Spyder 3 vs Eye One for wide gamut monitor callibration

[shakey]

Just got one of those wide gamut monitors (Dell 2408WFP). One of the "gotchas" is that my Spyder2 pro doesn't calibrate this thing properly because of the wide gamut. Looks like I'll have to get a new calibrator. The choices seem to be the eye one or spyder 3. Anyone compared these directly, esp on wide gamut monitors. One other problem is that the OSD of the monitor is partly obscured by the puck. I understand that the Eye One device is smaller which may make it easier to adjust the OSD controls but any advice on the matter would be welcome

[sirhc55]

I use the Spyder 3 Elite on the same monitor with no problems. Just shift the Spyder box off to one side or up on the screen to allow for the monitor OSD.

[shakey]

Thanks Chris

Do you know whether the spyder elite have any major advantages over the spyder pro in calibrating this monitor? Do you adjust the RGB sliders during calibration?

[sirhc55]

To the first part of the question, I have no idea. To the second, re the RGB sliders, yes.

[the foto fanatic]

I've been using the Spyder2 on my Dell 2408WFP with no issues.

Apart from the partial covering of the OSD, what problems are apparent to you?

[sirhc55]

The Spyder 2 does not fully cover the wider gamut of the 2408WFP and as such may, I repeat may, give a false reading.

[shakey]

The Spyder 2 does not fully cover the wider gamut of the 2408WFP and as such may, I repeat may, give a false reading.

What I found with the Spyder2 is that after setting everything to default, (including color reset in the RGB custom mode - sets the RGB sliders to 100 in each,) that there is a point in the calibration process where you adjust the height of R, G, and B to met a set white point - mine chosen as 6500K. The pre-adjustment white point could vary from 7500K to 13000K even with the same initial conditions so something screwy going on.

If I get motivated enough I'll run a series of calibs for the wider gamut monitor and a normal gamut monitor to see how much the default white point measurement varies with the Spyder2 pro. Would be interesting to rerun it with Spyder3.

Thanks for the "you can move the calibrator to see the OSD" info. I glad you were so gentle about it. My previous screen was a CRT where the Spyder was stuck on with suction caps and my mindset was "this thing is not to be moved while calibration is in progress". Thick as a brick. The colourimeter only reads the screen after you press the update button when adjusting the RGB sliders. Duh!

[cesco81]

I think i'm having a "similar" problem.

My spyder 3 pro doesn't calibrate my lacie 324 well.
it loses an extensive zone of color space of yellow and green tones.
It can be observed by the gamut of the monitor's profile.

The strange thing is that some lost yellow zones in lacie 324 gamut are included instead in the gamut of my other cheaper monitor!
So i'm not really sure that the problem is the spyder 3 pro. Maybe the lacie 324 itself could be faulty.

[shakey]

I think i'm having a "similar" problem.

My spyder 3 pro doesn't calibrate my lacie 324 well.
it loses an extensive zone of color space of yellow and green tones.
It can be observed by the gamut of the monitor's profile.

The strange thing is that some lost yellow zones in lacie 324 gamut are included instead in the gamut of my other cheaper monitor!
So i'm not really sure that the problem is the spyder 3 pro. Maybe the lacie 324 itself could be faulty.

Are you using a dual monitor setup? If so then, unless you are running two separate video cards , you may have issues (on Win XP system). There is a workround with a downloadable applet. Will post more details if needed

The thing I found with my Dell screen was that I not only had to set the monitor to its default status through the OSD but I also had to set the video card to its default status (via Control Panel) before the screen would calibrate correctly..Spyder3 Pro

[Murray Foote]

I'd go for an Eye-One Display2 rather than a Spyder3. I have a wide gamut NEC 2690 and NEC warns that the Spyder2 will not cover this gamut. However I have also read several posts on other fora by apparantly knowledgeable people who bought a Spyder3 and then regretted it. I've never seen anyone complain abaout an Eye-One Display2. Mind you, you also want to get the full version with Match 3.6 software, not one of the "light" options. It used to be that the cheapest way to get something like that was from B&H or Adorama but following the crash of the dollar you might be able to find a local source that bought stock a while ago and doesn't charge the full exchange rate difference.

I use a slightly more esoteric option - an XRite DTP-94 colorimeter and Coloreyes or NEC Spectraview software. If you encounter one, a second-hand Monaco Optix XR Pro (has to have the Pro) would be at least as good as an Eye-One Display2 and probably a little better but as a discontinued system you might be at risk of being stranded by new operating systems.

Regards,
Murray