Side by Side Comparisons of 505, 600, and K2 screens

jswinden · 08-29-2009, 01:16 AM

I set up my Canon EOS 500D DSLR camera on a tripod and took these three comparison photos of the PRS-505, PRS-600, and Kindle2 screens.

I was tired of seeing comparison photos that showed various reader each in a unique position, with a unique lighting system, and/or a unique page being displayed. So I set out to make a true EVEN comparison, as follows:

All three photos or taken with the camera in the same location and using the same settings
All three photos or taken with the same exact lighting, ambient without flash
All three photos or taken with the respective reader in the same location
All three photos or taken with the respective reader displaying the exact same page from a book
None of the photos were retouched in any way, although I did have to resize them for this website

Note:
The 600 screen is not as clear and sharp in the photos as it is in real life. The 600 appears to have at least on extra layer, probably a polymer, that reflects the camera light differently than the 505 and K2. Having said that, the 600 is not as sharply contrasted as the 505 and K2, has more reflection, but nonetheless is a very good screen--very readable.

Kindle2 screen:

PRS-505 screen:

PRS-600 screen:

Donnageddon · 08-29-2009, 01:36 AM

Contrast, glare, and reflection issues aside, it is just stunning how clownish the K2 looks with its awkward, enormous bezel.

No offense to K2 lovers... it's a sweet machine. Just a little clownish.

Donnageddon · 08-29-2009, 01:37 AM

Oh, and thanks for the photos, jswinden!

lostatsea · 08-29-2009, 03:32 AM

Hey Jack, do you want us all to know your phone number? If not, you should edit your photo.

Lilly · 08-29-2009, 04:10 AM

This is great, thanks!

bathos · 08-29-2009, 04:40 AM

Great photos!

Thanks!

dogsballs · 08-29-2009, 05:25 AM

wonder if the 505 screen looks better because the surround is lighter compared to the 600

jswinden · 08-29-2009, 07:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dogsballs

wonder if the 505 screen looks better because the surround is lighter compared to the 600

Good question. I tried to meter the shot on the center of the screen, but optical illusions can happen.

jswinden · 08-29-2009, 07:08 AM

BTW: Last night I attached a clip-on LED reading light and the 600 screen looked as sharp as any I've ever seen and with almost no glare. I wll try to go outside in the direct sunshine today to see what it looks like. I suspect they designed it for high lit situations.

owlrigh · 08-29-2009, 07:08 AM

I didn't realise how clear the Kindle2 screen was before, as compared to the 505 ... I like the font. Is it the default? Must consider tinkering with my 505 fonts and see what's the more readable, serif or sans-serif. You use all three? Which do you find the best for long reading?

Crowl · 08-29-2009, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donnageddon

Contrast, glare, and reflection issues aside, it is just stunning how clownish the K2 looks with its awkward, enormous bezel.

No offense to K2 lovers... it's a sweet machine. Just a little clownish.

I wouldn't mind my sony having the nice big buttons for page advance even if the rest of the kindle is a tad ugly.

JSWolf · 08-29-2009, 11:11 AM

Very nice photos.

I don't find the K2 to look bad at all. The only thing I'm not too keen on is the font Amazon has chosen to use.

wallcraft · 08-29-2009, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by owlrigh

I like the font. Is it the default?

The Kindle only has one font for AZW ebooks, it is Caecilia. On the K2 and KDX there is a hack to replace the font (the rest of the Kindle Optimizer site is also interesting if you want to know about fonts on EInk).

frozennorth · 08-29-2009, 11:50 AM

I noticed that the Sony's display 3 more lines than the Kindle. The Kindle seems to waste a lot of screen real estate with big left and right margins although the justification makes the text look nicer.

jswinden · 08-29-2009, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lostatsea

Hey Jack, do you want us all to know your phone number? If not, you should edit your photo.

Thanks, I didn't notice that!

08-29-2009, 01:16 AM	#1
jswinden W5JCK Posts: 529 Karma: 4011 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: USA Device: Kindle DXG, Kindle Wifi (ordered), Blackberry 8900, and iPod touch	Side by Side Comparisons of 505, 600, and K2 screens I set up my Canon EOS 500D DSLR camera on a tripod and took these three comparison photos of the PRS-505, PRS-600, and Kindle2 screens. I was tired of seeing comparison photos that showed various reader each in a unique position, with a unique lighting system, and/or a unique page being displayed. So I set out to make a true EVEN comparison, as follows: All three photos or taken with the camera in the same location and using the same settings All three photos or taken with the same exact lighting, ambient without flash All three photos or taken with the respective reader in the same location All three photos or taken with the respective reader displaying the exact same page from a book None of the photos were retouched in any way, although I did have to resize them for this website Note: The 600 screen is not as clear and sharp in the photos as it is in real life. The 600 appears to have at least on extra layer, probably a polymer, that reflects the camera light differently than the 505 and K2. Having said that, the 600 is not as sharply contrasted as the 505 and K2, has more reflection, but nonetheless is a very good screen--very readable. Kindle2 screen: PRS-505 screen: PRS-600 screen: __________________ Jack W5JCK, Amateur Radio Operator, WQKH428, Licensed GMRS Operator Kindle DXG, Kindle Wifi (ordered), Blackberry 8900, and iPod touch owner http://www.w5jck.com/ Last edited by jswinden; 08-29-2009 at 01:24 AM.

08-29-2009, 01:36 AM	#2
Donnageddon Did I turn off the stove? Posts: 1,815 Karma: 31244 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Seattle-ish Device: Sony 700/ iPad/ Augen The Book	Contrast, glare, and reflection issues aside, it is just stunning how clownish the K2 looks with its awkward, enormous bezel. No offense to K2 lovers... it's a sweet machine. Just a little clownish. __________________ Good grief. WTF indeed. - Fizzywater

08-29-2009, 01:37 AM	#3
Donnageddon Did I turn off the stove? Posts: 1,815 Karma: 31244 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Seattle-ish Device: Sony 700/ iPad/ Augen The Book	Oh, and thanks for the photos, jswinden! __________________ Good grief. WTF indeed. - Fizzywater

08-29-2009, 07:08 AM	#9
jswinden W5JCK Posts: 529 Karma: 4011 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: USA Device: Kindle DXG, Kindle Wifi (ordered), Blackberry 8900, and iPod touch	BTW: Last night I attached a clip-on LED reading light and the 600 screen looked as sharp as any I've ever seen and with almost no glare. I wll try to go outside in the direct sunshine today to see what it looks like. I suspect they designed it for high lit situations. __________________ Jack W5JCK, Amateur Radio Operator, WQKH428, Licensed GMRS Operator Kindle DXG, Kindle Wifi (ordered), Blackberry 8900, and iPod touch owner http://www.w5jck.com/

08-29-2009, 11:11 AM	#12
JSWolf Mobile Reader Geek Posts: 19,260 Karma: 28762 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Sony Reader PRS-505	Very nice photos. I don't find the K2 to look bad at all. The only thing I'm not too keen on is the font Amazon has chosen to use. __________________ Jon If you want to listen to really good music while you surf Mobileread, here.

08-29-2009, 03:32 AM	#4
lostatsea Member Posts: 18 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Indonesia Baby! Device: Sony PRS-505	Hey Jack, do you want us all to know your phone number? If not, you should edit your photo.

08-29-2009, 04:10 AM	#5
Lilly Guru Posts: 625 Karma: 1662 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: Sony PRS-505 & PRS-900, Amazon Kindle2	This is great, thanks!

08-29-2009, 04:40 AM	#6
bathos Connoisseur Posts: 66 Karma: 160 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: UK Device: Twin Sony 505's, Black Sony 600	Great photos! Thanks!

08-29-2009, 05:25 AM	#7
dogsballs Connoisseur Posts: 62 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2008 Device: sony psr-505	wonder if the 505 screen looks better because the surround is lighter compared to the 600

08-29-2009, 07:08 AM	#10
owlrigh Connoisseur Posts: 93 Karma: 26 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: On a yacht, currently in Australia Device: PRS-505, Ipod Touch, Asus EEE PC	I didn't realise how clear the Kindle2 screen was before, as compared to the 505 ... I like the font. Is it the default? Must consider tinkering with my 505 fonts and see what's the more readable, serif or sans-serif. You use all three? Which do you find the best for long reading?

08-29-2009, 11:50 AM	#14
frozennorth Addict Posts: 271 Karma: 182 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Alberta, Canada Device: Onyx Boox	I noticed that the Sony's display 3 more lines than the Kindle. The Kindle seems to waste a lot of screen real estate with big left and right margins although the justification makes the text look nicer. __________________ READ, THINK, DREAM

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