Professional photographers and graphic artists would agree; display calibration should be your first priority. The most finicky of the bunch would rather you see their work the way they intended, or not at all. So how do we solve this color crisis? Well, the folks at DataColor may just have the solution for you.

The Spyder 3 Elite is a replacement of the popular Spyder 2 Pro calibration device and builds upon the success of the previous version by offering professional features at an attractive price. With an improved user interface and a host of new features, DataColor has really distinguished themselves as the leader in color management solutions.

Notable advancements over it’s predecessor include an improved user interface, 246% larger light measuring area, reduced calibration time, an ambient light detector and support for video projectors. It also features a more compact design, LED indicators and a convenient desktop cradle to keep your set up looking sharp. There were no major drawbacks I could find with the Spyder 3 Elite. The USB Cord is on the thin side, which has some fearful of wear or breakage. Also, Windows Vista users reported software issues early on in the product’s release but those appear to have been resolved with the latest patch.

Bottom line, I highly recommend the Spyder3 Elite to advanced users who work with digital images and want to make sure they’re looking at the most consistent and accurate representation possible. For the armature or aspiring artist, you may want to first check out the other more affordable solutions from DataColor before making the investment.

The Datacolor Spyder 3 Elite Monitor is available at our sponsor’s website at http://www.digitalfotoclub.com/product-features.asp?id=964754629