LG L2000C, Nasty rainbow banding on greys

[LukeAP]

I got an LG L2000C 20" LCD delivered the other day and it shows some odd banding in grey scales. When I display a gradual scale from light to dark grey each level of grey is clearly visible but some levels show a distinct coloured hue, mainly pinks and purples.

I've tired to capture an image with a camera, this shows the effect quite well when displayed on other monitors (I've checked).

image of banding

I've tried all the different colour/contrast/brightness settings on the monitor and all show the same effect. The f-engine settings on the monitor tend to make the effect worse. (I used the "movie" setting to take the photo since that is the worst.)

I'm not sure whether to send the monitor back and get a replacement, or just ask for my money back and try a different brand. Do you think a different L2000C unit is likely to show the same problem?

 

[Heartbreaker]

I had heard the L2000C had a banding problem. You might want to get in touch with the manufacturer and let them know about the issue. I think if you just get another, it might be the same.

 

[LukeAP]

I spoke to LG and they said: "it is not a known problem, you should return the monitor."

But then again, I wouldn't expect their support people to know of, or admit to, a problem with the design.

The thing is even though I just bought the monitor it says it is manufactured in January 2006. I wonder, if I get a newer one, have they improved the performance in 5 months?

 

[jfunk]

If they immediately told you to return the problem, I would suspect they expect another to not have the issue. If your replacement has the issue as well, email their support with a link the the photo and see what they have to say.

 

[imported_greyhound]

My L200C has grayscale banding but not with the discoloration in your screenshot. Try exchanging it for another. Hopefully, this isn't a problem which has popped up with all the latest factory run.

 

[LukeAP]

jfunk, I got the impression the guy I spoke to didn't know much about monitors, so I am not going to make any assumptions based on what he said.

greyhound, I should have pointed out, I am using DVI input. If I change to VGA I can still see brightness banding (not so bad) but the discolouration disappears. Are you using DVI or VGA? (I want to use the analog output of my card for another monitor so I'm not going to give up on DVI.)

Whilst I just bought this monitor new, it says on the back that it was manufactured in January! I think that means it must be one of the earliest runs of this model, I wonder if there was some problem which they have now fixed.

Luke

 

[cdmccool]

I recently purchased this monitor and I love it but I also notice banding. How much is "acceptable" and when does it come to the point of being defective?

It doesn't bother me too much but I paid a lot of money for this monitor and I don't want to sell myself short.

Other than that, love this monitor. No dead pixels and no backlight bleeding! :thumbsup: Mine also says manufactured in January of 2006.

 

[LukeAP]

Originally posted by: cdmccool
I recently purchased this monitor and I love it but I also notice banding. How much is "acceptable" and when does it come to the point of being defective?

It doesn't bother me too much but I paid a lot of money for this monitor and I don't want to sell myself short.

I think there are two questions here:
Firstly, do all L2000C's have the same problem? If the answer is no, then we should definitely have our monitors replaced.

If all L2000C's have the same problem, then you have to ask; does it bother me? It seems very unlikely that LG will do a recall for what I bet they would call a "minor bug". Whether the banding will cause you a problem depends entirely on what you use the monitor for.

I've spent the last few days testing this monitor quite extensivly, I have done this with two monitors attached to the computer, so I have been able to test very easily what something looks like on this monitor and what it looks like on a panel which doesn't have banding problems.

I do a fair amount of work with digital photos and the good news is that the banding does not seem to cause significant issues for photo work. I've tried to spot the effects of banding in lots of images, and I cannot see it. I think even very mild gain or noise in the image is enough to mask the banding completely.

I have tried some games and I cannot see the effects of banding there, even on smooth shaded skys.

However, I also do some work on vector images for diagrams of various kinds. Whenever you have a smooth gradient fill, if you zoom in close enough you can see the banding effects on this monitor. You can usually make out the difference between consecutive shades of grey on any good monitor, but with this monitor you get uneven banding at the lighter and darker ends of the black-white scale (i.e. missing/uneven levels) and you get this odd rainbow coloured banding in the middle of the grey scale. (There is colour banding too.)

The effect is minor, but I keep asking myself whether it will bug me in the future, and I suspect it might. I am going to try one more L2000C (hopefully a newer one), if it has the same problem I'm going to ask LG about it again, but I suspect I'll be sending it back and trying something else. It is a shame because the monitor is so good in every other respect.

Luke

 

[jfunk]

LG's description says:

"...the FLATRON? L2000C ideal for graphics, medical, and financial professionals."

Significant banding is most certainly not acceptable for a graphics professional, so if it the problem persists with a replacement, I wouldn't hesitate to return it. Unless, of course, it doesn't personally bother you and you otherwise like the monitor. I can't image that this issue won't crop up from time to time in photo editing though, which it sounds like you do a lot of.

 

[LukeAP]

Originally posted by: jfunk
LG's description says:

"...the FLATRON? L2000C ideal for graphics, medical, and financial professionals."

Significant banding is most certainly not acceptable for a graphics professional, so if it the problem persists with a replacement, I wouldn't hesitate to return it. Unless, of course, it doesn't personally bother you and you otherwise like the monitor. I can't image that this issue won't crop up from time to time in photo editing though, which it sounds like you do a lot of.

Yeah if the problem effects all L2000C monitors then they are certainly not living up to their claims. It just seems odd to me that more reviews have not picked up on it, banding in pure colours is one thing, but rainbow greys takes it to another level.

My current plan is to get the replacement L2000C and order a Viewsonic VP2030B to be delivered at the same time. That way I can see both side by side and decide which I would like to keep.

The Viewsonic is MVA but sounds pretty good from the spec, what should I look out for? From what I have read so far, the the clear benefits of S-IPS over MVA are; fast reaction time and very good viewing angles. Anything else I should consider?

Luke

 

[cdmccool]

I'm starting to notice the banding more and more in everyday use... surfing the internet, playing games, watching movies. I think I'm going to contact LG and see what they say about it.

LukeAP, I would like to hear your thoughts on how this monitor compares with the Viewsonic if you have time.

Thanks!

 

[LukeAP]

I will let you know, it is going to take a couple more days before the replacement L2000C arrives. I am hoping I'll have both monitors here by the end of the week.

Luke

 

[imported_greyhound]

Originally posted by: LukeAP
jfunk, I got the impression the guy I spoke to didn't know much about monitors, so I am not going to make any assumptions based on what he said.

greyhound, I should have pointed out, I am using DVI input. If I change to VGA I can still see brightness banding (not so bad) but the discolouration disappears. Are you using DVI or VGA? (I want to use the analog output of my card for another monitor so I'm not going to give up on DVI.)

Whilst I just bought this monitor new, it says on the back that it was manufactured in January! I think that means it must be one of the earliest runs of this model, I wonder if there was some problem which they have now fixed.

Luke

Normally, I use DVI. Upon the rare ocassion when I notice banding (last night it was red-lit walls in HL2 Episode 1), I switch to VGA, which minimizes or eliminates it. I still haven't seen any rainbow banding in grayscale with DVI.

 

[cdmccool]

Would like to know which one you went with.

Any updates Luke?

Thank you!

 

[LukeAP]

Originally posted by: cdmccool
Would like to know which one you went with.

Any updates Luke?

Thank you!

I'm getting really frustrated with the whole thing now, I have still not recieved a replacement for my original L2000C, apparently it got lost somewhere in their RMA system. I am tempted now to just cancel the L2000C replacement and go with the Viewsonic from a different supplier. It seems likely now that all L2000C's are affected by the banding problem.


I found this Danish review of the L2000C which seems to be saying something about a banding problem, unfortunatly I cannot read Danish!
Danish L2000C review

Luke