Color Calibration Devices

[Combat By Design]

Hey all,

Looking to get a color cal device.
Looking at the Spyder5Express, but considering the extra $60 for the Pro.

What does everyone use and what are your pros and cons?

 

[BG454]

Hey all,
Looking to get a color cal device.
Looking at the Spyder5Express, but considering the extra $60 for the Pro.
What does everyone use and what are your pros and cons?

ColorMunki "Display"

 

[ormdig]

Hi, Spyder 5 Pro. Easy to use on 2 monitors,

 

[Austinian]

Hey all,
Looking to get a color cal device.
Looking at the Spyder5Express, but considering the extra $60 for the Pro.
What does everyone use and what are your pros and cons?

Colormunki Display + DisplayCAL software

Pro: works great, low costs

Con: extra install, takes time

 

[mclewis]

Hey all,
Looking to get a color cal device.
Looking at the Spyder5Express, but considering the extra $60 for the Pro.
What does everyone use and what are your pros and cons?

The express version is too crippled to be useful. It is missing features you really need. You could use the free Argyll software with the express spyder to get full functionality. Xrite products are generally held to have higher quality though.

 

[Kaj E]

Hey all,
Looking to get a color cal device.
Looking at the Spyder5Express, but considering the extra $60 for the Pro.
What does everyone use and what are your pros and cons?

If you necessarily need to go with Spyder spend the extra for the Pro version. Express is too limited.

But if you want the best go with i1Display Pro.

Unfortynately critical test of the accuracy of the calibration devices has not been posted on the web recently, but here is one from the turn of the century:

Display Calibration Sensor Capabilities

Monitor calibration sensor evaluations

www.drycreekphoto.com

Spyder has improved since but so has I! Display.

 

[BlueRay2]

Hey all,
Looking to get a color cal device.
Looking at the Spyder5Express, but considering the extra $60 for the Pro.
What does everyone use and what are your pros and cons?

 

[Combat By Design]

Yeah, X-Rite is the commercial print standard, but I'm not sure I'm in the market to pay that much. I will look around. Thanks for the response!

 

[NAwlins Contrarian]

Looking to get a color cal device.
Looking at the Spyder5Express, but considering the extra $60 for the Pro.
What does everyone use and what are your pros and cons?

The express version is too crippled to be useful. It is missing features you really need. You could use the free Argyll software with the express spyder to get full functionality. Xrite products are generally held to have higher quality though.

Looking at current B&H prices, you can actually get an X-Rite system (no, I don't mean the low-end Smile) for less than the Spyder5 Pro you're considering:

Datacolor Spyder5PRO Display Calibration System, $189, and

X-Rite ColorMunki Display, $169.

Yes, X-Rite also sells the more expensive i1Display Pro ($239), but (1) I have the ColorMunki Display, and IMO it's fine; and (2) if you'd spend $189, then $239 isn't that big a reach ($50 / 26% more).

 

[NAwlins Contrarian]

Yeah, X-Rite is the commercial print standard, but I'm not sure I'm in the market to pay that much. I will look around. Thanks for the response!

Looking at current B&H prices, you can actually get an X-Rite system (no, I don't mean the low-end Smile) for less than the Spyder5 Pro you're considering:

Datacolor Spyder5PRO Display Calibration System, $189, and

X-Rite ColorMunki Display, $169.

Yes, X-Rite also sells the more expensive i1Display Pro ($239), but (1) I have the ColorMunki Display, and IMO it's fine; and (2) if you'd spend $189, then $239 isn't that big a reach ($50 / 26% more).

 

[LordKOTL]

Hey all,
Looking to get a color cal device.
Looking at the Spyder5Express, but considering the extra $60 for the Pro.
What does everyone use and what are your pros and cons?

--
Kevin M. Byers
www.combatbydesign.com
Instagram, Twitter, Facebook:
@combatbydesign

I got a Spyder5Express but I use DisplayCal for the actual calibration.

Pro: it's not crippled anymore like using it with the Spyder software.

Con: Extra install and to my knowledge you have it install the Spyder software in order to get the driver. There is no standalone driver.

--
There's no shame in using auto or semiauto modes--no matter what the salesdroids at Best Buy tell you.