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| Is your monitor calibrated? |
| Yes |
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54% |
[ 20 ] |
| No |
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40% |
[ 15 ] |
| Calibrate my monitor? What's that? |
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5% |
[ 2 ] |
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| Total Votes : 37 |
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| Author |
Message |
SonicScot
Joined: 01 Dec 2011
Posts: 1415
Location: Scottish Highlands
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 Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2012 3:30 pm Post subject: Who uses a calibrated monitor? |
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My personal opinion is if you take your photography seriously you have to calibrate your monitor. If you ever plan to print your work accurately you have to calibrate your monitor. If you care about your images you should care about your monitor.
Discuss... 
(I use this tool http://spyder.datacolor.com/)
_________________
Gary
Currently active gear....
7D (Magic Lantern Alpha II)
3M-5CA 500/8
Tair 3 4.5/300-A
CZJ 180/2.8
CZJ 135/3.5
Vivitar Series 1 90/2.5 macro (Bokina)
Vivitar Series 1 70-210/3.5 (Kiron)
Jupiter-9 85/2
Helios 44-2 58/2
Nikon 50/1.2 Contax Zeiss Planar 50/1.7
Hartblei 45/3.5 Super-Rotator TS-PC
CZJ Flektogon 35/2.4
Samyang 8/3.5 fisheye
Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/gazsus/ Website http://garianphotography.co.uk/ |
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Excalibur
Joined: 19 Jul 2009
Posts: 3583
Location: UK
Expire: 2014-04-21
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| Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2012 8:53 pm Post subject: |
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Well my Dell 24" was pre calibrated at the factory so I voted yes.
_________________
Nikon L35ad, EM & N2000, Canon A1, AV1, T70 & T90, Centon K100, Minolta X-700, X-300, SRT101b and AFZ, Pentax S3, Praktica MTL3, MTL5 & BC1, Konica Autoreflex TC, FC-1, FT-1 & C35, Olympus Om20, Yashica T5D, Contax 139, Fuji STX-2, Bronica Etrs, Mamiya RB67 pro AND drum roll:- a Sony DSC-P92
.........past gear Tele Rollieflex and Rollei SL66.
Many lenses from crap to excellent. |
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SonicScot
Joined: 01 Dec 2011
Posts: 1415
Location: Scottish Highlands
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| Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2012 9:08 pm Post subject: |
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| Excalibur wrote: | | Well my Dell 24" was pre calibrated at the factory so I voted yes. |
Hmm, well the Spyder I use (and no doubt other similar tools) adjust the settings having taken into account ambient light, they can't do that in the factory. My Dell paperwork said it was calibrated too, but there was a world of difference after I ran the Spyder on it.
I wouldn't trust factory settings on a monitor, but hey that's just me. I want my Canon Pixma printer to print exactly what I see on my screen, it didn't do that until I'd calibrated the Dell with my Spyder. Not only is it important for my own printer but I need to be confident in what I send to pro labs, I need to be sure that the customer will get exactly what I intended.
_________________
Gary
Currently active gear....
7D (Magic Lantern Alpha II)
3M-5CA 500/8
Tair 3 4.5/300-A
CZJ 180/2.8
CZJ 135/3.5
Vivitar Series 1 90/2.5 macro (Bokina)
Vivitar Series 1 70-210/3.5 (Kiron)
Jupiter-9 85/2
Helios 44-2 58/2
Nikon 50/1.2 Contax Zeiss Planar 50/1.7
Hartblei 45/3.5 Super-Rotator TS-PC
CZJ Flektogon 35/2.4
Samyang 8/3.5 fisheye
Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/gazsus/ Website http://garianphotography.co.uk/ |
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martinsmith99
Joined: 31 Aug 2008
Posts: 6550
Location: S Glos, UK
Expire: 2013-11-18
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SonicScot
Joined: 01 Dec 2011
Posts: 1415
Location: Scottish Highlands
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| Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2012 7:59 am Post subject: |
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| martinsmith99 wrote: | | My eyeballs are not calibrated either. |
lol neither are mine 
The reason for posing this question is that I'm using someone else's computer while I house-sit for a few weeks, and everything on their monitor looks terrible.
When I have time I'll shoot for a while and return to my own place to edit the shots, when done I might post some online. Once I'm back here house-sitting I look at he shots online and can't believe the difference, the photos look terrible.  There's a distinct lack of colour and contrast, in fact it's as if I'd been shooting with a dirty, haze-filled lens with the coatings missing. 
If you don't use a calibration tool like the ones from http://www.datacolor.com/ or http://www.colormunki.com/ you can still perform some basic adjustments, especially if you have Windows7. It has several controls you can play with to improve the look of your monitor http://www.pcworld.com/article/241957/how_to_calibrate_your_monitor.html. 
_________________
Gary
Currently active gear....
7D (Magic Lantern Alpha II)
3M-5CA 500/8
Tair 3 4.5/300-A
CZJ 180/2.8
CZJ 135/3.5
Vivitar Series 1 90/2.5 macro (Bokina)
Vivitar Series 1 70-210/3.5 (Kiron)
Jupiter-9 85/2
Helios 44-2 58/2
Nikon 50/1.2 Contax Zeiss Planar 50/1.7
Hartblei 45/3.5 Super-Rotator TS-PC
CZJ Flektogon 35/2.4
Samyang 8/3.5 fisheye
Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/gazsus/ Website http://garianphotography.co.uk/ |
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Excalibur
Joined: 19 Jul 2009
Posts: 3583
Location: UK
Expire: 2014-04-21
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| Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2012 8:01 am Post subject: |
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| SonicScot wrote: | | Excalibur wrote: | | Well my Dell 24" was pre calibrated at the factory so I voted yes. |
Hmm, well the Spyder I use (and no doubt other similar tools) adjust the settings having taken into account ambient light, they can't do that in the factory. My Dell paperwork said it was calibrated too, but there was a world of difference after I ran the Spyder on it.
I wouldn't trust factory settings on a monitor, but hey that's just me. I want my Canon Pixma printer to print exactly what I see on my screen, it didn't do that until I'd calibrated the Dell with my Spyder. Not only is it important for my own printer but I need to be confident in what I send to pro labs, I need to be sure that the customer will get exactly what I intended.
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Well a quick check for me would be:- if you posted a calibrated shot and I was to view it on my monitor 
_________________
Nikon L35ad, EM & N2000, Canon A1, AV1, T70 & T90, Centon K100, Minolta X-700, X-300, SRT101b and AFZ, Pentax S3, Praktica MTL3, MTL5 & BC1, Konica Autoreflex TC, FC-1, FT-1 & C35, Olympus Om20, Yashica T5D, Contax 139, Fuji STX-2, Bronica Etrs, Mamiya RB67 pro AND drum roll:- a Sony DSC-P92
.........past gear Tele Rollieflex and Rollei SL66.
Many lenses from crap to excellent. |
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SonicScot
Joined: 01 Dec 2011
Posts: 1415
Location: Scottish Highlands
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| Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2012 8:12 am Post subject: |
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| Excalibur wrote: | | SonicScot wrote: | | Excalibur wrote: | | Well my Dell 24" was pre calibrated at the factory so I voted yes. |
Hmm, well the Spyder I use (and no doubt other similar tools) adjust the settings having taken into account ambient light, they can't do that in the factory. My Dell paperwork said it was calibrated too, but there was a world of difference after I ran the Spyder on it.
I wouldn't trust factory settings on a monitor, but hey that's just me. I want my Canon Pixma printer to print exactly what I see on my screen, it didn't do that until I'd calibrated the Dell with my Spyder. Not only is it important for my own printer but I need to be confident in what I send to pro labs, I need to be sure that the customer will get exactly what I intended.
|
Well a quick check for me would be:- if you posted a calibrated shot and I was to view it on my monitor |
Do you have a printer? If so, download and print a test shot like this http://www.photobox.co.uk/content/quality-advice/calibration then compare it to your monitor.
_________________
Gary
Currently active gear....
7D (Magic Lantern Alpha II)
3M-5CA 500/8
Tair 3 4.5/300-A
CZJ 180/2.8
CZJ 135/3.5
Vivitar Series 1 90/2.5 macro (Bokina)
Vivitar Series 1 70-210/3.5 (Kiron)
Jupiter-9 85/2
Helios 44-2 58/2
Nikon 50/1.2 Contax Zeiss Planar 50/1.7
Hartblei 45/3.5 Super-Rotator TS-PC
CZJ Flektogon 35/2.4
Samyang 8/3.5 fisheye
Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/gazsus/ Website http://garianphotography.co.uk/ |
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Excalibur
Joined: 19 Jul 2009
Posts: 3583
Location: UK
Expire: 2014-04-21
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| Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2012 8:21 am Post subject: |
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Well I don't use my own printer much, but I've been recommending for years that there should be a sticky of a shot that is calibrated and agreed by the top photographers here to be correct, so we can all adjust our monitors to it (if we wanted) so at least we would all be seeing the same shots that are posted.
BTW the colour chart looks ok on my monitor, but it might look even better if it was properly calibrated (other than factory).
_________________
Nikon L35ad, EM & N2000, Canon A1, AV1, T70 & T90, Centon K100, Minolta X-700, X-300, SRT101b and AFZ, Pentax S3, Praktica MTL3, MTL5 & BC1, Konica Autoreflex TC, FC-1, FT-1 & C35, Olympus Om20, Yashica T5D, Contax 139, Fuji STX-2, Bronica Etrs, Mamiya RB67 pro AND drum roll:- a Sony DSC-P92
.........past gear Tele Rollieflex and Rollei SL66.
Many lenses from crap to excellent. |
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SonicScot
Joined: 01 Dec 2011
Posts: 1415
Location: Scottish Highlands
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| Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2012 8:47 am Post subject: |
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| Excalibur wrote: | Well I don't use my own printer much, but I've been recommending for years that there should be a sticky of a shot that is calibrated and agreed by the top photographers here to be correct, so we can all adjust our monitors to it (if we wanted) so at least we would all be seeing the same shots that are posted.
BTW the colour chart looks ok on my monitor, but it might look even better if it was properly calibrated (other than factory). |
A picture can't be calibrated, only a monitor can. It's ok saying the test image looks good to you but if you have nothing to compare it to it means nothing really. (sorry)
It is accepted that monitor gamma should be 2.2 and you can test yours here http://epaperpress.com/monitorcal/gamma.html
That's a start, you can see on the left there are basic tests for your whites and blacks.
_________________
Gary
Currently active gear....
7D (Magic Lantern Alpha II)
3M-5CA 500/8
Tair 3 4.5/300-A
CZJ 180/2.8
CZJ 135/3.5
Vivitar Series 1 90/2.5 macro (Bokina)
Vivitar Series 1 70-210/3.5 (Kiron)
Jupiter-9 85/2
Helios 44-2 58/2
Nikon 50/1.2 Contax Zeiss Planar 50/1.7
Hartblei 45/3.5 Super-Rotator TS-PC
CZJ Flektogon 35/2.4
Samyang 8/3.5 fisheye
Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/gazsus/ Website http://garianphotography.co.uk/ |
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Excalibur
Joined: 19 Jul 2009
Posts: 3583
Location: UK
Expire: 2014-04-21
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| Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2012 2:37 pm Post subject: |
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| SonicScot wrote: | | Excalibur wrote: | Well I don't use my own printer much, but I've been recommending for years that there should be a sticky of a shot that is calibrated and agreed by the top photographers here to be correct, so we can all adjust our monitors to it (if we wanted) so at least we would all be seeing the same shots that are posted.
BTW the colour chart looks ok on my monitor, but it might look even better if it was properly calibrated (other than factory). |
A picture can't be calibrated, only a monitor can. It's ok saying the test image looks good to you but if you have nothing to compare it to it means nothing really. (sorry)
It is accepted that monitor gamma should be 2.2 and you can test yours here http://epaperpress.com/monitorcal/gamma.html
That's a start, you can see on the left there are basic tests for your whites and blacks. |
Odd...... in the "calibrating monitor gamma" part when I've adjusted the slider for equal brightness it's at gamma 1.64  This can't be correct as the monitor should be at 2.2
_________________
Nikon L35ad, EM & N2000, Canon A1, AV1, T70 & T90, Centon K100, Minolta X-700, X-300, SRT101b and AFZ, Pentax S3, Praktica MTL3, MTL5 & BC1, Konica Autoreflex TC, FC-1, FT-1 & C35, Olympus Om20, Yashica T5D, Contax 139, Fuji STX-2, Bronica Etrs, Mamiya RB67 pro AND drum roll:- a Sony DSC-P92
.........past gear Tele Rollieflex and Rollei SL66.
Many lenses from crap to excellent. |
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SonicScot
Joined: 01 Dec 2011
Posts: 1415
Location: Scottish Highlands
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| Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2012 3:03 pm Post subject: |
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| Excalibur wrote: | | SonicScot wrote: | | Excalibur wrote: | Well I don't use my own printer much, but I've been recommending for years that there should be a sticky of a shot that is calibrated and agreed by the top photographers here to be correct, so we can all adjust our monitors to it (if we wanted) so at least we would all be seeing the same shots that are posted.
BTW the colour chart looks ok on my monitor, but it might look even better if it was properly calibrated (other than factory). |
A picture can't be calibrated, only a monitor can. It's ok saying the test image looks good to you but if you have nothing to compare it to it means nothing really. (sorry)
It is accepted that monitor gamma should be 2.2 and you can test yours here http://epaperpress.com/monitorcal/gamma.html
That's a start, you can see on the left there are basic tests for your whites and blacks. |
Odd...... in the "calibrating monitor gamma" part when I've adjusted the slider for equal brightness it's at gamma 1.64 This can't be correct as the monitor should be at 2.2 |
Perhaps that's because your monitor isn't calibrated.....
Here's a more comprehensive explanation along with numerous tests http://www.lagom.nl/lcd-test/
_________________
Gary
Currently active gear....
7D (Magic Lantern Alpha II)
3M-5CA 500/8
Tair 3 4.5/300-A
CZJ 180/2.8
CZJ 135/3.5
Vivitar Series 1 90/2.5 macro (Bokina)
Vivitar Series 1 70-210/3.5 (Kiron)
Jupiter-9 85/2
Helios 44-2 58/2
Nikon 50/1.2 Contax Zeiss Planar 50/1.7
Hartblei 45/3.5 Super-Rotator TS-PC
CZJ Flektogon 35/2.4
Samyang 8/3.5 fisheye
Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/gazsus/ Website http://garianphotography.co.uk/ |
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Excalibur
Joined: 19 Jul 2009
Posts: 3583
Location: UK
Expire: 2014-04-21
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| Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2012 3:38 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks......or maybe I should just adjust my monitor brightness slightly for your flickr shots
_________________
Nikon L35ad, EM & N2000, Canon A1, AV1, T70 & T90, Centon K100, Minolta X-700, X-300, SRT101b and AFZ, Pentax S3, Praktica MTL3, MTL5 & BC1, Konica Autoreflex TC, FC-1, FT-1 & C35, Olympus Om20, Yashica T5D, Contax 139, Fuji STX-2, Bronica Etrs, Mamiya RB67 pro AND drum roll:- a Sony DSC-P92
.........past gear Tele Rollieflex and Rollei SL66.
Many lenses from crap to excellent. |
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Aanything
Joined: 27 Aug 2011
Posts: 1029
Location: Milan
Expire: 2013-05-30
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| Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2012 4:08 pm Post subject: |
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When I started working with video, I used to calibrate my monitor every now and then, and also had a old pro control monitor (at the time PAL/NTSC were the resolutions, and pro monitors were high quality CRT's).
Unluckily, in recent times (HD, LCD, internet), it's always happening that my videos are displayed or viewed on random calibrated monitors (or, worse, cheap projectors), so all my effort to have the most precise preview was completely useless, and I stopped doing it.
Now I simple adjust my videos on the monitor (or projector) they will be displayed on, if possible, or try to make minor adjustments based on histograms, spectrograms and so on.
Actually, almost none of the clients gets the difference, which is a little discouraging.
For printing: after some try/error, i got to know my monitor and can predict quite easily how the output will be like, with a little enough margin for my needs.
Obviously if I had to print stuff that is paid, i would check it on a calibrated monitor first.
_________________
C&C and editing of my pics are always welcome |
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SonicScot
Joined: 01 Dec 2011
Posts: 1415
Location: Scottish Highlands
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| Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2012 4:19 pm Post subject: |
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| Excalibur wrote: | | Thanks......or maybe I should just adjust my monitor brightness slightly for your flickr shots |
Ah, I see what you're saying. I didn't put that information in my signature for it to be linked to my Flickr at all, I just stuck it on the end. I can see how that might be taken out of context, that's not how it was meant.
But the fact remains, on this uncalibrated monitor I'm using this week all photos look dull and desaturated. That's why I brought the subject up, I wondered how many other people were in the same boat.
_________________
Gary
Currently active gear....
7D (Magic Lantern Alpha II)
3M-5CA 500/8
Tair 3 4.5/300-A
CZJ 180/2.8
CZJ 135/3.5
Vivitar Series 1 90/2.5 macro (Bokina)
Vivitar Series 1 70-210/3.5 (Kiron)
Jupiter-9 85/2
Helios 44-2 58/2
Nikon 50/1.2 Contax Zeiss Planar 50/1.7
Hartblei 45/3.5 Super-Rotator TS-PC
CZJ Flektogon 35/2.4
Samyang 8/3.5 fisheye
Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/gazsus/ Website http://garianphotography.co.uk/ |
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SonicScot
Joined: 01 Dec 2011
Posts: 1415
Location: Scottish Highlands
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| Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2012 4:54 pm Post subject: |
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| Aanything wrote: | When I started working with video, I used to calibrate my monitor every now and then, and also had a old pro control monitor (at the time PAL/NTSC were the resolutions, and pro monitors were high quality CRT's).
Unluckily, in recent times (HD, LCD, internet), it's always happening that my videos are displayed or viewed on random calibrated monitors (or, worse, cheap projectors), so all my effort to have the most precise preview was completely useless, and I stopped doing it.
Now I simple adjust my videos on the monitor (or projector) they will be displayed on, if possible, or try to make minor adjustments based on histograms, spectrograms and so on.
Actually, almost none of the clients gets the difference, which is a little discouraging.
For printing: after some try/error, i got to know my monitor and can predict quite easily how the output will be like, with a little enough margin for my needs.
Obviously if I had to print stuff that is paid, i would check it on a calibrated monitor first. |
This is why, each time I've done portrait jobs, I don't put the photos online for the client to browse. I take my laptop to them where they can see the photos on a calibrated screen, so they can see what the prints will look like.
As you rightly say, they probably wouldn't notice a difference but I feel a lot better for it.
I find the best way to show the true nature of my photos is to hang them in local restaurants, so far it's worked because I'm selling them. That may have worked without a calibrated screen but I would have wasted a ton of ink and paper getting it right.
_________________
Gary
Currently active gear....
7D (Magic Lantern Alpha II)
3M-5CA 500/8
Tair 3 4.5/300-A
CZJ 180/2.8
CZJ 135/3.5
Vivitar Series 1 90/2.5 macro (Bokina)
Vivitar Series 1 70-210/3.5 (Kiron)
Jupiter-9 85/2
Helios 44-2 58/2
Nikon 50/1.2 Contax Zeiss Planar 50/1.7
Hartblei 45/3.5 Super-Rotator TS-PC
CZJ Flektogon 35/2.4
Samyang 8/3.5 fisheye
Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/gazsus/ Website http://garianphotography.co.uk/ |
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