Colorimeter (on a budget)

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setekh

Limp Gawd
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Hi there,

I was looking to buy a colorimeter...I guess it's time I get one of my own and stop borrowing :p

Anyway, I'm on a budget, so wasnt really looking forward to spending more than $400...(and of course, the cheaper the better!)

I was kind of impressed with the price of the Colorvision Spyder 2, but then heard about their performance lol it really was a turnoff :mad:

After doing a little research, I guess for my needs a LaCie BlueEye Pro would do just fine...and this one I know works OK (thats the one I usually borrowed :D) but also found the GretagMacbeth EyeOne Display II...never used it, but being a GretagMacbeth I suppose it should be good...dont really know how it compares to the LaCie...

From these 2, which one would you advise me to get? Oh and if you know about any other models feel free to tell me about them ;)

Thanks in advance :)
 
$400 really isn't a small budget for a colorimeter these days. LaCie sells rebranded items. I know LaCie's blue eye 2 is just a rebranded Eye-One Display 2. I'm not sure about the blue eye pro though. I'm not really an expert on colorimeters, but in my experience, the Eye-One Display 2 is not very accurate with darker shades, and the software doesn't produce gradients as smooth as ColorEyes Display does.

Here's one to consider: http://www.colormall.com/ColorEyes-Display-DTP94-Bundle-P701C0.aspx

That's the ColorEyes Display software bundled with the X-Rite DTP94, which is supposedly really good, but I haven't tried it.
 
You can get a LaCie's blue eye Pro Pro for less than $300. I say go for that one.
 
For $400 it sounds like you are wanting a professional model. How about the popular (for a reason) Spyder 2 Express for around $80? http://www.colorvision.com/product-mc-s2e.php I have one of these and it meets my needs very well...but you can also upgrade the software (the hardware is the same for all models) if you decide to go hardcore anal with the calibration.
 
How do these colorimeter and software combo work? Is it just calibration on the software side and it won't touch the monitor's settings? I don't really do graphics work or anything colour-intensive, but I'm partly colourblind and don't want to accidently set my colours all out of whack. Think it's worth it to buy a colorimeter for my future BenQ FP241W?
 
ToastyX said:
$400 really isn't a small budget for a colorimeter these days. LaCie sells rebranded items. I know LaCie's blue eye 2 is just a rebranded Eye-One Display 2. I'm not sure about the blue eye pro though. I'm not really an expert on colorimeters, but in my experience, the Eye-One Display 2 is not very accurate with darker shades, and the software doesn't produce gradients as smooth as ColorEyes Display does.

Here's one to consider: http://www.colormall.com/ColorEyes-Display-DTP94-Bundle-P701C0.aspx

That's the ColorEyes Display software bundled with the X-Rite DTP94, which is supposedly really good, but I haven't tried it.
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mmm....didnt know that model...anyone got feedback on it? :)

MakubexGB said:
You can get a LaCie's blue eye 3 for less than $300. I say go for that one.
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Is there a BlueEye 3? :confused: Can you please link it for me?

joemama said:
For $400 it sounds like you are wanting a professional model. How about the popular (for a reason) Spyder 2 Express for around $80? http://www.colorvision.com/product-mc-s2e.php I have one of these and it meets my needs very well...but you can also upgrade the software (the hardware is the same for all models) if you decide to go hardcore anal with the calibration.
Click to expand...
Well yes...I want a (semi)pro colorimeter...color fidelity is way too important to overlook when we're talking graphic design, and even though I cant afford to get those $1500 colorimeters, I was looking for something better than a Spyder 2 Express (that might be acceptable for a regular user, but sure isnt for me :( )
 
setekh said:
mmm....didnt know that model...anyone got feedback on it? :)


Is there a BlueEye 3? :confused: Can you please link it for me?


Well yes...I want a (semi)pro colorimeter...color fidelity is way too important to overlook when we're talking graphic design, and even though I cant afford to get those $1500 colorimeters, I was looking for something better than a Spyder 2 Express (that might be acceptable for a regular user, but sure isnt for me :( )
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However...what Colorvision won't tell you, yet many have found out is that the hardware colorimeter itself is the same for the $80 Expess as it is for the $300+ pro packages. The only difference is the more robust software (with advanced grayscale and multi-monitor support etc..) that comes with the higher priced packages. Also there are indepent software packages out there written to work with the Spyder colorimeter such as CalMan.
 
MakubexGB said:
LoL, no sorry, I got confused there for a min. I meant the LaCie Blue Eye Pro. :p
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that sound nice...:D (btw, where exatly can I get it for under $300? EU stores would be great)

joemama said:
However...what Colorvision won't tell you, yet many have found out is that the hardware colorimeter itself is the same for the $80 Expess as it is for the $300+ pro packages. The only difference is the more robust software (with advanced grayscale and multi-monitor support etc..) that comes with the higher priced packages. Also there are indepent software packages out there written to work with the Spyder colorimeter such as CalMan.
Click to expand...
now that sounds sweet :p that's the kind of info I was hoping to get lol

so the hardware's the same...it's just the software that changes...I took a peek at the CalMan website, and the sofware costs about $150-$200 (depends on the model) so if you add the hardware (+ $80) that makes $230-$280...is it really worth it? the price difference is quite small, so shouldnt the BlueEye PRO (assuming it costs under $300) compensate? (just asking :))
 
setekh said:
that sound nice...:D (btw, where exatly can I get it for under $300? EU stores would be great)


now that sounds sweet :p that's the kind of info I was hoping to get lol

so the hardware's the same...it's just the software that changes...I took a peek at the CalMan website, and the sofware costs about $150-$200 (depends on the model) so if you add the hardware (+ $80) that makes $230-$280...is it really worth it? the price difference is quite small, so shouldnt the BlueEye PRO (assuming it costs under $300) compensate? (just asking :))
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I don't know anything about the BlueEye but if you go to the avsforum and look in the calibration subforum you can find some more info on CalMan. There are a couple of guys on the forum there that wrote the program and they seem to prefer the Spyder colorimter although I think it will work with some others also. Of course at avs they are talking about home theater/HD-TV's but the principal is the same..
 
joemama said:
I don't know anything about the BlueEye but if you go to the avsforum and look in the calibration subforum you can find some more info on CalMan. There are a couple of guys on the forum there that wrote the program and they seem to prefer the Spyder colorimter although I think it will work with some others also. Of course at avs they are talking about home theater/HD-TV's but the principal is the same..
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hehe...tks for the tips :D will check their forum :)
 
What's wrong with the Colorvision Spyder 2? I use the Spyder 2 Pro for photo editing and have been happy with it, but ignorance is not bliss, so please let me know what you've found.
 
MentatYP said:
What's wrong with the Colorvision Spyder 2? I use the Spyder 2 Pro for photo editing and have been happy with it, but ignorance is not bliss, so please let me know what you've found.
Click to expand...

There's nothing wrong with it...some people are just suspicious since Colorvision hasn't been around as long as like GretagMacbeth or LaCie but their hardware/software packages perform very competitvely at a lower price. I saw a comparison review of about 5 different colorimeters on some photography website and the Spyder almost performed to the level of the more expensive alternatives. Sorry..I can't recall what site that was though.:(
 
http://www.drycreekphoto.com/Learn/monitor_calibration_tools.htm

Heres a review of many of the colorimeters that was posted. XRite coupled with Coloreyes seems to be the best option, www.integrated-color.com (makes of coloreyes) has the bundle of the XRite and their software for $325. The software also works with almost all other colorimeters so its handy to have even if you upgrade the colorimeter later.
Quoted from Integrated-Colors webpage "This bundle ships with the XRite, no Gretag, no well who ever, DTP-94. The 94 has consistently out performed all other colorimeters on the market today. And while Xrite\Greatg\ who knows is discontinuing this instrument we are not. It's not not they'll go bad or something, so we are stocking up. By next spring perhaps it will become clear what the next colorimeter of choice will be. But for now we're sticking with the most reliable instrument on the market."

I personally have the Gretag Eye-One display 2 but thinking of picking up Coloreyes to go along with it.
 
Ricey said:
http://www.drycreekphoto.com/Learn/monitor_calibration_tools.htm

Heres a review of many of the colorimeters that was posted. XRite coupled with Coloreyes seems to be the best option, www.integrated-color.com (makes of coloreyes) has the bundle of the XRite and their software for $325. The software also works with almost all other colorimeters so its handy to have even if you upgrade the colorimeter later.
Quoted from Integrated-Colors webpage "This bundle ships with the XRite, no Gretag, no well who ever, DTP-94. The 94 has consistently out performed all other colorimeters on the market today. And while Xrite\Greatg\ who knows is discontinuing this instrument we are not. It's not not they'll go bad or something, so we are stocking up. By next spring perhaps it will become clear what the next colorimeter of choice will be. But for now we're sticking with the most reliable instrument on the market."

I personally have the Gretag Eye-One display 2 but thinking of picking up Coloreyes to go along with it.
Click to expand...
That isn't the comparison review I was thinking of...but there's some good info in that article.
 
Well according to BeHardware's article there's a pretty big difference in the accuracy of the calibration between the Colorvision Spyder 2/Spyder 2 Express and the LaCie Blue Eye Pro. The Blue Eye Pro does a MUCH better job settings accurate colors, but then again it's about $200 more expensive.


setekh said:
hat sound nice... (btw, where exatly can I get it for under $300? EU stores would be great)
Click to expand...
Blue Eye Pro

You can froogle it for other stores.
 
joemama said:
However...what Colorvision won't tell you, yet many have found out is that the hardware colorimeter itself is the same for the $80 Expess as it is for the $300+ pro packages. The only difference is the more robust software (with advanced grayscale and multi-monitor support etc..) that comes with the higher priced packages. Also there are indepent software packages out there written to work with the Spyder colorimeter such as CalMan.
Click to expand...



I didnt believe what you posted above :eek: So.... I asked a professional artist at the Art School of Ottawa and he said you are correct,that the difference between the 90 dollar models and the 500+ dollar models is very,very little ! I am surprised. :) And happy to
know this,as I am planning to pick one up (90$ Spyder Expess) next month to do my LCD's.
 
so I see there's no way to go wrong with the hardware...what about software? any other recommendations other than CalMan?
 
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