Which Meter Is Right for Me? Updated: Jan 4, 2010 - Added information on the ColorMunki spectroradiometer, edited/reviewed other sections for clarity
Many meters are available for greyscale and colour calibration. What follows below is a short list of meters recommended by CurtPalme.com. Many of these meters are supported by our free Greyscale & Colour Calibration for Dummies guide. All of these meters are supported by the more advanced CalMAN software.
Colorimeters, Spectroradiometers, Spectrophotometers: What's the difference and why do I care?
A tristimulus colorimeter measures the color dynamics of a display by using three separate meters. Each of the three meters sits behind a filter that isolates a particular color. Using a tristimulus colorimeter is conceptually equivalent to using a normal white light meter and putting different filters on it for measuring different colors. The filters in a TriStim are modeled, and the results weighted, to mimic the human eye's response to Red, Blue and Green.
A spectroradiometer (also called a spectrophotometer) works by sampling the spectrum in very small bands and then using an industry standard formula to calculate the Red, Blue and Green response.
The Spyder1/2/3, EyeOne Display 2 / LT, Chroma 5, Hubble, and the Klein K-10 are colorimeters. The ColorMunki and EyeOne Pro are spectroradiometers.
Each technology has its advantages, and each has its drawbacks. We'll list these below.
Most of the very bad meters that clutter the world, delivering unreliable and wildly inaccurate results, are tristimulus colorimeters. That is because colorimeters can be manufactured very cheaply. But anyone who has made it through the first exercise in the first chapter in a logic book knows that just because bad meters are colorimeters, that does not mean all colorimeters are bad meters. Designed and manufactured correctly, either technology can provide excellent results. The underlying technology employed is not the way to judge a meter.
Some other budget/homemade meters do exist but we find the results to be very questionable and not worth mentioning here given the low price that even reasonable meters can be purchased for. Higher-end meters are also available (many over $10,000 USD) but anyone in the market for such a meter probably knows exactly what they want and won't be reading a simplified guide like this.
An important thing to keep in mind is that using any meter is better than trying to calibrate by eye or by using only test DVDs or Blu-ray discs (our eyes are horrible at differentiating colours). Just because you can't affored the best meter doesn't mean you won't reap great rewards by calibrating your display with a meter. If you're at all serious about Home Theater please consider having your display calibrated. Proper greyscale and colour calibration is regarded as one of (if not the) most important actions that should be performed on all TVs or projectors for optimal picture quality. You will be astounded by the resulting difference in picture quality.
Budget Meters:
Budget meters are typically what home users on a budget will consider for calibration use. They do not have a program for National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) re-certification to ensure that they remain accurate. In fact, some of the cheaper ones are not individually calibrated to begin with (more on this below). They are filter based meters so they will drift over time and should be replaced every few years for accuracy. Keep them in a cool/dark/dry place and they'll keep for many years without drifting (assuming they're accurate to begin with!).
Standard (unmodified) Spyder1/2/3 meters(not to be confused with the CalMAN Enhanced Spyder 3)
Standard (unmodified) Spyder meters as they are sold in the stores typically delivers results that are not reliable enough to be used for display calibration. In tests and discussions with pro calibrators we've found that approximately 1/3 of Spyder units seem to be very accurate. The next 1/3 are slightly off. The last third are considerably more inaccurate. Unfortunately there's no way to know how your Spyder unit rates unless you have a known accurate meter to compare it against. Therefore most calibration experts do not recommend that the standard Spyder be used as you simply don't know what sort of results to expect unless you've measured your Spyder against a known correct meter. The reason for this is that the Spyder units are not calibrated at the factory as they come off the assembly line.
The advantage of the Spyder is cost: A low end Spyder can be had for under $70. For the amount of time you're going to spend doing calibration however, you're better off spending just a little more to get something that has some sort of guaranteed level of reliability. While we're all interested in saving money, spending $70 only to be unhappy with or question the results and having to purchase a second (better) meter isn't much of a savings! If you're interested in a Spyder meter take a look at the CalMAN Enhanced Spyder 3 for a Spyder meter that has been carefully hand picked and calibrated to be accurate (more information further below).
The EyeOne Display 2 and less expensive EyeOne Display LT use the same hardware meter. The Display 2 version comes with software from the manufacturer to automatically calibrate PC and MAC displays by creating a custom display response curve in your PC or MAC. The Display LT version does not come with this software. This software is of no use for home theater/video displays as they are not typically driven by PCs or MACs.
The EyeOne Display 2/LT meter is the least expensive, reasonably accurate sensor recommended for home theater enthusiasts for direct view display calibration (not projector calibration - see the CalMAN Enhanced Spyder3 below). We do not recommend the Display 2/LT for front projector calibration as it does not include a tripod mount and the diffuser is not great for illuminant measurement (pointed directly at the lens on front projectors). The EyeOne Pro, the Chroma 5 and the CalMAN Enhanced Spyder 3 are better choices for front projector calibration (see below).
If you're the type of person that only will only be calibrating their own direct view display rarely, is on a budget, and doesn't need absolute perfection, this is the meter for you. The results will be better than anything you could achieve using only your eyes and a calibration DVD or Blu-ray.
Unlike the lower priced Spyder meters, the X-Rite Eye One Display 2/LT models are calibrated at the factory as they come off the assembly line. As such, our experience has been that they are all reasonably accurate. This factory calibration most certainly has a lot to do with it.
Note that some new LED based displays can pose challenges for the EyeOne Display 2/LT (it does not matter if it is a edgelit, backlit or backlit RGB). The least expensive meter that can and does work correctly with LED displays is Chroma 5 that has been specially backlit LED calibrated for use with CalMAN (see below). The ColorMunki and EyeOne Pro are also good choices if you wish to remain somewhat future proof and ensure accuracy when calibrating LED backlit displays.
The EyeOne Display 2 units sold through our site here at CurtPalme.com have a current calibration date so it is up to specs and has not drifted. The same cannot be said for EyeOne Display 2/LT units sold elsewhere as the meter may have been sitting around at distributors or in a storeroom for quite some time before being sold to you.
The EyeOne Display 2 is not temperature compensated so care must be taken when measuring on displays on which the temperature may vary (such as Plasmas). Leave the meter on the display for at least 30 minutes (with the display on) before starting a calibration will help with errors. Care must also be taken to avoid having stray light hit the meter from the side. For this reason this meter will be more reliable in some situations as a contact meter (where the meter is placed against the display) instead of as a non-contact meter (for calibrating projectors). The meter reads very fast (much faster than the Spyder2) and also reads fairly low (ie: darker patterns) such that you're likely to get reasonable accurate readings all the way down to 20 IRE on most displays. If you require very accurate readings right down to very close to essentially black (0 IRE), consider the Hubble or Klein K-10 (see below).
The EyeOne Display 2 / LT cannot be NIST certified. It can be re-calibrated but the cost of recalibration is likely to be more expensive than just buying a new meter (which is calibrated at the factory) so we've never actually heard of anyone recalibrating an EyeOne Display 2 / LT.
The Eye-One Display 2 / LT is supported by our Greyscale & Colour Calibration for Dummies guide and CalMAN. Because the authors of CalMAN are an OEM of X-rite, CalMAN has access to a much lower interface in the meter functions and is more tightly integrated than any other software (including the free ColorHCFR software used in our Greyscale & Colour Calibration for Dummies ).
CalMAN Enhanced Spyder 3(a specially modified version of the Spyder 3)
The CalMAN Enhanced Spyder3 meter is the least expensive, reasonably accurate sensor recommended for home theater enthusiasts for both projector or direct view display calibration. It is a better overall choice for front projector calibration as compared to the Display 2/LT as it includes a tripod mount, has double sensors for each color, a diffuser is built in, and a custom calibration table is added for exacting measurement when used with CalMAN software.
Note that some new LED based displays can pose challenges for the CalMAN Enhanced Spyder 3 (it does not matter if it is a edgelit, backlit or backlit RGB). The least expensive meter that can and does work correctly with LED displays is Chroma 5 that has been specially backlit LED calibrated for use with CalMAN (see below). The ColorMunki and EyeOne Pro are also good choices.
The regular Spyder3 as it is sold elsewhere is a wonderfully engineered meter but it lacked factory calibration. As we mentioned above, our past experience with Spyder meters showed that only approximately 1/3 were accurate enough out of the box for serious display calibration. The others were simply too far off to be of any use so we've never recommended them "as is". We've found this to be true with the newer Spyder 3 as well. There is simply too much variation as they come off the assembly line for them to be used for any serious calibration work.
The CalMAN Enhanced Spyder 3 takes the guesswork out of buying an uncalibrated Spyder 3 meter. These Spyder 3 meters are bought in bulk and the best once are hand picked and a special calibration file is created for use with CalMAN. The ones that don't meet the grade are quite literally recycled.
If you already have your own Spyder3, we also offer a service to have it checked out and have these calibration offset files created for you with use with CalMAN. See the CalMAN Enhanced Spyder 3 order page for details.
The only catch of course here is that the custom calibration file only works with CalMAN and not our Greyscale & Colour Calibration for Dummies guide or any other software. We don't really see this as much of an issue as anyone using CalMAN will have no interest in our free guide of course since CalMAN is faster, easier to use, and more powerful (it's not free however).
The CalMAN Enhanced Spyder 3 features 7 sensors, giving you a more complete calibration measurement than standard colorimeters, which only use 4 sensors. Standard tri-stimulus colorimeters (such as the EyeOne Display 2) use 3 sensors to measure red, blue, and green (RGB) and 1 sensor to measure pulse. The Spyder3 also has 1 pulse sensor, but has two sensors for each color (RGB), which more effectively measures the range of each color for a more accurate calibration.
Just like the Display 2, the Spyder 3 is not temperature compensated so care must be taken when using it. You should attach the Spyder3 to the display panel and/or let it acclimate to the room temperature for 30 minutes prior to calibration. This'll result is more accurate readings. This is especially true for plasma displays which tend to run hot.
The next step up Chroma 5 meter is temperature compensated and is better at reading into low end blacks. If low IRE readings are want you want, consider the Chroma 5 instead (see below). If you're looking for better performance than the Display 2 but can't justify the higher cost of the Chroma 5, go with the CalMAN Enhanced Spyder 3. Performance wise it sits right between the two and is a great bang for the buck.
Included with the Spyder 3 are a tripod holder and stand (for calibrating projectors) in addition to a suction-cup for direct screen mounting.
The Spyder 3 cannot be NIST certified.
What advantages does the CalMAN Enhanced Spyder 3 have over the EyeOne Display 2/LT?
1. The CalMAN Spyder 3's are hand picked from a bulk sort with lesser meters tossed out – only the best are sold.
2. They are then checked against a reference meter for acceptable range.
3. Spyder 3's have two sensors for each color allowing CalMAN is able to calculate a more accurate description of color area with edge detection and peak estimate.
4. A tripod attachment for projector calibration is included.
How does the Spyder3 compare for accuracy and repeatability and low light handling in comparison to the Display 2/LT?
The results of the Spyder3 calibrations have been very good. The calibrated Spyder3 definitely provides superior results when compared to the Display 2.
Response time is 2 to 4 seconds, depending on light level. Unlike the Chroma 5 however, neither the Display 2 nor the CalMAN Enhanced Spyder 3 is temperature compensated so both should be allowed to acclimate to the unit being measured for 30 minutes after the display has been turned on. This is especially true for plasma displays which tend to run hot.
What about the Chroma 5? How does the CalMAN Enhanced Spyder 3 compared to the Chroma 5?
At the other end we have the Chroma 5. It is in a different class. I think the easiest way to conceptualize it is to think of the Chroma 5 as the lowest priced professional meter. The Chroma 5 is calibrated to NIST-traceable reference standards by X-rite. The CalMAN Enhanced Spyder3 is the best performing consumer class colorimeter you can get.
What type of displays is the CalMAN Enhanced Spyder 3 being calibrated on?
Three (3) sets of tables for generic light situations have been created: Projected light, Phosphorus (plasma & CRT), and direct view / panel.
Does the Spyder 3 also come with the original computer monitor calibration software?
No. These are bulk OEM / generic packages with zero software. A custom calibration table is shipped to be added for use with CalMAN, a license key to unlock the CalMAN software for use with the Spyder 3, and a copy of Get Gray test pattern disc. Computer monitor calibration software is not included like with the EyeOne Display 2 kits.
These are some of the higher-end meters that are typically used for video display calibration by professionals and enthusiasts looking for quality pro-grade equipment: The Chroma 5, the ColorMunki, the EyeOne Pro (which you will sometimes see referred to as the "i1 Pro"), the Hubble, and the Klein K-10. The first four are manufactured by X-rite (as is the EyeOne Display 2 / LT), the latter is manufactured by Klein. All are excellent meters and provide great accuracy and are manufactured to X-rite's and Klein's high standards, so any of them will be robust and reliable. All pair extremely well with CalMAN Video Calibration Software as the authors are also is an OEM of X-rite so they have access to a much lower interface with many of these meters (as well as with the EyeOne Display 2 / LT) meaning that they get more out of the meter than other software possibly can. Other software (including ColorHCFR used in our Greyscale & Colour Calibration for Dummies guide) simply cannot go as deep into meter functions as they are not licenced to do so.
All of these high end meters meters with the exception of the ColorMunki can be NIST re-certified. They are supposed to be recertified once a year to stay in NIST spec. For personal use the yearly NIST certification is not that big a deal but for the professional who charges money, the meters had better be in certification so that you can prove to your customers that your meter is as close to 100% accurate as possible. If you hire a pro, make sure to ask to see the NIST certification on the meters that are used.
The Chroma 5
The Chroma 5 (formerly called the Gamma 5) is the big brother to the X-Rite EyeOne Display 2/LT. The main advantage the Chroma 5 has over the Display 2/LT is that the sensors are temperature compensated, so the Chroma 5 is more accurate with changing room temperatures. The Chroma5 also reads lower into black and can be calibrated to tighter standards. The Chroma 5 can be National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) certified.
The Chroma 5 as sold through us is also backlight LED calibrated for use with LED based displays. It does not matter if the display is edgelit, backlit or backlit RGB - they all work with the Backlight LED calibrated Chroma 5 sold here. All calibration is performed in SpectraCal's NIST-traceable calibration lab using a Konica Minolta CS-2000 reference meter. This is the only source for Backlight LED calibrated Chroma 5's. They aren’t available anywhere else.
More and more new displays are arriving based on Backlight LED technology. One industry analyst estimates that by next year 40% of flat-panel displays will use Backlight LEDs. Existing colorimeters give erroneous results when calculating these displays. The errors aren't huge, but they're there, and most people don't go to the trouble of calibrating their displays for the purpose of making them "not too wrong."
Accurate results from backlight LED devices can be achieved if the colorimeter has an additional calibration table to account for this discrepancy. Previously, only one meter has such a table: The Klein K-10 (see below). Available now are Backlight LED tables for the workhorse Chroma 5 colorimeter.
The Chroma 5 is supported by CalMAN. It is not supported by our Greyscale & Colour Calibration for Dummies guide. CalMAN contains features particularly adapted to the Chroma 5, especially CalMAN's unique four-dimensional grayscale profiling. Profiling makes the Chroma 5's results even more accurate. Using CalMAN's profiling, you can measure the same reference display with both a Chroma 5 and a reference meter such as the EyeOne Pro. Then when calibrating a display with the Chroma 5, turn on CalMAN's profiling feature, and CalMAN will adjust your Chroma 5 readings to match what the EyeOne would have returned.
An an OEM of X-Rite, SpectraCal is uniquely positioned to offer this meter at a price considerably lower than anywhere else through CurtPalme.com (see here). CalMAN also has access to a much lower interface in the meter functions and is more tightly integrated that any other software. This is the same meter that Sencore sells as the ColorPro V in their $4,000 package.
Why would I buy a Chroma 5 instead of a CalMAN Enhanced Spyder 3?
Four main reasons: Temperature compensation for more accurate readings, reads lower into blacks (for those of you that demand accurate readings close to black), NIST certification, and calibrating displays that use LED backlights.
Why would I buy a Chroma 5 instead of an EyeOne Pro?
The Chroma 5 is appreciably less expensive than the EyeOne Pro and may meet your needs, particularly if you are not a professional calibrator. The Chroma 5 is nearly as accurate as an EyeOne Pro when it is in contact with the display. The Chroma 5, however, is particularly susceptible to ambient light. The Chroma 5 has a wide field of view, so light off to the side, from other sources than your display, may contaminate the reading. You can calibrate a projector with a Chroma 5, but the EyeOne Pro may be a better choice for those that have a lot of stray ambient light. The Chroma 5 will work very well when calibrating front projectors (either CRT or digital) you just need to take more care to make sure you have no ambient light due to the large field of view. If you do have a small amount of ambient light then only calibrate with the Chroma5 at night or use an EyeOne Pro instead. If you have lots of ambient light that can't be controlled then the Hubble or Klein K-10 is the best choice. The Chroma 5 has a wide field of view whereas the i1Pro is narrower (and the Hubble is very narrow).
Why would I buy a Chroma 5 in addition to an EyeOne Pro?
If you are a professional calibrator, or even a hobbyist who spends a lot of time calibrating, you will find that the EyeOne Pro, like any spectrophotometer, can be quite slow. This is particularly true at low light levels. If you make your money selling your time, you hate to spend half your time waiting for your meter. The Chroma 5 is many times faster. It provides almost the same results nearly instantaneously, so you can perform the same readings over and over while adjusting the display's settings, narrowing in on an optimal state and then finishing off with the EyeOne Pro for the most accurate results.
CalMAN's meter profiling allows Chroma 5 users to achieve even higher accuracy: By profiling your Chroma 5 against a spectroradiometer (such as the X-Rite EyeOne Pro), CalMAN compares the differences in readings, then allows you to automatically adjust what the Chroma 5 records as if it were the Eye One Pro. The end result is fast calibration with the accuracy of the EyeOne Pro!
Does the Chroma 5 work with new LED based displays?
If you buy a Chroma 5 anywhere other than through us for use with CalMAN then no, the Chroma 5 will have issues with LEDs displays. It does not matter if it is a edgelit, backlit or backlit RGB. Our Chroma 5 meters however are hand calibrated by SpectraCal and sold with CalMAN calibration offset tables for use with LED backlight displays to ensure the highest level of accuracy possible. Basically each Chroma 5 sold through CurtPalme.com is compared against a NIST-traceable Konica Minolta CS-2000 reference meter to create offset tables for CalMAN. This results in accurate readings for any LED based display using our Chroma 5. This is the only source for Backlight LED calibrated Chroma 5's. They aren’t available anywhere else.
Why would I buy a Chroma 5 instead of a ColorMunki?
The Chroma 5 is a very fast-reading meter. The ColorMunki is slower as it is a spectroradiometer and by the nature of how spectroradiometer technology works, it takes longer to read.
The Chroma 5 is less expensive.
The ColorMunki is the compact relative to the popular professional level EyeOne Pro. It offers the power of a spectroradiometer in a compact innovatively designed package.
The ColorMunki is manufactured in Switzerland and hand calibrated at SpectraCal for improved performance and versatility when used with CalMAN. Each ColorMunki also contains a reference tile inside the meter for dark calibrations.
One drawback of the spectroradio technology used by the ColorMunki is that it is slow: It takes longer for each read to come back and update the software that you happen to be using. Especially at the dark end of the grayscale. A reading that will take the Chroma 5 a couple of seconds might take the EyeOne pro 30 or 60 seconds. This means that performing a calibration can take longer as you spend more time waiting for the readings to update. Whether the extra time is worth it or not is a call each person has to make for themselves.
The ColorMunki works exactly like a normal spectroradiometer, but it has a large dial on the side which rotates the internal meter to different specific locations for the four different operating modes:
Dark calibration plate mode: Like the EyeOne Pro, the ColorMunki needs periodic Dark Calibration. (CalMAN will recommend the user to perform a dark calibration every 20 minutes, other software may not.) To perform a dark calibration, you turn the ColorMunki to this setting.
Diffuser window mode: The diffuser window is for pointing the ColorMunki directly at a front projector lens. (With the EyeOne Pro or the Chroma 5, you use the included external diffuser that comes with the meter to perform this function. The ColorMunki has the diffuser built in).
Open window for flat screen calibration: For calibrating direct view (flat) screens of all types.
Front projection window mode: For pointing the ColorMunki directly at a front projection screen (the built in diffuser is not used).
The ColorMunki is supported by CalMAN. Because SpectraCal is an OEM of X-rite, CalMAN has access to a much lower interface in the meter functions and is more tightly integrated that any other software.
Why use a ColorMunki instead of a less expensive pod colorimeter?
A pod device such as the Spyder1/2, Eye-One Display LT/2, CalMAN Enhanced Spyder 3, or Chroma 5 measures light through filters and estimates the color based on a relatively small number of sensors, usually three and sometimes a few more. The ColorMunki uses a holographic diffraction grating with a diode array (no filters to degrade) similar to what is found in laboratory grade instruments. The ColorMunki samples with multiple sensors and uses the internationally recognized scientific standard method from CIE to calculate the x and y coordinates from those samples. The end result is increased accuracy that remains accurate over time.
Does the ColorMunki work with new LED based displays?
If the CalMAN Enhanced ColorMunki is used together with CalMAN then the anwer is yes, the ColorMunki does not have any issues reading LED based displays. It does not matter if it is a edgelit, backlit or backlit RGB. When purchased through CurtPalme.com, the ColorMunki is hand calibrated with CalMAN to include offset tables which render LED based display readings extremely accurate.
Why buy an EyeOne Pro instead of a ColorMunki?
The EyeOne Pro is a professional class meter that is NIST certified, extremely robust, field-tested for years, known to hold up phenomenally.
The ColorMunki is not NIST certified. If you are charging money to calibrate professionally it is highly recommended that you use a NIST certified meter that is recertified every year so that you have proof of accuracy for your customers.
With the EyeOne Pro, you get CalMAN’s extensive low-light handling, to extend the EyeOne Pro’s legendary accuracy further down into the dark, farther than the ColorMunki.
The ColorMunki can’t be used for reflectance measurements in CalMAN while the EyeOne Pro can. Reflectance measurements means measuring non-illuminated surfaces like paper for calibrating a printer or measuring a paint chip. The ColorMunki does work perfectly well for measuring home theater projection screens as they are illuminated of course. Our ColorMunki kits ship with all of the regular X-rite software that normally comes with the meter so you can use this X-rite software to do reflectance measurements of paint chips, printer paper, etc, with the ColorMunki - just not with CalMAN software. (Reflectance mode uses an internal tungsten lamp for illuminating the surface it is measuring).
You can’t use a ColorMunki to create a Spectrum chart in CalMAN.
A tripod mount is currently not available for the ColorMunki (though one is being worked on).
Why buy a Chroma 5 instead of a ColorMunki?
The Chroma 5 is a very fast-reading meter. The ColorMunki is slower as it is a spectroradiometer and by the nature of how spectroradiometer technology works, it takes longer to read.
The Chroma 5 is less expensive.
The EyeOne Pro is an excellent meter for all uses. In addition to its superb accuracy – the EyeOne is as accurate as most meters selling for thousands of dollars – it is the most versatile meter available anywhere. No matter what kind of display you are calibrating – CRT, plasma, LCD, the newest LED, front projector, rear projector – you can calibrate it effectively with the EyeOne Pro. If you own only one meter, it should probably be an EyeOne Pro. If you own more than one meter, one of them should be an EyeOne Pro.
One drawback of the spectroradio technology used by the EyeOne Pro is that it is slow: It takes longer for each read to come back and update the software that you happen to be using. Especially at the dark end of the grayscale. A reading that will take the Chroma 5 a couple of seconds might take the EyeOne pro 30 or 60 seconds. This means that performing a calibration can take longer as you spend more time waiting for the readings to update. Whether the extra time is worth it or not is a call each person has to make for themselves.
The other drawback is that it is more expensive than the lower-end meters. The EyeOne Pro is typically bundled with high end photography software not useful for home theater use, driving the price often well over $1000-1500. An an OEM of X-Rite, SpectraCal is uniquely positioned to offer the meter without this useless (to us) software for much less through CurtPalme.com (see here).
The EyeOne Pro is supported by our Greyscale & Colour Calibration for Dummies guide and CalMAN. CalMAN is tightly integrated with the EyeOne Pro, including (for example) such features as the ability to program the action button on the EyeOne Pro. Because SpectraCal is an OEM of X-rite, CalMAN has access to a much lower interface in the meter functions and is more tightly integrated that any other software.
Why would I buy an EyeOne Pro in addition to a Chroma 5?
If you are a professional calibrator, or even a hobbyist who spends a lot of time calibrating, you will find that the EyeOne Pro, like any spectrophotometer, can be quite slow. This is particularly true at low light levels. If you make your money selling your time, you hate to spend half your time waiting for your meter. The Chroma 5 is many times faster. It provides almost the same results nearly instantaneously, so you can perform the same readings over and over while adjusting the display's settings, narrowing in on an optimal state and then finishing off with the EyeOne Pro for the most accurate results.
CalMAN's meter profiling allows Chroma 5 users to achieve even higher accuracy: By profiling your Chroma 5 against a spectroradiometer (such as the X-Rite EyeOne Pro), CalMAN compares the differences in readings, then allows you to automatically adjust what the Chroma 5 records as if it were the Eye One Pro. The end result is fast calibration with the accuracy of the EyeOne Pro!
Why use an EyeOne Pro instead of a less expensive pod colorimeter?
A pod device such as the Spyder2, Eye-One Display LT/2, CalMAN Enhanced Spyder 3, or Chroma 5 measures light through filters and estimates the color based on a relatively small number of sensors, usually three and sometimes a few more. The Eye-One Pro uses a holographic diffraction grating with a diode array (no filters to degrade) similar to what is found in laboratory grade instruments. The Eye-One Pro samples with 100 sensors instead of three and uses the internationally recognized scientific standard method from CIE to calculate the x and y coordinates from those samples. The end result is increased accuracy that remains accurate over time.
Does the EyeOne Pro work with new LED based displays?
Yes. The EyeOne Pro, being a spectrophotometer rather than a filter-based tristimulus colorimeter (like the EyeOne Display 2/LT, Spyder3, or Chroma 5) has less issues reading LED based displays. Our EyeOne Pro/CalMAN kits also come with LED table offsets to ensure even greater accuracy. It does not matter if it is a edgelit, backlit or backlit RGB. That's the nice thing about the EyeOne Pro: There isn’t ANYTHING it won’t read accurately today or the future because of the technology it uses to read.
The Hubble is a laser guided non-contact meter for calibrating light-controlled front projected displays. It’s the most widely used non-contact colorimeter: Sencore has sold scores of them to professional calibrators as the rebadged OTC1000 for many thousands of dollars (it's the exact same meter).
The Hubble is supported by CalMAN (and does not require a CalMAN Professional license). It is not supported by our Greyscale & Colour Calibration for Dummies guide. The Hubble is an excellent match for CalMAN as the software drives the Hubble through an entire run with the push of a single button. An an OEM of X-Rite, SpectraCal is uniquely positioned to offer this meter at a price considerably lower than anywhere else through CurtPalme.com (see here). CalMAN also has access to a much lower interface in the meter functions and is more tightly integrated that any other software.
The K-10 is a reference meter of unsurpassed accuracy, an instrument in the same class as those from Konica-Minolta. The K-10 is the fastest-reading high-end instrument available. Everyone who uses it for the first time can’t believe that it actually finished a complete run in the same time many meters would take for the first reading. At low light levels, it returns accurate results when everything else has given up and is returning errors. This instrument is an excellent choice for calibrating DLP displays. The color wheel flicker of DLP displays can confuse many colorimeters (causing them to synch on the color wheel), but the K-10’s built-in flicker filter function keeps the K-10 straight.
You can use the K-10 for both luminance readings (from the screen) and illuminance (readings pointed directly at the projector). A read head boot is included, made of soft rubber, so you can position K-10 right up against a display, without worrying about damaging the display surface. Because it removes all ambient light, the read head boot makes the K-10 ideal for measuring reflective displays such as plasmas.
The Klein K-10 also officially supports LED displays with LED calibration running CalMAN v3.5. It does not matter if it is a edgelit, backlit or backlit RGB.
The K-10 is a very rugged instrument. Unlike fragile lab instruments which cannot withstand transportation or use in the field, it is built to industrial standards.
Below are some of the more common questions that we see and our answers.
EyeOne Pro vs. Chroma 5?
"I want to get either a Eye one Pro or Chroma 5 with CalMan from Curts site however I am having difficulty in choosing between the two probes so I hope you can help here. My set up is a Radiance with JVC rs20 front projector in a completely light controlled room. I am not overly concerned about the slow response of the Pro but I am concerned about its accuracy at low light levels. I am drawn to the Pro due to its accuracy over time but the Chroma 5 does seem a very good probe especially for greyscale at low light levels. Which would you recommend?"
This probably isn’t the answer you were looking for, but count it as one guy’s opinion. I wouldn’t make any decision about a meter based on its handling of grayscale at low light levels, because I never believe any low light levels anyway. The most responsible thing to do in almost all cases is to disregard levels below about 20% gray. There are several reasons for this, but the first one is that unless you’re fanatical about controlling ambient light, even in your light controlled room, that’s what you’re measuring. At 10%, the LEDs on electronic equipment in the room, the little bit of light that creeps in under a door, and what’s coming off your laptop screen (even in your calibration software blackout mode) is providing a significant percentage of what you’re measuring. The signal-to-noise ratio is lousy. Most professional training programs teach students to disregard results below 20%. It’s also the case that the human eye is not very sensitive to changes in the color of black. It’s much more important to make sure that your Brightness settings are optimal so that you’re seeing the blacks properly.
The EyeOne Pro is a much more versatile meter which works correctly with any display type imaginable (including newer LED based displays). It’s major contraindication is the slow read speed, which you say you don’t mind. (Compounded by the need to stop and recalibrate it every ten minutes.) If you don’t mind that, it’s engineered to much higher precision. It’s just a more professional meter in every way. And it’s really phenomenally accurate.
Still confused as to what's the right choice for you? We will help you choose! Email us at SpectraCal@CurtPalme.com
Joined: 06 Feb 2008 Posts: 104 Location: Mukilteo, WA
Link Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 3:32 pm Post subject:
rajdude wrote:
I have a quick question about which meter fits my needs.
I currently have a Display one LT, I see that it is not very accurate at low IREs; it is also pretty slow at low IREs.
The Eye one pro is supposed to be accurate (but slow) but my concern is :
Will it also be questionable at low IREs?
Which one is a good meter for low IREs?
The fastest meter we have is the Hubble but is out of price range for most hobbyist. The next is the Chroma5 faster than the Display2. The i1Pro is slow and can take up to 30 seconds for a low light reading but this is the case with all spectro's including the ones that cost $30,000+ those can take up to 2 minutes for a single reading but are very accurate. Unless you are a Pro calibrator watching the clock the time it takes with the i1Pro should not really matter for the accuracy you get. _________________ THX Certified Professional – Video Calibrator
Author: CalMAN Video Calibration Software. The world's most flexible, powerful, and easy to use software tool for greyscale & colour calibration!
Link Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 2:30 am Post subject:
So if I have a NEC XG in a light controlled room , should I get the Eye One Pro or the Chroma 5? The description of the Chroma 5 says that it wouldn't be the first or best choice for front projection because of its wide view angle. In a controlled environment is this still a problem because of spill from the rest of the screen as well? I may want to calibrate flat panel displays as well, but my main use would be the projector. The only real advantage the Chroma 5 offers (other than price) is speed, correct? How annoying is it to wait 30 seconds to make adjustments with the i1pro?
Joined: 06 Feb 2008 Posts: 104 Location: Mukilteo, WA
Link Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2008 6:27 pm Post subject:
You are right in that the Chroma5 has a wide field of view but so does the i1Pro. That is why when facing a screen you have the meters only about 2-3 feet away facing the center using our pointing wizard to maximise luminance. _________________ THX Certified Professional – Video Calibrator
Author: CalMAN Video Calibration Software. The world's most flexible, powerful, and easy to use software tool for greyscale & colour calibration!
Link Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 3:38 am Post subject:
So what would be the best choice for me then? How much of an issue is the delay in the i1Pro? If I'm just primarily using the meter/software for my NEC projector, is the Chroma 5 going to work OK? Kal seems to state that it would be a poor choice for front projection, but the Chroma 5 and the i1Pro have the same FOV, then why wouldn't Kal's concerns be an issue for the i1Pro as well? I'd rather have the faster refresh time and lower price if it the Chroma 5 will do OK. I was just concerned since Kal seemed to be saying that it wasn't a good choice for a projection setup, but then this deal is being offered with a special price on a primarily projection-centric board/site. I'm all confused now... I want to take advantage of the offer but want to make the right decision.
Joined: 06 Mar 2006 Posts: 9490 Location: Ottawa, Canada
TV/Projector: Zenith Pro 1200x (aka Barco Cine 8 Onyx)
Link Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 2:37 pm Post subject:
Hi Bryan,
I guess it's this part that you're having issue with:
Quote:
The Chroma 5 is appreciably less expensive than the Eye One and may meet your needs, particularly if you are not a professional calibrator and if you are calibrating only contact displays (ie: not projectors).
Hopefully Derek or LA will chime in to explain as these are actually their words (not mine). From what I understand both will still work well with front projectors. You just need to be careful about ambient light.
Joined: 06 Feb 2008 Posts: 104 Location: Mukilteo, WA
Link Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 4:56 pm Post subject:
Kal, is right the Chroma5 will work fine in calibrating front projectors you just need to take more care to make sure you have no ambient light. If you do have a small amount of ambient light then only calibrate at night or use an i1Pro. If you have lots of ambient light then the Hubble is a better choice. _________________ THX Certified Professional – Video Calibrator
Author: CalMAN Video Calibration Software. The world's most flexible, powerful, and easy to use software tool for greyscale & colour calibration!
Joined: 06 Feb 2008 Posts: 104 Location: Mukilteo, WA
Link Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 4:23 pm Post subject:
The Spyder3 used in the Spyder3TV is a good design and can work very well. But they are not individually calibrated so you can get one that is not very good and you would not know it. Datacolor had a program some time back for the Spyder2 called the Spyder2platinum where they took the top performing Spyder2's and relabeled them so at least you knew. But the problem with that is then the rest of the Spyder2 population was degraded because they pulled out the cream of the crop. This is the main reason we have never pushed the Spyder2 or Spyder3. _________________ THX Certified Professional – Video Calibrator
Author: CalMAN Video Calibration Software. The world's most flexible, powerful, and easy to use software tool for greyscale & colour calibration!
Link Posted: Thu Sep 11, 2008 4:47 pm Post subject:
kal wrote:
Hi Bryan,
I guess it's this part that you're having issue with:
Quote:
The Chroma 5 is appreciably less expensive than the Eye One and may meet your needs, particularly if you are not a professional calibrator and if you are calibrating only contact displays (ie: not projectors).
Hopefully Derek or LA will chime in to explain as these are actually their words (not mine). From what I understand both will still work well with front projectors. You just need to be careful about ambient light.
I'm not sure why this blurb was added to the Chroma 5 description. The Chroma 5 has a large field of view so is susceptible to ambient light - fine, but so is any other meter in a non-contact situation (i.e. used for front projection calibration). The only situation in which it's an issue is if your theater is not a batcave; I imagine it is for most hobbyists dabbing into calibration - otherwise, well, maybe that's where you should start .
In any case, I used last month's sale opportunity and got a C5, calibrated my RS1 with it, to great results. A lot more accurate than the LT I had before, especially at low stim values, where the LT was dancing all around the bull's eye - frustrating. (The C5 does that a bit at very low stim values as well, but to a much lesser extent, as it is still "workable" even then.)
Anyhow, don't let that blurb deter you. If I were Derek I'd just remove it. But I'm not Derek.
PS: to work around the 'large field of view' thing, the best thing to do is simply to use full field patterns instead of windows.
PS2: after using the C5 I must agree that it's a deal even at its non-sale price. Seriously. What a great little toy.
Joined: 06 Mar 2006 Posts: 9490 Location: Ottawa, Canada
TV/Projector: Zenith Pro 1200x (aka Barco Cine 8 Onyx)
Link Posted: Thu Sep 11, 2008 7:45 pm Post subject:
Thanks for the feedback Scooby! I'm not Derek either but I did change the text a bit as I too was puzzled at the Chroma5 comments. Judging from the questions and customer feedback I think they're overly negative and paint the Chroma 5 in the wrong light (pun intended ) and simply confused people more than it helped.
I've reworded it as follows:
Quote:
Why would I buy a Chroma 5 instead of an EyeOne Pro?
The Chroma 5 is appreciably less expensive than the Eye One and may meet your needs, particularly if you are not a professional calibrator. The Chroma 5 is nearly as accurate as an EyeOne when it is in contact with the display. The Chroma 5, however, is particularly susceptible to ambient light. The Chroma 5 has a wide field of view, so light off to the side, from other sources than your display, may contaminate the reading. You can calibrate a projector with a Chroma 5, but the EyeOne Pro may be a better choice for those that have a lot of stray ambient light. The Chroma5 will work fine in calibrating front projectors you just need to take more care to make sure you have no ambient light. If you do have a small amount of ambient light then only calibrate at night or use an EyeOne Pro. If you have lots of ambient light then the Hubble is a better choice.
Link Posted: Thu Sep 11, 2008 7:55 pm Post subject:
Yup that's a lot better.
Also Calman has a feature that can turn most of your laptop's screen black. It's an obscure (no pun intended) setup but it's there. In a batcave, the only unavoidable ambient light will be that of your computer screen. Just make sure it's behind the probe is all...
On a semi related topic, I thought I read somewhere that the C5 and the hubble actually share the exact same parts, at least as far as the colorimeter is concerned. Is that true?
Link Posted: Thu Sep 11, 2008 7:56 pm Post subject:
kal wrote:
Scooby wrote:
PS: to work around the 'large field of view' thing, the best thing to do is simply to use full field patterns instead of windows.
Works with digitals but not CRT or Plasma which give different light output at the higher IRE test patterns when doing full screen vs. windowed.
Kal
True, true. I should have qualified that comment. Although with plasma it's not an issue because the probe will be in contact with the screen so you can use window patterns in that case.
So it's only an issue with front projection CRTs really
Joined: 06 Mar 2006 Posts: 9490 Location: Ottawa, Canada
TV/Projector: Zenith Pro 1200x (aka Barco Cine 8 Onyx)
Link Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2008 4:10 am Post subject:
I've added a bunch of information to the FAQ in the first post of this thread including some info on NIST re-certification and the new Gamma 5 meter now offered.
Joined: 07 Jul 2007 Posts: 103 Location: Adelaide South Australia
Link Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2008 1:55 pm Post subject:
kal wrote:
Thanks for the feedback Scooby! I'm not Derek either but I did change the text a bit as I too was puzzled at the Chroma5 comments. Judging from the questions and customer feedback I think they're overly negative and paint the Chroma 5 in the wrong light (pun intended ) and simply confused people more than it helped.
I've reworded it as follows:
Quote:
Why would I buy a Chroma 5 instead of an EyeOne Pro?
The Chroma 5 is appreciably less expensive than the Eye One and may meet your needs, particularly if you are not a professional calibrator. The Chroma 5 is nearly as accurate as an EyeOne when it is in contact with the display. The Chroma 5, however, is particularly susceptible to ambient light. The Chroma 5 has a wide field of view, so light off to the side, from other sources than your display, may contaminate the reading. You can calibrate a projector with a Chroma 5, but the EyeOne Pro may be a better choice for those that have a lot of stray ambient light. The Chroma5 will work fine in calibrating front projectors you just need to take more care to make sure you have no ambient light. If you do have a small amount of ambient light then only calibrate at night or use an EyeOne Pro. If you have lots of ambient light then the Hubble is a better choice.
Kal
Pity that wasn't changed before the end of the sale I would have bought one the one thing that put me off was the original comment that it was not very good for front projectors, ah well maybe next time
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the one thing that put me off was the original comment that it was not very good for front projectors, ah well maybe next time 
