap on the auction sites...
 
glitch said:
I use a LaCie Electron Blue 22". Barring some initial problems with a weedy graphics card output, it's easily the best monitor I have ever used and I wouldn't replace it for anything less than a LaCie 319/321 - but they're £1,000+.
Click to expand...
I have the same crt (version IV) which I bought second hand, but nearly new (2 years warranty left) for £100 and it's PQ is amazing.
 
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