LG IPS236V-PN - In Plane Switching Monitor - excellent colour reproduction

[Kym]

So we all know that an IPS (In Plane Switching) monitor is supposed to be better than a TN (Twisted Nematic + Film) for colour reproduction?
(read this http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/specs.htm for all the gory details)

We also know that an IPS monitor can cost 3 or 5 times an TN monitor? Think EIZO and Dell U (Ultra Sharp) series.

Not any more!!

I got an LG IPS236V-PN from MSY for $199 tonight - blinking brilliant!
See: http://www.lg.com/au/it-monitors/lg-...ed-lcd-monitor for product information.

I hooked it up and run my calibration (Huey Pro) gadget! Them I compared some recent prints with the screen - much better than my old TN monitor.
Also an IPS monitor has a better angle of view, i.e. a more even rendering regardless of viewing angle.

In case you're wondering TN's have faster refresh rates and thus gamers love them, but serious 'togs use calibrated IPS monitors.

[arthurking83]

Yeah!

LG produce some very good lower priced LCD/LED monitors, and mine calibrates really well too(according to my basICColor software).
But part of the limitations of the TN technology is that it's limited to the sRGB gamut(16.7m colours).
'real' photographers want aRGB and it's 1 billion colour gamut capability.

This isn't quite so important as many have you believe, but if you print at the highest quality and work in the aRGB colourspace then it can make a difference.
That difference is really only when you push process your images really hard. If you're a good photographer and don't need to push your images to these extremes, then the aRGB screens aren't quite so important.
Of course the "PRO" will tell ya differently, and that for the best quality images and prints you need uber high end monitors!
From what I've read, been told and shown from professional printers .... and also seen for myself, the vast majority of mis information from the elite bourgeoisie pixel peeping toms is basically garbage.

What I've seen for myself is that when I've pushed an images processing and seen posterisation in the image, it's basically not really there if I've used the aRGB colourspace for that image on my sRGB monitor. What I've subsequently seen in print and on the printer's high end EIZO screen is slightly different in that the posterisation on my screen isn't present on his.
I've now learnt where this limitation is on my screen and I'm aware of this. Simple.

If you're a top end of town fine art print super tog that regularly sells 3m prints for $4.3m a pop, then I suppose the advantage of an IPS screen is probably real.. not to mention that at those prices you can afford whatever you like!

For 99% of us, this type of gear is a luxury but not a necessity.

having said that, a high-ish end IPS screen is something I'm looking forward too when I can justify it's addition to my PC. Until then I just make sure that I'm not pushing my images.

The real advantage of IPS screens when they of the 10-12 bit hardware internals processing type. Many are only 8bit, which is still better than the 6bit of TN type screens.
Basically as with cameras and imaging in general, the more bit depth the hardware is capable of, the better it resolves colour graduations.
Of course you also need a graphics card that is able to match the bit depth of the monitor too.. so it's no use having super high end monitor with 10 bit processing ability if your on board VGA chip is only pumping out 6bit data.

Basically it's all about matching your hardware specs to a common sense level.

For most of us 6bit sRGB is fine, as long as you understand the limitations of the hardware.
If the monitor is calibrated well and calibrates well, then you're more than 50% there, and that is good enough(well.. it's good enough for me anyhow)..

Calibration is the key, and one thing I've done over the past few years is go back to all my images prior to having calibrated my screen properly and I have too many images that have been overcooked due to not seeing what I was doing correctly. Good thing is that they've all been very easy fixes to account for.

LG screens are very well respected hardware, and so much so that nearly all top end monitors all use LG.Philips panels!
So I doubt that LG themselves will really ever produce a dud screen model.

[Kym]

BTW this monitor is 8bits (better than TN 6 bits + FRC)

[arthurking83]

BTW this monitor is 8bits ....

Aha! .....

[William]

Hi Kym, Had a look at the specs on your new purchess , Looks like I did'nt do to bad with the View Sonic I bought , Dunno what/who's panels they use , What surprised me was the viewing angle difference , I thought the IPS screens had a lot bigger viewing angle , Yours is 178 deg and mine is 170degs ?

[reaction]

So if I work only in srgb, will I still benefit from IPS monitor? Around $200 isn't so bad


Kym, when you say much better what exactly are you seeing?

[Keith Young]

Rumours suggest that the IPS panels used in both the 27" IMac Pro and the Dell U2711 are in fact the same panel made by LG. I'd rather buy straight from the manufacturer then pay extra to have someone else's label stuck on them. So do LG have a 27" version in their range?

[William]

Been looking for you Keith , Try this link , Looks like what you were asking Maybe ? http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1600546

[Kerrie]

So we all know that an IPS (In Plane Switching) monitor is supposed to be better than a TN (Twisted Nematic + Film) for colour reproduction?
(read this http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/specs.htm for all the gory details)

We also know that an IPS monitor can cost 3 or 5 times an TN monitor? Think EIZO and Dell U (Ultra Sharp) series.

Not any more!!

I got an LG IPS236V-PN from MSY for $199 tonight - blinking brilliant!
See: http://www.lg.com/au/it-products/mon...IPS236V-PN.jsp for product information.

I hooked it up and run my calibration (Huey Pro) gadget! Them I compared some recent prints with the screen - much better than my old TN monitor.
Also an IPS monitor has a better angle of view, i.e. a more even rendering regardless of viewing angle.

In case you're wondering TN's have faster refresh rates and thus gamers love them, but serious 'togs use calibrated IPS monitors.

Hi Kym

After a few months along would you still recommend this monitor? I can get one for $185

Or best to spend $249 on a dell ultra sharp U2212hm

[Kym]

Missed your post Kerrie... The LG is a bigger monitor so I'd stick with that in this case.
They both have similar specs otherwise

[Kym]

Updated model:

MSY: http://www.msy.com.au listed today as 23” 5ms LG IPS234V $159

Technical: http://www.lg.com/au/it-monitors/lg-...ed-lcd-monitor

[Epoc]

No that's a great price and my local has them in stock. Thanks Kym.

[Tommo1965]

kym ....do they do any bigger IPS monitors ?

[Kym]

kym ....do they do any bigger IPS monitors ?

Not yet. You will need a Dell U series or Eizo.
http://accessories.ap.dell.com/sna/s...=24_30_monitor

[MattNQ]

In case anybody is interested - Dell Australia currently have a 3 day sale on monitors & printers- 30% off ends 20th sept (ignore the "ends 23 August" under the pictures)

http://www1.ap.dell.com/au/en/home/3...=dhs&cs=audhs1

A few IPS monitors there for a reasonable price - plus 3 years australian warranty etc

After being consistently frustrated by editing on a 13" laptop screen that I have not been able to calibrate satisfactorily, I have finally bit the bullet & pushed the button on a Dell U2412M for $279 delivered.
Seems to be plenty of good reviews on this monitor. Puts my new body a little further away, but hopefully it will be the end of one of the more common CC I receive - that of "nice photo, but your colour balance/saturation/contrast needs fixing