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About those Dell 2408WFPs
I just received my fourth 2408WFP monitor from Dell. I now have four huge boxes, four 24″ Dells and my two older 20″ LCD computer monitors strewn about the place as I endeavor to find two Dells with screen colors that come somewhat close to actually matching.
I don’t want to disparage Dell or these monitors, however, it is exceedingly frustrating and time-consuming trying to calibrate monitors over and again when their factory defaults are simply all over the place, as is the case with the monitors I’ve received so far. I can’t say for sure if this is an isolated incident, but its certainly not looking good.
Here’s the deal:
When I hook up any two of the 2408 monitors and reset both to factory specs both in hardware (the monitor itself) and in software (via Apple System Preferences), they simply don’t even come close to matching. The whites on one are never close on either monitor. If for instance, I move an image or a Finder Window, or anything else so that it the spans across both monitors, I that item will have annoyingly different colors on both sides of the gap. The frame around a Finder window will be pure white on the left monitor, but blueish white or reddish on the right. An image in Photoshop or in the FCP viewer or canvas will be even more drastically messed-up that, potentially making it very tough to have even a clue what one is actually looking at.
And, it makes no difference if I attempt to calibrate them, switch the cables around, switch outputs from the video card, or even change video cards. The monitors simply have very different white points.
I’m about to open the fourth and final monitor now to see if it matches one of the other three. And, later a friend will attempt to calibrate them with a Spyder. If that doesn’t work I’m sending them all back.
David Roth Weiss
Director/Editor
David Weiss Productions, Inc.
Los AngelesPOST-PRODUCTION WITHOUT THE USUAL INSANITY ™
A forum host of Creative COW’s Apple Final Cut Pro, Business & Marketing, and Indie Film & Documentary forums.
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7 Replies
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Man…my 2405s are fine…They are slightly off, but not enough to really concern me.
Was I lucky?
Shane
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Gosh, I have no idea, but the last two monitors I bought (another mnaufacturer of course) were pretty much plug and play. After turning the brightness down and the contrast up, they were even pretty close to my broadcast monitor.
David Roth Weiss
Director/Editor
David Weiss Productions, Inc.
Los AngelesPOST-PRODUCTION WITHOUT THE USUAL INSANITY ™
A forum host of Creative COW’s Apple Final Cut Pro, Business & Marketing, and Indie Film & Documentary forums.
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I use a Spyder to keep my monitors (a pair of 26″ Acers) calibrated. They’re close enough that I don’t see a difference. And, interestingly, they’re much closer to my NTSC monitor than I think I have any right to expect.
Arnie’s recommendation: use a calibrator like the Spyder or Huey.
BTW, if I had 4 boxes lying around, the cat’s would think it was a theme park!
Arnie
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Looks promising… I think the fourth monitor and the second monitor actually match, or should I say match close enough.
I think the problem was that the first monitor I received was “flawed” and so the second one of course didn’t match it. Then Dell, in is infinite wisdom send a refurb, which was also flawed, and which matched none of the others.
You can imagine playing musical chairs with four 24″ monitors that all have the inputs tucked away and hidden from view. Its like my third half day frittered away.
David Roth Weiss
Director/Editor
David Weiss Productions, Inc.
Los AngelesPOST-PRODUCTION WITHOUT THE USUAL INSANITY ™
A forum host of Creative COW’s Apple Final Cut Pro, Business & Marketing, and Indie Film & Documentary forums.
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David,,
So do you still love your Dell 2408 monitors… I am budgeting right now for my summer upgrade.. So if you have a moment, here is a couple questions..
After googling Dell 2408, I am amazed that they have 3000 to 1 contrast and generally better spec than the ACD… You purchased two Dells.
1) Are you planning on using one of the Dells for color correction / broadcast monitoring? Or do you have a HD broadcast monitoring solution already. If so what??
2) The best price I have found on the Dells is about $610 each, did you find a discounter?
3) Would you know if the Dell (timeline) and the JVC DT-24L1U (color correction) make a good match?
Thanks
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Nate,
I’m definitely not planning to color correct using the Dells, at least at his point. They are pretty mcuh dedicated computer monitors.
Don’t know about matching the JVC, but I think you will need to calibrate the Dells using a Spyder.
Dell had them on sale for $599 each and if you go to the small biz area and get yourslf a salesman, perhaps like the one below he’ll give you a slightly better deal. Tell him I sent you… BTW, keep in mind, the 2408wfs monitors are backordered, and may take a few weeks to get.
Ryan Schwartz
Ryan_Schwartz@Dell.com
1-800-456-3355 x 9460775David Roth Weiss
Director/Editor
David Weiss Productions, Inc.
Los AngelesPOST-PRODUCTION WITHOUT THE USUAL INSANITY ™
A forum host of Creative COW’s Apple Final Cut Pro, Business & Marketing, and Indie Film & Documentary forums.
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Hi folks,
I’ve just had a 2407 replaced with a 2408 as the 2407 was defective. My setup includes 2 monitors one a 2407 the other a new 2408. My problem is I can’t get them to match!My calibration skills are minimal so in my attempt to match them I have changed setting on both and now both do not feel right.
What technique or tools do you use to calibrate these monitors? Is there a site that would walk one through the process?
I’m worhing with a MacPro 8core and using the 2 DVI ports to connect to monitors.
Thanks
Harvey
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