Grading monitors - what are my options?

[SimonB]

I'm looking for a proffessional monitor to grade my Red material. What do you guys use? What do you recommend? It's a jungle out there.

Cheers,
Simon

 

[Jean Déraps]

Wait till after NAB!

 

[Steve Sherrick]

I'm not sure NAB will solve your problems entirely unless you have enough money to invest in a true grading monitor. Not to sound like a downer, but it takes a decent investment to grade on a good LCD and same goes for good HD CRTs which are on their way out in terms of new ones being made.

There are options out there that will get you in the ballpark, but they won't get you the accuracy your projects may demand.

Maybe we'll be surprised at NAB.

 

[Vigen Vartanov]

Try IEZO

 

[Bill Anderson]

Check out the multiSync "wide gamut models with 103% ntsc colors".
I know little about them but they look like a good place to investigate.

http://www.necdisplay.com/Products/Product/?product=4af7b335-9302-4429-8d73-74c35a363b57

 

[Michele Gavazzeni]

Try IEZO

Eizo are computer monitors no HDSDI inputs.

Eizo are wonderful computer monitors but have all the problems like all other computer monitors when you are grading or color correcting.

 

[Michele Gavazzeni]

ECinema DPX or DCM moldels [http://www.ecinemasystems.com/]
TVLogic LVM - 240W [http://www.tvlogic.co.kr/]


Lower prices
JVC DT-V24L1DU [http://www.pro.jvc.com]
Ecinema PRO or FX models [http://www.ecinemasystems.com/]

 

[Daniel Browning]

Check out the multiSync "wide gamut models with 103% ntsc colors".

Do *not* use wide gamut models for grading: they cannot display rec709 accurately because DVI is limited to 8 bits, which is not enough to accurately remap between "wide" gamut (Adobe RGB) and rec709; even if the LUT is applied solely in the monitor hardware (by converting the 8-bit incoming to a 12-bit rec709 LUT).

They advertise "103% ntsc colors" because that's what the 12-bit hardware in the monitor is capable of, but there's no way to take advantage of it because the only signal that can be sent to it is 8-bit.

They are intended for AdobeRGB only.

Some day there will be 10- or 12-bit support in operating systems using dual link DVI, and it would have enough resolution to remap between the more widely-spaced AdobeRGB and narrow rec709 coordinates. But who knows how long that will take.

Until then, use the non-wide-gamut displays, like the 24" ($1200 or so).