Using HD TV as a monitor

Shooboo

Shooboo

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I have a 32" HD TV with 1080p HD capability. My computer has a 256mb Radeon ATI x1800xtx graphics card. would it be suitable for photo editing if I connected my graphics card directly to my TV through the HDMI cable?

Any thoughts on this?

Thanks!!
 
I wouldn't recommend it. You'll find the contrast on the screen is high to get the punch from the blacks and even when calibrated the colour will be over saturated, again for films and things.

I used to have my Mac Mini through my TV and when I switched to a monitor my images were MUCH! better...


DB
 
:agree: Yes, exactly the same situation as above. Also, with leaving the screen saver on, the tv now has a 'shadow' where the text was on the screen! Dedicated monitor is MUCH better.
 
I use a 32" Sony Bravia as a preview monitor for video editing, motion graphics, etc, but that's about it. Even though the TV is calibrated using my EyeOne Display 2, it still doesn't hold a candle to a calibrated IPS monitor, like an HP LP2475w.

I still do all my colour correction and post work (for stills and video) on the LP2475w monitors.
 
Fair point - can anyone recommend a decent monitor for photography purposes between 100-150 ounds?
 
Not between £100-150, no :)

But "decent" is a relative term. The HP LP2475w monitors are about the minimum level of "decent" that I'll accept, and those are around £400 each.
 
Have a look on Amazon, they have some good offers on monitors at present. LINKY
 
Shooboo said:
What about this, would this be any good
Click to expand...
It might be, I really don't know. I have half a dozen cheap 22" widescreen LG monitors that I bought from Comet for about £129 each a year or two ago, and for general PC use (browsing the web, or whatever) they're great, but they're impossible to calibrate accuratetely so that several monitors on the same PC are all showing the same colour & contrast accuracy and consistency.

Shooboo said:
what separates this from the HP?
Click to expand...
IPS technology, or lack thereof. This basically means that as you move your head around in front of your monitor, the image on the screen does not change - which is what you're paying the extra for; a much wider viewing angle with consistency.

If you look at most cheaper monitors, or laptop displays, that aren't IPS, and fill the screen with a solid colour like 50% grey, you can see that there is a difference in brightness between the top and the bottom of the screen without moving anything but your eyes; and if you suddenly stand up in front of your non-IPS monitor from your nice comfy chair, things go really off (white goes blue, grey goes white, black gets white halos around it, etc).

Even if you try to calibrate a non-IPS display with something like an EyeOne Display 2, it'll never be accurate, simply because of the limitations of the technology.
 
Kaouthia said:
It might be, I really don't know. I have half a dozen cheap 22" widescreen LG monitors that I bought from Comet for about £129 each a year or two ago, and for general PC use (browsing the web, or whatever) they're great, but they're impossible to calibrate accuratetely so that several monitors on the same PC are all showing the same colour & contrast accuracy and consistency.


IPS technology, or lack thereof. This basically means that as you move your head around in front of your monitor, the image on the screen does not change - which is what you're paying the extra for; a much wider viewing angle with consistency.

If you look at most cheaper monitors, or laptop displays, that aren't IPS, and fill the screen with a solid colour like 50% grey, you can see that there is a difference in brightness between the top and the bottom of the screen without moving anything but your eyes; and if you suddenly stand up in front of your non-IPS monitor from your nice comfy chair, things go really off (white goes blue, grey goes white, black gets white halos around it, etc).

Even if you try to calibrate a non-IPS display with something like an EyeOne Display 2, it'll never be accurate, simply because of the limitations of the technology.
Click to expand...

Wow, I didn't know this. Does this mean that no matter how much I calibrate my monitor, I will never achieve prints that look like they do on screen?
 
Shooboo said:
Wow, I didn't know this. Does this mean that no matter how much I calibrate my monitor, I will never achieve prints that look like they do on screen?
Click to expand...
On a non-IPS display, generally yes. Basically because the contrast and colour levels are different depending on where your eyes are positioned relative to the screen. You might get a rough idea, but you'll never really know for sure.

What's even more depressing than spending £400 on a monitor though is the fact that, in the grand scheme of things, it's considered "low end" for professional use. Some of the higher end Lacie and Apple displays can cost well in excess of £1,000 (but they are sexy). I've got a few of those on my wishlist, but I don't think they'll be sitting on my desk any time soon. :)
 
eBay can be a great way to go, and either the Dell or the HP should do fine. Both get about the same sort of reviews as each other depending on who you go to. Some rate the HP slightly higher, some rate the Dell slightly higher, but I think there may be some quality control issues (from both manufacturers) depending on which country the review was made.

Just make sure that before you bid, whichever monitor you decide to go for, you contact the seller to make sure there's no dead (black) or hot (bright white, red, blue or green) pixels on the monitor. That way, if you receive it and it DOES have dead or hot pixels, you have some recourse on the seller.
 
Shooboo said:
Wow, I didn't know this. Does this mean that no matter how much I calibrate my monitor, I will never achieve prints that look like they do on screen?
Click to expand...

Try it with your current screen. I use a cheap TN panel monitor and can see changes in the horizontal blue banners of this site when moving my head left/right and up/down (especially up/down). I think that is the sort of inconsistency mentioned above.
 
Kaouthia said:
On a non-IPS display, generally yes. Basically because the contrast and colour levels are different depending on where your eyes are positioned relative to the screen. You might get a rough idea, but you'll never really know for sure.

What's even more depressing than spending £400 on a monitor though is the fact that, in the grand scheme of things, it's considered "low end" for professional use. Some of the higher end Lacie and Apple displays can cost well in excess of £1,000 (but they are sexy). I've got a few of those on my wishlist, but I don't think they'll be sitting on my desk any time soon. :)
Click to expand...

Tell me about it, id love an Apple!
 
Kaouthia said:
eBay can be a great way to go, and either the Dell or the HP should do fine. Both get about the same sort of reviews as each other depending on who you go to. Some rate the HP slightly higher, some rate the Dell slightly higher, but I think there may be some quality control issues (from both manufacturers) depending on which country the review was made.

Just make sure that before you bid, whichever monitor you decide to go for, you contact the seller to make sure there's no dead (black) or hot (bright white, red, blue or green) pixels on the monitor. That way, if you receive it and it DOES have dead or hot pixels, you have some recourse on the seller.
Click to expand...

great advice, i'll have a look now...!
 
Ok I have managed to research this and I have a couple of queries. The first pertains to contrast ratio - there are many other screens with higher contrast ratios out there. Is this significant? Also, it doesn't seem to have HDMI input, which ideally I would like I want to run directly from the graphics card to the monitor.

Many thanks.
 
thats neil. any thoughts regarding the contrast ratio?
 
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