INTRODUCTION

   Monitor calibration tools may not be very popular among consumers (just like every other specialty product in the market) but they've always been a crucial component for certain groups of professionals like photographers who want what they see on the screen to be a 100% match compared to what they get on paper. Such products however have also proven invaluable not just to people such as myself who are testing monitors but also professionals who setup systems either in private or public locations like shopping centers. Datacolor is without doubt among the leading manufacturers of display calibration devices currently and after using their Spyder 5 Elite calibrator for several years now (review here) i decided to move to their more recent Spyder X Elite model and my goal today is to see how these two against each other.

   Datacolor, a global leader in color management solutions, provides software, instruments and services to assure accurate color of materials, products, and images. The world’s leading brands, manufacturers, and creative professionals have used Datacolor’s innovative solutions to consistently achieve the right color for more than 50 years. The company provides sales, service, and support to over 100 countries throughout Europe, the Americas, and Asia. Industries served include textile and apparel, paint and coatings, automotive and plastics as well as photography, design and videography. For more information, visit: datacolor.com.

   Even though the Spyder 5 model was using a very accurate 7 filter detector according to Datacolor the Spyder X features a ground-breaking lens-based design that allows for higher light sensitivity on the color sensor which in turn improves accuracy on low light readings (such as dark tones). Of course, as expected Datacolor has equipped the SpyderX with more advanced sensors which can measure color, white balance and shadow detail with increased precision (thus providing more optimal results). Unlike the Spyder 5 however and its 3 available editions (Express/Pro/Elite) the Spyder X is available in 2 (Pro/Elite) with three extra additions for the latter, the ability to also calibrate projectors, extra monitor analysis tools and the SoftProof feature (basic monitor analysis, room light monitoring, calibration for desktop and laptop monitors and the SpyderProof feature are available in the Pro version). So, let's take a closer look to the Spyder X Elite and see how it compares to the Spyder 5 Elite.