Monitors
- Thread starter ScarySquirrel
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Sounds sensible to me - you'll probably get more 'real world' performance boost from an SSD than from upgrading to an i7 system.
I was also going to suggest getting a single 24" then using your existing for palettes or other apps etc - beaten to it!You'll clearly need the right tools for the job, but don't need to be extravagant when you could be saving the money for higher priorities such as a second body, extra flash(es), lenses etc
Yeah definitely. I'm holding off on all of this for now as I need a second body and a new flash first.
The suggestion earlier of upgrading your CPU to a Q6600 really isn't a bad shout either. Add in another 4GB of ram to take you to 8GB and you'll have a machine that (for photo editing at least) will stand toe to toe with most modern systems. I'm still running a Q6600 in my workstation purely because through every upgrade of Photoshop, and every increase in file size, extra CPU horsepower has been the absolute last thing I needed. Always more ram or more/faster hardrive space.
Soldato
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Steady on, the Canon pro service is good but it's not worth splashing out on.
In all seriousness...
I don't think the SSD would benefit you as much as you think...it's good for boot times etc., but if you have plenty of RAM and fast drives that you store your photos on you are well away.
Dual screens are a great idea...I'm currently looking at a Dell 2407 which has served me well, with an LG 19" as the second panel which I put all my tools on.
We also use an older Dell 2405 and a 2709 which is the 27" version. It's a great monitor and the only one we use when coupled to our printer to ensure colour accuracy when printing...I can certainly say the Dell monitors are good...don't know what the new versions are like though, or what the HP do.
I use an i7 920 as my main machine with 6GB of RAM...it'll open 1GB worth of 20MB files without even slowing down which is rather nice when I am doing lots of checking and editing!
Regarding calibration devices, I can recommend the X-Rite i1 basic, you buy the device and a basic license to calibrate whatever you need it to. We bought the license to calibrate the monitors, scanners and printers but we didn't need the projector option so it was a bit cheaper than if we bought the whole outfit.
Hope that helps.
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My take on it is:
Two monitors - I have 2 screens, an old TN 20" screen and a new U2410 as my main screen. I would rather this setup than a single 27" screen. When working in LR having the 2nd screen showing grid view is just fab.
Calibration - The U2710 calibrates well using the Spyder 3 Pro if and only if you have the latest version of the software. Calibration is essential. I ordered £500 worth of canvasses and framed prints last week and I want to know that they are going to work.
PC - My main PC has a 64GB SSD as system/app drive and 2x1TB disks in raid 1 as data storage. It is running a Q6600 and 4GB ram. I can honestly say I don't need any more speed. Key things are Ram and SSD.
So my advice would be 4GB ram, 64bit OS and an SSD and your current C2D will be fine.
Two monitors - I have 2 screens, an old TN 20" screen and a new U2410 as my main screen. I would rather this setup than a single 27" screen. When working in LR having the 2nd screen showing grid view is just fab.
Calibration - The U2710 calibrates well using the Spyder 3 Pro if and only if you have the latest version of the software. Calibration is essential. I ordered £500 worth of canvasses and framed prints last week and I want to know that they are going to work.
PC - My main PC has a 64GB SSD as system/app drive and 2x1TB disks in raid 1 as data storage. It is running a Q6600 and 4GB ram. I can honestly say I don't need any more speed. Key things are Ram and SSD.
So my advice would be 4GB ram, 64bit OS and an SSD and your current C2D will be fine.
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Thanks Hodders. I've got 4Gb RAM already. I think my main problem is my mess of storage setup. I haven't formatted for a while and I just have loads installed, and my organisation of files is terrible. I think I just need a spring clean.
Hopefully going to pick up another 4Gb RAM cheap as well. Then I'll consider sorting out my storage and a fresh W7 install, along with the U2410 of course, which as suggested I'll pair with my current 20" TN panel.
I'm holding off on all purchases for a month or so (very hard as I always impulse buy) as I within touching distance of a 5D2, so I'll get the bigger purchase out of the way first I'll update this thread with my next steps as and when they happen, just in case they help someone else out.
Hopefully going to pick up another 4Gb RAM cheap as well. Then I'll consider sorting out my storage and a fresh W7 install, along with the U2410 of course, which as suggested I'll pair with my current 20" TN panel.
I'm holding off on all purchases for a month or so (very hard as I always impulse buy) as I within touching distance of a 5D2, so I'll get the bigger purchase out of the way first
I'll update this thread with my next steps as and when they happen, just in case they help someone else out.
Thanks Hodders. I've got 4Gb RAM already. I think my main problem is my mess of storage setup. I haven't formatted for a while and I just have loads installed, and my organisation of files is terrible. I think I just need a spring clean.
Hopefully going to pick up another 4Gb RAM cheap as well. Then I'll consider sorting out my storage and a fresh W7 install, along with the U2410 of course, which as suggested I'll pair with my current 20" TN panel.
I'm holding off on all purchases for a month or so (very hard as I always impulse buy) as I within touching distance of a 5D2, so I'll get the bigger purchase out of the way first
BAR STEWARD
What's annoying I can afford one as well but saving for other commitments is the biggest and most gayest thing evah!
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HA
on a side note, just ordered a spyder 3 pro to calibrate my monitor as a few comments have been made during comps about colours etc on my entries so thought I'd bite the bullet
Associate
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Just a little bit on calibration, i have recently bought a Spyder3 pro and was suprised by the results. Even though i had calibrated manually via the Windows 7 option there was quite a noticable difference in how the Spyer did it.
Buy the camera over a DC2 mate, a car is a car at the end of the day, its not going to potentially earn you money unlike a camera, flash equipment, lenses and other bits and peices. Do well at photography in a professional context and you can buy a house and an nsx if your lucky, instead of a £5k DC2!
Thanks Hodders. I've got 4Gb RAM already. I think my main problem is my mess of storage setup. I haven't formatted for a while and I just have loads installed, and my organisation of files is terrible. I think I just need a spring clean.
Hopefully going to pick up another 4Gb RAM cheap as well. Then I'll consider sorting out my storage and a fresh W7 install, along with the U2410 of course, which as suggested I'll pair with my current 20" TN panel.
I'm holding off on all purchases for a month or so (very hard as I always impulse buy) as I within touching distance of a 5D2, so I'll get the bigger purchase out of the way first
If you can find one cheap get a gfx card with 1024mb of ram, photoshop lightroom etc all use it for performance. But its mainly down to cpu speed when applying filters and stuff. Have you overclocked yet ?
I'm not saving for a car dude. Mainly somewhere to live and a holiday right now.
I know that feeling......got the holiday out the way but want to go somewhere else now
Saving up for a deposit is a bugger especially since I've seen a couple of places which i can theoretically afford just now, its just the student debt I've still to pay off thats concerning me
*but I've already got the 5DII
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Yeah I've got my CPU running and 3.6Ghz, and I have a 4870 1Gb graphics card. I really think my system is just chugging as all do after a while without a format and a clean up.
Tell me about it. I could have bought the 5D2 right now if I wasn't going away next month. Then again 5 days in Rome with Helen is worth it
I don't have any confirmed jobs until 2011 now (bar one at the end of October) so if my 5D1 can not break on me for just one more job I'll probably hold out on clicking 'BUY' until Christmas time.
I know that feeling......got the holiday out the way but want to go somewhere else now
Saving up for a deposit is a bugger especially since I've seen a couple of places which i can theoretically afford just now, its just the student debt I've still to pay off thats concerning me
*but I've already got the 5DII
lol well I haven't been away for 2 years, and I'd like to go away in Feb, and treat myself to another bit of photography gear before xmas
(24-70 is on its way) - 2nd hand 70-200 2.8 IS's are hitting the £900 mark now 
Tell me about it. I could have bought the 5D2 right now if I wasn't going away next month. Then again 5 days in Rome with Helen is worth it
That ugly annoying cow?
We talking about the same Helen?
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Fair enough on the house, i know its washing notes down the drain in essence but theres no way i would be buying a house in this climate. I know a few people who have paid 2/3 of their mortgage and had the bank repossess due to cuts at work and work letting them go, now they own nothing and have paid 2/3 of the worth of the house off!
Might as well have rented for all those years, which is what I shall be doing!
Might as well have rented for all those years, which is what I shall be doing!
but if you have the money in place now is the time to buy
Exactly, house market is at an all time low. Buy now, wait till housing market recovers in a few years and sell. Simples!