Which Calibration Tool + Poll

BigAlz1 wrote in post #8181944
The Spyder 3 Elite looks like a flop in all the reviews I have read.

Can you please cite any one of these negative reviews? Or are they just anecdotal reports from inexperienced individual users (noobs) who couldn't figure out how to correctly use the product?

The reviews I've read report that the Spyder 3 puck is among the most advanced hardware available. And I insist that the Spyder3 Elite software is easily equal to the i1Match 3.6 software that comes with the i1Display2 package.

"Surprisingly to some, the new 7-sensor Spyder3 has excellent repeatability and it performs remarkably well in a variety of situations, especially with the latest large gamut displays and projectors. It looks like the Datacolor Spyder3 has trumped the Optix colorimeter as the best and most versatile colorimeter made today. Eizo and others are starting to bundle rebranded Spyder3s with their high end monitors."

"Integrated Color is constantly testing sensors to determine what ones we should support and what ones we should offer with our software. Datacolor, by creating the Spyder3 has stepped up to the plate in a big way. New wide gamut displays require new instruments or custom tuned ones. We've done extensive testing with our software using the Spyder3 on many of the new wide gamut monitors and we're convinced it is a great sensor."

"I compared the results from the Spyder3Elite to the profile I created with X-Rite's i1Display 2 and EyeOne Match software. Both tools produced excellent profiles with slight differences. I found that EyeOne Match gave me warmer tones and a slightly brighter display than the Spyder3 did, while the Spyder3 gave more neutral grays and slightly better shadow detail."

I use the Spyder2 express

Thank you everyone for the votes.
ChasP505, The reviews I am talking about are the customer review from anywhere that sells the Elite.
Read some reviews at Amazon.com every one I read at the very least talked about poor set up guide and next to no tech support from the company. That in it's self is testimonial enough for me to double think pulling the trigger.
Also reading reviews of the other items had people commenting that had bought the elite and had so much trouble setting it up the returned it for similar items from other makers.
Maybe flop wasn't the right word more like not user friendly with little tech support.

René Damkot wrote in post #8183980
You shouldn't have "the same profile on both monitors". Each monitor has his own, unique profile.

You need a graphics card that has a dual LUT:

http://www.northlight-images.co.uk …_monitor_calibr​ation.html

Yeah, that's a very useful article and I see what needs to be done. What it also throws up is how rubbish the instructions are and the lack of support online for when things don't quite conform to the norm. It's like a product that's intended for people who either just do the fully auto everything, or people who are so advanced they don't need instructions. Most of us are likely somewhere in between on this topic and need some guidance.

BigAlz1 wrote in post #8225675
... every one I read at the very least talked about poor set up guide and next to no tech support from the company ... so much trouble setting it up the returned it for similar items from other makers ... not user friendly with little tech support.

Exactly

BigAlz1 wrote in post #8225675
ChasP505, The reviews I am talking about are the customer review from anywhere that sells the Elite.

That's what I thought... anecdotal reports of people who don't know how to use the product. As a sales/marketing professional, I know that dissatisfied customers are much more likely to post reviews than satisfied customers.

I have recently read an elaborate, controlled lab test report where they ripped on the Spyder3 Elite because it didn't automatically reduce the white luminance to a low, digital editing appropriate level. I guess no one reads User Manuals any more or they would have known you have to manually adjust the OSD controls.

Of course, this same testing site had no problem with the i1 Display 2 and somehow intuitively knew that it required adjusting the OSD settings to hit the target luminance value.

Am I the only one who has been able to figure out how to use this thing and have gotten superb, consistent results?

ChasP505 wrote in post #8226397
Am I the only one who has been able to figure out how to use this thing and have gotten superb, consistent results?

No, mine works flawlessly. I read the instructions then followed them and as if by magic, it did exactly what is was designed to do.

Hey now, I never said I owned it and failed with it. Just stating my findings. I am sure it is a perfectly fine product and one of the best out there. However, it seems to me that people truly have trouble with this unit and yes people post about lack of customer/tech support. Regardless of how simple or not the unit is to set up, should never be a reason to have to wait for 2 to 3 weeks for a response from a company of that scale. (as I read from a couple of owners)
That was my point. Now if this unit was like the holy grail of calibration units at a very competitive price one might wave the shouts of bad CS. But there are other good calibration units out there and some at better pricing. That was my over all point
How many times did I just type unit lol

BigAlz1 wrote in post #8227254
How many times did I just type unit lol

Heh-heh... He said "unit"!... Heh-heh!

But seriously Beavis, I mean BigAlz... I think this product has gotten an un-earned stigma from the iOne proponents. My "findings" are that these two products are equally matched for performance, features and price. And there are calibration products which are superior to either of them, and more expensive. I have read plenty of posts in various forums from iOne users having trouble with their "unit".

Regarding support and CS, Datacolor provides a User to User support group in Yahoo groups which is moderated by one of their tech support managers. He usually answers questions same day.

Just a note of limited interest:

I just tried the trial demo of the ColorEyes Display Pro software with my Spyder3 puck. I calibrated my Dell 2209WA to D65, L* gamma, and 140cd/m2. Just when I thought it couldn't get any better, the results are awesome! I did some more of my ongoing family photo project yesterday and the prints were excellent!

For those who own a Spyder3 or iOne Display puck, it's worth looking into.

ChasP505 wrote in post #8231466
Just a note of limited interest:

I just tried the trial demo of the ColorEyes Display Pro software with my Spyder3 puck. I calibrated my Dell 2209WA to D65, L* gamma, and 140cd/m2. Just when I thought it couldn't get any better, the results are awesome! I did some more of my ongoing family photo project yesterday and the prints were excellent!

For those who own a Spyder3 or iOne Display puck, it's worth looking into.

140cd/m2 seems pretty bright. How well do your prints match your monitor? I use the Spyder3 on my Eizo monitor which uses Eizo's Color Navigator software to generate the profiles. I set the brightness at 90 cd/m2 to get a good printer match.

Az2Africa wrote in post #8231854
140cd/m2 seems pretty bright. How well do your prints match your monitor? I use the Spyder3 on my Eizo monitor which uses Eizo's Color Navigator software to generate the profiles. I set the brightness at 90 cd/m2 to get a good printer match.

Well to begin with, as you know, most consumer level LCDs can't even get below 110 cd/m2. My Dell 2209WA is at 120 cd/m2 when Brightness is set to 0.

But... I've been using 140 cd/m2 based on recommendations I've read from Mr. Andrew Rodney, author of Color Management for Digital Photographers and a prolific contributor to a certain luminous website. He contends that using low luminance settings like 90-120 cd/m2 should not be considered as gospel, but the ambient light of the work and/or display environment has to be factored in. My home office is quite bright, even with blinds and curtains drawn. My Spyder3 Elite measured the ambient light as High and suggest calibrating to something like 175 cd/m2. I have tried 120, 130 and 140 cd/m2 (20% Brightness setting on my Dell 2209WA) and I am getting excellent prints, WITHOUT softproofing! And the monitor display looks rich and detailed, without being overly bright.

Also... I'm so impressed with the ColorEyes software, I've decided to purchase it.

subscribed

Can any Spyder 2 Express users pls tell me whether you're happy with the purchase and no regrets.

I'm just a hobbiest and do not think I'll need the more expensive versions. I rarely print but in the few occassion that I needed to at a lab, I wish I had calibrated. Apart from printing at least I have confidence that whait I see and process on my monitor is correct. I think the express will do the trick but I am holding back pulling the trigger becasue of some bad reviews.

I just need something simple ,easy and will do the job for my needs.

Thanks
Pat

I got a Spyder 3 Pro and I have regretted every moment I have used it. I went from having good color but wanting perfect color to never knowing what is right. I got it so I can scientifically calibrate my color, but it has added more guesswork and I still have poor results. I'm considering a Eye One 2 now, but I am concerned about the lack of Wide Gamut support, and the ColorMunki is too expensive for a hobby and it has very mixed reviews.

I've tried ColorEyes Display Pro and found the software to be a real headache.