Should I replace my monitor?

Morph3ous

Morph3ous

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I'm looking for some advice on whether I should change my monitor.

I've got some opportunities to earn a little money through my photography this year, if I can fit it in around my day job. One of which is the dreaded "first wedding", as well as portrait work. Its got me thinking about monitor calibration and colour profiles and making sure that what I edit on screen comes out in print.

I currently use a Samsung 2433BW LCD monitor which has a resolution of 1920 x 1200. Research tells me its a TN monitor, and for accurate colour representation its a good idea to get an IPS panel. I'm therefore considering selling the Samsung on, and adding some funds towards an affordable IPS one like the Dell Ultrasharp 2312. Would you suggest this is a good idea? Would it be worth the swap?

I know I can buy a Spyder or similar to calibrate my current monitor, but wondered whether I'd be better off picking up an IPS and then calibrating that via settings available online, or even via a Spyder later on.

I'm by no means a professional, and so cannot justify spending hundreds on an expensive IPS, but with my plans to purchase studio lighting equipment etc I want to makesure I'm seeing accurate colour/brightness on my monitor, before I go spending money on prints.

Previous prints of the family from Snapfish have been a little hit and miss, with some good ones and some not quite as punchy as on screen, with darkness being the main offender.

Advice would be greatly appreciated.

Regards
 
My advice would be yes to both IPS panel and calibration tool, with calibration tool being more important.
 
To be honest I'd stick with the Samsung for now and just get a calibration tool.

I use two 24" Samsung panels, a 2350 and a 2470HD TV, both of which are more than adequate once calibrated.
 
Thanks for the replies.

So you think it would be a good idea to get a calibration tool first, then see how I get on with the prints before changing the monitor if necessary?

I guess as long as the colour/brightness of monitor and prints is matched, the actual monitor itself doesnt matter?
 
Yes to both of those, although it needs to be a decent quality monitor in the first place; TN, IPS or otherwise.
 
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