ThinkPad for Photographer - X220 IPS or T520 FHD

[k5552]

Folks,

Need your help to decide between the X220 IPS and T520 FHD for my photo editing and internet use. I may consider getting an external display down the road, but cannot consider one at this point in time as photography doesn't pay my bills as yet!

The only specialized application I will be using is Adobe Lightroom. No gaming or any graphics intensive stuff for me.

I have read good and not so good things about both the IPS and FHD screens on ThinkPads and both of these seem to be recommended by AnandTech.

Would appreciate if you could provide your opinions and help me decide. Thanks a ton.

Kris

[killer]

Welcome to the forum!

HD+ screens are wonderful on the T series machines, and LED technology makes them extremely clear. I've found that screen images of my photographs are much better than printed copies. The T520 has a good size screen to edit photos. The X220 might be a little too compact. It's all down to personal choice and the X220 is far more portable than the T520. Upsides and downsides always cause a dilemma.

[k5552]

Thank you Killer for the information. I am leaning towards the T520 for screen size and towards the X220 for portability.

Hence considering the option of getting an X220 and an external display. That helps me get portability and screen size when I need it. Am still undecided though!

Cheers!
Kris

[Soul_Est]

I'd say that it is best to go for the T520 since you are working with photos and need all the screen real-estate you can get. I've tried editing photos and working with graphics on my current system (late-2006 MacBook). I ended up finding the screen size and resolution are too restricting especially with the amount of real-estate taken up with the program itself before I even opened the picture. I had to zoom-in and zoom-out many times over while touching up the photograph which made it difficult to work efficiently. May be I'm a bit biased since I'm getting a second-hand W500 soon but that's just my .02.

[underclocker]

I don't think that HD (effectively, XGA), is ideal for photo editing. FHD is ideal. If a compromise is needed, then the T420s, with its FD+ panel, is the way to go, maybe even the discrete GPU model.

[Puppy]

Check this http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=45&t=99760 discussion

[loyukfai]

Couple of points...

- X220 is more portable, but it also depends on how you travel. If you're going around with a suitcase with rollers, the size and weight matters less.

- The FHD screen, so far as I gather, is a TN one, which is generally regarded as inferior to IPS. It didn't stop people from praising it though. If possible, bring some photos on a USB stick, goto the store and compare them side-by-side.

- Getting an external display with IPS screen could be quite costly.

- You may need a colour calibrator, BTW.

Cheers.

[Soul_Est]

@k5552

Couple of points...

- X220 is more portable, but it also depends on how you travel. If you're going around with a suitcase with rollers, the size and weight matters less.

- The FHD screen, so far as I gather, is a TN one, which is generally regarded as inferior to IPS. It didn't stop people from praising it though. If possible, bring some photos on a USB stick, goto the store and compare them side-by-side.

- Getting an external display with IPS screen could be quite costly.

- You may need a colour calibrator, BTW.

Cheers.

On that last point, check out the ColorHug when it's released: [url]http://]www.hughski.com/[/url]

[jayton4]

I don't think that HD (effectively, XGA), is ideal for photo editing. FHD is ideal. If a compromise is needed, then the T420s, with its FD+ panel, is the way to go, maybe even the discrete GPU model.

I couldn't agree more. Get the best of both worlds with the T420s! Lightweight and very portable, plus it has an excellent screen.

[k5552]

Thank you.

Check this http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=45&t=99760 discussion

For me color accuracy is top priority. I am concerned about the color accuracy on the x220 IPS. I have come across reports stating that...

1. Reds tend to look like orange
2. Yellow cast to white

These are a couple of things that are keeping me from going with the IPS screen. I have a light touch approach to photo editing. I am not one of the pixel peepers and usually only make macro level adjustments to my photos. So, I am willing to sacrifice some of the real estate for the x220 IPS if some of you can confirm the above issues are not applicable / have been resolved in the new x220 units.

I don't think that HD (effectively, XGA), is ideal for photo editing. FHD is ideal. If a compromise is needed, then the T420s, with its FD+ panel, is the way to go, maybe even the discrete GPU model.

Sure. Will add the 420s to my consideration list.

It looks like the best way forward is to get a color calibrator irrespctive of the laptop / panel choice.

Thank you for your time.

[Puppy]

For me color accuracy is top priority.

Then you have simple choice - desktop monitor made by NEC or Eizo. Notebook displays (regardless of panel technology) can not serve the purpose because:

- AFAIK all notebook panels are 6 bit only (thus can display 262k colors only, dithering does not count) including IPS/AFFS panels in older IBM T models and current X220. One of reasons for it is power consumption
- no notebook panel has backlight uniformity compensation (used by NEC and Eizo) which is important for color accuracy across the display surface
- very likely no notebook panel (maybe some 17" models but I doubt) has wide gamut CCFL backlight

If you still want to go the notebook display path the list of advices is:
1. skip all TN based panels regardless of what marketing hype ("RGB LED backlight", "wide gamut", "LED") is tagged. It is outdated technology. Period
2. check HP and Dell models with 15.6" IPS panels. The panel is very likely 6 bit only but still far better than any TN panel.
3. ignore silly comparisons of TN panels gamut. Any non-TN (IPS, AFFS, PVA) panel with "worse" gamut number will look significantly better than TN panel with "better" gamut.
4. watch real measured contrast ratio of the panel (http://www.notebookcheck.net reviews usually provides it). It should be 500:1 or better. For example, most of 14" displays Lenovo use have ridiculous contrast ratio around 150:1 only so the colors are washed out and black color turns grey only. The only Lenovo panels with reasonable contrast ratio currently are the IPS one in X220 or the TN one with FHD resolution in T520/W520.
5. before buy, inspect the display carefully in light conditions you will use it most of the time. Some panels are still overbrighted on minimum brightness setting. Unfortunately there is usually no spec of minimum possible brightness level, it supposed to be below 40 cd/m2 but you can reach it such good value without color distortion with professional desktop monitors only.

[pianowizard]

Then you have simple choice - desktop monitor made by NEC or Eizo.

That's indeed the best thing to do, although the OP did write the following:

I may consider getting an external display down the road, but cannot consider one at this point in time as photography doesn't pay my bills as yet!

k5552, what laptop do you currently have? Would it be possible to just keep using this laptop, but buy a really good external monitor? If I were a photographer, I doubt I would want to process my photos on a tiny laptop screen.

[loyukfai]

@k5552: May I ask how do you output your photos...? To web...? To print...? To agency...?

Cheers.

[k5552]

Thanks @puppy for all the information.

Yes am totally with you on laptop monitors. I understand their limitations. I will probably go with the IPS now - seem to like it the best, and an external monitor in the next few months. That gives me the portability and a big 'good' screen.

Am considering the X220 tablet - is more intuitive to make photo edits with a pen on the screen than with a mouse.

A colorimeter is also in the works.

I am using an antique Dell Latitude, which is too slow with Lightroom.

I output my files to print

Thanks everybody.

[loyukfai]

Using a X61T with LR myself, the stylus actually has no use whatsoever under LR. The designs and controls are small and not geared for that, IMO.

Cheers.

[crashnburn]

That Hughski product looks nice.

[k5552]

Using a X61T with LR myself, the stylus actually has no use whatsoever under LR. The designs and controls are small and not geared for that, IMO.

Cheers.

Thats an opinion I have heard from others on the forum. Am going with X220 IPS + external monitor + color calibrator

[loyukfai]

@k5552: Mind to share a link...?

@crashnburn: Indeed, any idea if the stock matrix work well with both TN and IPS ThinkPads...? http://www.hughski.com/faq.html#crapcal

Cheers.

[corelement]

As a creative professional I say x220 because you will often need to look at the screen from odd angles which normal users wont.

Everything is perfect with x220 for creative use other than the shade of red which is more orange on the IPS x220.

However remember this is a laptop, you can always hook it up to a proper display to edit, however the viewing angles, battery life and size makes the x220 a perfect choice for creative professionals.

I for one cannot use a macbook pro because of it's horrid viewing angles on TN. And that's one of the best TN's available.

[k5552]

Thank you everybody for your points of view. I think all of you helped me make a good investment to take my photography forward.

I did get a X220 with the IPS screen and am loving the laptop. Needless to say the display is great and the form factor is wonderful

Got extra RAM and Lightroom running on it, and this is all I need for the moment.

Cheers!