JETI Specbos 1211 Reference Spectroradiometer
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JETI Specbos 1211 Spectroradiometer
A New Reference Instrument
SMPTE establishes quite rigorous standards for reference color analyzers. SMPTE 431-31 requires that chromaticity must be measured with a minimum accuracy of xy ±0.002 at or above 10 cd/m².
The only devices capable of this are 5nm spectroradiometers. Until recently, this has meant devices from Photo Research and Minolta that cost between $15-$30,000.2 These prices put a reference device out of the range for everyone except established businesses. However, recently a German company by the name of JETI Technical Instruments has offered a reference quality 5nm spectroradiometer, the Specbos 1201 for a considerably lower price. This device is better known in the United States as the Orb Optronics SP100. Orb Optronics is an OEM partner of JETI and markets the JETI device in the U.S. under their name.
The SP100/Specbos 1201 is a true reference instrument. I have been using it for a couple of years in this capacity. In addition to its inherent accuracy, it is an incredibly easy device to use. It is very small and portable and includes a nifty laser targeting system that makes precise aiming a breeze. This device suffers in comparison to the much more expensive devices available only in that it must be controlled by a PC. On the other hand, the Minolta and Photo Research spectros are standalone devices with high-quality optics and built-in LCD readouts.
I never missed the standalone ability of the SP100. However, it does have one shortcoming that makes its use as a regular field instrument quite impractical. It has relatively low sensitivity. This means that when measuring sources with low light output, the SP100 becomes VERY slow. For example, reading a 20% stimulus window on a typical calibrated flat panel device requires nearly 90 seconds. In comparison, readings of 70% stimulus or above take 10 seconds or less. Thus, I found that it was best used for the purpose of correcting a tristimulus colorimeter, which then employed as the primary color analyzer.
This has now changed. JETI has recently developed a new spectroradiometer, the Specbos 1211. The 1211 is somewhat larger than the 1201, but otherwise looks the same. What really distinguishes the 1211 from the 1201 is its sensitivity. By way of comparison, consider the following measurements of a calibrated Pioneer Kuro.
Test Conditions |
Specbos 1201 |
Specbos 1211 |
||||
% Stim |
cd/m2 |
fL |
Int. Time |
Int. Time |
Read Time |
|
100 |
118.7 |
34.7 |
2 |
6 |
0.03 |
3 |
90 |
94.7 |
27.6 |
2 |
7 |
0.03 |
3 |
80 |
73.5 |
21.5 |
3 |
8 |
0.1 |
3 |
70 |
55.1 |
16.1 |
4 |
10 |
0.1 |
3 |
60 |
39.7 |
11.6 |
5 |
12 |
0.1 |
3 |
50 |
27.5 |
8.0 |
7 |
16 |
0.2 |
3 |
40 |
17.2 |
5.0 |
11 |
25 |
0.2 |
3 |
30 |
9.7 |
2.8 |
19 |
42 |
0.4 |
4 |
20 |
4.2 |
1.2 |
43 |
89 |
0.9 |
5 |
10 |
0.7 |
0.2 |
n/a |
n/a |
4.9 |
13 |
As you can see, the difference in low-light sensitivity and speed is dramatic. The 1211 read a 10% stimulus window in about the same time the 1201 took to read a 60% window. The 1201 wouldn’t read 10% at all.
The practical consequences of this are profound. The 1211 is perfectly suitable as a primary instrument. Measuring black level is the only calibration task for which it would not be suitable. However, it also includes a diffuser that allows you to use the device in illuminance mode. In this mode you read lux, and placed close enough to the projector lens it would read anything so long as the stimulus was at or above 2 lux.
There is one other technical difference between the 1211 and its smaller brother that bears mentioning. JETI discovered that the 1211 was so sensitive that its accuracy was affected by the refresh rate on some displays, in particular CRTs and plasmas. Thus, they had to update the unit to include support for refresh rate detection. Interestingly, this feature is not necessary on LCDs. In fact, on some LCDs it even seems to degrade accuracy, so when measuring any display other than CRTs or plasmas the refresh dection should be turned off.
Of course with increased performance comes increased cost. The Specbos 1211 is about 30% more expensive than the 1201. However, this still places it several thousand dollars less than a 5nm PR-655 and less than half of a 5nm PR-670 or Minolta CS-2000.
Either unit offers true reference performance, but if you want a reference device as your primary measuring tool, the Specbos 1211 is definitely the way to go.
ChromaPure Professional supports both devices.
1. This draft document was never made official and was subsequently withdrawn. Nonetheless, it offers a useful guide for professional standards.
2. I do not include the MicroSpec device simply because I have had no experience with it.
3. Read time is double the integration time plus 3 seconds for processing overhead.
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