KALIBRATOR SPYDER 3 PRO SOFTWARE
Used with a 2016 13-inch Macbook Pro, the calibration process was impressively brief, with it taking around 74 seconds on average for the calibrator to measure the targets being displayed by the software – it does make you wonder why this couldn’t have always been the case before.
KALIBRATOR SPYDER 3 PRO MANUAL
The Interactive Help guide explains what’s going on, and the built-in manual is an excellent reference for anything that may need to be cleared up, with heaps of information however, it would be good for this to be incorporated either into the main display at the side of the screen, or even better, next to the features that you may be querying in a ‘What’s This?’ manner as you go through the process, rather than having to open it all in a separate window.
The wizard-based software makes calibration straightforward (Image credit: Future) If you’re new to calibration you can opt for the step-by-step wizard, while color management wizards can opt for the full-fat process to give them more immediate control over certain settings. You can still access these more advanced settings when using the step-by-step wizard if you want to, but it helpfully clears them out of the way for the benefit of those who don't. The USB-A connection on the SypderX Elite means it’s not immediately compatible with newer laptops fitted with Type-C ports it would have been welcome to find a small adapter thrown into the box, as these aren't expensive on their own. It’s swung over the top of the display to keep the calibrator flat against the screen and in place – at least that's the idea it’s very light, so you may find yourself angling your display to make sure the unit actually stays right up against it. This shields the lens from dirt and damage, and also functions as a counterweight during calibration. The SpyderX Elite has a glossy white casing and a smart design that sees it clip into a protective cover when not in use. Spyder LensCal folds flat for easy storage/transportation.All products can be tripod- and/or stand-mounted if required.SpyderX Elite calibration in under 90 seconds.
KALIBRATOR SPYDER 3 PRO PRO
If you’re on a budget, however, you can still get the previous Datacolor Spyder5 Capture Pro package for around £100 / AU$210 less (it's only around $30 less in the US), which contains the same Spyder LensCal, Spyder Cube and Spyder Checkr, together with the older Spyder5 Elite.
The combined cost of these components brought individually is around £100 / $100 / AU$240 more than the price of the SpyderX Capture Pro bundle, so it’s quite a saving – and you get the case on top of that.
So what are the differences? The Elite boasts more advanced display mapping and analysis tools, together with unlimited calibration settings choices and the option to calibrate projectors, with side-by-side display tuning and a handful of other perks on top of all that. Incidentally, this is the more senior of two Spyder models, the other being the SpyderX Pro. Specifically, the model is said to have higher light sensitivity and more advanced sensors than the previous Spyder5 Elite unit, and like that model is able to monitor ambient light so that it can take your environment into account. SpyderX Elite just prior to calibration (Image credit: Future)