New Monitor?

squaresnappr wrote in post #11979763
I have spyder pro 3, should I buy the spectra view software or just try the spyder 3 pro software?

If you're going to use a Spyder3 Pro with this monitor, you spent hundreds too much and should have gotten a cheaper monitor. This is like telling us you bought a new Porsche, then telling us you're gonna use cheap re-capped tires from Pep Boys...

The ONLY software to use with it is either the full Spectraview II kit or BasicColor.

ChasP505 wrote in post #11981941
If you're going to use a Spyder3 Pro with this monitor, you spent hundreds too much and should have gotten a cheaper monitor. This is like telling us you bought a new Porsche, then telling us you're gonna use cheap re-capped tires from Pep Boys...

The ONLY software to use with it is either the full Spectraview II kit or BasicColor.

Okay, so I will order the spectraview 11 kit but I heard some people use the spyder 3 puck with it. I actually hooked up the pa241 with a ican display port to mini display port cable and no problems so far. But I think my video card is the next thing to upgrade.

Thanks Chas and Bohdank.

I ended up buying BasICColor and using it with the SP3 puck. You can also buy just the Spectraview software from NEC's website for about $90, if you want to save a few $$ over the Spectraview kit. The SP3 puck is fine, imo, it's the SP3 calibration software that lacks, in this case.

bohdank wrote in post #11986275
You can also buy just the Spectraview software from NEC's website for about $90, if you want to save a few $$ over the Spectraview kit. The SP3 puck is fine, imo,....

I have to respectfully disagree. The U.S. Spectraview II software and NEC branded X-Rite puck are fully intended to be used together. Using any other puck is not optimal.

ChasP505 wrote in post #11987129
I have to respectfully disagree. The U.S. Spectraview II software and NEC branded X-Rite puck are fully intended to be used together. Using any other puck is not optimal.

I read this on an older post in another forum and I think you were also in this post. Apparently, the x-rite puck has some kind of filters that the sp3 puck doesn't. The NEC xrite puck also is supposed to be different from the regular xrite puck as well.

@bohdank, I was thinking the same thing you were and just using the sp3 puck with the spectraview 11 software. I was trying to save money but am contemplating now after Chas advice.

squaresnappr wrote in post #11988008
...Apparently, the x-rite puck has some kind of filters that the sp3 puck doesn't. The NEC xrite puck also is supposed to be different from the regular xrite puck as well.

All this information is free for the asking from NEC's website. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the Spyder3 puck... I use one with other software.

The NEC branded puck has specially tuned filters for calibrating NEC's wide gamut displays. It is intended for use with NEC's proprietary software. It is an integrated system.

ChasP505 wrote in post #11987129
I have to respectfully disagree. The U.S. Spectraview II software and NEC branded X-Rite puck are fully intended to be used together. Using any other puck is not optimal.

I disagree. The NEC SVII package uses a standard custom I1 Display 2 (so another puck would also be fine) unless you get the PRO kit which uses the same puck but calibrated for NEC displays. TFTCentral got slightly better results using the off the shelf I1, when compared to the modded I1.

I'm sure it works just as fine with non NEC monitors. With that said, I use the Euro Spectraview software (BasICColor) with the Spyder 3 Pro puck and the results are first rate.... avg de .2, max .5 on my PA241.

From NEC and the pucks that it supports

SpectraViewII supports the following color sensors:
NEC iOne Display V2
NEC iOne Display V2 WG
X-Rite/GretagMacbeth iOne Pro and iOne Monitor
X-Rite/GretagMacbeth iOne Display V1 and V2
Gretag Spectrolino (via RS232)
X-Rite DTP94 / MonacoOPTIX-XR *
Datacolor Spyder2 *
Datacolor Spyder3 *

The downside to the US Spectraview II software is that it only works with NEC monitors which is one reason not to buy it, imo.

bohdank wrote in post #11989787
I disagree. The NEC SVII package uses a standard custom I1 Display 2 (so another puck would also be fine) unless you get the PRO kit which uses the same puck but calibrated for NEC displays. TFTCentral got slightly better results using the off the shelf I1, when compared to the modded I1.

I'm sure it works just as fine with non NEC monitors. With that said, I use the Euro Spectraview software (BasICColor) with the Spyder 3 Pro puck and the results are first rate.... avg de .2, max .5 on my PA241.

From NEC and the pucks that it supports

SpectraViewII supports the following color sensors:
NEC iOne Display V2
NEC iOne Display V2 WG
X-Rite/GretagMacbeth iOne Pro and iOne Monitor
X-Rite/GretagMacbeth iOne Display V1 and V2
Gretag Spectrolino (via RS232)
X-Rite DTP94 / MonacoOPTIX-XR *
Datacolor Spyder2 *
Datacolor Spyder3 *

The downside to the US Spectraview II software is that it only works with NEC monitors which is one reason not to buy it, imo.

Thanks Bohdank, that is what I saw on the NEC site and you raised a concern for me now. I have three monitor setup, and an Epson R2800. I guess I can calibrate my Apple LED Cinema Display 24 and NEC EA23wmi with the spyder software and the spectraview kit with the pa241.
There should be no complications right. I have 2 video cards in the mac as well.

I just want to make sure before I order the spectraview kit.

bohdank wrote in post #11989787
I disagree. The NEC SVII package uses a standard custom I1 Display 2 ...

How can you state that that the NEC branded puck is just a "standard custom I1 Display 2"?

Refer to Andrew Rodney's comments in this thread. (Rodney is a primary tester for the NEC products.)

http://photo.net/digit​al-darkroom-forum/00XWMT

I just got the PA231 SV monitor in and I really like it. It isn't wide gamut but I'm not at the point where that is worth the money for me right now. I needed a good monitor but I don't sell enough to warrant the extra costs.

Sorry, just thought I'd throw that in for anyone reading 'monitor' threads. I have been researching monitors for a while now and it's hard to NOT read them now, even AFTER I bit the bullet. lol

Would love to have the PA271.

They sell 2 different kits. The Spectraview II kit and the Spectraview II Pro kit. The Pro kit has the calibrated (modded) puck, as far as I know. Check the review on TFTCentral.

bohdank wrote in post #11990433
... Check the review on TFTCentral.

While the reviews on that site are generally quite good, they are sponsored by LaCie. Every comment is from an extremely biased LaCie Blue Eye perspective. I'd rather get NEC info from NEC and it's alpha field testers. (There are at least 3 on that "LL" site.)

Anyway, this is getting too tedious for me and I'm not going to offer any more monitor or calibration advice on POTN unless I'm PM'd.

Chas.... relax.... your information and help is invaluable.

ChasP505 wrote in post #11993995
While the reviews on that site are generally quite good, they are sponsored by LaCie. Every comment is from an extremely biased LaCie Blue Eye perspective. I'd rather get NEC info from NEC and it's alpha field testers. (There are at least 3 on that "LL" site.)

Anyway, this is getting too tedious for me and I'm not going to offer any more monitor or calibration advice on POTN unless I'm PM'd.

Don't sweat it man, I've appreciated your feedback on previous threads you contributed.

ChasP505 wrote in post #11993995
While the reviews on that site are generally quite good, they are sponsored by LaCie. Every comment is from an extremely biased LaCie Blue Eye perspective. I'd rather get NEC info from NEC and it's alpha field testers. (There are at least 3 on that "LL" site.)

Anyway, this is getting too tedious for me and I'm not going to offer any more monitor or calibration advice on POTN unless I'm PM'd.

Hey this thread went downward and people ask on these forums to get a more detailed feedback. I hope your still gonna join threads for monitor and calibration because your opinion and advice is valued.