ISF Calibrate

[oggie]

I'm interested in getting my tv calibrated, I live in London and I'm looking for somebody to do my set....how much would it cost ? Also is there any dvd guides that i could use to do this myself ?

Any help would be greatly appreciated

 

[Messiah]

Look for a DVD that has been THX mastered (like Star Wars). They have a calibrating tool on them.

 

[ElectroMan]

You could also watch the set-up video here on WHF.

Full professional ISF calibration will cost a fair bit, for example see this website.

Unless you have a really big/expensive television, I would try the basic set up first!

 

[oggie]

Thank you peeps, will try that as you both have said and will look at the video. Just though after spending £1400 on UE40B7020W might be a good idea to get it properly calibrated

 

[aliEnRIK]

You could buy your own sensor and calibrate it yourself using free software (If it has red, green and blue high and low settings)

Sensor cost me about 90 quid off ebay and software is free of the net

 

[D.J.KRIME]

I am with aliEnRIK on this one and would advise you to get your own sensor and use THIS SITE for advise on software to use and how to use it as by using you own sensor you not only save money over having a ISF technician visit your home, but will also be able to calibrate multiple TV's and be able to re-calibrate your main TV from time to time as its picture settings will need adjusting as the TV ages.

aliEnRIK and I both use a Spyder3 and free software called colorHCFR but there are other options avalible. Maybe have a look at the packages avalible on the Spectracal/calman site as they do bundles including a sensor and software, their software is not free but is more simple to use over the colorHCFR software as it has a step-by-step wizard to guide you through each step of calibration, but in saying that is you follow the advice on theoriginal link I have posted it is very easy to achieve excelent results using the free colorHCFR software.

It is impossible to correctly set your TV's greyscale using and DVD/BD test paterns with only you eyes and until you have your greyscale correctly set then you can not correctly calibrate you TV.

 

[topbloke55]

I did the same as aliEnRIK, looking at the set it does have the following in the manual and these are the settings you need to calibrate.

Here is what you need:

Free software: Colorimetre HCFR
Patterns disk: Digital Video Essentials, Blu-ray ideally
Spyder TV or Eye-one sensor ( I have used both and they work fine, you need the software that goes with them for the Colorimetre HCFR to work, it needs the drivers.)

The final part is in the software set the Grey balance first to 6500k, the colour balance on most none pro TV's does not really do a lot.

Hope that helps.

Here is the bit of the manual you need:

------------------------

White Balance
You can adjust the colour temperature for more natural picture colours.

R, G, B-Offset: Fine tunes the white balance, or colour 'temperature' in dark areas by changing the individual values of R, G, B. Recommended for advanced users only.

R, G, B-Gain: Fine tunes the white balance, or colour 'temperature' in the light areas by changing the individual values of R, G, B. Recommended for advanced users only.

 

[oggie]

Wow,now this has been a bit of eye opener. Got quote for £275, option you advise seems much cheaper

Have read through those links and have decided that will def do it myself. Quick question though, there is: SpyderTV, SpyderPro and Spyder Elite. What is the difference between them and which is best to get ?

Big thank you for all your help

 

[D.J.KRIME]

I got the Spyder3TV as it was the cheapest option, just dont bother using the bundled software as it is rather pap but you will need to install it onto your PC/laptop to be able to extract the DLL file if using the colorHCFR software.

If possible use a laptop as it save constantly having to change inputs on you Tv if you have a desktop conected to it, also do you readings at night/in a dark room to stop any ambient light affecting your readings, also turn laptop screen brightness down as much as possible

 

[aliEnRIK]

oggie:
Wow,now this has been a bit of eye opener. Got quote for £275, option you advise seems much cheaper

Have read through those links and have decided that will def do it myself. Quick question though, there is: SpyderTV, SpyderPro and Spyder Elite. What is the difference between them and which is best to get ?

Big thank you for all your help

They all use the same 'spyder 3' sensor, just different software (All next to useless if you ask me)

So buy the cheapest you can and forget the software. All you need is the sensor and the freebie software posted above

 

[aliEnRIK]

topbloke55:

Spyder TV or Eye-one sensor ( I have used both and they work fine, you need the software that goes with them for the Colorimetre HCFR to work, it needs the drivers.)

Did you find any differences between the two mate? Ive never tried the eye-one yet (And what version was it?)

 

[oggie]

Thank you all, have found spyder3tv for £89.67 so will order that. All your help is greatly appreciated, will let you know how it goes

 

[Anonymous]

Re my topic on my new LG PS508000, this will also be helpful to me. I ordered a Spyder2 from Amazon which should arrive this week so I'll also post my feedback.

Setting up this new TV is like picking your nose ... now I've started I can't stop ...

 

[D.J.KRIME]

Mez:

Re my topic on my new LG PS508000, this will also be helpful to me. I ordered a Spyder2 from Amazon which should arrive this week so I'll also post my feedback

NOOOOOO!!!!

if you have ordered a Spyder2 send it back with out opening it as it is a older sensor and has issues when taking readings in the lower end of the IRE test paterns.

You need the later Spyder3.

 

[Anonymous]

I've read that the issues at the lower end of the IRE scale just mean you need longer read times? Not a problem if it saves me the extra money for the Spyder3.

 

[D.J.KRIME]

Mez:I've read that the issues at the lower end of the IRE scale just mean you need longer read times? Not a problem if it saves me the extra money for the Spyder3.

If you do a little more reserch into the Spyder2 it was also found that a high percentage of units gave vastly differing readings across the board as where the Spyder3 gives a far more acurate reading. Personaly I would rather spend a little more and get a better sensor.

 

[Anonymous]

Ah! Right! So is the Datacolor SpyderTV the same as the Colorvision Spyder3TV? Or is that just an older 'Spyder1'?

 

[aliEnRIK]

Mez:I've read that the issues at the lower end of the IRE scale just mean you need longer read times? Not a problem if it saves me the extra money for the Spyder3.

NONE of the cheap (Under 2.5k!) sensors are 'accurate' under 20 IRE no matter how long you take the reading for

 

[D.J.KRIME]

Mez:Ah! Right! So is the Datacolor SpyderTV the same as the Colorvision Spyder3TV? Or is that just an older 'Spyder1'?

If it says Datacolor SpyderTV it is the original version that was intended for home use, the company is now called Colorvision.

The actually Spyder probes look very differant in appearance the older one being this

And the newer Spyder3 like this

 

[Anonymous]

In that case, looks like my best bet is a Spyder3 Pro from Park Cameras @ £99.99. I can't seem to find the cheaper Spyder3TV anywhere in the UK, and the shipping cost from the US makes the Pro the cheaper option.

 

[D.J.KRIME]

I got mine (spyder3TV) off eBay from a company in the UK for under £100.

I am not sure what software comes with the pro model but you need to install it in order to copy the Dll file into the colorHCFR software in order for it to reconigse the spyder probe.

 

[Anonymous]

All gravy.

Spyder3 Pro arrives tomorrow (couldn't get under £100 for a Spyder3TV).

Next question:

- How do I get the wife out of the house for 4 hours while I calibrate the TV ... ?

 

[professorhat]

Tell her a large "Spyder" is arriving tomorrow...

 

[Anonymous]

You, sir, are a genius!