Is there any agreement on the best monitor calibrator?

I think its time to calibrate my monitor. Its a Dell 22" IPS display (the one everyone was going nuts over getting for $225ish about a year ago). I don't want to spend a ton but I don't want to spend too little and only get half-way there. I know nothing about calibrating a monitor and I don't even know what products are out there other than the Spyder brand stuff. No CLUE. Help please

There will never be agreement... That's like Ford and Chevy pickup truck owners agreeing. I think we have more than partial agreement that not all calibration devices work well with all monitors.

I'm assuming you're referring to the Dell 2209WA, a very simple, very easy to calibrate monitor. This monitor requires very little in the way of adjustments to the OSD controls before profiling and it's not a wide gamut type display. I firmly believe that the best consumer calibration package under $200 for this model is the X-Rite iOne Display 2.

I offer no defense of this recommendation. Try it and if you are not 100% satisfied, return it.

Google DTP-94....its regarded as the best colorimeter for the general consumer. Unfortunately X-Rite stopped manufacturing them when they acquired the Gretag Macbeth product line, and replaced them with the Eye One Display 2 model.

You can still find them used in the Monaco Optix calibration packages that occasionally come up for sale here and Fred Miranda, or can be bought new from Integrated Color Corp. (check the store).

imahawki wrote in post #10707801
I think its time to calibrate my monitor. Its a Dell 22" IPS display (the one everyone was going nuts over getting for $225ish about a year ago). I don't want to spend a ton but I don't want to spend too little and only get half-way there. I know nothing about calibrating a monitor and I don't even know what products are out there other than the Spyder brand stuff. No CLUE. Help please

I didn't mention the DTP-94 because imahawki said he didn't want to spend a ton and knows nothing about calibrating a monitor. Why suggest a device which requires third party software at a combined price much higher than the popular off the shelf hardware/software kit?

I actually use a DTP-94 combined with ColorEyes Display Pro software. The DTP-94 alone is just about the same price as the iOne Display 2. ColorEyes software is again about same cost as the iOne D2 and has very limited documentation. But it does offer a free trial.

ChasP505 wrote in post #10711014
I didn't mention the DTP-94 because imahawki said he didn't want to spend a ton and knows nothing about calibrating a monitor. Why suggest a device which requires third party software at a combined price much higher than the popular off the shelf hardware/software kit?

Because the question asked referred to "best monitor calibrator."

There's no rule that says one has to use CEDP. You can easily pick up a used Monaco Optix XP package on Ebay or Fred Miranda Buy & Sell forum for about $80. X-Rite has both the last release of the calibration software and 64-bit drivers available for download on their website. So one can easily buy a used calibrator package and update the software to the last released version. See here: http://www.xrite.com …spx?Action=supp​ort&ID=653

I just checked Ebay and three Monaco Optix XR packages were sold recently for $46, $80, and $99.99. All of those prices are significantly less than the cost of a new Eye One unit.

I'll admit I don't know much about calibration, but I did get a Huey some years back, the original $99 model. It works great - so long as I calibrate every 10-14 days, the monitor stays true, and prints come back looking the way they should. I hear that the new Huey model offers some more features over the old one, even.

I'm lucky enough to have the hardware from Monaco, the DTP94. I use the Optix software and it works well, but I think when I go to W7 I need to upgrade to something else... Eye One I think I was told is good.

PixelMagic wrote in post #10711145
Because the question asked referred to "best monitor calibrator."...

...There's no rule that says one has to use CEDP.

From the context of the original question, I doubt very much that he meant "best colorimeter". And I didn't intend to suggest that CEDP is required, only that you need to obtain software to utilize a DTP-94. I'm on the same page as you that the DTP-94 IS the best colorimeter available and if a used Monaco Optix package came along at a good price, one might consider grabbing it.

But when someone asks a question like this and prefaces it with a statement that he has no experience, I always try to give a simple answer. Consider this-- Would you rather bid on a used puck of uncertain age, with no warranty, for $90 or just buy a brand new iOne D2 with full warranty for $175?

**** If you're willing to take the risk, search eBay for "DTP94".

OK, I did say in the actual post (or at least imply) that I want something priced reasonably and relatively mainstream. So basically I'm narrowing it down to the Spyder3 and iOne 2. The Spyder3 Elite is compelling because i also own a home theater projector.

imahawki wrote in post #10713544
The Spyder3 Elite is compelling because i also own a home theater projector.

Spyder3 Elite should work as well as the iOne D2 on that monitor (in my actual experience).

Are there other situations where the Spyder dosen't cut the mustard (and why?) I want to make an educated purchase decision and not find out I would have done something different if I'd known XYZ.

Considering these items come up for sale on Buy and Sell fora quite often, I'd have no problem buying one if needed. Ebay isn't the only source and I've bought many items on FM without problems.

ChasP505 wrote in post #10713083
From the context of the original question, I doubt very much that he meant "best colorimeter". And I didn't intend to suggest that CEDP is required, only that you need to obtain software to utilize a DTP-94. I'm on the same page as you that the DTP-94 IS the best colorimeter available and if a used Monaco Optix package came along at a good price, one might consider grabbing it.

But when someone asks a question like this and prefaces it with a statement that he has no experience, I always try to give a simple answer. Consider this-- Would you rather bid on a used puck of uncertain age, with no warranty, for $90 or just buy a brand new iOne D2 with full warranty for $175?

**** If you're willing to take the risk, search eBay for "DTP94".

imahawki wrote in post #10715099
Are there other situations where the Spyder dosen't cut the mustard (and why?)

From what I've read and in my experience, the Spyder3 devices don't report the black point as low as the X-Rite products. In my case, the Spyder3 puck combined with ColorEyes software reported my black point as 0.43 cd/m2, while a Display 2 puck and the DTP-94 reported it as 0.20 cd/m2, all other factors being the same. The profile created with the Spyder3 device did not have as deep blacks and deep shadow detail as profiles made with X-Rite devices.

Also, I went through three Spyder3 pucks before I found one that gave consistent, repeatable results from one recalibration to the next.

Well my local camera store (which I really like to support) carries the X-Rite so maybe that answers my question right there.

tim wrote in post #10711545
...I use the Optix software and it works well, but I think when I go to W7 I need to upgrade to something else...

This may help:

http://www.photocitize​n.com …rk-with-64-bit-windows-7/