Spyder2express / Pro is pretty much useless

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R0achTheWarHero

Limp Gawd
Joined
Jun 9, 2007
Messages
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TN / VA panels make up the majority of panels in the market today. The spyder system always seems to make the low end of the gamma scale too dark. On a CRT or IPS screen this *MIGHT* be ok but not on a TN or VA panel. So with the spyder2 you end up having to use a gamma of 2.0 or something and your gamma ends up being worse than pre-calibration. I get much better gamma scale results by just using the Samsung Magictune utility.

The one thing the Spyder2 is good for is the pre-calibration function where you change your RGB sliders while using the sensor until you have a neutral white point. This is the only thing I use mine for.

I've tried some other calibration software and the spyder2 mysteriously seems to do a better job at this.
 
I use the Spyder2Express with the included software on my monitor (TN panel) and it looks way better. Everything looks extremely washed out before the profile is applied.
 
Thats interesting.

Just tried to use Spyder2Pro today on new Planar PX2611W which has IPS panel. Not happy with results, so I deleated the profile.

This screen is so bright nearly blinding.

Will try again later. Have any tips?
 
My spyder2pro makes my 2407wfp look a lot better (it raped my old samsung 193p and made it look just awful, adjusting RGB on the gpu drivers with the spyder2's help yielded much better results on that monitor). Just calibrating the monitor for a neutral white doesn't help me since I prefer to run my monitor at 21% brightness (vs 42% which is the lowest brightness where it doesn't crush black). The spyder2pro creates a profile that lets me run at the brightness needed for my eyes and room, and do so without any extreme black crush. Also, I wish more monitors allowed to you adjust you RGB on both the high and low ends of the greyscale. In my experience it's impossible to calibrate the 2407 properly on both white and the darker shades of grey without a software profile. If I could get it looking good in hardware I would prefer it, but my monitor isn't up to the challenge, heh. So maybe it really just depends on the monitor for the spyder2?

Also, on my 2407 I've tried adjusting the brightness and contrast on my gpu to eliminate black crush without having to use a profile to see if it gave me similar results. I've also tried running at 42% brightness with the monitor only calibrated on white through hardware with the spyder2. Unfortunately both ways look pretty off. The darker the colors get the more off they get. And the rise/fall to and from black is not smooth without a calibrated profile for me (would that be gamma?). If proper gamma gives a natural totally smooth rise/fall from black to white then the spyder2 pro helps greatly on my particular monitor. That makes everything look weird aswell. But like I said, it made my samsung 193p (a much much better monitor out of the box than the 2407wfp) look really really awful. On the 193p all I had to do was remove the green push through my gpu drivers and not let the sypder2pro touch anything else.

Sorry for the bloated rambling post.
 
I am thinking of picking up the spyder2pro for my dual 20wmgx2 setup, right now i try to do it with adobe gamma but so far no luck...
i just couldn't match the color of the 2, i know the pro support dual screen and i hope it can match them up for me

should i pay 200 for one or keep trying with adobe gamma
 
Spyder 2 colorimeter- good
Spyder2 Express/pro software- not so good

I have gotten great results using a combo of Spyder 2 and Coloreyes Display Pro software. It's a little pricey if you do it like I did, but you can buy the Coloreyes software bundled with a Spyder 2 for about the same as Colorvisions Pro package.

edit- Sorry...just checked the coloreyes site and they no longer sell the bundle. :(
 
Flyboys said:
Thats interesting.

Just tried to use Spyder2Pro today on new Planar PX2611W which has IPS panel. Not happy with results, so I deleated the profile.

This screen is so bright nearly blinding.

Will try again later. Have any tips?
Click to expand...
My tip is to lower the brightness to your preferred level (using the monitors OSD) before calibration instead of setting it to default like is recommended by the Spyder 2 software. Often the default brightness is way too high and the Express/pro software has trouble compensating with the videocard gamma setting.
 
joemama..

Manually set brightness and concrast using OSD did help considerably.

Will try Spyder2Pro Monday sometime.

Thanks for the tip
 
owkia said:
I use the Spyder2Express with the included software on my monitor (TN panel) and it looks way better. Everything looks extremely washed out before the profile is applied.
Click to expand...

Same here.

Works great on my 226BW. You really have to make sure the ambient light settings are correct and you calibrate carefully.
 
Flyboys said:
joemama..

Manually set brightness and concrast using OSD did help considerably.

Will try Spyder2Pro Monday sometime.

Thanks for the tip
Click to expand...
The Spyder is also very sensitive to ambient light....I do my calibration at night in a completely darkened room.
 
Flyboys said:
Thats interesting.

Just tried to use Spyder2Pro today on new Planar PX2611W which has IPS panel. Not happy with results, so I deleated the profile.

This screen is so bright nearly blinding.

Will try again later. Have any tips?
Click to expand...

bring the brightness down to 0, set the contrast to 100% THEN calibrate it. it still wont look right but then bring the contrast down until you're satisfied with how it looks.
on my benq after calibration the brightnes is at 0 but i had to lower the contrast i think to 30 or 40, i forget.
LCD's are a pain to calibrate by nature.
 
Should I buy a Spyder2Pro or Not ?
Is it worth Buying ?

Figured I would get one when I order my Aquos LC-32GP1U Thursday from Newegg

And yes, I will post pictures of my old setup with the FW-900 and the switch to the new setup.

On that note, anyone around the Bullhead City AZ, Laughlin NV area want to buy a FW-900 let me know.
I'll drive as far a Vegas to drop it off.
.
 
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