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Azz
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13-03-08, 11:32 PM
#1

Photography Monitors (split thread)

Did you get Nikon Picture Project with your camera Steve? It has a sharpness setting on there so you could always add it later.

I would just 'try' it on default sharpness to see how it goes

What monitor are you using btw? The pics will look different on different monitors too.
Kit 1
Nikon D300
Nikon 55-200mm VR
Kit 2
Nikon D40
Nikon 18-55mm
My Compact/P&S: Panasonic Lumix TZ7


     
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13-03-08, 11:48 PM
#2

Re: Photography Monitors (split thread)

I've got a imac and a macbook pro, I did get picture project with D40 but I've heard that you should avoid Nikon software as it is slow and can have a negative effect on the computer. The D300 came with Capture NX but I didn't like it very much.

Like I said I like the shots sharp and having seen the birds that I'm shooting through the view finder that is how they look. Feathers are sharp close up, especially on small birds.
Kit 1
Nikon D700
Nikon MB-D10 Battery Grip
Nikon AF-S 14-24mm f/2.8
Nikon AF-S 24-70mm f/2.8
Nikon AF-S 70-200mm f/2.8 VR
Nikon micro AF 200mm f/4
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My Compact/P&S: Fuji X100


     
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14-03-08, 01:38 AM
#3

Re: Photography Monitors (split thread)

Is it a new Imac with the glossy screen? If so that's where the descrepancy may be between what we're seeing. Not sure about the macbook pro but as far as I know most laptops have TN panels - which are not suited to photography work. Good way to check is if you look at the screen from up close and below (so at an angle) if the screen get's quite a bit darker it is a TN panel.

TN panels don't show as much detail as say SPVA or SIPS panels - hence the 'over' sharpening we're seeing won't be seen on them. Hope I haven't confused things instead of helping them

They are still great pics - just trying to help that's all
Kit 1
Nikon D300
Nikon 55-200mm VR
Kit 2
Nikon D40
Nikon 18-55mm
My Compact/P&S: Panasonic Lumix TZ7


     
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14-03-08, 10:57 AM
#4

Re: Photography Monitors (split thread)

I don't think it is a monitor issue, the macbook pro is the computer of choice in the professional photography world, or any other Apple produced computer, in fact photoshop was deigned purely for the mac computer.

My imac is running at 1920x1200 so if anyone would see over sharpness it would be me. Not wishing to appear stuck up or anything but I am shooting with professional kit, so that will give me pin sharp images not the fact that I have overs sharpened but its the quality of the lens and the camera together. I have noticed that since I got the 70-200 f/2.8 the images are a lot sharper and show a lot more detail.

So I think that it is down to the fact that you may not be used to seeing images shot with fully professional kit.
Kit 1
Nikon D700
Nikon MB-D10 Battery Grip
Nikon AF-S 14-24mm f/2.8
Nikon AF-S 24-70mm f/2.8
Nikon AF-S 70-200mm f/2.8 VR
Nikon micro AF 200mm f/4
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My Compact/P&S: Fuji X100


     
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14-03-08, 04:05 PM
#5

Re: Photography Monitors (split thread)

Glossy screens are not for professional users because they are not as accurate as matt screens (the 'glass/gloss' creates articifical contrast). They are still good, but you won't see professionals using them.

The old Imac screens were awesome, they used SIPS panels which are considered to be the best lcd panels you can use.

For this reason we hunted down last years model instead of getting the new ones when we replaced some of our older macs (we are a professional design company so we need colour accuracy).

Anyway sorry to go off-topic in your thread - should prob split these posts into a new thread? I should also write a small guide for people about choosing monitors for photographic or professional work as the topic will probably come up often.
Kit 1
Nikon D300
Nikon 55-200mm VR
Kit 2
Nikon D40
Nikon 18-55mm
My Compact/P&S: Panasonic Lumix TZ7


     
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14-03-08, 09:57 PM
#6

Re: Photography Monitors (split thread)

I always use the macbook pro to put the pics on the net, this is a matt screen and has been calibrated by a pro tog. The pics do not look over sharpened on this either, and I spoke to a few pro's that I know and they said that the pics don't look over shaprened to them.
Kit 1
Nikon D700
Nikon MB-D10 Battery Grip
Nikon AF-S 14-24mm f/2.8
Nikon AF-S 24-70mm f/2.8
Nikon AF-S 70-200mm f/2.8 VR
Nikon micro AF 200mm f/4
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14-03-08, 10:00 PM
#7

Re: Photography Monitors (split thread)

The tricky here is that we all have our own opinions... You both obviously have very strong views on what you think is right... Whatever you agree or disagree on, the fact is the pictures are spot on
Kit 1
Canon EOS 40D
Canon 10-22mm EFS
Canon 17-85mm EFS
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Azz
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14-03-08, 10:26 PM
#8

Re: Photography Monitors (split thread)

It's actually one of the biggest problems we face as designers - how things look different to people (because people use different monitors/set-ups).

The only time it becomes a right or wrong issue is if you print - in which case you would need a calibrated screen, which Steve has already or if you design for the web, in which case you have to take into consideration non-calibrated screens (You won't believe how much of a nightmare the latter is!)

As Chris says if Steve is happy with them that's all that matters - I think the rest of us were only trying to 'help', based on how things were showing on our (probably non-calibrated) monitors.

Just a note for everyone else, calibrating a monitor is like making it more neutral or 'accurate' to displaying images (so what you see on screen is what you get when you print - esp professionally). So if you are doing professional print work - i.e. printing photos it's a good idea to get your screen calibrated like Steve has.

Most monitors are not calibrated, in fact they are falsely 'enhanced' to make things look more vivid or bright - manufacturers do this to a) obviously try to look 'better' than the competition as they are trying to impress consumers, and b) so the monitors look ok in the showroom with the bright lighting that most showrooms have - you will usually find the blues to be particularly strong on monitors aimed at consumers.

It's similar for speakers - consumer speakers are what we call falsely coloured, meaning they have been set-up to sound how the manufacturer wants them to, i.e. how 'they' think it sounds better. Professionaly used speakers are actually called 'monitors' or 'near-fields' - these are meant to be completely neutral/'flat' so when you produce music on these you are getting a more accurate sound.
Kit 1
Nikon D300
Nikon 55-200mm VR
Kit 2
Nikon D40
Nikon 18-55mm
My Compact/P&S: Panasonic Lumix TZ7


     
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