Contrast ratio | Test results | LCD test | Small-screen tests | Lagom home

Contrast ratio of Apple 30" cinema display

Contrast ratio 595:1 (edge: 642:1)
Monitor model Apple 30" cinema display
Submitted 20 Oct 2011 12:53 CEST, by 202.156.*.*
Camera model Nikon D200
Processing remarks


Black
Screen photo
[open image]
Luminance 0.37 cd/m2
Luminance spread 0.15 cd/m2 (2 standard deviations)
Exposure value –2.84 stops   (aim for –2 to –3)
Exposure spread 0.59 stops
Area used for calculation 0.375 x 0.421
Camera settings Exposure time: 1   ISO: 400   F-number: 3.5
Focal length: 27 mm   (35 mm equivalent)
Exposure compensation: 0
White
Screen photo
[open image]
Luminance 217 cd/m2
Luminance spread 28 cd/m2 (2 standard deviations)
Exposure value –2.59 stops   (aim for –2 to –3)
Exposure spread 0.19 stops
Area used for calculation 0.375 x 0.421
Camera settings Exposure time: 1/500   ISO: 400   F-number: 3.5
Focal length: 27 mm   (35 mm equivalent)
Exposure compensation: 0
Black at screen edge
Screen photo
[open image]
Luminance 0.34 cd/m2
Luminance spread 0.19 cd/m2 (2 standard deviations)
Exposure value –2.95 stops   (aim for –2 to –3)
Exposure spread 0.83 stops
Area used for calculation 0.375 x 0.421
Camera settings Exposure time: 1   ISO: 400   F-number: 3.5
Focal length: 27 mm   (35 mm equivalent)
Exposure compensation: 0

The luminance values in cd/m2 are not very reliable, since camera sensitivities can easily differ up to 50% from their nominal value. Typically, the real luminance is 30% lower than this number. The area used for calculation is chosen such that it corresponds to a viewing angle of ±14° horizontally and ±10.5° vertically, which is equivalent to viewing the screen from a distance of about 1.5 times the diagonal size.

Unfortunately, there is a lot of variation in how cameras use EXIF settings. If photos from your camera your produce unusable results, try coming back in a few days. I review submitted pictures regularly and try to fix problems.