Express or Pro?

Just wondering what you would do in my situation... I need something to calibrate my screen due to my graphic work.... SO its down to the Spyder3Express, or the Spyder3Pro... Is the only real advantage of the pro the fact you can calibrate multiple screens? I really am only going to calibrate my MacBook Pro's screen with it.

Overall I am a poor college student, and am thinking the Express will be more than enough...

Thoughts?

You have more control with the Pro version - however, for a single MBP screen the Express would be fine.

Thanks, that's what I was looking for.

When you say more control.. you mean more accurate?

I've got the Spyder 2 express and have recently used a Spyder 3 Pro on the same computer/monitor set up.

While it's nice having both monitors calibrated, I'm more than happy with the results from the express.
According the Pro software, the profiles generated by each are close to identical.

chiming in, I am very interested in the op's question. Could someone tell me the differences between the express and the pro version?

As far, i got this:

1. The hardware of the express and the pro version is pretty much identical. wrong/right? If wrong, are the differences limiting the quality of the resulting icc-profiles. In what way?
2. The pro version has some additional software features, eg. dual monitor support as mentioned earlier. But what exactly is meant by "more control" by MaxxuM?
3. Can you use the express version for calibrating several screens on different computers (Laptop and Desktop)? If yes, is there a limit to that?

thank you in advance for helping a newb wanting to enter the world of color management.

I just pulled the trigger on the Express3.

Thanks to everyone for the help! I think I made the right choice as I really didn't want to/couldn't swing the extra $60 or so for the Pro.

i am leaning towards the same choice. but being new to calibration i would like to hear some first hand experience. CW jones, let me know how you like the express-version once it arrived..

...regards

haiko wrote in post #10906278
chiming in, I am very interested in the op's question. Could someone tell me the differences between the express and the pro version?

http://spyder.datacolo​r.com/s3compare.php

It's probably more helpful to read an illustrated review like this one:

http://www.northlight-images.co.uk …profiling/spyde​r3pro.html

haiko wrote in post #10906526
i am leaning towards the same choice. but being new to calibration i would like to hear some first hand experience. CW jones, let me know how you like the express-version once it arrived..

...regards

Absolutely will do. I am pretty excited, should be here Thursday. Really want to see how if at all it helps me with colors and how my prints will turn out.

haiko wrote in post #10906278
1. The hardware of the express and the pro version is pretty much identical. wrong/right? If wrong, are the differences limiting the quality of the resulting icc-profiles. In what way?
2. The pro version has some additional software features, eg. dual monitor support as mentioned earlier. But what exactly is meant by "more control" by MaxxuM?
3. Can you use the express version for calibrating several screens on different computers (Laptop and Desktop)? If yes, is there a limit to that?

from what I got from speaking with Datacolor at one of the local camera shows.

1. The express is a different model from the Pro/Elite. It is missing the light sensor to grab the ambient lighting in the room.
2. At the time, The pro didn't support dial monitor.. that was only in the Elite (but it shows it for the 4.x software now). The pro does support different levels of color temp also.
3. You can use the software on as many computers as you own..

thank you very much for the replies. I saw that article from northlight images. It is nicely written and gives a better overview than the information of the datacolor website. But, still i am not clear if the pro version gives more "accurate" (saying much different) ICC profiles than the express version.

The sensor measuring the ambient light is maybe more foolproof, but brightness might also be adjusted manually on the OSD before calibration. For sure, I would not run a calibration process having the screen at 300 candela, right?

But then reading about the white and blackpoint setting and also the color temperature makes me leaning towards the elite version, if only I got that budget. Owww, all this stuff I am new to. Color management is a laaaaarge field. The more i read the more questions I come across.

haiko wrote in post #10920304
thank you very much for the replies. I saw that article from northlight images. It is nicely written and gives a better overview than the information of the datacolor website. But, still i am not clear if the pro version gives more "accurate" (saying much different) ICC profiles than the express version.

The differences are only in the level of control you have to specify the parameters of the profile. The Spyder3 Express package is targeted for casual users and beginners, who only want a fully hands off basic monitor calibration. It has common settings locked in and cannot be changed.

I use the sensor from a Spyder3 Express kit along with high end third party software, with superb results.

haiko wrote in post #10920304
The sensor measuring the ambient light is maybe more foolproof, but brightness might also be adjusted manually on the OSD before calibration. For sure, I would not run a calibration process having the screen at 300 candela, right?

Far from being "foolproof", it's a feature with dubious value besides selling more units for DataColor. And it only serves to confuse beginners, causing them to create poor monitor profiles.

haiko wrote in post #10920304
But then reading about the white and blackpoint setting and also the color temperature makes me leaning towards the elite version...

Now you're on the right track... And before you invest money in ANY monitor calibration solution, spend some time reading about the X-Rite iOne Display 2 and the ColorMunki.

ChasP505 wrote in post #10921010
I use the sensor from a Spyder3 Express kit along with high end third party software, with superb results.

What 3rd party software do you use?

psxindo wrote in post #10921724
What 3rd party software do you use?

I use ColorEyes Display Pro. I've been using it for the past 2 years and love it. Prior to CEDP, I used Spyder3 Elite and Spyder2 Pro.

Hmm well I got it and just calibrated it... Defiantly notice a change... Doesn't seem to be at saturated as before without the calibration. Web pages seem very soft now, you all think that's normal? haha

Overall I am pretty happy because I noticed a very significant change. Maybe this is what websites actually look like!