Need Best Monitor for Photo Edits

[beckstoy]

I'm building a new desktop just to handle my photo editing. I'm putting all the good stuff into it (SSD's, i7, etc. etc.). However, there are so many good monitors out there.

What's best? What do you all use and love? Whatever I use will be calibrated - I just want suggestions for specific models. I'm guessing ISP, right?

Can you all help?

Thanks in advance.

 

[LJ3Jim]

My wife and I each have an HP 2311xi. The monitors are a couple of years old, but they have served us well. They calibrate nicely, but you do need to control the lighting conditions for future work. In other words, always try to do your work under the same lighting conditions as when the monitor was calibrated.

That said, the IPS monitor I use the most now is the one built into my Lenovo laptop (i7, SSD, 1920x1080). It also calibrates well, and I find myself doing 90% of my Lightroom work on it. I still plug into the HP monitor for the remaining work.

People at our camera club tend to favor Dell, but I don't know the model numbers.

Regards, Jim

 

[tolusina]

Here's what I use......
http://www.necdisplay.com/p/desktop-monitors/pa242w-bk-sv
Wide gamut, DisplayPort input, integrated (and device specific) calibration, get the hood too.

Eizo is another high line brand with an excellent reputation.
I think Dell has some less pricey wide gamut monitors too.

If you expect to print, step up to a printer profiler, profile each printer/paper/ink combination you'll use, soft proof in Lightroom using the intended printer profile while viewing on your calibrated monitor, prints come out pretty much identical to what you viewed/edited on the monitor.

 

[Omni Images]

Eizo
This is an Australian web site and prices, but this is the top of the line model
http://www.kayellaustralia.com.au/eizo-coloredge-cg277w-27in-monitor-p-3499.html

 

[dcm]

You might want to consider monitors with 10 bit color used by movie studios and animation houses - such as the HP Dreamcolor monitors. Other companies make them as well.

 

[Vigood]

Have you considered the new iMac Retina Display?

 

[privatebydesign]

Canon DP-V3010 4K Reference Display, it more orientated towards video and the price is probably a little more than you were thinking

 

[Halfrack]

Have you considered the new iMac Retina Display?

+100

Why put this all together and then be dealing with the clutter. iMac Retina and done (upgraded video card & SSD only, do RAM aftermarket). Otherwise, the Dell Ultrasharp models are a descent option.

 

[GaryJ]

Anything Eizo...

 

[JonB8305]

Edited:

I have the 27" HP z27x Dreamcolor , probably the best price/performance wrt color monitors on the market, there are nice cheaper NEC's on the market but they don't support all of the color profiles of the HP. I wouldn't go with the Eizo's due to price constraints. , I'd go Dreamcolor or NEC if I were in the market again. If I were strictly doing photo's, NEC would be a great choice, but if you were into 4k video I'd go with the HP z27X, due to it's 4k input support, and supported color profiles.

Like others have stated, in order to get 10 bit support, all points in the chain have to support it. Graphics Card-Monitor-OS-Software all have to support 10 bit color. If you're on a mac like I am, it's basically useless to have 10-bit support at the moment. As long as their own monitors don't support it, I can't imagine they will ever support it. Really disappointing.

 

[Tabor Warren Photography]

We only use 27inch iMacs, and I've got to say, I love everything about them!

Cheers,
-Tabor

 

[wopbv4]

Hi,

I have done colormangement for a significant amount of time and in my opinion, NEC and Eizo are by far the best. I know that they are more expensive, but they last long, have internal self calibration, a matt screen etc.

I do not like any monitor with a glossy screen such as the imacs, especially the retinas. I am disturbed by the reflections. Furthermore, all the MACs are still only at 8bit/color channel (24 bit total) and that is because that is what the operating system OSX Supports.

It is crazy, our camera, photoshop, NEC and Eizo monitors all support at least 10 bit/color channel, but MAC has refused to support it, much to the grief of XRite and Eizo.

Eizo goes as far as
QUOTE:
we do not recommend update to Yosemite which, in its current form, can not be used for colour management applications.
UNQUOTE

 

[RGF]

I am running a 27" NEC spectra view and I found that I get much better colors out of it than any other monitor I have used. HIGHLY HIGHLY recommended.

 

[can0nfan2379]

+1 NEC Spectraview

I just bought a PA272 SVII and finally the colors I'm looking at on screen are getting pretty darn close to the printed photo.

 

[Rofflesaurrr]

I used to own a NEC PA241W which was a very accurate wide gamut monitor. I have since upgraded to the new HP Z24x DreamColor display, which uses an LED backlight. CCFL backlit monitors like the NEC take time to warm up and stabilize. They also require more frequent calibration. So, I highly recommend a display with an LED backlight. Keep in mind that if you want to use a 10-bit display, you are going to need a NVIDIA Quadro or AMD FirePro graphics card. Many people think they have a 10-bit workflow through a cheaper GeForce or Radeon card, but they only support 10-bit through DirectX. Adobe Photoshop and all other professional graphics software use OpenGL. Only Quadro and FirePro cards offer full OpenGL support. 10-bit displays mostly benefit you if the majority of your work is going to be printed. If you're going to be publishing digitally, then 8-bit is all you need, as that is the standard for the internet and 99% of the devices that people will be using.

Recommended 10-bit 27" Displays:

HP Z27x DreamColor
NEC PA272W
ASUS PA279Q

Recommended 8-bit 27" Displays:

HP Z27i
Dell U2713HM
NEC EA274WMI

Recommended 10-bit 24" Displays

HP Z24x DreamColor
ASUS PA249Q
Dell U2413
NEC PA242W

Recommended 8-Bit 24" Displays

Dell U2412M
NEC EA244WMI
HP Z24i

All of these are popular LED backlit IPS or PLS displays that receive good feedback from the photography community.

 

[Eldar]

I use the 27" Eizo CG276 self calibrating monitor. There are some newer monitors out there now, which I have not tried, but I am very happy with this one. A bit more expensive and a bit larger, than some of the others, but well worth it.

http://www.ephotozine.com/article/eizo-coloredge-cg276-27--monitor-review-22796

 

[Runner]

The Dell U2713HM cannot be recommended.
It's their "cheap" version, and it's poor luck if you get a good one. Too many flaws. Colors and brightness change etc.
The U2713H is the good version, but it also costs more.

I have the Dell U2414Q which is 4K with excellent colors, but it's a pain to get above 30 Hz update, even though it's supposed to support 60 Hz. In fact, I haven't succeeded :-(

 

[Maui5150]

If you want the best, NEC or Eizo

Next level down, I really like the Asus ART series. 1+ billion colors, will run 2550x1600 or what ever the exact resolution is and has great viewing little glare, and one of the few monitors that really goes through decent calibration out of the factory and gives you a report with your monitor of its results.

Cannot recommend Dell or HP.

I have owned or worked with a dozen of each in their better monitors and with Dells ran into a TON of dead pixels over time, and with HP just some washiness with their image

I went through no less than 4 of the Dell U2410s like 6 years ago and after a month or two dead pixels would develop. I go so sick and tired resolving with techs over India as well as by the 2nd replacement, they were sending Refurbs, not new, and that really pissed me off. If I have something die in warranty, I do not want a cheaper refurb.

I started really watching my serial numbers because I was convinced I was going to get one of my old monitors back. I finally got a refund, but had to pursue it as a claim with AmericanExpress and charge protection

Your mileage may vary

 

[symmar22]

You cannot go wrong with high end NEC monitors (I use a PA271w), but if you want to save, DELL offers IMO more for the money. I have an old DELL 2709W (PVA panel) that gives me a slightly better RGB and Adobe RGB coverage than the NEC (my calibration device says so). That is 100% sRGB for the DELL vs 98% for the NEC that is twice the price. Both are "old" CCFL backlit; nowadays you want to go for LED. But all high end monitors will do, providing they have an IPS (or equivalent) panel. I had an Eizo 24" as well, excellent screen, but not offering much considering it's very high price.

HP also has a good reputation for monitors, but I think DELL has the best price / value ratio. If I would buy a screen now, I would likely go for the DELL U3014 (IMHO the 16/10 ratio is more useful for photography) plus I like the large working space of the 30".

Never had a dead pixel on either DELL, or NEC, but a couple on the EIZO.

 

[DominoDude]

I have no problem recommending the DELL monitors - U2713H or U2713HM. Warranties are good in case "the fit will hit the shan". I can notice a slight vignetting in the far corners on mine, but it haven't made me return my monitor. No dead pixels, nor any other odd deviations in colour and such.

Eizo and NEC, for those that can afford them, has always been a good and reliable way to go.

Don't be afraid buying the most expensive one that fits your need - a good screen should last more years than any decent computer, and you will be staring at it all the time. Make it worth it.