Will I get used to the negative display?

[rtlange]

I purchased and picked up my first Suunto yesterday afternoon - CORE All Black. Quite simply, I love it. I dont need to tell the rest of you how good looking these watches are, so I wont rave on about it.

One thing that is slightly bugging me about the watch is the negative display. I have always had positive display watches in the past (last watch was a NIKE HRM). There is no doubt in my mind that positive display watches are easier to read than negative display watches in low light conditions. I compared the two last night. In certain low light conditions, my negative display CORE could not be read, but my positive display NIKE could be quite easily read. Even with the lights on inside the house, there is definately a difference between the positive/negative displays. The negative display does not "pop" as much as the positive display and the readability of the positive display is clearly superior.

When selecting the CORE, I was torn between the All Black (negative display) and the Black/White (positive display). I was always skeptical of the negative diplay, but I liked the bezel of the All Black (curved) much better than the Black/White (flat - like the Black/Yellow), so I ultimately decided to take a chance on the negative display and ordered the All Black.

So far, after only have the watch for 12 hours, I am concerned that the negative display of the CORE All Black may not be for me, and perhaps I should exchange it for the positive display CORE Black/White. HOWEVER, I wonder whether it is just something I will get used to? As someone who has never had a negative display watch before, is is just a simple matter of getting used to the negative display?

I know that many of you on this forum have negative display Suunto's. Can people share their experiences regarding the readability of the display when they wore their negative display watches for the first time - whether it be a Suunto or non-Suunto watch.

I want to wear my today Mountain biking, but if I am going to return it, I dont want to wear it as it will no longer be in "original condition" for exchanging.

Any thought woudl be much appreciated.

rtlange
Vancouver, BC

[Joakim Agren]

First read here:

Official Suunto Help Desk Instructions for Contrast Adjustment on Core Displays

There is some instructions for how to adjust the contrast, when adjusting the contrast there will be some ghosting but a little bump is often acceptable and makes the digits slightly stronger.

Then if you are used to positive displays and you check the time then you probably are facing the watch face directly at you when looking for the time. When doing this with a negative display then your own body will either shadow it or reflect in the display making it harder to see. So with negative displays it is better sometimes to look at it with a little angle so face it somewhat outwards and you will find it easier to see the time, make sure the dipslay is outside your shadow and it will be more legible. Another technique is to not bring the watch and the arm right infront of you instead just tilt the arm but still keep it to the side and you will also avoid your shadow and it will be easier to see.

[rtlange]

Thanks for your reply Joakim. I forgot to mention that I have already played around with adjusting the contrast. It makes minimal difference.

First read here:

Official Suunto Help Desk Instructions for Contrast Adjustment on Core Displays

There is some instructions for how to adjust the contrast, when adjusting the contrast there will be some ghosting but a little bump is often acceptable and makes the digits slightly stronger.

Then if you are used to positive displays and you check the time then you probably are facing the watch face directly at you when looking for the time. When doing this with a negative display then your own body will either shadow it or reflect in the display making it harder to see. So with negative displays it is better sometimes to look at it with a little angle so face it somewhat outwards and you will find it easier to see the time, make sure the dipslay is outside your shadow and it will be more legible. Another technique is to not bring the watch and the arm right infront of you instead just tilt the arm but still keep it to the side and you will also avoid your shadow and it will be easier to see.

[gaijin]

No, you will never get used to the negative display on the CORE - I didn't.

I returned mine.

As I have said many times before, if you want to be fashionable - negative display. If you want to be able to actually use your watch - positive display.

I suggest you exchange yours for a positive display and then really enjoy your CORE

[Joakim Agren]

I guess it is ofcoure also about the performance of our eyes, I have excellent eyes so therefor I guess I am not so bothered by negative displays and find them usefull. But if you have poor contrast vision then it will ofcourse be a problem.

[Jeff_C]

Thanks for your reply Joakim. I forgot to mention that I have already played around with adjusting the contrast. It makes minimal difference.

Welcome to the forum.

I guess the - display thing is a personal issue. Some like it some dont. I have found that outside in normal light it makes little difference. My negative displays are pretty easy to read outside.

But it really goes for ALL negative displays, they sure look cook, but the bottom line is they are all less legible than a positive display. Period.

[paduncan]

I think it all depends if you will be looking at the watch a lot in darker lighting conditions (dusk, dawn, etc.). In that case, I would go for the positive.

However, I have two positive and two negative display Cores. I rotate them all the time for whatever mood I am in.

[rtlange]

Thanks to everyone who put in their 2 cents. You guys rock!! I think I will return it and get the positive display. I think that would be more suitable for me. I just wish I had listened to my gut instinct before I purchased the watch!!!
rtlange

Welcome to the forum.

I guess the - display thing is a personal issue. Some like it some dont. I have found that outside in normal light it makes little difference. My negative displays are pretty easy to read outside.

But it really goes for ALL negative displays, they sure look cook, but the bottom line is they are all less legible than a positive display. Period.

[NATHAN>]

I would tend to agree with Jeff. I still love the negative displays.
If you can't see it in the low light situations; they all come with a light function. And ALL Suuntos look awesome illuminated.

[Joakim Agren]

I remember when I was at a dark night club and all the light that was a vailable was a distant light from the bar, all I had to do to tell the time was facing my Core towards that light and I could tell the time, I could not tell what was in the small display area at the bottom but the huge digits in the center of the display in Time mode I could see without even turning on the light. So I would say I have no problems with negative displays.

But I am only 30 perhaps it will be different when I turn 40 or 50.