Which EIZO monitor is right for you?

Consumer displays are getting cleverer. Whether your viewers are looking at content on their televisions, tablets or phones, the image is going to be high resolution and supported by complex colour technology – at this point, even iPhones adjust the colour temperature of their screens to complement the light of the room they’re in.

By Liz Sunter May 13, 2019

This puts a lot of pressure on you when it comes to colour reproduction and fidelity – and some traditional displays aren’t quite up to the challenge, meaning we’re seeing people move to dedicated, colour accurate monitors. However, if you’re new to the world of professional monitors, it can be difficult to work out which is right for you – you need something that’ll be flexible and future proof, but which won’t break the bank.

With that in mind, we asked our product team to run through the EIZO ColorEdge range and offer us a few recommendations…

For non-commercial photography, print and web work, choose the CS2730

The CS2730 covers nearly all of Adobe and CMYK colour spaces, so it’s great for print and web work (skip to the end of the article if you're after a monitor for video work). The display has a built-in Digital Uniformity Equaliser (DUE) to ensure there are no bright or dark patches that will make your image look uneven, but if you want to do true colour calibration, you’ll need a third-party probe.

Key specs:

• •  Resolution: 2560x1440
• •  Aspect ratio: 16:9
• •  Pixels per inch: 109
• •  Brightness: 350cd/m2
• •  Adobe RGB: 99%
• •  DCI-P3: 0%
• •  Inputs: DisplayPort, HDMI, DVI-D, USB 3.0
• •  Connectivity: If you're using a Thunderbolt 2 Mac, this will connect via a Mini DisplayPort to DisplayPort cable. If you're on Thunderbolt 3, you'll need a USB-C to DisplayPort cable instead. PC users can use any of the other inputs listed above, too.

Use it if: You don’t need support for higher resolutions or wider colour gamuts – there’s no point paying for what you don’t need. If you’re a web-driven designer, this is going to give you the brightness and consistency you need to get your images looking good, without forcing you into the expense of a colour critical workflow. And if you’re a fledgling photographer, this is a step up from using a consumer display to touch up your photos.

Buy the CS2730

If you need accurate colour calibration on a budget, try the CG2420

Like the CS2730, the CG2420 covers 99% of Adobe RGB and is DUE-equipped. However, it also comes with a colour calibration probe and EIZO’s ColorNavigator software, so you don't need to pay for an external probe to ensure your colours stay consistent. That means you can be certain that the colours which you see on screen are the colours you’ll see once the final project’s printed, and having all your monitors calibrated to the same standard means more consistency along your entire pipeline, and less chance of costly reprints and other mistakes.  

Unlike the CS2730, the CG2420 covers 98% of DCI-P3 colour space for digital cinema. If you're working at lower resolutions, this is a great way to get access to that P3 colourspace without having to pay for additional feature you won't use, such as 3D LUTs or 4K support. 

Key specs:

• •  Resolution: 1920x1200
• •  Aspect ratio: 16:10
• •  Pixels per inch: 94
• •  Brightness: 400cd/m2
• •  Adobe RGB: 99%
• •  DCI-P3: 98%
• •  Inputs: DisplayPort, HDMI, DVI-D, USB 3.0
• •  Connectivity: Connects to your computer using any of the inputs listed above. A 2m Mini DisplayPort to DisplayPort cable and a 2m DVI-D cable are included.

Use it if: You’re working in commercial photography or print and your client cares about colour – this is the level of accuracy you need to deliver billboard posters, colour-critical brand collateral and product designs for textiles. That P3 coverage also makes it a good choice for non-colour-critical applications in production and post, such as editing and on-set monitoring, though it doesn't quite make the grade when it comes to colour correcting video content.

Buy the CG2420

If you need to move to the next level, get the CG279X

If your current display has taken you as far as it can, step up with the CG279X. It can do everything that the CG2420 does, but adds support for 3D LUTs, so you can work in different colour spaces if projects require. It’s got the highest contrast ratio of the three, meaning better highlights and blacks, and has built-in support for HDR, though it doesn’t reach the 1000cd/m2 needed for Dolby Vision mastering.

Key specs:

• •  Resolution: 2560x1440
• •  Aspect ratio: 16:9
• •  Pixels per inch: 109
• •  Brightness: 350cd/m2
• •  Adobe RGB: 99%
• •  DCI-P3: 98%
• •  Inputs: USB-C, DisplayPort, HDMI, DVI-D, USB 3.0
• •  Connectivity: Will connect to your computer using the inputs referenced above, plus a USB cable for colour data. If you're using a Thunderbolt 3-equipped Mac, a single USB-C to USB-C cable will carry your display and colour data. 2m USB-C and DisplayPort cables are included.

Use it if: You can afford it – its wide colour gamut and 3D LUT support make it the most future proof monitor on the list, and (like all EIZO displays) it comes with a five year warranty, so you’ll be able to claim support and spares for its usable life. In any post-production workflow that involves HDR, this monitor will meet the minimum requirements for an effective workflow (get in touch if you need something slightly more advanced).

It’s also great for users like animators and architects, who need to create high-resolution models and visualisations which contain a vast amount of colour information, or for the highest-resolution photography and design work for big-name brands.

Buy the CG279X

Not seen what you need? For more options, fill in the form below, or get in touch with the team on 03332 400 888 or at sales@Jigsaw24.com. For the latest Apple news, follow us on LinkedIn, Facebookand Twitter.