Buying monitor calibration hardware

[Jeff_Green]

I finally upgraded to a 17" lcd monitor and figured since I did that I might as well FINALLY take the plunge and get some calibration hardware. Since I just made the monitor purchase I don't have a lot of spare change lying around so I an thinking of going with the ColorVision Spyder2 Express. I know that some people like hardware other than Spyder, but those who like Spyder, do you think that the Express will be adequate? I don't have another $100 to throw down on top of what the Express costs so hopefully it will do.

Thanks in advance.
Jeff

[Jim Victory]

I use the Spyder 2Pro and I'm not familiar with the express series.

Make sure your LCD can be calibrated before you flop down the cash for calibration tools.

[Jeff_Green]

Good point, Jim. I didn't really think about that. lol If it can't be calibrated what are my options? Calibrate a graphics card? But that wouldn't do me any good if I'm not seeing what I need to see. Calibrate my CRT and take back my lcd?

Thanks!
Jeff

[Jim Victory]

You can calibrate using your video card if it has the necessary controls. What controls does your LCD have?

If you have contrast and brightness controls and the ability to set Kelvin then it is possible.

Most likely, unless you have an S-IPS panel on your LCD, you are going to have trouble getting a color gamut as accurate as a CRT.

[Jeff_Green]

Okay, I'm not at my home computer right now but as I was reading up on the monitor on their website it does say that to calibrate it the best thing to use is third party software. It does have the brightness/contrast, kelvin setting, etc, so hopefully I won't have any problems with it.