Amazon.com: Customer reviews: Datacolor S5X100 Spyder5EXPRESS

Very easy to use, and seems to work well, if not perfect.

Reviewed in the United States on August 30, 2015

The problem I had previously was that the two laptop screens have strong color cast. When I connect my laptop with my monitor, it color doesn't match at all. I'm no professional graphic designer, but I take pictures regularly, and has always had the doubt that however the color look on my screen, it will look different on another viewer.

After calibrated with spyder 5 express, which only takes 5 mins on me, and maybe 15 mins in total, the color cast is all gone. There is still a very slight color difference (hue, saturation) between 3 screens, but I attribute that to the display quality itself. Now the white color looks the same. It might still looks different on someone else' screen, but if theirs get calibrated as well (which I believe all professionals, and most prosumers do), the difference should be minimum.

One thing to notice is how the software interact with windows 10. Initially I switched to my laptop monitor view only, calibrated it, then switched to monitor display only, calibrated it, then I switched to the extended mode. Windows 10 only use the color profile for the monitor display, and therefore, the color on the laptop display was still off. So I calibrated the monitor display again, but in the extended mode. Now they are the same. I suspected that there is some configuration in windows that would allow you apply color profile to each display directly, but I didn't spend the time figuring it out. The calibration process was fast enough that I just did it again.

Overall, I'm very happy with the product, and will recommend this to other people.

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Mike & Sam

Great entry level color calibration!

Reviewed in the United States on February 16, 2016

Style: Spyder5 ExpressVerified Purchase

I wanted a cheap way to calibrate my two monitors to a similar color pallet. This does a great job of that, and it is super easy to setup. I am a graphic designer, and it is important to me to have consistent color across both screens. It was a little dark for my liking using the automatic calibration with the software provided, but I realize that it has to be darker to replicate how colors will print. However, I do a lot of web design as well, so my solution to this was to make my primary screen brighter after I celebrated the screens, so that the colors match better, but I also get a screen that gives a decent idea of how colors will print, versus how colors will look on the web for most.

I have a pretty good color pallet, and considered using an alternate software with the hardware provided as recommended by some of the other power users. I felt like it was good enough for now, and am not yet going to go that route. Great price, great product, and after all my research going in, I am glad I went with this product.

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AJP

Works great, but it is S L O W !

Reviewed in the United States on May 24, 2017

Style: Spyder5 ExpressVerified Purchase

About the size of a demitasse cup, it controls your screen (via easily downloadable software) and generates a profile such that what you see on the screen is what will come out of a properly set up printer. I used it on 2 computers. The first one had a decrease overall in screen brightness, and the second computer had an increase; in both cases colors seemed a bit more subdued.
Works well, with one caveat: The software takes a very long time to install itself. On several occasions, it seems to have stopped installing, and the screen has time to go into sleep mode. This made me abort the installation first time after 20 minutes. The second, I just let it run and went to dinner. It finished installing. The calibration process requires that in a not overly brightly lit room, you dangle the device such that it makes contact with the roughly triangular outline "place sensor here" area. You start the calibration, and the screen changes color, but sometimes looks like the computer is hung up (have faith!); takes a long time. Better to start the run before you go to lunch!

3 people found this helpful

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Paul

Spyder5 Express

Reviewed in the United States on March 20, 2017

Style: Spyder5 ExpressVerified Purchase

I have two desktops and two laptops at my home. I started this venture when I sent in photos to be printed out in a photo book and the pictures came out horribly. Low contrast, low brightness and just terrible. I had a copy of one of the digital photos that I had sent to be printed and decided to check it on all of the screens. Well, it looked different on every screen and only looked good on the computer screen that I had used to edit and upload pictures for printing. Calibrated all using the datacolor software and was quite happy with the results. I felt it did a real nice job with the screens I calibrated. A heck of a lot better than what I had. I then decided to test how close all the screens were to being equal by testing each screen with a test digital photo. Although close, there was still some differences but again, not too bad. Three of the screens looked pretty good and one of the laptops was not good. I calibrated the laptop two more times with the same poor results. I bought the laptop for my wife and it is only about 8 months old and not even used all that much.
Anyway I ended up researching my issue and found a lot of useful info as well as a lot of confusing info. I came back to Amazon site to read read reviews that had been posted by owners of the Spyder5 Express. I noticed that several reviews complained that the datacolor software was just ok but there was a lot better software available. The popular Software was DisplayCal and Argyll which work together. DisplayCal is the GUI while Argyll is the software that does all the work.
I figured what do I have to lose and I tried it. It was amazing and the laptop that was very poor, popped back to life again after running the calibration procedure. The calibration procedure takes about two hours but is well worth the time since all of my screens now look even better since I did recalibrate them as well with this new software. I was totally impressed how it brought the problem laptop back to life. In my opinion, the Spyder5 Express works good using the recommended software but works fantastic using DisplayCal and Argyll software. DisplayCal and Argyll are free by the way!! The site does ask for donations and I for one will certainly make a donation because of the fantastic product they have. I am extremely happy with my computer screens now. Now what I see on my screen is what I should see when I get my photos professionally printed.

138 people found this helpful

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AT

Want a real difference? Get the Spyder 4 and software that actually works. Proofing with ICC profiles matters most overall.

Reviewed in the United States on April 17, 2015

Style: Spyder5 ExpressVerified Purchase

*** UPDATE 4/29/2015 ***
I returned the Spyder 5 Express, received the Spyder 4 Express, setup up Argyll + dispcalGUI (Datacolor software went straight into the trash), and a calibrated, and THERE WAS A CLEAR DIFFERENCE!! Calibrating your monitor does matter, using a calibration device matters, but MOST IMPORTANTLY the calibration software matters, and the Argyll + dispcalGUI is FAR SUPERIOR to the OEM Datacolor software provided for the Spyder 4 Express and Spyder 5 Express. I'm excited to see how much my prints might improve since I already thought they were great using the steps in my original review. Here's how to setup and calibrate using Argyll + dispcalGUI.

1) Do not install OEM software
2) Download Argyll (http://www.argyllcms.com/) and dispcalGUI standalone version (http://dispcalgui.hoech.net/#download)
3) Set C:/ path for Argyll folder
4) Install Sypder4 usb driver (http://www.argyllcms.com/doc/Installing_MSWindows.html#WIN8)
5) Run dispcalGUI then Menu > File > Locate Argyll CMS executables > point to c:/Argyll/bin
6) Menu > Options > enable Show advanced calibration options
7) Configure Advance options like this (http://www.modelmayhem.com/forums/post/870355/1#post17806610)
8) Run measurement tests and adjustment settings
9) Run calibration (in High speed since Medium speed took 1.5 hrs) then save and apply profile

*** ORIGINAL REVIEW 4/16/2015***
I have never calibrated my laptop's monitor in the approximately 2 years I've had it. My commercial prints were coming out too dark, so I purchased this product. The improvement it provided was negligible, much to my surprise and disappointment. The process of getting photos printed with accurate colors involves more than just calibrating your monitor. This is what I have learned:

1) Reduce the brightness of your monitor to approximately 50% then use "Calibrate color" (just search for it), the built-in Windows utility.
2) Download & Install your commercial printer's ICC profile. Sometimes it might be available on their website but you'll probably have to call them and ask what brand & model their photo lab machine is then use Google to find the appropriate ICC profile file (local stores of the same chain seem to have the same models, ex: Walmarts close to where I live all use Fuji Frontier DL 600's)
3) Soft proof your photos in Photoshop using that ICC profile (View > Proof Setup > Custom).
4) Save your photos in the sRGB color space (check with your printer to confirm this).
5) Lastly, but not as important as the previous steps, you can try to print a hard proof on your home printer that will attempt to simulate the final product from your commercial printer, (File > Print > Color Management: Photoshop manages colors; Printer profile = your home printer > Change Normal Printing to Hard Proofing: Proof Setup = appropriate ICC profile)

If you'd still like to get a calibration device then I'd say go for the Spyder 4 since it's less than half the price and the results probably won't be much different. I'm returning this. Argyll + dispcalGUI is widely said to better than any OEM software, but it currently only supports the Spyder 4, so I can't tell if just changing software would give me better calibration results. If it's superior hardware that you desire then get a calibrator from X-Rite which are said to be more accurate, longer-lasting, and have native support from Argyll + dispcalGUI. After following the steps above my prints came out perfectly at Walmart.

Save files for viewing on the web as sRGB which is ideal for most monitors. Others can even download your photo and get prints that are fairly close in color accuracy as well. Hope this helps!

*** Resources ***
Download Argyll
http://www.argyllcms.com/

Download dispcalGUI
http://dispcalgui.hoech.net/

Setup Argyll + dispcalGUI
http://www.modelmayhem.com/forums/post/870355/1#post17806610

ICC Profiles
http://www.drycreekphoto.com/icc/
http://forums.adoramapix.com/entries/228224-Color-calibration-and-custom-correction

467 people found this helpful

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Alex

Avoid the OEM calibration software

Reviewed in the United States on May 6, 2015

Style: Spyder5 ExpressVerified Purchase

Sypder5Express provides an okay to not-very-good result out of the box with OEM calibration software. But, if you are an advanced user, you can get fantastic results with the free Argyll and DispcalGUI calibration bundle. In that case, this is a very good deal considering Express and its higher priced siblings all use the same hardware.

The official calibration software from Datacolor does an inaccurate and inconsistent job between monitors (i.e. if you have two monitors side by side, they will very likely be calibrated into different colors), and it asks you to jump through hoops verifying which tier you have bought (express, pro, or elite). The express level offers minimal flexibility. There is no step in adjusting your monitor to match your desired white point, etc.; for example, higher-end monitors usually give you options to change individual RGB settings, Express does not take advantage of this. Though if you're after a simple "one-button" solution, then this could be it.

For advanced users, please do try out Argyll and its GUI counterpart dispcalGUI. Argyll has just updated in May to support Spyder5 and gives you all the customization options that you'd want for calibration. Just Google for displcalGUI's page, and it has a Quick Start Guide listing everything you need to know (though note, the standalone installation might be even easier than the recommended "Zero Install" route).

368 people found this helpful

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Christopher Anderson

Spyder5EXPRESS+DisplayCAL3 is an awesome combination!

Reviewed in the United States on February 6, 2017

Style: Spyder5 ExpressVerified Purchase

Spyder5EXPRESS+DisplayCAL3 is an awesome combination. Based on many reviews here, I opted for the lesser priced EXPRESS model and downloaded the magnificent DeviceCAL software. It works very intuitively. Didn't even bother with the native Spyder5 software. Don't forget the Argyll CMS instrument drivers. I've done a total of three calibrations on my new Samsung 32” WQHD LED (S32D850T) monitor, each one with a little more knowledge under my belt. Read up on the DisplayCAL help file and you'll see how easy it really is to use (and maybe make a donation?). Also recalibrated my 10+ year old NEC professional IPS panel. Now, both are identical when viewed side by side. Working on my ASUS laptop now.

The Spyder5 replaced my aged Spyder Pro (circa 2002) which simply would not work on my new systems. Drivers just would not load. I am very happy with this device, and it's perfect for my modest amateur astrophotography and nature imagery needs.

11 people found this helpful

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Eleftherios Kritikakis

It turned white to warming orange, as if I had an 80A filter in front of the screen...

Reviewed in the United States on December 25, 2016

Style: Spyder5 ExpressVerified Purchase

You have got to be kidding me. I followed the instructions to the letter, the initial temp was 6,500K (the instructions said that too), and this thing, the only thing it did, was to lower the Kelvin temp to a level that I had no white anymore, just a mild orange hue. Yeah, warm and pleasant to review images from your last romantic adventure, but not accurate at all.
If I wanted to just turn everything into a warm and fuzzy orange, I could have done it from the monitor settings myself by lowering it to about 5,000K. It took me 2 hours to uninstall, delete the profiles and re-calibrate my monitor to its normal settings (which are identical to a standard color card held right on the screen).
I would give it 1 star, but I'm guessing that the satisfied users do not have high quality monitors, in which case this may have helped them. My experience is 0 stars, but I'm giving it 2 because it seems that it works for others with generic bad quality monitors.

2 people found this helpful

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Lloyd

Calibrated my Linux desktop and my Windows 7 laptop.

Reviewed in the United States on February 20, 2018

Style: Spyder5 ExpressVerified Purchase

I got the Spyder5 Express in yesterday and preceded to calibrate the displays on my Ubuntu Studio Linux Desktop and my Windows 7-64 Laptop.
There are no instructions on how to use this, so you have to go to the Datacolor website. The website is printed on information in the box. All directions are on the website. You must register the unit before you can download their software.

(Note: The only difference between the various units seems to be the software.)

1st, I calibrated my Linux desktop computer monitor. I installed DispcalGUI, which is DisplayCal3. This program downloads and installs additional software from the Datacolor website for this unit. After going through the basic information, everything else is automatic until it finishes. The software does extensive testing and took 2.5 hours to test and calibrate the monitor on my Linux desktop. Be sure your screen-saver is turned off. Something that I forgot, so I had to babysit it. (You can't get to the screen-saver controls while DisplayCal is running.)

2nd came my Windows 7-64 Laptop.
After registering the unit and downloading the Windows software, I ran into some hardware registration issues. Namely, you are not supposed to plug it in to your computer until the software tells you to....

I also ran into a mild issue with the software database. Their software has nearly all of the manufactures and models listed in it. My Toshiba laptop was not listed. For that matter, Toshiba was not listed. I simply used the Generic manufacture.

But after the software was installed on the Windows laptop, the hardware was recognized, and the basics were covered, the software went through a quick monitor check and started the calibration process. This check and calibration process was nearly all automatic. The Windows check and calibration software took 10 minutes. It does not do an extensive set of testing on Windows Computer Monitors.

You will need the serial number of the unit to register it. You will find this number on the bottom and inside of the box.

The instructions say that Datacolor software can calibrate 2 monitors at the same time which are hooked to your computer, including TV's used as monitors.

The Datacolor license allows you to calibrate up to 5 computer display monitors.

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B. Boyce

This is all you need to know...

Reviewed in the United States on April 17, 2016

Style: Spyder5 ExpressVerified Purchase

Once you question your monitor's color accuracy, in my case when editing photographs, you will suffer the nagging suspicion that your finished product will not be all that it could be. Do yourself a big favor and spend the $100 to give yourself peace of mind. It's well worth it.
Don't even bother calling your professional photographer and graphic artist friends, like I did, to see if they work on calibrated monitors. Just because they don't won't quiet that voice in your head.

The least expensive version of datacolor's colorimeter monitor calibration devices, the Spyder5EXPRESS, has the same sensor as it's two more expensive models and produces the same profiles. It's limitations allow it to work only with a 6500K color temperature and 2.2 gamma, which are the most commonly used settings anyway. A little research online will reveal there is no need to spend an additional $100 for the ability to measure ambient light.

You must go online to register the device and download datacolor's measuring software. Sadly the software provides poor results, as evidenced by the negative reviews you may read. There is nothing wrong with the calibration device, only the results when used with datacolor's software. As recommended by others, download the free DisplayCAL software online for accurate, satisfying results.

Save yourself many hours of research and worry...Buy the Spyder5EXPRESS and use it with DisplayCAL's free software. Even if the results are subtle, you'll know they are correct.

600 people found this helpful

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