Spyder 3 Pro

If you are serious about your photography, then you really need to think about monitor calibration and the Datavision Spyder 3 Pro will enable you to calibrate your monitor to a high degree of color accuracy.

Many photographers, and others working within the graphics market, are looking for a calibrator which is capable of working to a high degree of accuracy and consistency, and one that has the ability to take control of all the important functions of the monitor. Although we may have experimented with calibration shots and carrying out everything manually, ultimately this just cannot give the results we are looking for. What is wanted is a model which strikes the right balance between high-end functions and affordable price. Maybe this offering from Datacolor will be just what we need.

Updated hardware.
This model carries the new third generation colorimeter. This has a totally new, state of the art, optical design and is aimed at serious photographers, for reliable, accurate and consistent color. This new colorimeter has the largest sample area of any in the industry. This ensures a high level of accuracy and cannot be misled by a small area of the monitor which may be either dirty or catching a reflection of some sort, or which is exhibiting a localised aberration, such as dead pixels. This can happen with even the highest grade LCD monitor. The light intake of the new hardware design also has a sensitivity to light which has been increased over previous models by 400%. This highly significant increase means a much more accurate and detailed calibration is possible.

The Spyder 3 Pro Has Features Which Offer Greater Control Than Ever Before

You get more contol than ever over white-point and gamma settings and Datavision’s latest software even allows monitors with more limited controls, such as those on iMacs, to be controlled automatically.

This video gives you some insight into the workings of the Spyder

If you are looking to buy, the 3 pro is available HERE from Amazon with nearly a 50% saving over list price

Summary of Features

Some of the great features of this calibration unit include:

• Light sensitivity increased by 400%
• Largest screen sample area in the industry
• 2 methods of attaching the colorimeter – a counterweight for use with flat screens and a suction cup for traditional CRT units
• A great 2 year warranty coupled with online support
• Software is supplied for both PC and Mac
• USB connection and a cradle for the colorimeter to sit in, to continuously monitor the ambient light
• Full monitor calibration or you can carry out a ReCal option which takes half the time

If you’re looking to buy this unit, you won’t find it cheaper than this link to Amazon, where it’s basically half price

This kit really does work. You will be amazed at the difference it makes to your monitor performance, and to the accuracy of your prints. If you’ve ever got prints back from an online service and wondered why they don’t match up to how they looked on your screen, chances are it is because you weren’t using a unit such as this. Only when you know you are working to the same standard as everybody else can you be sure that you aren’t wasting your time. Don’t take my word for it – this is what one of Amazon’s customers had to say

This kit really does work. You will be amazed at the difference it makes to your monitor performance, and to the accuracy of your prints. If you’ve ever got prints back from an online service and wondered why they don’t match up to how they looked on your screen, chances are it is because you weren’t using a unit such as this. Only when you know you are working to the same standard as everybody else can you be sure that you aren’t wasting your time. Don’t take my word for it – this is what one of Amazon’s customers had to say about the Spyder 3 Pro:

This Monitor Calibrator works great for me and I found it very useful to read the User’s Guide for the Elite model, and to watch Catherine Hall’s video.

I now use a setting which is a combination of (2) and (3), which is 2.2 gamma, 6500K white point and 120 cd/m^2 white luminance level. With the monitor at the lower kelvins or the settings for 1, recommended for my ambient light which varies morning to night,  I struggled to see what was on the monitor. With Lightroom 3 my prints are such a good match to the monitor that I’m very happy with the outcome.

The review has been paraphrased for size. It goes on to give a lot more detail about the advanced calibration settings – you can read the full review here.

For more information and reviews of other models like the pro, return to the Home Page of Monitor Calibration Reviews