Calibration???

I'm trying to take photographing a little more seriously. I've noticed that when I load photos and videos to Final Cut Express, Aperture 3, Facebook, etc., I tend to get slightly different colors. Now I am having trouble getting good results when I get enlargements back from the local camera store, Sams, and Costco.
I work on a Macbook Pro, as well as a 26 in monitor. I take family pics and vids with my Canon 7d.
I realize that I need to probably purchase a Calibration software for my computer. My question is. . . . what do you feel is the best for the money? I noticed that there are a wide variety of prices. And I'm nervous that I wouldn't understand the technical jargon that might be needed. I'm just a beginner here. I'm only figuring out, right now, how to adjust my white balance on my camera and adjust for those darn fluorescent lights with my kids' indoor sports.
Any advice would be appreciated. And sorry if this isn't in the correct section???

Mike

Also interested in this, my editing switches from a mac to a laptop to PC at home, different results each time

I use Spyder Express 3. It's simple to use and understand, and it does the job wonderfully. It's only about $60, too.

BrowsingMike wrote in post #11125217
I'm trying to take photographing a little more seriously. I've noticed that when I load photos and videos to Final Cut Express, Aperture 3, Facebook, etc., I tend to get slightly different colors. Now I am having trouble getting good results when I get enlargements back from the local camera store, Sams, and Costco.
I work on a Macbook Pro, as well as a 26 in monitor. I take family pics and vids with my Canon 7d.
I realize that I need to probably purchase a Calibration software for my computer. My question is. . . . what do you feel is the best for the money? I noticed that there are a wide variety of prices. And I'm nervous that I wouldn't understand the technical jargon that might be needed. I'm just a beginner here. I'm only figuring out, right now, how to adjust my white balance on my camera and adjust for those darn fluorescent lights with my kids' indoor sports.
Any advice would be appreciated. And sorry if this isn't in the correct section???

Mike

Facebook overly compresses photos and degrades the quality a bunch.

A properly calibrated monitor will help for sure. Proper white balance in the camera will also help. The camera is easy - there is a section in the 7D manual on how to set a custom white balance. It works. The worse thing you can use is auto white balance. If you can't shoot a custom set it at daylight, flash, something consistent and correct it in post processing. You do shoot raw, right?

The monitor is another issue. A good calibration tool will cost a bit but would be worth it in my opinion. I have a Spyder2Express and it works for color but is far from ideal.

Start here - https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=296149

The program you are using has to be color managed. Not all browsers are fully color managed. I can appreciate the problems you are having since I'm going through pretty much the same thing with a computer and monitor upgrade.