Among all your photographic tools, two of the most crucial are the lens on your camera and the monitor on which you edit image files. Digital image processing is done visually, using a monitor, display, or screen, and the capability of that monitor to show all the colors captured in the file accurately and consistently over time is critical to achieving the best results.
Monitor specs and features vary widely. For serious image editing, a color-accurate, hardware-calibrated monitor is the most fundamental piece of equipment in the entire editing workflow. (See this article for more on monitor types and features.) Screen resolution is a matter of choice, though higher resolution (4K) monitors are increasingly popular, especially since both Mac and Windows software has significantly improved font scaling at the operating system level so text and user interface elements aren’t displayed at unreadably small sizes. For years, two brands led the high-end monitor category—NEC and Eizo—but NEC recently exited this market. Fortunately, more manufacturers are now making monitors designed specifically for photographers, and we now have many more choices at varying cost levels from BenQ, Apple, Dell, HP, Asus, ViewSonic, and others.
A high-quality monitor for image editing is a serious investment, deserving the same kind of discriminating choice as a camera lens. Currently, one of the most highly regarded models is the Eizo ColorEdge CS2740. For those interested, here is a link to a thorough and thoughtful review of the CS2740 (it’s from Australia, so don’t let the dollar values throw you off). Eizo makes their ColorNavigator 7 software available for free, though you need to add an external colorimeter from Calibrite (formerly X-Rite) or Datacolor for calibration. Nor does a light-shielding hood come with the unit, but one is available at additional cost if desired. The CS2740 will admirably meet the requirements of the vast majority of photographers, but for those who truly need an even higher level of precision (or for more use with video), Eizo is about to release two new flagship models—the CG2700S (2560×1440 resolution), and CG2700X (3840×2160 resolution). Both of these units will include a built-in calibration sensor, hood, significantly more broadcast and cinema calibration presets, and even more enhanced connectivity.
Chuck Maas
chuck@imagingnorth.com