2nd computer monitor recommendation?

Hi, a bit of a strange question to ask on a bike forum, but since I know we have loads of photographers, designers, video artists etc etc I thought I might get some answers.

I am looking for a 2nd monitor for my Macbook Pro, I am after around 24" and I guess I could spare up to about £300, if the budget is too low then I'd have to downsize to 21". But of course the cheaper the better. I am a photographer myself and fully understand the importance of a good monitor.

I have heard good thing about Dell and NEC, both of which offer decent monitor for less than £300 for 23" / 24". Any experience you could share? Or any other recommendation?

Cheers

where do photographers get all this money?

Trust funds, mostly.

I certainly don't know how other photographers get their money, but I have been saving up for sometimes now, so that's how I get my money. Oh and cycling everyday saves you a few quids a day too! ;-)

Dell 240[x] WFP. Cheap now and ace. Make sure you get the right year/revision - google for info.

ebuyer.com

Dell 240[x] WFP. Cheap now and ace. Make sure you get the right year/revision - google for info.

I had my eye on this one last week, head some good things about it, you use this yourself?

Thanks

I wouldn't get Dell... but that's just me.

I wouldn't get Dell... but that's just me.

Any bad experience you have had? Just that My family uses Dell for their laptops (I am a sore thumb being a Mac user) and they never complain about it.

I have the the 24" Dell. It's been my second monitor for my 24" iMac for about 2 years. It's great.

I have the the 24" Dell. It's been my second monitor for my 24" iMac for about 2 years. It's great.

What's the calibration like if I may ask? I think my mate has a MacBook Pro and a Dell (not sure of model) and he had a hard time calibrating the screens.

Cheers

Any bad experience you have had? Just that My family uses Dell for their laptops (I am a sore thumb being a Mac user) and they never complain about it.

Sounds too much like 'Bell'...

;)

Sounds too much like 'Bell'...

Is that the real reason? hahaha... you have just made my day!

Of course it is.

What's the calibration like if I may ask? I think my mate has a MacBook Pro and a Dell (not sure of model) and he had a hard time calibrating the screens.

Cheers

I'm not using it for any photo editing (other than just personal stuff) but it seems ok. Mine is perhaps a little cold but there is quite a lot of range to adjust.
Obviously it's not going to stack up against the professional quality monitors at three or four times the price though.

I've a 2405 which is practically ancient now - banding on the greys but ok for everything else. love hte massive range of inputs on the back, it's got everything going through it. a friend ran a 2407 rev something which was flawless, annoyed he didn't flog it to me when he upgraded :(

proper photographers use a decent monitor (eizoCG/NEC spectraview etc) and decent calibrator (that's half your budget gone already unless you have one already)
how can you hand over work when you haven't even been able to see all the colours in the image?(adobe 1998 colourspace) or have the ability to control the contrast ratio of your monitor?

What's the calibration like if I may ask? I think my mate has a MacBook Pro and a Dell (not sure of model) and he had a hard time calibrating the screens.

Cheers

that's because they are often too bright and you can't get down to the recommended 120 lumen/M2

To be honest, I leave the final touch up for my lab to do anyway, plus I don't do any commercial, so I never have to deal with any client, so to speak. I just want the colours on the 2 screens to be close enough so I don't end up going mad. I know many photographers who can get by just fine without a so called decent monitor and are doing well enough. If you are doing very well and successful, then fair enough you have the best gears etc etc, but the truth is many of us just don't have the spare cash and have to find ways to work around it.

sorry, presumed you were a working (paid) photographer.

I am but I just don't do commercial. I do mostly fine art and hand print photographs.

Anyone has any experience of the brand ViewSonic? Some reviews compare their monitors to the Dell ones mentioned above but the ViewSonic ones are cheaper...

I use two of these viewsonic monitors at work

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/264530

Good viewing angle and colour and less than £150! As far as I'm aware Viewsonic is (or was) rebranded Sony products. Much better than overpriced NEC (poor viewing angle) and Dell (dull colours)

I think that's the answer, cheers Rob. One of the things I like abt some of the Dell monitors is that the monitors can be rotated, but then I don't know how often I'd realistically need it.