Suggestions on a new monitor

[mjs1973]

The monitor on my laptop is shot, and getting to the point of not being usable. I can't afford a new computer right now, so I want to get a new monitor for my laptop. I want a good quality LCD screen, 20" or larger. My budget is about $300.

My problem is that I really don't know anything about monitors. I know that the contrast ratio is pretty important, but how much is enough?

Any suggestions on what to look for?

[Photo-John]

Buy a used CRT from Craig's List. That's what I did. Sure, it's huge. But the quality is excellent, the screen is really big, and it cost me less than $100. I'd do it again, too. Still don't own an LCD display.

[mjs1973]

I remember you posting about the CRT you got from Craig's List a while back, and I did take a look there. I didn't see anything I was interested in. For the last two years I have been using my laptop for all my photo work, and I have been very happy with it. The color seemed to be very accurate and I have been very happy with it, until the monitor started to go. The color still seems fine, but there are so many lines running through it now that it's very difficult to see.

I'm shooting a wedding tomorrow, so I needed to get something to use ASAP. The local big box store had a few to choose from so I did a quick search on those, and picked one that had a pretty decent review on cnet. I went with the HP w2007 for $260.

I was hoping to use it as my main monitor and completely turn of the LCD on the laptop. but I haven't been able to find a way to do that yet. I do have it set up so when I open PS, or the internet, they only open on the new monitor and fill the entire screen, which is basically what I wanted anyway. I have only played with it for an hour or so, but it seems to work just fine.

[gahspidy]

Buy a used CRT from Craig's List. That's what I did. Sure, it's huge. But the quality is excellent, the screen is really big, and it cost me less than $100. I'd do it again, too. Still don't own an LCD display.

Good advice, John. Although even brand new they are not very expensive these days as LCDs are the big demand. I recently bought an NEC Accusync 120 21" CRT new. Hard to find them now, but this one was about 250.00 and if I remember correctly it was from NewEgg.com

I would really love to have an LCD, but having tried a highly rated Samsung Syncmaster 226 bw I was very disappointed with the quality for image editing purposes. Extremely bright even with everything turned down all the way (Video games would look great on it)
I understand that if one spends upwards of 800.00 or more there are excellent LCDs available that are very accurate such as some from Lacie and Sony as well.
If your looking to spend under 300.00 at this time, than I feel the CRTs can't be beat for image editing

[Photo-John]

I've been disappointed with the monitors on every laptop I've ever used. Every monitor I have is calibrated and the laptop monitors are never right. CRT monitors are really easy to calibrate and you get a lot more for your money. In my opinion, LCDs are still hype. They're lighter and take up less space. But unless you pay a lot, they just aren't worth the money. And no matter what, you need to profile. If you don't have profiling hardware, you won't get good, predictable image quality from any monitor.

[fx101]

I've been disappointed with the monitors on every laptop I've ever used. Every monitor I have is calibrated and the laptop monitors are never right. CRT monitors are really easy to calibrate and you get a lot more for your money. In my opinion, LCDs are still hype. They're lighter and take up less space. But unless you pay a lot, they just aren't worth the money. And no matter what, you need to profile. If you don't have profiling hardware, you won't get good, predictable image quality from any monitor.

Once you buy an apple cinema 30" (or two) you will regret anything you have ever said bad about an LCD. The image quality is impalpably good, the colour accuracy (when calibrated) is among the best I've ever seen, and the brightness can be tuned to perfection.

[gahspidy]

Once you buy an apple cinema 30" (or two) you will regret anything you have ever said bad about an LCD. The image quality is impalpably good, the colour accuracy (when calibrated) is among the best I've ever seen, and the brightness can be tuned to perfection.

The monitor you speak of is about 2,000.00 and I have heard about good LCD for about a thousand or a bit less, so I do not doubt what you say. The issue is that for a good LCD one has to spend a considerable amount of moolah whereas for a CRT monitor with equally good image quality, one can be had for less than 300.00

If money was not an issue, I would have an LCD screen with a faster computer, a few Canon 1d MK lll's and many other toys and stuff that I probably will never need.

Where money is an issue, the CRT is by far the best bang for the buck.


John, using profiles is very good advice, not just monitor calibration. I use mostly Fiber based papers to print on ( I love the Hahnemhule fine Art Pearl) and always use profiles for whaterver paper it is I happen to be printing on. It gets the most out of the paper from your printer. I find that using the paper manufacturers profiles gives me fine enough results. The manufacturer will usually offer profiles of their popeular papers for use with many of todays popular printers.

[fx101]

The monitor you speak of is about 2,000.00 and I have heard about good LCD for about a thousand or a bit less, so I do not doubt what you say. The issue is that for a good LCD one has to spend a considerable amount of moolah whereas for a CRT monitor with equally good image quality, one can be had for less than 300.00

If money was not an issue, I would have an LCD screen with a faster computer, a few Canon 1d MK lll's and many other toys and stuff that I probably will never need.

Where money is an issue, the CRT is by far the best bang for the buck.


John, using profiles is very good advice, not just monitor calibration. I use mostly Fiber based papers to print on ( I love the Hahnemhule fine Art Pearl) and always use profiles for whaterver paper it is I happen to be printing on. It gets the most out of the paper from your printer. I find that using the paper manufacturers profiles gives me fine enough results. The manufacturer will usually offer profiles of their popeular papers for use with many of todays popular printers.

Bang for your buck-wise anything apple makes is terrible IMO. If you can afford it though, it's a great monitor. That being said, the original poster is on a far more stringent budget and as the others have said a great CRT can be had for a few hundred while an LCD of equivelent image quality "calibre" will cost significantly more. Profiling is an excellent idea. I almost never do photo printing myself (with the cost of ink nowadays and considering how sparsely I print, I opted for a laser and let a photo-lab take care of my printing) however even if you send photos to a lab proper use of profiles for your monitor and destination printer (as provided) ensures a nice even colour workflow. And Gasphidy I wouldn't take the MKIII's lol. Everything has its place and for somebody who tends to be on the move and needs something light the MKIII doesn't really fit the bill. If money was no object most street photographers would own Leica MP's, shoot slide film, and have it drum scanned. Unfortunately I don't have enough money to throw away that I would pay $50 a scan for hundreds of exposures so that will always be a dream.

[Photo-John]

That being said, the original poster is on a far more stringent budget and as the others have said a great CRT can be had for a few hundred while an LCD of equivelent image quality "calibre" will cost significantly more. Profiling is an excellent idea.

My 20-inch Sony Mulitscan CRT cost a fortune new. But I paid $80 for it last year. And it's an awesome monitor. It was one of the best when it came out and the quality is still excellent. Spending less on a used monitor and using the money saved to buy a Datacolor or x-rite profiling system is a much better strategy, I think. Profiling is actually the most important thing, I think. With good profiling, you can make almost any monitor look good.

But I still don't like LCDs - even the Apple Cinema displays. I'm waiting for OLED technology to make it to computer displays. Then I'll start getting interested.

[fx101]

But I still don't like LCDs - even the Apple Cinema displays. I'm waiting for OLED technology to make it to computer displays. Then I'll start getting interested.

Last time I checked the 11" Sony OLED TV was around $2500 and it wasn't even HD resolution. When I can get a decent 27"+ OLED display that'll do 1920x1080 or higher for under $2500 you've got me on the bandwagon. There's no way I'm paying $2500 for a tiny TV where the 1000000:1 contrast ratio isn't noticeable due to the size.