Monitor for editing

RanzB

RanzB

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I need a new monitor for editing, one that hopefully won't break the bank. So R1k-R2k maybe.

Any suggestions?
 
Go to Game or Dion Wired and ask if you can get one of the older generation HD TVs they want to get rid of. I got a 32" LG 1080p screen for just under R2k. Colours are great, very clear and easy to look at from about a meter and a bit away. Using a cheapy DVI to HDMI converter from my PC to the screen.

Try it for a bit. You'll see how amazing it is.
 
Could you please provide some more background info to help give some focus to the replies:

- What is it that you are editing (photo or video)
- What is the desired output (e.g. jpegs for viewing or printing)
- What is important to you as regards the monitor (e.g. resolution, colour accuracy, physical size, inputs). This can also be partially answered by saying what is wrong with your current monitor.
- Is this only for occasional use or will it be used regularly for editing.
- What other things does this monitor need to do (e.g. games, documents)
 
If what you need is greater colour accuracy for prints, using that money to get a coloromiter for whatever monitor(s) you already have is almost guaranteed to be a better investment than a new, uncalibrated monitor that still won't match up to prints anyway.
 
agentrfr said:
Go to Game or Dion Wired and ask if you can get one of the older generation HD TVs they want to get rid of. I got a 32" LG 1080p screen for just under R2k. Colours are great, very clear and easy to look at from about a meter and a bit away. Using a cheapy DVI to HDMI converter from my PC to the screen.

Try it for a bit. You'll see how amazing it is.
Click to expand...

Since my lappie packed up I've been editing on my TV, which is hooked up to my decent PC. I hate it.

garyc said:
- What is it that you are editing (photo or video)
- What is the desired output (e.g. jpegs for viewing or printing)
- What is important to you as regards the monitor (e.g. resolution, colour accuracy, physical size, inputs). This can also be partially answered by saying what is wrong with your current monitor.
- Is this only for occasional use or will it be used regularly for editing.
- What other things does this monitor need to do (e.g. games, documents)
Click to expand...

Editing photographs.
Jpegs for viewing and subsequently printing.
Current monitor is a TV. Aspect ratio is off, and if I change it, it isn't sharp.
Regularly.
Monitor will be for editing and internet use.
 
Randhir said:
Editing photographs.
Jpegs for viewing and subsequently printing.
Current monitor is a TV. Aspect ratio is off, and if I change it, it isn't sharp.
Regularly.
Monitor will be for editing and internet use.
Click to expand...

You did not say how you normally print --- this may impact whether you really need a wide-gamut monitor or not.

Having been through a similar exercise recently, I settled on an sRGB monitor (since I also play games, where colour management does not reach at the moment), rather than wide-gamut. Wide-gamut may (or may not) matter if you have a high-end printer. Most "mainstream" kiosks use a Fuji Frontier (or similar) printer, which does not even cover sRGB properly, so an sRGB monitor is sufficient for those.

A monitor calibration device will cost you >= R2k, even for a nasty one. You can rent them, though, to get an initial monitor profile (which is a must if you have a wide-gamut monitor).

Some of the newer e-IPS panels will fit in your budget, such as the AOC linked above, or the Dell U2412M (around R3k). The Dell U2412M will give you a 16:10 aspect ratio. Unfortunately, the Dell U2412M's built-in sRGB emulation is not great, so you will still have to profile/calibrate it at least once. See the prad.de review for full details.
 
You're going to want an IPS display. Not sure what is on the market over there but over here Dell has quite a few.
 
I swapped out my two Samsung LCDs for two of these: http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=bsd&cs=04&sku=320-2676

The difference in colour accuracy is beyond belief. I tried calibrating the Samsungs with a Spyder Pro and that didn't help either. I do video editing and have a Samsung 32" for preview purposes, but the colour on that also doesn't come close.

A bit more pricey but definitely worth it: http://www.comx-computers.co.za/MNDE860-10154-Dell-U2412M-24-LED-Backlit-Monitor-Buy-p-55585.php
 
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