Just use controlcal and offsets, or buy a DIY meter?

[ThA_tRiXtA]

Hi guys,

I am about to become a controlcal customer for my PDP-6020FD very shortly… but I am having trouble in deciding how much of a customer I would like to become.

After doing some research, this website may have persuaded me into buying my own color meter and performing a DIY calibration versus only applying D-Nice’s offsets using controlcal.

I would appreciate if you could answer a question for me, and include any other info that may help me in my decision.

Firstly I was considering the Chroma5, but then I read on your site that the chroma5 meter has a shelf life, so to speak, of approximately 2 to 4 years. I am rather hesitant of spending that much money on something that will inevitably turn into a paper weight (and I am sure my wife wouldn't appreciate that too much either if you catch my drift.)

I am curious if the Eyeone pro has a similar lifespan, or any lifespan for that matter? I am willing to invest a fair bit of money into this, but I am not so sure if I want to invest that much if the meter will no longer be suitable for use in a few years. Is there anything you can do to extend their effective life? I have already read the comments on using appropriate dessicants for the Chroma5.

As I said, if you have any other suggestions for a complete rookie, I am more than grateful to hear them.

Best regards.

[ThA_tRiXtA]

So I am guessing that new customers really aren't a priority around here these days? I've sent a PM to Turbe a week ago, and then posted this when I got no response.

Is anyone even using this site anymore?

Thanks for looking.

[ev666il]

Hi ThA_tRiXtA,

Turbe is a very helpful guy and usually answers his customers' questions promptly. Please keep in mind he's also quite busy and it's Easter time for him as well :)

I can't comment on the i1Pro specifically but as far as I know, there is no such thing as an eternal meter: whichever you buy will stop being efficient sooner or later. The Chroma5, just like the i1Pro, can be sent back to factory for re-calibration every year (unlike the cheaper Display LT/Gamma5): this, together with some care, should grant your meter the longest possible lifespan.

[Turbe]

:oops:

Hi, I'll edit this post after the Holiday weekend, I've been slammed the past several days with technical support questions and new user activations and I apologize in advance for the delay. I'll get to you questions (evil's answers are right-on in regards to the EyeOne Pro and Chroma 5 being able to be sent back for re-certification and re-calibration (if needed) :D

Also, the Chroma 5's are now coming with the NIST certificate just like the EyeOne Pro's.. :thumbsup:

Happy Easter

[ThA_tRiXtA]

Hi gentlemen,

Thank you very much for the informative replies. I know everyone is busy over the holiday weekend, please do not think I was being inconsiderate or rude, as that was not my intention. I thought I had missed the boat for people calibrating their Kuro's since they are not being made any more and have come and gone, so no one was using this site for that purpose anymore.

Anyways, on to the meat of this topic.

Having worked with QC standards before, I can understand each meter will "drift" in terms of it's calibration over time. Because the Chroma5 has the filters in it, will it degrade faster than the i1 pro?

Do most people send their meters back once a year to get re-certified, and what is the cost of that service?

Basically what I am wondering is which meter will stay accurate longer and have a more lengthy lifespan? I assume that even if a person was to purchase the Chroma5 and have it re-calibrated every year, it's useful life will still only be approximately 5 years?

I know this may sound kind of petty to be concerned of how long the meter will last considering how much we spend on our TV's to begin with, but I was lucky enough to get the go ahead from my wife for the pio kuro itself, trying to sell another 600 to 1000 $ on a meter that will be tough, especially if will effectively be useless in a certain number of years.

Keep in mind I live in Canada too, where your prices instantly cost me 20 to 25 % more to buy the same product as someone in the US could buy it for.

So, I'm still on the fence. How long would the i1's lifespan be vs. the C5 if they both were calibrated? If they weren't calibrated, would the i1 not be effective after a few years either? I assume that having them calibrated extends their useful life by a few years? I'm just trying to see at the minimum how long I would have something tangible in my hands before I would have to re-purchase another meter.

Should I buy the C5 and spend the extra money from not buying the i1 on calibrations, or buy the i1 and hope that it doesn't drift much?

One last question Turbe, if you wouldn't mind. I see you wrote in your post that a calibration "might not be needed."

I was under the impression that the calibration would drift no matter what on any of these meters... how would you get away with not calibrating them, and secondly how could you tell if your meter did need a calibration?

Thanks again guys, please take your time. I sense that you guys are suggesting to buy a meter over just using controlcal and applying offsets, so that buys me some time to start saving some $$$'s to buy a meter... which is the way I am leaning so far as well, so it buys me some time.

[Turbe]

The price charged by X-rite is $200 set up and $75 per calibration (and $5 per certificate).

By “recalibrate,” they will write new matrix tables into the meter. But if the meter’s physical characteristics have deteriorated to the point where it’s out of range, they won’t try to repair it. If the meter has drifted a small amount that could be covered by a new calibration table, they’ll write the new calibration table, but if the meter has drifted a lot, there’s nothing they can do about that.


I may have another less expensive option for DIYers (checked to a high end reference meter) in the future.