Datacolor Spyder3Pro Display Calibration System from Datacolor
- No Longer Available
The DataColor Spyder3Pro provides monitor color calibration for serious photographers and creative pros who require a high degree of color accuracy; from capturing images, to digital editing and printing. The Spyder3 is the only colorimeter available on the market offering a seven detector color engine, with an aperture several times larger than other devices, thereby increasing its light sensitivity by 400 percent for increased accuracy and performance. This ensures consistent color on all LCD, CRT, and laptop displays.
Among its most innovative features is a proofing capability called SpyderProof that brings an impressive level of color control to any digital workflow. SpyderProof enables professionals to evaluate calibration with a before and after mode. Professionals can view four quadrants of thematic photos to specifically evaluate saturated colors, skin tones, gradients, and black and white images to ensure the desired calibration results.
As compared to its award-winning predecessor Spyder2, the Spyder3 offers a sleeker design that's 37 percent smaller and incorporates third-generation Spyder technology. The updated form factor includes an embedded ambient light detector and desktop cradle. It also includes an easy-to-use, photo-centric user interface with features that photographers and creative professionals need.
Designed for the way photographers work, the Spyder3Pro is the next generation in calibration accuracy, precision and speed, allowing you to create profiles to your specifications and bring an unprecedented level of color control to your work.
- Third Generation Spyder Technology
- The Spyder3 colorimeter is based on a state-of-the-art optical design, using a 7-detector color engine and a very large light aperture, providing unrivaled performance. In conjunction with the patented filter array and embedded ambient light sensor, the Spyder3 provides industry-leading performance for the precision calibration of LCD, CRT, projector and notebook displays. 1
- Elegant Form and Function
- With a unique fusion of design excellence and functionality, the Spyder3 offers a small footprint, embedded ambient light sensor, and LED indicator. Furthermore, the desktop cradle can be used for storage, or ambient light monitoring.
- Fast and Precise Measurement
- The Spyder3 has increased light sensitivity by 400% as compared to the previous edition, and also features the largest screen sample area or aperture in the industry resulting in improved accuracy on LCD screens and a faster calibration time.
- Super-Fast ReCAL
- ReCAL reduces full calibration time by more than half allowing you to quickly and easily re-calibrate on a more frequent basis or before any important shoot or post-production project.
- Intelligent Ambient Light Control
- Embedded with a next-generation, high precision sensor, Spyder3 automatically measures the ambient light within a room for a new level of precision calibration.
- Support for Next Generation Displays
- The patented Spyder3 optical design and color engine enable precise calibration and profiling of the latest in wide gamut, LED backlight and AdobeRGB displays.
- SpyderProof Function
- Evaluate your calibration in before and after mode using four quadrants of thematic photos targeting Saturated Colors, Skin Tones, Gradients and Black & White. Zoom in on any photo to scrutinize highlights, shadow detail, color or tonal response. Softproof the images using your own custom profiles. Designed for the way photographers work, SpyderProof brings you an impressive level of color control to help you achieve color excellence.
- Cross-platform Compatibility
- Spyder3Pro software runs on today's popular hardware and software platforms, including Windows, Macintosh and even Intel based Macintosh systems, and is the only calibration product that works efficiently on any computer, running Mac OS X or Microsoft Windows XP (32/64), Vista (32/64), and 7 (32/64).
| System & Software Requirements |
Windows System
Macintosh System
Please Note:Built-in USB cable close |
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviews(based on 419 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
94%
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Pros
- Accurate colors (228)
- Easy to navigate (217)
- Easy to collaborate across programs (130)
- Easy to customize (74)
- Versatile (66)
Cons
- Not very powerful (8)
- Inaccurate controls (7)
- Difficult to navigate (5)
- Lacks adjustability (4)
- None that i can see (4)
Best Uses
- Professional quality (178)
- Presentations (39)
- Photo editing (26)
- Educational purposes (12)
- Improving efficiency (12)
- How long have you owned it:
A month or less
57%
(4 reviews)
One-to-three months
Three-to-six months
More than six months
- Reviewer Profile:
- Quality oriented (267), Budget shopper (47), Graphics enthusiast (23), Photographer (13), Business user (11)
- Primary use:
- Personal (232), Business (154)
- Computer Platform:
- PC (49), Mac (21)
Most Liked Positive Review
Easy to use, bad documentation
The main difference between Spyder3Pro and Spyder3Elite (for my purposes) is that Spyder3Elite lets you define your own "targets" with your choice of black and white luminance, gamma and color temper...Read complete review
The main difference between Spyder3Pro and Spyder3Elite (for my purposes) is that Spyder3Elite lets you define your own "targets" with your choice of black and white luminance, gamma and color temperature, or customized curves. Spyder3Pro gives you a set of canned targets to use and disables the features that let you define them yourself. Targets include color temps of "native", 5000, 5800, 6500, and gamma of 1.8, 2.0, 2.2, 2.4. You cannot set your own black/white points (min/max brightness) and the program doesn't tell you what they are set to, so you have to live with what they give you. No good way to match a specific paper/ink DMax. DataColor has a web page with feature comparisons for their different calibration tools.
Pros: Software is a bit quirky but stable. Easy and quick to install. Be sure to download and install the SW updates (mine shipped with 3.0.1, current level is at 3.0.4). Follow the instructions on screen and calibration is pretty straightforward. Accurate color and contrast after calibration. Compared on a couple of different screens and it seems very consistent, esp. with respect to contrast. One screen (Toshiba) was a bit more saturated looking than the other (Sony Vaio). A quick calibration check tells you whether you need to recalibrate. The black point seems a bit too low to me -- it's difficult to tell the difference between the lowest black levels in the SpyderProof image. This seemed better after upgrade to 3.0.4. Sensor works well on my LCD screens.
Cons: It's pretty clear that Spyder3Pro is a hobbled version of Spyder3Elite. The help screens are still the help screens for Spyder3Elite. This makes the help confusing, as it refers to various features and controls that aren't there. Also there is a broken link that was obviously cut/pasted into multiple help files, with the same typo (http://http//www....). It was fixed in some of the 3.0.4 help but not everywhere. The software recommends leaving brightness and contrast settings at default for LCDs, but then prompts you later to adjust them. It seems to work fine if you just leave them alone. Later calibration passes don't do all the tests in order to improve speed (a plus, although it doesn't take that long anyway), but it's not really clear what the path is through the recalibration process or how you might do a complete recalibration if you wanted to. Can't set black/white points (I know, I already said that, but it's still bugging me).
Other: Haven't really made much use of the ambient light features, so can't speak to that yet. The SpyderProof lets you display various photos (not your own) while switching the calibration on/off. I could do that with the original Spyder by unchecking the "enabled" box while I had my own photo on the screen.
For most amateurs, the extra 100 bucks for Spyder3Elite to be able to fine-tune the targets might not be worthwhile, but I would think that for serious amateurs and most pros it would be a necessity.
VS
Most Liked Negative Review
Decent device. Support questionable.
This device is spun as the holy grail of color management, when it really is just your basic color calibrator. It appears to do its job just fine, and the price is reasonable. ...Read complete review
This device is spun as the holy grail of color management, when it really is just your basic color calibrator. It appears to do its job just fine, and the price is reasonable. On the other hand, the construction has seriously cheaped-out relative to its predecessor, and you can tell accompanying software is not well thought out. The spec's are limited. For example, while it states it supports dual monitors, it fails to tell you the additional hardware requirements to do so. So once you get it, realize what it doesn't do and what you weren't told, contact their tech support, account for their guidance, get it running, then it works.
REVIEWS
Reviewed by 419 customers
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Displaying reviews 1-20
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Pros
- Accurate Colors and Controls
- Easy To Collaborate Across Programs
- Easy To Customize
- Easy To Navigate
- Versatile
Cons
Best Uses
- Professional Quality
Comments about Spyder3Pro Display Calibration System from Datacolor:
Easy to use
Great color in my images
- Primary use:
- Business
- Computer Platform:
- Mac
Comments about Spyder3Pro Display Calibration System from Datacolor:
I wanted to make sure that my prints for my clients were coming back like they appeared on my screen...my new spyder software allows me to do that and after having some new test prints sent back to me I am surprised at the difference. There was some differences in what they asked for than what my monitor displayed that gave me some confusion on set up.
Pros
- Accurate Colors and Controls
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Spyder3Pro Display Calibration System from Datacolor:
I just upgraded to Lion and decided to upgrade to Spyder3 from Spyder 2 pro. I use an Epson 3800 and my prints were dark. The color match now is much better and I am delighted.
- Primary use:
- Personal
- Computer Platform:
- Mac
Pros
- Accurate Colors and Controls
Cons
Best Uses
- Professional Quality
Comments about Spyder3Pro Display Calibration System from Datacolor:
I am a semi-professional photographer and this fits my needs perfectly. So easy to setup, unbelievable.
- Primary use:
- Business
- Computer Platform:
- PC
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Spyder3Pro Display Calibration System from Datacolor:
I have held off writing this review for over a month in the hopes Datacolor could resolve my problem. My problem has been with "customer service." I owned a Spyder 2 which worked well. I upgraded to the Spyder 3 in September 2011, and it didn't work well at all. Following the instructions carefully, the results of running the software was that the "after" (corrected) screen always looked worse than the "before" (unadjusted) color profile screen; the exact opposite of what their promotional materials depict. Whites came out a dull muddy beige as opposed to a bright white. After two phone calls and 21 emails back and forth between me and their US and Swiss offices I am no further along.
- Primary use:
- Personal
- Computer Platform:
- PC
Pros
- Accurate Colors and Controls
- Easy To Navigate
Cons
Best Uses
- Professional Quality
Comments about Spyder3Pro Display Calibration System from Datacolor:
I use 2 of these, one for my home & one for my office monitor. I use it for the purpose of editing photographs. I think this product is a must for anyone serious about photography! Without it, you really have no idea of what colors are going to print. But, even with this product, you must be careful about who prints your photos to get an accurate color. My prints turn out the same as the colors on my monitor with the help of this calibrator and a good photo lab!
- Primary use:
- Business
- Computer Platform:
- PC
Pros
Cons
- Inaccurate Controls
Best Uses
Comments about Spyder3Pro Display Calibration System from Datacolor:
Tried for several days with Spyder support with no avail to calibrate a CTR with Spyder 3. The Spyder 2 we are currently using was not supported by Win 7.
Had Spyder 2 and it worked like a charm.
We have been awaiting a return call from support but have not received it after a few days.
If we can't resolve it shortly, we will be looking for another product.
- Primary use:
- Business
- Computer Platform:
- PC
Pros
- Accurate Colors and Controls
- Easy To Collaborate Across Programs
- Easy To Navigate
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Spyder3Pro Display Calibration System from Datacolor:
I could not get my monitor to align with my printer no matter how I tried so I bit the bullet and invested in the Spyder3 Pro. No regrets. My printing looks marvelous now!
- Primary use:
- Business
- Computer Platform:
- Mac
Pros
- Accurate Colors and Controls
- Easy To Collaborate Across Programs
- Easy To Navigate
Cons
Best Uses
- Professional Quality
Comments about Spyder3Pro Display Calibration System from Datacolor:
I purchased this due to some unfortunate printing errors that were creeping up on me - colour casts in photo prints that were not showing up on my monitor.
Well, it was because I had calibrated my monitor by eye, and basically taken those casts out!
With the SPYDER3PRO, there is no room for error. I calibrated two high end TFT IPS monitors, and the difference was astonishing. I will never go without. Coupled with Xrite Colorchecker passport, and my photos have never looked better.
- Primary use:
- Personal
- Computer Platform:
- Mac
Pros
- Accurate Colors and Controls
- Easy To Navigate
Cons
Best Uses
- Professional Quality
Comments about Spyder3Pro Display Calibration System from Datacolor:
I was able to calibrate both my monitors, which in my line of work is crucial. My iMac was almost dead on, but the change on my second monitor was remarkable.
- Primary use:
- Business
- Computer Platform:
- Mac
Pros
- Accurate Colors and Controls
- Easy To Collaborate Across Programs
- Easy To Navigate
- Versatile
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Spyder3Pro Display Calibration System from Datacolor:
Pro Studio , there was no software update for my OPTIX XR they wanted me to buy a new unit. The good people at ShootSmarter said this one was as good if not better. At a better price.
- Primary use:
- Business
- Computer Platform:
- PC
Pros
- Accurate Colors and Controls
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Spyder3Pro Display Calibration System from Datacolor:
Little disappointed that there were no instructions for use. A must if you print your own work for Clients or yourself!
- Primary use:
- Personal
- Computer Platform:
- PC
Pros
Cons
- Inaccurate Controls
- Not Very Powerful
Best Uses
Comments about Spyder3Pro Display Calibration System from Datacolor:
Unfortunately, this unit would not correctly calibrate either of my Samsung SyncMatster CRTs at all. I had previously owned a Monaco Calibration unit (which I still use), but that is old and I thought I would update it.
Well after 3 installs and about 5-6 tries at calibration I gave up. Colors were way off, the unit could not read the brightness of both monitors.
Believe me I wanted it to work, and maybe my monitors are a bit old ( I won't give up my CRTs until I have to), but this unit could not handle two different systems and monitors.
I am neutral on my position though because it may work perfectly fine for somebody else.
I am going to try out the Color Munki if and when I purchase a LED Monitor.
- Primary use:
- Business
- Computer Platform:
- PC
Pros
- Accurate Colors and Controls
- Easy To Collaborate Across Programs
- Easy To Navigate
Cons
Best Uses
- Professional Quality
Comments about Spyder3Pro Display Calibration System from Datacolor:
The Spyder3Pro is a great choice for photographers who desire a more accurate color representation. It is simple to use, and the affordability is an added plus!
- Primary use:
- Business
- Computer Platform:
- Mac
Pros
- Easy To Collaborate Across Programs
- Easy To Navigate
Cons
- Not Very Powerful
Best Uses
- Professional Quality
Comments about Spyder3Pro Display Calibration System from Datacolor:
I use my Spyder to calibrate 2 monitors at one time.
I does the job but there is still a little difference in color between my 2 monitors which I though will be resolved.
- Primary use:
- Personal
- Computer Platform:
- PC
Pros
- Accurate Colors and Controls
- Versatile
Cons
Best Uses
- Professional Quality
Comments about Spyder3Pro Display Calibration System from Datacolor:
I purchased this product in order to calibrate my monitors for printing on a Canon iPF8300. the results are spot on, the very first time. It did an exceptional job calibrating to both my standard LCD, and LED back lit monitors. my prints are accurate and gorgeous.
- Primary use:
- Business
- Computer Platform:
- PC
Pros
- Easy To Collaborate Across Programs
- Easy To Navigate
Cons
Best Uses
- Presentations
Comments about Spyder3Pro Display Calibration System from Datacolor:
Used Spyder 2 before. This one is allot faster and simpler to use.
- Primary use:
- Personal
- Computer Platform:
- Mac
Pros
- Accurate Colors and Controls
- Easy To Collaborate Across Programs
- Easy To Navigate
Cons
- None
Best Uses
- Photo editing
- Professional Quality
Comments about Spyder3Pro Display Calibration System from Datacolor:
I have to admit I wasn't sure I would see a big difference on my iMac but after using the Spyder 3 Pro it was quite impressive just how much my screen needed adjusting. Now I make the correct adjustments to all my photographs. You really don't notice it until you use this thing and see the difference.
- Primary use:
- Personal
- Computer Platform:
- Mac
Pros
- Accurate Colors and Controls
- Easy To Collaborate Across Programs
- Easy To Navigate
Cons
Best Uses
- Professional Quality
Comments about Spyder3Pro Display Calibration System from Datacolor:
I had to reinstall it after my first try because it kept freezing up, but once I reinstalled, it took about 5 minutes. I didn't think I really needed to calibrate my monitor (I just assumed it was fine), but I was shocked at the difference it made. As a professional photographer who designs albums and sell prints of my work, I wish I'd ordered and used this thing earlier.
- Primary use:
- Business
- Computer Platform:
- Mac
Pros
- Accurate Colors and Controls
- Easy To Collaborate Across Programs
- Easy To Customize
- Easy To Navigate
- Versatile
Cons
Best Uses
- Professional Quality
Comments about Spyder3Pro Display Calibration System from Datacolor:
As an amateur photographer just getting into portrait photography, I needed a calibration system for my computer that I could trust. I currently own an iMac and was concerned the Spyder3 wouldn't be quite what I needed for compatibility, but it works wonderfully with my machine. Set-up is easy, navigation simple. Eventually I would like to have more control that the SpyderElite Pro offers, but for now this does the job wonderfully.
- Primary use:
- Business
- Computer Platform:
- Mac
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Cables & Adapters
- Price: $5.96
- GBP 3.81
Hardware Expansion
- Price: $62.95
- GBP 40.19
Care & Cleaning
-
- Original: $4.99
- Save: $0.50
- Price: $4.49
- GBP 2.87
What's in the Box
- Spyder3 Colorimeter
- Desktop Cradle
- Screen Cleaning Packets
- Spyder3Pro Software CD-ROM
- Quick Start Guide
- 2-Year Limited Warranty
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