Spyder 4 Elite still good to calibrate monitor?

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Michel Rabe

Spyder 4 Elite still good to calibrate monitor?

PostSat Dec 02, 2023 3:35 pm

Can anyone tell me if the Spyder 4 Elite is still good to calibrate (Macbook M1) monitors or is it worth to get more current hardware? I'm asking because I could have one for very little money.

Or is the Spyder generally not that good? What would be an older calibration device that still does a decent job that I could look for on the used market?

I want to use it with DisplayCal.

EDIT: I think a used X-Rite I1Display Studio is better.
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Uli Plank

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Re: Spyder 4 Elite still good to calibrate monitor?

PostSun Dec 03, 2023 3:38 am

Those displays are different. No older devices will work well. If you can’t afford a Calibrite, better stick to the factory settings. Further details:
My disaster protection: export a .drp file to a physically separated storage regularly.
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mpetech

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Re: Spyder 4 Elite still good to calibrate monitor?

PostSun Dec 03, 2023 4:08 am

Michel Rabe wrote:Can anyone tell me if the Spyder 4 Elite is still good to calibrate (Macbook M1) monitors or is it worth to get more current hardware? I'm asking because I could have one for very little money.

Or is the Spyder generally not that good? What would be an older calibration device that still does a decent job that I could look for on the used market?

I want to use it with DisplayCal.

EDIT: I think a used X-Rite I1Display Studio is better.


As long as it is accurate still and the software supports it, nothing wrong using an older colorimeter.
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Uli Plank

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Re: Spyder 4 Elite still good to calibrate monitor?

PostSun Dec 03, 2023 4:29 am

Any colorimeter needs the right correction values for the light source(s) of the display.
I doubt you’ll find those for the older Spyders.
My disaster protection: export a .drp file to a physically separated storage regularly.
Please visit digitalproduction.com/author/uliplank/

Studio 19.1.3
2017 iMac, MacOS 13.7.4, eGPU
MacBook M1 Pro and M4 Pro mini, MacOS 14.7.5
SE, USM G3

Michel Rabe

Re: Spyder 4 Elite still good to calibrate monitor?

PostSun Dec 03, 2023 10:31 am

Hey Uli,

should have been precise, I have Macbook Air's M1, which do not have a Liquid Retina XDR but a normal Retina display.

Uli Plank wrote:Any colorimeter needs the right correction values for the light source(s) of the display.
I doubt you’ll find those for the older Spyders.


Do mean software-wise or hardware? Software I would use DisplayCal. But I've also read the older Spyder colorimeters degrade over time and are also aimed at photography/print, although I don't know how that would affect calibration.
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Uli Plank

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Re: Spyder 4 Elite still good to calibrate monitor?

PostSun Dec 03, 2023 10:40 am

Yes, the older Spyders were never really great and the filters definitely age.
Non XDR Apple screens are pretty close to Rec 709, so I doubt you’ll gain much. But if you have any chance to compare to a calibrated screen, just give it a try. Your factory settings won’t get lost.
My disaster protection: export a .drp file to a physically separated storage regularly.
Please visit digitalproduction.com/author/uliplank/

Studio 19.1.3
2017 iMac, MacOS 13.7.4, eGPU
MacBook M1 Pro and M4 Pro mini, MacOS 14.7.5
SE, USM G3

Michel Rabe

Re: Spyder 4 Elite still good to calibrate monitor?

PostSun Dec 03, 2023 10:41 am

mpetech wrote:As long as it is accurate still and the software supports it, nothing wrong using an older colorimeter.


Thanks, I read several times now that all Spyders prior to X suffer from degradation over time.

Michel Rabe

Re: Spyder 4 Elite still good to calibrate monitor?

PostSun Dec 03, 2023 10:49 am

Uli Plank wrote:Yes, the older Spyders were never really great and the filters definitely age.
Non XDR Apple screens are pretty close to Rec 709, so I doubt you’ll gain much. But if you have any chance to compare to a calibrated screen, just give it a try. Your factory settings won’t get lost.


Thanks Uli.

Those displays are great out of the box but they did run for around 12 hours every day for 2 years, so I think it's not a bad idea to check them.

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