Bunkershot Loc: Central Florida

I'm looking for some feedback on this upgrade, particularly the Automatic Room Light Switching as well as the One Click Calibration feature. I work on photos at all times of the day in very varied light levels and have north facing windows along one wall. This upgrade sounds like a no brainer for my situation, but would value some feedback before buying it. Any comments will be appreciated...

revhen Loc: By the beautiful Hudson

So would I.

Rongnongno Loc: FL

Calibration is only a starting point. Passing too much time or spending $$$ on this does not take into account that all the modification syou do later will influence the final viewing result knowing that:

- You taste will make you modify the Color balance
- Your health influences the way you perceive thing
The you have to deal with the reverse side of this coin...
- Is the viewer has a calibrated monitor? Probably not.
- Is the viewer sharing your taste?
- Is the viewer in good health?

This is a quick summary as to why 'extreme' calibrating does not work UNLESS you print. Even there there are issues to deal with that make accurate rendition nearly impossible.

Oh, if you are a scientist, use something that really works for your specific purpose.

Note:
A few years ago I had eye surgery (cataract) and realized how bad my interpretation of color was. Most of my work reflected my eyes deficiencies.

Bunkershot Loc: Central Florida

You are right. I would have no need to calibrate if I didn't print. I want my prints to look like what I saw when I took the shot...hence I want accurate calibration.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

If you do upgrade, please post your impressions/results.

Doc Barry Loc: Huntsville, Alabama USA

I had the Spyder5ELITE and upgrade a while back to the Spyder5ELITE+. The results were very close, but the PLUS did provide some operational improvements. SoftProof was helpful.

I also recently acquired the SpyderX ELITE. Monitor calibration is faster with the X and the color calibration between the 5 and the X are almost identical. I gave my 5 to my son on his recent visit.

Also, I have experimented with the auto light level feature and it does work reasonably well; however, I work in a room that I control my light level at the working surface to be to a constant value of 50 lux. One thing I have found in calibrating friends' displays is that they have the brightness way too high. The Spyder guides you to set the brightness correctly. FWIW, I noted in my experiments that changing the room brightness, even with the auto room light function, the color correction changed a bit.

And finally, I suggest that it is important to have the display calibrated so that when you process your photographs, the results will be good on other calibrated displays. I also have the tools to generate the data for the printer for each different paper so that the SoftPrint and the prints look very close.

Hope this helps answer your questions. I would get the upgrade.

williejoha

I use the Spyder 5+ Elite which uses the ambient light sensor, would not do without it.
WJH

Bunkershot Loc: Central Florida

Willie,
At this point it would appear that those who are using the ambient room light switching upgrade are liking it. After a lot of searching the internet as well as an unanswered inquiry into Datacolor I have not been able to determine exactly how the upgrade works. From what I have read it requires a number of individual calibrations at different room light conditions, all of which are stored within the Spyder5. Let's say that I do a calibration at 10:00am, 2:00pm and at 7:00pm, which are the times when I would likely start any post processing. Given those calibrations, no matter what time I am working, if Spyder5 finds that the 2:00pm calibration is appropriate for my room light conditions, it will use the 2:00pm calibration. If I then decide to work on images at 7:30pm it will then choose the calibration that most resembles the 7:30pm conditions in which I am working, probably the 7:00pm calibration. Is my interpretation correct. If not, can you please clarify for me, Willie? I'm sure there are others who will benefit from your answer.
Thanks

williejoha

Bunkershot, I cannot answer your question because I use only the one setting for the office where I do my Lightroom work. What I can say is that calibration of my camera and computer has made a world of difference when I take the pictures to another media. I am sure that there is most likely answers to your specific question on the net through blogs and specific online conversations. Which I could have been more help with this specific question. Also check to see if Datacolor maintains any type of question and answer blog. Hope you find a satisfying answer to your question. Keep on shooting.
WJH

Bunkershot Loc: Central Florida

Appreciate your feedback, Willie. Next step is a conversation with DataColor tomorrow.

williejoha

Good luck.
WJH

Bunkershot Loc: Central Florida

I just found a Quick Start document that pretty much says that after the upgrade is installed, a full calibration has to be made to establish a baseline. Then after that Spyder5 does its measurements and adjusts the calibration accordingly. I hope to confirm that tomorrow...