lll's recommended calibration-related threads and products list

Latest update:  July, 2009

I have added some comments by myself using my Electrical Engineering background (in devices, digital colors, sensors and microfabrication if you are interested) and I also recommended a few specific products in there.  MM has no capability for me to post price check info, so I sometimes have included links to both Amazon and Buy.com in case one is cheaper than the other, when time allows.  My comments will be in brackets.

This list is continuously updated, please feel free to send me a PM if you see outdated products or links.

Hope this helps!

- LLL

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Calibration - an essential step for consistent color output.

Firstly:

-Color Management Introduction by DryCreekPhoto

From MM:

- Calibrate Monitor or rely on sRGB

- Best Color Temperature on a monitor

- Calibrate monitor...in reference to what?

- How many calibrate their monitors

- Monitor calibration

Products available for calibration



I do NOT recommend any software-based calibration product, our eyes are too easily fooled.

- ColorMunki Create @ Amazon.com (same hardware/colorimeter as the iOne, recommended over Huey Pro)
- ColorMunki Design @ Amazon.com (calibrate both monitor and printer using an iterative process with limited patches, results are ok, but not as good at the other 900+ patches alternative at 3 times the price, up to you! Recommended for the price point. Hardware is a spectrometer, not the DTP-94 Colorimeter; I have not seen its spec, so no direct comment.)
- ColorMunki Photo @ Amazon.com (slightly different software, same hardware as the "Design" package, geared more towards photographers who shoot people. Same recommendation as the Design package, depends on your usage and needs.)
- Eye-One Display 2 @ Amazon.com (Recommended for serious amateurs and professionals)
- Eye-One Display 2 LT @ Amazon.com  (Recommended for serious amateurs)
- Eye-One Photo @ Amazon.com - calibrates monitor, scanner, printer (Recommended for professionals who actually have such needs)
- Eye-One Display 2 @ Buy.com
- Eye-One Display LT @ Buy.com
- Gretag Macbeth Grey Card
- ColorVision Spyder3 Pro - Amazon.com - (enough for most, great new hardware, recommended)
- ColorVision Spyder3 Elite - more controls than Spyder3 Pro - (overkill for most, recommended for pros)
- ColorVision Spyder2 Express - (Beginner color management, automated, recommended over Huey.)
- Pantone Huey Pro - (Cheap, but not recommended by me due to hardware deficiency)

(Calibration part - Updated July 9th 2009 by Leo)

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For LCD monitors:

Firstly:

- Comprehensive Guide to LCD monitors: Parameters and Characteristics by XBit Lab, slightly dated, but still very relevant.

Then on MM:

- High end LCD monitors? Lacie, Eizo, etc. opinions? <- refer to this one first.

- Best monitor for $200 or less

- LCD Monitors

- 6 bit vs 8 bit LCD

- Largest Bestest Monitors

- Multi Monitor system

- What PC monitor should I buy?

- What monitor to get?


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Camera

Firstly:
- DPReview.com - most comprehensive digital camera information online.

Then on MM:

- Ok, what camera next?

- What digital camera should I buy?

- What camera would you choose starting out?

- Canon 1D as a pro camera

- Camera envy and its cure

- New Cannon camera

- Best digital camera to purchase

Or you should really use the search function for "camera".

Lighting equipment

Firstly:

- Studio Lighting - making the equipment decision by our very own Kevin Connery, excellent read.

- Monolight vs powerpack

- Best strobes to buy for the bucks

- Power strobes outside, invertors

- Pro portable lighting

- Why are my strobes acting up?

- Has anyone built their own strobes?

- Alien Bees vs JTL units

- Strobe fear

- Moving from Constant Light to strobes, help please?

- AlienBees and one grand to spend

- Strobes vs Continuous Lighting

- Best strobes for both studio and location lighting

- New strobes user questions

- Portable Power? - Detailed part-list and build instruction for a DIY "Vagabond" battery system

Or you can use the Search Function to seach for strobes, flash, monolight, powerpack etc.

Also, people should consult these books before asking basic questions.  It is extremely inefficient to learn the basics online.  You are wasting more people's time while the books are already out there.

- Light Science and Magic

- Matter of Light and Depth

Compact Flash

- Best CF cards to use?

Or use the Search Function and look for CF, CompactFlash, Memory or Flash.

Thankyou,
Great list.

Added to the list

The list of lists. answers already answered
http://www.modelmayhem.com/posts.php?thread_id=47436

Updated November 27th, 2006

Time to bump for newbies!

After a slew of "what should I buy" in the past two weeks, it's time to bump for newbies again.

.

Bump for the recent "what to buy" threads.

Hope this helps guys and girls. 

Updated July 2009.  Added latest hardware calibrator to list.  Added extra comments as some requested.  Changed layout priority to calibration.  Enjoy!

- LLL