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Review of the Spyder5ELITE for Desktop Display, Laptop, & Projector Color Calibration

The Spyder5ELITE is the top model in the Spyder5 display color calibration range. Here's how it compares to the Spyder5PRO.

DataColor Spyder5ELITE

Categories: Display Calibration, Reviews, Workflow
Tags: Datacolor
Last updated about 4 years ago // Originally published about 5 years ago

A correctly calibrated display can make a big improvement to your photo editing workflow. It means less struggling to get the versions you print or share look as good as they should.

There are a few major options for calibrating your display. They all use a combination of hardware and software to test the colors and tones that your display is putting out. They then create a profile that your computer’s operating system loads that compensates for any differences. The objective is to get your display to show a true and accurate version of the colors and tones of the image.

Spyder5PRO vs Spyder5ELITE

I’ve previously reviewed the Sypder5PRO colorimeter, along with some other color calibration options. The Spyder5ELITE is the top model in the Spyder5 range.

Fundamentally, each of the Spyder5 colorimeters do the same thing. They all use the same hardware. The difference comes down to the software, with the higher models offering increasingly fine control for expert users. That is, if you stick to just the basic walk-thru mode, you should end up with the same profile from all of the Spyder5 devices. But as you move up the range you get more options to tweak the settings. And while they’ll all work with standard desktop and laptop displays, only the Spyder5ELITE can also profile projectors.

Since I’ve already covered the Spyder5PRO in depth, rather than rehash all of that I’m just going to focus here mostly on what’s different between the ELITE and the PRO models.

Workflow

After the first calibration, you’ll have the chance to choose your color calibration workflow. Here you have more control than you do in the other Spyder5 models. The choices are:

  • Step-by-step Assistant (walk-thru)
  • Studio Match (matching all the displays in your studio as closely as possible)
  • Expert Console (skip the hand-holding entirely)

Spyder5Elite-Workflow

The Expert Console, for example, puts all the controls on the screen at once, like this:

workflow.jpg

Display Type

In the Display Type options, in addition to the Desktop and Laptop options, both of which are also available with the Spyder5PRO, there’s also a Projector option.

display-type.jpg

Calibration Settings

Under the Calibration Settings, the Advanced button opens up some extra options with custom targets, room light, and gray balance calibration.

calibration-settings.jpg

Profiling

The profiling routine on both appears to be identical. It scrolls through a preset routine of colors and tones, comparing what the colorimeter actually sees with what its software expects to see.

DataColor Spyder5ELITE on screen

The software gives you a target on where to place the colorimeter resting on the screen.

DataColor Spyder5ELITE during calibration

During the calibration process the screen will display a range of colors and tones.

SpyderTune

Once you’ve finished the calibration process and saved your new profile, you’ll get a selection of sample photos to see visually the effects of the new profile, and you can switch between the profile and an uncalibrated version. With the Spyder5ELITE, you also have the option to use SpyderTune, which gives you some old-fashioned sliders in case you want to manually tweak the hue, gamma, or brightness. You also have the option to show these screens full-screen, which isn’t available in the Spyder5PRO.

spydertune.jpg

Map Color Profiles

You can then compare the newly generated color profile with sRGB, NTSC, and Adobe RGB profiles. With the ELITE, you’re also given the option to compare your new profile with another custom profile you’ve previously generated (this last option available with the PRO).

Wrap Up

Using the walk-thru workflows on both, I found no visually detectable difference between the color profiles generated on the same display within a few minutes of each other using the Spyder5PRO and Spyder5ELITE. Overlaying them in the comparison screen confirmed this. So the fundamental quality of the basic color calibration is the same. So if you’re after the simpler–and less expensive–option and aren’t using a projector display, the Spyder5PRO will give you excellent results (as will the cheapest model, the Spyder5EXPRESS, for that matter, if you’re willing to give up even more control).

What the ELITE version gives you though, is the addition of projector profiling, studio display matching, and more control over manually fine-tuning the controls.

Buy At

You can find the Spyder5ELITE at B&H Photo and Amazon.

Datacolor Spyder5ELITE – Designed for Professional Photographers...
Datacolor Spyder5ELITE – Designed for Professional Photographers...
  • Advanced color accuracy solution for all of your laptop and desktop displays - See, share and print your...
  • Room light monitoring determines optimal monitor brightness so you see fine shadow detail and highlights...
Check Price at Amazon

Images and product information from Amazon PA-API were last updated on 2021-01-21 at 00:39. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon Site at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.

By David Coleman
Instagram: @havecamerawilltraveldc

Last updated on June 8, 2017

Categories: Display Calibration, Reviews, Workflow
Tags: Datacolor

I may earn a commission for purchases using links on this page. Learn more.

News & Deals

With the holidays fast approaching, there’s some great deals on photography gear and services available. I’ve put together a roundup of Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2020 Photography Deals. It’s a running list as new deals are announced, so be sure to check back.

Canon announces new EOS Rebel T8i DSLR. Canon has announced their new T8i DSLR. 24MP APS-C cropped CMOS sensor, 4K24 video, and updated image processing and detection systems. It’s available for preorder from B&H Photo.

New Firmware for the Ricoh GR III. Ricoh has release firmware v1.31 for the GR III. Release notes are: “Corrected — When shooting with the multiple exposure, in rare cases the live view may not display correctly. Improved stability for general performance.” You can download it here.

New Canon 1D X Mark III Pro DSLR Announced. Canon has announced their new flagship model of pro DSLR, the 1D X Mark III. They’re sticking with a 20.1MP CMOS sensor, but it’s a new and improved version and boasts an incredible native ISO range of ISO 100 to ISO 102400 and an extended range that goes up to a jaw-dropping ISO 819200. With revamped autofocus, a new image processor, and all sorts of other bells and whistles, it’s no wonder that Canon is billing it as “The Ultimate EOS.”

New Manfrotto Pro Rugged Memory Cards. Manfrotto, an Italian probably best known for their tripods and studio accessories, has launched a new Pro Rugged range of high-end SD, microSD, and CompactFlash cards. While they don’t have a huge selection of sizes and speeds, the cards are aiming for very fast cards that can put up with rugged demands. For instance, they claim that their V90 rated SD cards can withstand three times the force (20kg / 45 lbs) of a regular SD card. I’ve ordered some to run through my speed tests.

New Sony Alpha a7 firmware released. A firmware update for the Sony a7R IV now lets you control external Sony flashes from the camera’s own menu system. Up to 15 flashes in five groups can be controlled via the camera. It also applies to the a7R III and a7 III.

About Me

I take photos. I travel. I do it for a living. Seven continents. Dozens of countries. Up mountains. Under water. And a bunch of places in between.

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