Monitor Recommendations

[jamesmck]

Like many others, my most capable computers right now are laptops.  Because even the best laptop screens have many drawbacks for photo editing, I would like to add an external flat-screen monitor.  Something with a screen as nearly square as possible, as editing vertical shots on a wide screen is no fun.  Something maybe 20 inches wide or less.  Of course, I would like to spend as little as possible ($300 or less).  Recommendations appreciated.

[Andrew Alexander]

James,

The Dell 2209WA has a received good reviews from photo enthusiasts. I got mine when they were $200. I thought they were discontinued but a Google search shows several sources albeit more than the $200 price point. You might find one within your budget. I periodically calibrate the color with a Spyder 3 Pro but never make much of a change even right out of the box.

....a

[jamesmck]

That looks like a nice monitor, Andrew.  I'd like to stay away from a widescreen.  I can't tell from the description whether it might swivel from landscape to portrait orientation.

James

[Kin Lau]

Dell P2311H, it swivels and it's on sale right now.

[LarryD]

You may hate this but a CRT is the best thing for editing Photography. I found a 24 inch one at a computer repair store for $20.00. But the thing is I also have 2 LCD monitors and I try to sync them together at times because the dang 24 inch must weigh over 100 lbs so I do most of my net worthy work on a Polaroid that is 19 inches.

[jamesmck]

Thanks, Kin, that Dell looks like a possibility.  Larry, a CRT is out of the question for my available space.  I wouldn't even dream of using a "small" 15-inch CRT that I have here somewhere.

J.

[Madrigal]

You may hate this but a CRT is the best thing for editing Photography. I found a 24 inch one at a computer repair store for $20.00. But the thing is I also have 2 LCD monitors and I try to sync them together at times because the dang 24 inch must weigh over 100 lbs so I do most of my net worthy work on a Polaroid that is 19 inches.

I thought CRTs were better, too, until I used Mike's iMac, which is at least 3 years old, but everything seemed so much clearer and brighter on it, that I decided to get my own. After using a small CRt for too long... no comparison! The quality of the monitor makes a big difference, too- the LCDs we use at work are awful, but they work fine for what we do there.

[Benny Stevens]

I just replaced my old no-brand (or not a significant brand anyway) 20 inch LCD monitor by a Samsung SyncMaster BX2231 : costed EUR180.00 and has a fine LED screen which is really not bad at all for Photoshop-ing. I'm not a pro, so an Eizo and the like are out of the question. The french photo magazine 'Réponses Photo' just tested some LCD monitors for non-professional but advanced amateur photo applications, and the HP ZR22W with S-IPS screen was the 'best buy' for the price (USD 290.00 approx. - down from USD 350.00) with great colour accuracy for photo applications.