Colorvision Spyder2

[samhain]

Hi All

Anyone use this and if so how have you found it?

There is a much cheaper express version. Is that sufficient as long as you use the free software available on the net or should you go for the suite

It seems that it wouldn't be used very often. Anyone care to loan out (fully insured of course)?

Thanks

Stu

[Avi]

Originally Posted by samhain

Hi All

Anyone use this and if so how have you found it?

There is a much cheaper express version. Is that sufficient as long as you use the free software available on the net or should you go for the suite

It seems that it wouldn't be used very often. Anyone care to loan out (fully insured of course)?

Thanks

Stu

samhain


check out this link. This software is free can be used with several colour probes. I use the Xrite DTP94 cost about £110.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...&page=56&pp=30

AVI

[samhain]

Thanks AVI.

Would prefer to gcheaper Spyder 2 express if tat's all I need. Anyone else?

[Gary Lightfoot]

I don't know how accurate these sensors are compared to each other, but when I compared the Spyder2 (from SpyderTV package) to the Colorfacts TR-1 it was close enough for hobbyist use IMHO.

According to one of the other threads on avs all the Spyder2 probes are much the same, so it seems the Spyder2 Express package should be OK for what you need. You could buy it and then sell it on again if you can't get one loaned out (I was loaned one to test).

Gary

[Avi]

Originally Posted by samhain

Thanks AVI.

Would prefer to gcheaper Spyder 2 express if tat's all I need. Anyone else?

From page 1 of the link

"Colorvision Spyder2:
Pros: the cheapest colorimeter. It may be labeled as "entry level" but it's an accurate probe just perfect for the calibrator on a budget. Totally supported.
Cons: the slowest, especially in dark patterns. Also inconsistent at those low IRE levels.
Price: the colorimeter (hardware) is part of several Colorvision packages. So it starts at $79 msrp in Spyder2 Express.

Xrite DTP-94 (AKA Monaco Optix):
Pros: quite fast, it is a very accurate colorimeter. It even has recalibration (internal offset calculation based on the temperature). The most recommended by the ColorHCFR team. Totally supported.
Cons: more expensive than Spyder2 and discontinued in a few months, still one of the best.
Price: from $219 msrp in Monaco Optix Xr.

Gretag Macbeth/Xrite/Pantone Eye-One Display2/LT:
Pros: since Xrite and Gretag Macbeth merged this is supposed to be the replacement for the DTP94. Probably as good as the Xrite. Now fully supported.
Cons: also more expensive than Spyder2.
Price: included in several packages. From $170 msrp in Pantone Eye-One Display LT.

Gretag Macbeth Eye-One Pro:
Pros: really accurate, unlike the others (which are filter-based) this is not a colorimeter but a spectrophotometer. As it's name implies this is a more professional tool (needs to be recalibrated regularly). Totally supported.
Cons: really expensive, not necessary better than a good filter-based colorimeter in real world calibrations.
Price: did I say expensive? From $1095 msrp in Eye-One Beamer."

AVI

[Mr.D]

Found the Spyder2 compared well with a philips colour analyser and a minolta spectrophotometer.

The Calman software compensates to a degree for the innacuracy/long read times towards black.

I'm very happy with the spyder2/Calman combo.

[Mark Haywood]

Originally Posted by Mr.D

I'm very happy with the spyder2/Calman combo.

Me too.

[Neil Davidson]

The Sypder2 sensors all share a hardware design and so should all work identically. The difference comes from the calibration of the actual sensor itself.

I haven't dealt with the Colorvision (PC tools) side of DataColor very much but my impression is that the sensors are calibrated on a batch basis ie one is measured then the resulting calibration files are downloaded to the rest of the batch. Some are very accurate and some are less so but all or OK for domestic use.

The new ColorFacts 7.0 brings with it the release of the Spyder2 Platinum which is a hand selected and individually calibrated Spyder2 probe which will be accurate enough for almost any application. An upgrade is available for existing ColorFacts users but it remains to be seen if the meter will be available to purchase on it's own.

Neil

[Gary Lightfoot]

Hi Neil,

The CF 7 upgrade cost seems a tad expensive (around £1400?), especially since Milori sold it off and we lost the forum and immediate support etc. There are a few things I'd like to see fixed in CF6 but that looks unlikely now.

Gary

[Neil Davidson]

Gary - who gave you those crazy upgrade figures?!

SW only upgrade is €99 + VAT
Full upgrade to CF7.0 accessories package is €450 + VAT

What support all you should need to do is call Nuno directly?

Neil

[Gary Lightfoot]

Hi Neil,

I saw that price on a link recently - glad to hear it's a lot lower!

I guess I was basing support on the old Milori forums which never rematerialised when it was taken over by Datacolor.

How do you go about getting the upgrade, and what does the accessories pack include? Any links?

Thanks

Gary

[Onyxia]

Originally Posted by Avi

samhain


check out this link. This software is free can be used with several colour probes. I use the Xrite DTP94 cost about £110.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...&page=56&pp=30

AVI

Hi avi, where can you get the xrite? I have the spyder2 at the moment and find it quite good, but then I'm just starting and don't really know my way around the HCFR software just yet. Is Calman better than the free program?

[Mr. Wilby]

Can anybody recommend any UK suppiliers for any of these products that are at a reasonable price? Or is it better to import from the USA?

Would be quite interested in getting something that can calibrate my LCD computer monitor and a PJ, if there is such a beast...

[samhain]

I found a few sites in the UK that sold the spyder2 so you won't have a difficulty.

What I need to know is that if you buy one in the UK with it measure PAL or doesn't it really matter?

[Gary Lightfoot]

It doesn't matter - it just measures the light so you can use it for any display and colour system, though you may have to remove the filter grate for some - I can't remember which, but I think you'll know when you see the results - the colours will be well out if the filter should be on and isn't when you measure it. You can leave the filter on for DLP projectors IIRC

I like the HCFR program though I haven't used it in anger yet (you can input readings manually and see the results so I've done that to see the results of using different gamma calcs - something CF doesn't have). I'd like to do a side by side comparison with it and Colorfacts to see how it compares, but I'll have to buy a Spyder2 to do that.

Gary