PHRubin Loc: Nashville TN USA

I currently use an older 19' VGA monitor. I know many suggest a better one for photo processing, but I don't know why. Thoughts?

User ID

Better looking image.

fredpnm Loc: Corrales, NM

Assuming you have good eye sight, go to a place like Best Buy and look at some of their current monitors to see first hand what the quality of current monitors are compared to an older VGA monitor. If none impressed you stick with your current monitors.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

It makes people feel better.....
Especially pixel peepers and those who must have the best.

I have two monitors, HP(23") and Acer(24"), both off-the-shelf from the electronics department at the store.
I have no need for a Hi-Def monitor. (I'm not a pixel peeper or a perfectionist.)
I can set things up with the "best" monitor, but I'm the only one who will see that.
Granted, depending on how the monitors are set, prints from a printer may not match.
I kinda know when I use my monitors, I may have to adjust the print. Mostly not, because I don't have to have the print match the monitor precisely to the exact hue. And how would the print viewer know if the print EXACTLY matches my monitor or not? Would they care? It boils down to the requirements and perception of the person doing the editing and printing. It matters to them, not others.
(I have the same philosophy for my printers. I believe my Canon AIO (all-in-one) printer was under $150.)

Personal preference....
How persnickety are you?

Anyone ever ask: "This was edited on my $2500 high-def monitor, notice a difference?"?
("Difference" requires something with which to compare.)

13 Loc: I am only responsible to what I say..not what

I have a 50" specially made monitor. Hi calibrated Def. I like the details it gives me when prossceing photos.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Longshadow touched on something I've wondered: if nobody who views your photo online has high-def, does the quality really exist?

For selling, printing large, etc., sure. Go for it.

BebuLamar

If I can afford it I go for high def that is high resolution not a large screen. My 16" laptop has 2556x1600 and I can see the different from the same size screen with 1920x1200.
Besides, a 4K display is only 8MP and if you don't want high definition screen why buy camera with 45MP? My camera has only 16MP and I surely want a screen that can display that.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

6 billion monitors out there, people think they all show the same thing the same way?
Look at the TV displays in the store. Any different looking?
Oh, wait, they're not calibrated... They just plop them on display.
So how many of those 6 billion monitors are Hi-Def or calibrated.
(Our four are neither.)

It only matters to the person doing the editing.

Strodav Loc: Houston, Tx

The original VGA standard was 640 x 480 pixels, but over the years that has evolved and some graphic cards can actually display HD 1920 x 1080p over a VGA cable. VGA (analog) was replaced by DVI (digital) and DVI has been replaced by HDMI and Display Port (DP). I think you'll find that the newer graphics cards only come with HDMI and DP connectors.

What resolution you choose is personal preference and how much you're willing to spend. The HD standard at 1920 x 1080p has all but gone by the wayside for 4K and 8K monitors (Ultra HDTV). Higher resolution allows you to see more detail even when your images are resized to fit the screen, but the most important factor to me is the improved color space available. My monitor at 2650 x 1440 covers a large part of the Adobe RGB color space. That allows me to see more of the colors my cameras capture. My photo printer covers a large part of the Adobe RGB color space as well, so my monitor shows me what I'll see on my prints.

If you are going to upgrade your monitor, you'll probably want a new graphics card with enough memory and fast enough to process the larger images. You'll need to make sure your new graphics card is compatible with your computer. Many who decide to do those types of upgrades end up with a new computer.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

I've no idea what the resolution on my monitors are. I guess the computer "display" info would tell me, if I needed the info. Quite possibly the two on my desktop are different. both look good though.
I've always just used the "graphics card" that came with the computer. Never a problem.
Both seem to work nicely together.
Why do I need an HD monitor. It will benefit me by ...... .

Rongnongno Loc: FL

The idea of a calibrated monitor is not about anything other than starting with a good base.

High definition or not does not matter, as long as the monitor is capable of the sRGB standard used in most display and websites.

The monitor quality also is of no importance when printing, IF and only IF both printers and monitors are calibrated for a decent preview.

Personally, I pixel peep when I work in ACR and correct the optics (chromatic aberrations and defringe) and details (sharpness and color noise).

I also pixel peep when making a selection.

The rest of the time, I use 'view as print' when I work on an image.

I use two monitors, both are IPS capable and both are calibrated for sRGB. One covers 90% of the gamut, the other 100%.

Since - as one mentioned accurately - I cannot predict what monitor will be used when posted on the net or even shared (e-mail) I do not give any thought about what is being seen on the other hand as not only the monitor is at play but also the eyesight of the viewer. I just care that the color space is sRGB.

Printing is another story. I am picky, reeeeeeallly picky, but about the monitor.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

What is the resolution of you monitors? Unless they are very old technology they are probably 1080P which makes them Hi Def monitors. Perhaps you are assuming that Hi Def refers to 4K monitors. The acronym UHD is used for 4K which stands for Ultra High Definition.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

In this day and age I certainly hope you are not actually using a VGA monitor for image editing. Are you confusing a VGA connection port on the monitor with a VGA monitor? Just because you can use a VGA connection doesn't necessarily mean you are using a VGA monitor which had a maximum resolution of 640x480. VGA monitors are very old devices and are not appropriate for image editing. They are certainly not sharp.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

Linda, almost every computer monitor sold today for desktop and laptops has at least 1080P resolution which makes them Hi Def. I think you would be heard pressed to find many which are not. I think some folks here are confusing Hi Def with 4K's UHD (Ultra High Def)

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Have you noticed how we all get more confused every year, about every subject?