isf calibration...how much???

[Anonymous]

Hi airwolf, I recently purchased a Pioneer LX5090 and was thinking the same as you an isf calibration so i contacted Broadcast .co.uk the suppliers of the tv they were happy to give me a quote of £300 after the tv had at least 200hrs running time, not bad seeing they are in London and im in lovely North Wales.

 

[Anonymous]

FuzzyinLondon:I agree with mbmapit but not the way he expressed some of his opinions. I'm not going to disparage the opinions of others on the subject but, in my opinion, ISF calibration is its own artform but is only warranted on certain sets - the Kuro G8 and G9 sets being among them. Certain Kuro sets have special menus that can ONLY be accessed by a calibrator with special software to fine tune certain gamma and colour settings. The price the OP was quoted seems way to high. I've heard £250-300 quoted as the usual ballpark figure. Sometimes this include the cost of transport depending on the distance from the calibrator. Most calibrators recommend letting the set run-in for at least 500 hours before considering calibration. Also, it has to be done in situ with all your sources hooked up in order to factor in ambient light conditions and the quirks of your equipment. It's certainly not an essential process to have done. You might find yourself so enamoured with the performance of the tv that you never wonder how much better it can be. If you've got your user settings programmed properly, you might only get a small evolution in performance rather than a revolution. Personally, I'd do the best you can with your own settings (there are also recommended one around the net) and see how you get on for the first few months. I'm sure even a non-calibrated G9 is going to leave you pretty gobsmacked for a while.

I thought all/most mid to top-end panels have internal 'service area' menus that can be entered by calibrators. It's here the gamma and greyscale settings are, which are used to calibrate against reference points, D65, etc. I know the Sony's do - and cracking into it voids your warranty, which is fine by me, if only I could find a way into it...!!

From some of the latest reviews on WHF, it does seem the screens are getting 'better' coming out of the factory, but the whole thing is still slightly ridiculous me thinks, leaving Joe Blogs at home alone to make fairly drastic changes to the settings to get a 1/2 decent picture......Jobs for the boys. Would I be expected to change the valve timings on a new BMW engine after driving away from the forecourt....?

 

[Anonymous]

WOW...just got back from work and re-read everything from start to finish,didn't realise the question would envoke so much passion.I think the best thing for me to do is once i aquire the screen,calibrate it myself,then if i can find one to see that has been isf calibrated,review that one with my own eyes.I understand that i won't be seeing it in my own room,with my kit and my own lighting conditions,but if i can find a close comprimise,it seems to be a sensible solution.I have come to this conclusion because of everybodys comments and replies and i thank you all.(I also know that finding a suitably calibrated screen,close to my own enviroment will be very tricky...tricky indeed)

 

[Anonymous]

An interesting thread that highlights many of the common misconceptions regarding ISF calibration.

In the world of video there are very well defined standards that describe exactly what a picture should look like. For example the colour of red, green, blue and white; correct black and white level; correct colour decoding etc.

The standard settings in most displays typically have so little in common with these standards as to be laughable although better looking "movie" modes seem to be becoming more common. Sony and Samsung are particularly notable for the howling inaccuracy of their sets.

Many manufacturers have now recognised that their customers would in fact prefer to enjoy an accurate picture that represents the picture as intended by the director. These companies are building in the required controls and memory blocks required to get a properly accurate image. Many of these controls, such as colour management systems and white balane controls can not be set without the use of accurate measuring equipment. If you decide that you would like an accurate image then your choices are simple

1. Invest in a calibration probe noting that cheaper translates almost exactly to less accurate and spend the time learning how to calibrate yourself.ÿ

2. Get an ISF trained professional who has the correct equipment and knowledge to do the job for you.

ÿNow I don't presume to tell people here that a more accurate image is a better image but no one ever told me that it looked worse than when I started!

The going rate for a flat panel calibration is around £300 BTW.

ÿHaving been lucky enough to be involved in all but one of the ISF training sessions in the UK over the last couple of years, I can confirm that there are some very talented people out there who will make a marked improvement in the accuracy of you display and they will give you a detailed report that proves it.ÿ

Let's not have any more nonsense about it being voodoo or "I just did it myself with DVE." ISF calibration is a genuine skill and in demand service. If people feel that the cost is not for them then great, but they should not make the mistake of telling others not to get it off the back of your own financial predjudices or value perceptions.

ÿ

Neil Davidsonÿ

ÿ

ÿ

 

[Anonymous]

I have worked in a colour critical industry for 5 years. There is no need for ISF past regular treatments.

 

[Anonymous]

Having read this thread from start to finish I have reached the conclusion that £250 for ISF calibration is money well spent IF you are a videophile.If, like myself, you are just after a good TV with a good picture then a DIY job is fine.You are never going to acurately calibrate a TV with a THX/DVE disc but it will be good enough for most.

The other conclusion I came to is that octopo doesn't like other peoples opinions if they don't coincide with his own.