Need LCD Monitor Recommendations

[JeffreyVB]

Bonus check is coming in a couple of weeks and I am thinking I may finally ditch the 17in CRT and pop for a 19-20in LCD. Any recommendations? I am a bit partial to Viewsonics due to past history and experience with them. What do you guys use? I am looking in the $200-300 range. I don't want to go too extravagant, but I don't want the bottom of the barrel either. Thanks guys.

[rdsmith3]

I recently got the Viewsonic VX2025wm, 20" Widescreen 1680x1050 8ms LCD [Refurbished] directly from Viewsonic for $246. I really have no experience to compare it with others, but it is a great monitor.

I believe it uses P-MVA panels.

[sapearl]

A month ago I got the Viewsonic VP930b 19" and have been very pleased with it. I now use it as my main "image" monitor for CS2 and have relegated the old 19" Dell FP to the right hand palette/menu monitor.

It comes with it's own color/white balance calibration s/w - which still can't replace a good hardware calibrator - but it's pretty good. It also has that auto-rotate s/w that swings your image automatically to portrait if you rotate the monitor 90 degrees.

This LCD also has one of the best, most solid and easy to use pedestals that I've seen, and I've looked at a lot of them. All in all it's no Lacie or Eizo, but it's a very good performer for the price IMHO. I also run it with the DVI connection. - Stu

[KevC]

I love my vx2025! Beautiful panel! Just make sure you stay away from the TN+Film panels, MVA/PVA/S-IPS are the good ones!

[bobbywang]

do you guys have the problem where based on the vertical view of your monitor, the brightness varies? or is it because my monitor is inferior? lol

[convergent]

I don't think he's going to get an S-IPS 20" monitor for $200-300...

I have been using a Samsung 204T that I bought at Sams for a year now, but I'm in the market for a new S-IPS monitor soon... trying to decide if I'll stay with 2 monitors, or go to something huge.

[condyk]

I like Formac ... great product design for home and office and quality that is proven in studio's all over this fair land :-)

[sapearl]

do you guys have the problem where based on the vertical view of your monitor, the brightness varies? or is it because my monitor is inferior? lol

Hi Bob - not sure what you mean. Are you saying your brightness level changes if you rotate the monitor from landscape to portrait? I haven't encountered that.

[the.good.life]

I recently got this S-IPS panel NEC MultiSync LCD2070NX 20" LCD Monitor- Silver from amazon at $249.99 with $9.99 shipping. That's a savings of $340.00 or 58% from their retail price. The sale comes and goes. I don't mind the silver color as the black doesn't go on sale that low. The past days, they run out of stock but today they have the sale again and they have 2 in stock as I type. This is not a widescreen and this is brand new. You cannot rotate the screen, it has to be done manually by removing screws and making it permanent. If they run out, just keep checking back, as like I said, the sale comes and goes every now and then, maybe til they run out of stock. This item is also from amazon, not another seller. I was planning to get 2 for dual monitor since I have a 2 head video card, but my budget does not allow it.

http://www.amazon.com/NEC-MultiSync-LCD2070NX-Monitor-Silver/dp/B0007WULNW/ref=pd_bbs_1/103-0733944-8403840?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1174957917&sr=8-1

[sapearl]

I recently got this S-IPS panel NEC MultiSync LCD2070NX 20" LCD Monitor- Silver from amazon at $249.99 with $9.99 shipping. That's a savings of $340.00 or 58% from their retail price. .........

I strongly considered an NEC... they have excellent color, strong quality control and most have easy to use and intuitive monitor adjustments on the bottom edge of the bezel. Their pricing was reasonable also.

What changed my mind though was the "gloss" screen that many of the models have. This isn't an issue with some, but in my main working environment I get bright areas and reflections in the room which would shine off the screen and be very annoying. I needed a monitor with a non-glare surface. But for those without this issue NEC makes fine equipment.

[Skip Souza]

The wife likes her ViewSonic VX2235wm. $299.99 at Costco.com (http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11163877&whse=BC&Ne=5000001+4000000&N=4018491%204294966653&Mo=1&pos=0&No=1&Nr=P_CatalogName:BC&Ns=P_Price|1||P_SignDesc1&Sp=C&ec=&topnav=)

[ErikM]

22" Samsung 226bw is what I use :D

[bobbywang]

I meant that the brightness will vary from the top of the screen to the bottom. Depending on how you're looking at it. If you're staring down at the bottom part, it'll be brighter then per say you had to look up a bit at the top. The brightness is inconsistent.

I also have the 22" 226bw, it drove me nuts. I'll stare at a picture, adjust the curves a little. Stopped slouching, sat up straight and then It'll be too bright due to the angle. It's minuscule but it still bothers me lol

[In2Photos]

I meant that the brightness will vary from the top of the screen to the bottom. Depending on how you're looking at it. If you're staring down at the bottom part, it'll be brighter then per say you had to look up a bit at the top. The brightness is inconsistent.

I also have the 22" 226bw, it drove me nuts. I'll stare at a picture, adjust the curves a little. Stopped slouching, sat up straight and then It'll be too bright due to the angle. It's minuscule but it still bothers me lol
This is typical of TN type panels. You can tell the type of panel by th eviewing angle. If the viewing angle is les than 178 degrees it is a TN panel. If 178 or greater it is either an S-IPS, MVA, or PVA panel. These panels are typically much more expensive (as noted by the NEC above).

[Az2Africa]

I'm happier with my ViewSonic than I thought I was. I bought an LG monitor with 1400:1 contrast ratio and thought it looked better. I calibrate with the Spyder2 Pro and found that I can not adjust the brightness on the LG to get prints that look right. So I switched them and now use the ViewSonic for PP and the LG for menus/Palettes. The prints are back to looking good again. The LG looked better, but wasn't as real in giving me natural looking prints.

[SkipD]

I meant that the brightness will vary from the top of the screen to the bottom. Depending on how you're looking at it. If you're staring down at the bottom part, it'll be brighter then per say you had to look up a bit at the top. The brightness is inconsistent.In my opinion, any monitor that does not give an absolutely consistent brightness, contrast, and color as you move your head (eyes) around relative to the monitor's position should never be chosen for use with photo editing. The problem is that even if you can calibrate such a monitor, you can never depend on what you see to be correct.

[ErikM]

I meant that the brightness will vary from the top of the screen to the bottom. Depending on how you're looking at it. If you're staring down at the bottom part, it'll be brighter then per say you had to look up a bit at the top. The brightness is inconsistent.

I also have the 22" 226bw, it drove me nuts. I'll stare at a picture, adjust the curves a little. Stopped slouching, sat up straight and then It'll be too bright due to the angle. It's minuscule but it still bothers me lol

I don't seem to have this problem... maybe I always sit up straight? ;) My 226bw has been great so far!

[Jon]

The wife likes her ViewSonic VX2235wm. $299.99 at Costco.com (http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11163877&whse=BC&Ne=5000001+4000000&N=4018491%204294966653&Mo=1&pos=0&No=1&Nr=P_CatalogName:BC&Ns=P_Price%7C1%7C%7CP_SignDesc1&Sp=C&ec=&topnav=)
The one she threatened to throw at you if you got it?
:{)#

[tomd]

I hope I'm not hijacking this thread, but this related (indirectly).
Is 2 inches worth double the cost?
:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=cat13504&type=page&pageIdentity=searchDriven&useProductString=true&productString=1170290207389*1165609038396&unProductString=1170290765723*1170290765656*117029 0765589*1165609038329*1149206843492*1138083975957&h=488

It's a comparison I did for two LG monitors. I think similar results are available from other brands like Dell and Viewsonic. Commonly a 22 inch is available for around $350 while the 24 inch is closer to $650 to $700. I compared the specs (see link) and they see similar (am I missing something). In fact the 22 inch has more contrast and faster response time. I don't see the bit rate posted for these.

[sapearl]

I hope I'm not hijacking this thread, but this related (indirectly).
Is 2 inches worth double the cost?
:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=cat13504&type=page&pageIdentity=searchDriven&useProductString=true&productString=1170290207389*1165609038396&unProductString=1170290765723*1170290765656*117029 0765589*1165609038329*1149206843492*1138083975957&h=488

It's a comparison I did for two LG monitors. I think similar results are available from other brands like Dell and Viewsonic. ......

Unfortunately I would not compare any of the lower end Dell panels with the better Viewsonics. It is possible to get a pretty decent Dell, most of them are ok, but some of their manufacturing - I've discovered - is a little inconsistent, and not all of their LCDs are ideal for serious color and print matching.

If you are doing some VERY SERIOUS lab printing and color matching, you really need to look at these things in the flesh. Budget and bargain monitors just don't perform when compared to the better hardware that's out in the marketplace. I'm not saying you can't get buy, but you'll be disappointed in the long run if you get into some really serious printmaking.

[Skip Souza]

The one she threatened to throw at you if you got it?
:{)#
Yup, that's the one :lol:
A Dr. friend is going to loan he his calibrator. She wouldn't let me buy her one. Didn't want to spend the money. Why spend several $K on camera gear, a new custom built computer, and monitor then not calibrate :rolleyes: Oh well. The monitor is quite nice, HUGE in fact.
Of course that left me with two HP f1703 that at this point I am running on one Radeon 9800XT video card. Now that they are side by side I have discovered that her old monitor has a decidedly green cast while mine is brighter. Mine for images and hers for tools and distractions :p