tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44872208657445947952024-02-19T07:27:01.741-08:00Dell 2408WFPIn-Depth Review1http://www.blogger.com/profile/03716628836679313246noreply@blogger.comBlogger80125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4487220865744594795.post-63758424725219675622008-03-08T15:35:00.000-08:002011-09-20T11:32:02.702-07:00<a href="http://lcdmonitortest.blogspot.com/">Link to all reviews</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Introduction</strong><br /><br />The Dell 2408 is a very much awaited 24” VA panel LCD monitor to replace the outdated 2407-HC.<br />In this short review I would like to draw your attention to some good and less good news about the new Hero, sometimes with comparison links to it’s predecessor and other monitors.<br /><br />The equipment for the test includes:<br />Dell 2408WFP – test model<br />NEC 2490WUXi SpectraView – reference monitor<br />17” CRT monitor<br />2 brand name PCs<br />LaCie Blue Eye Pro calibration software<br />GretagMacbeth Eye-one Display2 probe<br />Blu-ray stand-alone player<br />DVD stand-alone player<br />Blu-ray movies<br />DVD movie<br />Digital Still Camera<br />Mini-DV Camcorder<br /><a href="http://interfacelift.com/wallpaper/details.php?id=1156">Photo images</a><br /><br /><strong>Specification</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/monitors/2408WFP/en/UG/about.htm#Specifications">Looks like good news start here.</a> We see an improved backlight system: 7 CCFL U-type instead of 6 CCFL U-type system. Dell also advertises better contrast ratio (1300:1 over 1000:1) and wider Color Gamut (102% over 92%). All that says that we have a new panel in this case. That’s promising.<br /><br /><strong>Design and mechanics</strong><br /><br />2408 represents the same <a href="http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/products/Monitors/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&sku=320-6272">well-known classic design</a>.<br /><br /><strong>Overall build quality </strong><br /><strong><br /></strong>This is a solid product in terms of assembly quality and materials used. There are no dead pixels found.<br />Minimal backlight bleeding is present in the left hand upper corner.1http://www.blogger.com/profile/03716628836679313246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4487220865744594795.post-72739574043569242322008-03-08T15:33:00.000-08:002008-12-12T19:36:33.023-08:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMarf5KYVah4JdoXHYGm0s4tFSM8YCX5gbeKTjN3KYHDd6g0k7SgG9CPa3skG3vXwXNog_DLPfwYdTG72w-j9XgoFpEF9Ag6B-J5JFczdrTo6vs9ZMdwHk-6SDiwtjdw_n-ril0wqQRePl/s1600-h/Backlight.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175518330692068338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMarf5KYVah4JdoXHYGm0s4tFSM8YCX5gbeKTjN3KYHDd6g0k7SgG9CPa3skG3vXwXNog_DLPfwYdTG72w-j9XgoFpEF9Ag6B-J5JFczdrTo6vs9ZMdwHk-6SDiwtjdw_n-ril0wqQRePl/s400/Backlight.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div>1http://www.blogger.com/profile/03716628836679313246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4487220865744594795.post-9119667134563387682008-03-08T15:32:00.000-08:002008-12-12T19:36:33.256-08:00The Dell 2408 does not produce any kind of noise.<br />The upper part of the monitor is not very hot to touch. It’s within normal limit.<br />The NEC 2490 is much cooler though.<br /><br /><strong>Connectors </strong><br /><strong><br /></strong>Great news here. 2408 features 2 DVI-D, 1 HDMI digital inputs along with 1 D-Sub, 1 Component-Video, 1 S-Video and 1 Composite Video. Also a futuristic DisplayPort is present. Please correct me if I am mistaking: this is the first time when Dell introduces (2408+3008) a model with more than one digital input. Finally! It’s better late than never.<br /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175720112550601762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ilyzsk7SRvn_OS4PTc1bGDCE7Em25WYsHxeLPfszj_0BgKfpe5AASGNGlUr8LHCQW3AWku61_uw-YkhdRDYvPg0zTmddiMU_DSvty1UXhxpr0C3LxuPSyHDUaPCIpSlttNUMFVDClZWk/s400/Connectors.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><strong>Sound</strong><br />The sound bar is optional. It can be easily attached to the monitor. A new feature is Audio Out connector. Presumably it is supposed to transmit sound from HDMI/DisplayPort connections without a separate audio cable.<br />I don’t have Dell’s sound bar for the test. I tried to connect headphones, computer speakers and separately bought sound system – everything without adequate result. IMO this Audio Out does not work on the test model. Playing with Audio Options in OSD did not help either. Maybe Dell’s brand name sound bar will work. Who knows?1http://www.blogger.com/profile/03716628836679313246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4487220865744594795.post-53990643868426824562008-03-08T15:31:00.000-08:002008-03-08T23:01:50.549-08:00<strong>Controls and OSD</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/monitors/2408WFP/en/UG/operate.htm#Using%20the%20OSD">Detailed description of OSD </a>use is conveniently published at Dell’s home site. Most of manufacturers publish monitor manuals on their Internet sites.<br /><br />A quick look at OSD:<br />HDMI connection to stand alone device disables Graphics Mode – only Video Mode is available.<br />sRGB mode is added to emulate standard gamut colors. Something that was expected (sRGB mode proper functioning/emulation is critical for a wide gamut monitor).<br />Dynamic Contrast on/off is added.<br />A self-care function - LCD Conditioning to help eliminate any image retention.<br /><br />Compared to the reference monitor, front controls are not convenient. They are hard to click. Operating OSD requires a click for every half step. It means annoying endless clicking. No changes for the better since 2407-HC.1http://www.blogger.com/profile/03716628836679313246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4487220865744594795.post-19484868123616286432008-03-08T15:30:00.001-08:002008-03-08T23:21:38.035-08:00<strong>Measurements<br /></strong><br />The Dell 2408 specification says:<br />Luminance Output – 400 cd/m2<br />Contrast ratio – 1300:1<br /><br />Factory settings for brightness and contrast are 50/50%<br />A usable range of brightness and contrast controls IMO would be:<br />Brightness 60% - 0%<br />Contrast – somewhat close around standard 50%<br /><br />Below is brightness/contrast measurements summary.<br />Brightness control: 100% - 0%<br />Contrast control: 50%<br />Uncalibrated.1http://www.blogger.com/profile/03716628836679313246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4487220865744594795.post-47174227701936470662008-03-08T15:29:00.000-08:002008-12-12T19:36:33.485-08:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGHnKQz265Uk4_eEoAxtW_BIxOK9JboNbiRzMKlPWKMbf9oab0vJP5AQm7UAG1zdgQjpG3aDlVGD-dwtTsvJMBnd1e4blv07P8vuTrUeQPlHK0jmQ6kMLWwgxaw1MQYFR5bBRhHWLCX4Cc/s1600-h/dell2408brightnesscontrast.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175517231180440546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGHnKQz265Uk4_eEoAxtW_BIxOK9JboNbiRzMKlPWKMbf9oab0vJP5AQm7UAG1zdgQjpG3aDlVGD-dwtTsvJMBnd1e4blv07P8vuTrUeQPlHK0jmQ6kMLWwgxaw1MQYFR5bBRhHWLCX4Cc/s400/dell2408brightnesscontrast.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div>1http://www.blogger.com/profile/03716628836679313246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4487220865744594795.post-45190351572862573192008-03-08T15:28:00.000-08:002008-03-08T23:10:15.841-08:00The Dell 2408 demonstrated outstanding contrast ratio and black level values for a 24” monitor. Same or close to the <a href="http://www.prad.de/en/monitore/review/2007/review-eizo-hd2441w-ts-part10.html">Eizo HD2441W </a>(according to a popular prad.de test magazine).<br />The contrast ratio is stable within the whole range of brightness.<br />A technical minimum (<em>monitor brightness 0%, video adapter brightness 0%</em>) at 50% contrast is:<br />White – 76 cd/m2<br />Black – 0.11 cd/m2<br />Contrast ratio – 690:1<br /><br />Regarding “Dynamic contrast ratio”. This is something like “Dynamic blood pressure” – systolic BP of my grandmother (160/80) measured against diastolic BP of my grandfather (110/60). So “dynamic” blood pressure of this family is 160/60.<br />Dynamic contrast mode makes the screen darker when a dark scene is displayed, and brighter when a bright scene is displayed. As these images are shown separately (at a different time), there is no sense in talking about “contrast ratio”. “Dynamic” is just an elegant word. Sounds good for commercials. A trick to deceive an ignorant buyer. Don’t pay attention to that.<br />A sort of dynamic mode is implemented in the reference NEC 2490 too. But it works in opposite way. The monitor drops brightness when a bright scene appears – to reduce eye strain.<br /><br />During the process of calibration (at the white of about 140cd/m2) measured contrast ratio plays around 1300:1 – superb!1http://www.blogger.com/profile/03716628836679313246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4487220865744594795.post-24120451751489529452008-03-08T15:27:00.000-08:002008-03-08T23:14:11.483-08:00As usual for monitors, presets like Game, Movie, Pizza, etc. spoil the picture rather than improve it.<br />Below are measurements for different presets of Graphic and Video modes.<br />Factory settings (brightness 50%/contrast 50%).<br />Uncalibrated.1http://www.blogger.com/profile/03716628836679313246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4487220865744594795.post-82103299044816177042008-03-08T15:25:00.000-08:002008-12-12T19:36:33.780-08:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLwzs_9dtGnYisgwQcx5OJ_RVwyfZrDTs4AFwl0BdhrB8tDogvWdzC8EMJG-uBYd3L1MKcM2y3gVXfvJRRXJyIuO_0eF-wz8PS59cJmbCRC-CCH8A0JKiYle76uScMjiNcMYizZMr57evk/s1600-h/dell2408presets.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175516440906458066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLwzs_9dtGnYisgwQcx5OJ_RVwyfZrDTs4AFwl0BdhrB8tDogvWdzC8EMJG-uBYd3L1MKcM2y3gVXfvJRRXJyIuO_0eF-wz8PS59cJmbCRC-CCH8A0JKiYle76uScMjiNcMYizZMr57evk/s400/dell2408presets.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div>1http://www.blogger.com/profile/03716628836679313246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4487220865744594795.post-67394461551332261652008-03-08T15:24:00.000-08:002008-03-08T23:17:26.567-08:00Let’s see where we are (among 24” contenders) with the Dell 2408 and the reference monitor NEC 2490 in terms of contrast ratio and level of black values.<br />I use the information published at a well-known test magazine <a href="http://www.behardware.com/">behardware.com<br /></a>Look at the picture below. I just added the Dell 2408 and the NEC 2490 to the list of tested monitors. Although it’s a sort of approximation, the comparison is possible as the measurement equipment is the same.<br />First of all, cross out two TN models (the Iiyama B2403WS and the Samsung 245B) and then look at the rest.<br />You can see nearly all popular players in the 24” market in this list.<br />The NEC 2490 with it’s absolute image quality and multitask suitability now beats VA contenders even on their former own field – black and contrast, and still reigns in 24” world.<br />Does anything else in the list attract your attention?<br />Definitely. It’s the Dell 2408.1http://www.blogger.com/profile/03716628836679313246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4487220865744594795.post-41718685148823905832008-03-08T15:23:00.000-08:002008-12-12T19:36:33.881-08:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUja1mQcuXEVlvDASx4T-ucsuL6wfkw4izkmq6p_M6CAi94Qz9efeJri1oFVRYR9sYXBGKs6FySMQ1LZWvqIbIRMto1Zje2YBLamGjmQVSDMqjsMQqeTWFNyR6faPt_oRdrTPCMovFMUHa/s1600-h/Black+Contrast.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175515775186527170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUja1mQcuXEVlvDASx4T-ucsuL6wfkw4izkmq6p_M6CAi94Qz9efeJri1oFVRYR9sYXBGKs6FySMQ1LZWvqIbIRMto1Zje2YBLamGjmQVSDMqjsMQqeTWFNyR6faPt_oRdrTPCMovFMUHa/s400/Black+Contrast.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div>1http://www.blogger.com/profile/03716628836679313246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4487220865744594795.post-60410778952064030642008-03-08T15:22:00.000-08:002008-03-08T23:22:25.018-08:00<strong>Calibration </strong><br /><br />As experts say, DeltaE (dE) represents a measurement between the color requested and the one really displayed on the monitor. The higher the result obtained, the less true colors are.<br />More precisely, here is how to interpret the graphs:<br />Delta E > 3: the desired color is noticeably different from the one on the screen.<br />2 < Delta E < 3: color quality is satisfactory, but a graphic designer probably wouldn’t be content.<br />1 < Delta E < 2: colors are accurate.<br />Delta E < 1: the result is perfect.<br /><br />Color accuracy is measured with Gretag colorimeter paired with Eye-One Match 3 and LaCie Blue Eye Pro calibration software to double-check the results.1http://www.blogger.com/profile/03716628836679313246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4487220865744594795.post-30628519293296904492008-03-08T15:21:00.000-08:002008-12-12T19:36:33.901-08:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9OHLrXkSyiG_XnhyfoED0mQT9KnYS6YUFkmiJUZhZCpeY0HGjt-KtbSFR57K8UIXSUJ6FlotJu2zOyjjh8fAP4K3XCkO6L_axjUfA3MlaZW6lX_8r8ST0XJGy5pvL7bS4ugT4NC8xPpvJ/s1600-h/ComparisonFactorywithsRGB.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175515156711236530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9OHLrXkSyiG_XnhyfoED0mQT9KnYS6YUFkmiJUZhZCpeY0HGjt-KtbSFR57K8UIXSUJ6FlotJu2zOyjjh8fAP4K3XCkO6L_axjUfA3MlaZW6lX_8r8ST0XJGy5pvL7bS4ugT4NC8xPpvJ/s400/ComparisonFactorywithsRGB.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div>1http://www.blogger.com/profile/03716628836679313246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4487220865744594795.post-70372037094130107682008-03-08T15:19:00.000-08:002008-12-12T19:36:34.153-08:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK2-B0k4AN2beayfNq1Bn-YBDc116Qbuhf_w8eHZSMVmoBEYSNJgLHp8mAnVDiRn6tU86kYCXWOOrg_bQ4k5yAHyls7E5HJ4J1HyhlRylBe3jHtGxN_aZE1YsqX-15UKgtvuRcTxB0Y5tI/s1600-h/ComparisonsRGBmodewithsRGB.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175514813113852834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK2-B0k4AN2beayfNq1Bn-YBDc116Qbuhf_w8eHZSMVmoBEYSNJgLHp8mAnVDiRn6tU86kYCXWOOrg_bQ4k5yAHyls7E5HJ4J1HyhlRylBe3jHtGxN_aZE1YsqX-15UKgtvuRcTxB0Y5tI/s400/ComparisonsRGBmodewithsRGB.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div>1http://www.blogger.com/profile/03716628836679313246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4487220865744594795.post-10598800375202260002008-03-08T15:17:00.000-08:002008-12-12T19:36:34.341-08:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkTiz-rQSo67-dmHV_u8lRmcpeCyewnSZiOKc4O5Txq0VSdEGKzkpsoLlKWNDDBA3s7IqO6zdPeRkG8NS834vdtkmzvaRddU8bejxlJZf29HngRW4L3HzJya6Szfvt-dIJYnQLFcYKdh0W/s1600-h/ComparisonscalibrationtoRGBwithsRGB.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175514164573791122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkTiz-rQSo67-dmHV_u8lRmcpeCyewnSZiOKc4O5Txq0VSdEGKzkpsoLlKWNDDBA3s7IqO6zdPeRkG8NS834vdtkmzvaRddU8bejxlJZf29HngRW4L3HzJya6Szfvt-dIJYnQLFcYKdh0W/s400/ComparisonscalibrationtoRGBwithsRGB.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div>1http://www.blogger.com/profile/03716628836679313246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4487220865744594795.post-15718976828879982862008-03-08T15:15:00.000-08:002008-12-12T19:36:34.525-08:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiusZH-XfmIFzD1iMyBHFYK7ohrD3SBvVlZjfGDmNtlu6-l2ZpxfGfcnIxxQrIBQsQTVn5gnrDRTTtLZfEnFNqpp9a7ZJiIECvWyAcWHxNF4hkTvYMYllC_Q1eiRobr3zz50FuBasS_pXGk/s1600-h/ComparisonscalibrationtoAdobeRGBwithAdobeRGB.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175513820976407426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiusZH-XfmIFzD1iMyBHFYK7ohrD3SBvVlZjfGDmNtlu6-l2ZpxfGfcnIxxQrIBQsQTVn5gnrDRTTtLZfEnFNqpp9a7ZJiIECvWyAcWHxNF4hkTvYMYllC_Q1eiRobr3zz50FuBasS_pXGk/s400/ComparisonscalibrationtoAdobeRGBwithAdobeRGB.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div>1http://www.blogger.com/profile/03716628836679313246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4487220865744594795.post-61314045156146896312008-03-08T15:14:00.000-08:002008-03-09T04:55:09.178-07:00Obviously this monitor is not factory precalibrated. So the calibration probe did a great job.<br />Look at the final color correction diagram. Green color was corrected most of all.<br />The Dell 2408 achieved the best value when calibrated to AdobeRGB.<br />The result is astonishing. Several separate sessions were done with the use of two different computers and three different programs. Results varied minimally. dE values in all cases did not exceed 1.0<br />The best result achieved: dE=0.4(!) – near to perfection for appropriate (color gamut) content.<br />The reference monitor has dE=0.2<br />Calibrated Dell 2408 displays smooth gradients.<br /><br />Optional calibration was done at ~ 140cd/m2 of white with brightness control set to 7-8, contrast 50%, R = 96, G = 92, B = 100. This is by no means a universal recipe as models vary.<br /><br />Not the best news is that sRGB preset mode failed with dE=7.3. Calibration did not help. To be honest, I did not expect much from sRGB mode on this monitor.1http://www.blogger.com/profile/03716628836679313246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4487220865744594795.post-18677861017927080602008-03-08T15:13:00.001-08:002008-03-08T15:13:59.115-08:00Here you can compare the Dell 2408 color gamut with the Samsung XL20 (LED backlight) and the Dell 2407-HC (latter two taken from behardware.com).1http://www.blogger.com/profile/03716628836679313246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4487220865744594795.post-62773877354304725222008-03-08T15:11:00.000-08:002008-12-12T19:36:34.810-08:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSmBoCemIurt_aITWagx3CHzI4xdHKjPnDDZkVW57StpWC0hu8F_se4tuiQrC6c-hTR-8dCdfmrfbenAo66WIAOBkUzsBFn_sdDHCM2GFgDvVQYyogXbG24SeZzeK-jPHjZN00tABhYDqJ/s1600-h/Gamut+x3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175512824543994738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSmBoCemIurt_aITWagx3CHzI4xdHKjPnDDZkVW57StpWC0hu8F_se4tuiQrC6c-hTR-8dCdfmrfbenAo66WIAOBkUzsBFn_sdDHCM2GFgDvVQYyogXbG24SeZzeK-jPHjZN00tABhYDqJ/s400/Gamut+x3.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div>1http://www.blogger.com/profile/03716628836679313246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4487220865744594795.post-35325042746474935112008-03-08T15:10:00.000-08:002008-03-09T01:40:10.198-08:00<strong>General Image Quality</strong><br /><br /><span style="color:#ff6666;">A special note</span>: there will be quite a bit of photo and video images of the Dell 2408 in this review.<br />All those images are not intended to represent the monitor picture quality in regard to <span style="color:#ff6666;">brightness, contrast, color accuracy, sharpness or color tone.<br /></span>Trying to get a perfect photo of something on a monitor screen IMO is useless, as it never comes close enough to what is actually seen unless the photographer is a good professional. For a monitor review it’s just wasting time.<br />Pictures provided here are to show disproportions - things that are clearly seen in comparison and/or something obvious – like a distorted screen format.<br /><br />The Dell 2408 features a VA panel. A couple of major drawbacks are attributed to this kind of LCD technology regardless the monitor brand name – from Acer to Eizo. Those are the loss of details in dark areas from the front view (become visible from angle view) and limited viewing angles – together composing famous “color shifting” effect.<br />There is no cure for this. Poorly made and poorly adjusted VA monitors may have terrible color shifting. Good VA monitors after calibration may give you accurate colors and… accurate color shifting!<br />For a quality test a reference monitor is necessary to prevent skidding from a no shoulder road. Unfortunately this happens even to a well-known test magazines when they neglect this rule of thumb.<br />The NEC 2490WUXi SpectraView with a standard gamut H-IPS panel is used as a reference monitor throughout this test.<br />First of all, about so-called 178o horizontal viewing angles for VA.<br />The diagram below gives a general idea about viewing angles/picture quality balance for VA and IPS panels.1http://www.blogger.com/profile/03716628836679313246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4487220865744594795.post-62407852960714402182008-03-08T15:09:00.000-08:002008-12-12T19:36:34.964-08:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv58g4NNxfTJAdQlhY5PmK6M9V52N-bxuoic_cdEdRHllCS5lNJqGemOvz6LgLuAjKnLkdPzMI9rf9WGN-LNByBHCmp79DGsgVj_e7kh6bLXzFPKziV9773WjuCa7zR4wgFHt0WSAN8_A4/s1600-h/ips.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175512090104587106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv58g4NNxfTJAdQlhY5PmK6M9V52N-bxuoic_cdEdRHllCS5lNJqGemOvz6LgLuAjKnLkdPzMI9rf9WGN-LNByBHCmp79DGsgVj_e7kh6bLXzFPKziV9773WjuCa7zR4wgFHt0WSAN8_A4/s400/ips.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div>1http://www.blogger.com/profile/03716628836679313246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4487220865744594795.post-78293093820770000982008-03-08T15:08:00.000-08:002008-03-08T23:42:34.367-08:00This is not just a gamma shifting, all colors scatter in different directions.The visualization of the diagram is in this picture:1http://www.blogger.com/profile/03716628836679313246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4487220865744594795.post-72972511035153643802008-03-08T15:07:00.000-08:002008-12-12T19:36:35.168-08:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigtDFatWd5Adqeys4kXYOmmBkSl27tzINy-2EW_bMJRCe7EW2VASaOhvgmZCViKEE5V14G03uzJMGncWVn0j31XVQbH6L2v4cttFr1DXWWBjpm0UaH9ub9gG2Sw-DyXtW0tCtdkGw6hWz1/s1600-h/desperado12xn1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175511660607857490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigtDFatWd5Adqeys4kXYOmmBkSl27tzINy-2EW_bMJRCe7EW2VASaOhvgmZCViKEE5V14G03uzJMGncWVn0j31XVQbH6L2v4cttFr1DXWWBjpm0UaH9ub9gG2Sw-DyXtW0tCtdkGw6hWz1/s400/desperado12xn1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div>1http://www.blogger.com/profile/03716628836679313246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4487220865744594795.post-10744321908146577452008-03-08T15:06:00.000-08:002008-03-08T23:49:03.834-08:00The Dell 2407-HC (the older model) is placed next to the reference monitor.<br /><span style="color:#cc0000;">Note: both monitors have same 178 degrees viewing angles in their specifications!!<br /></span>So 178 degrees for VA is out of the question.<br />Therefore we cannot blame Dell for color shifting – it’s VA.<br /><br />To get a realistic impression of the Dell 2408 image quality, to interpret the test results properly and make an informative choice we have to bear in mind four things:<br />This is a mid-level “consumer” monitor.<br />This is a VA panel monitor.<br />This is a “wide” color gamut monitor.<br />And even more: this is an “extra wide” color gamut monitor.<br />So when you bring a cat into your home, be prepared to find pieces of fur on your carpet. That is not because your cat is bad or sick. It’s because cats have fur.1http://www.blogger.com/profile/03716628836679313246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4487220865744594795.post-68695744462608488912008-03-08T15:03:00.002-08:002008-03-08T15:05:49.728-08:00I checked brightness distribution on the Dell 2408 at 35 measurement points.<br />The maximum deviation from the center value is about 18%. No visible problem though.1http://www.blogger.com/profile/03716628836679313246noreply@blogger.com