Why is Monitor choice so flamin hard??????

bbg404

bbg404

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Morning all I’m sick of looking for monitors, Its not urgent as my pc build isnt ready yet but im just trying to do my background work and find the right monitor, Now its not going to be the best but it has to be better than the 22" Samsung TV I’m using at the moment.
Now I want a 27" monitor as I’ve used a friend mac and love it for Photoshop so that’s what I want. but I did originally have my eye on the Dell u2412 but then I’ve found the Dell u2711... the prices for these used are about ££150-£250.
Id prefer to spend less than £350 but what newer models could I get which are the equivalent of the Dell u2711?
Thanks in advance
 
Dell U2713. It's quite simple with Dell... U = Ultrasharp (which equates to IPS panel these days) next 2 digits are screen size, final 2 digits are year of introduction.

If you want to browse reviews of the better monitors: http://tftcentral.co.uk/ is a good resource.
 
I'm a new owner of the dell2412 and its a massive upgrade from my ten year old laptop I was using. To be honest I cant compare much as this is my first ips screen, fully aware its 'budget' spec.

I feel your pain though I was a little mind boggled when trying to find one I always thought a monitor was a monitor, me just being naive

Kellett
 
Thank you both for your replies i will have a read of that link when i get home form work. Im just an amature photographer nothing pro and far from the best but when i upgrade stuff i like to know its very capable equipment as at the moment the laptop im using for editing is holding me back as its so slow and the screens rubbish, so i dont want to go out and buy a new screen for it to be just average i want the best i can afford
 
Don't forget to factor in the cost of a good calibrator if you don't already have one.
 
U2711 is a brilliant monitor, if you are okay with the anti-glare coating on them, they'll serve you very well. I have had one since its release, in 2010.

The newer models have been split to U2713H for enthusiastics, and the U2713HM is the mainstream version. The M variant has slightly less features but produce just as good image.
 
wuyanxu said:
The M variant has slightly less features but produce just as good image.
Click to expand...

That is not entirely true. The M is limited to sRGB mode for a start.
 
LG 34UM95
LED Backlit, 3440x1440 Resolution, 5000000:1 Contrast Ratio, 320cd/m² Brightness, 5ms Response Time, 1x DisplayPort Input, 2x HDMI, 2x ThunderBolt, 2 Years On Site Warranty.

Ignoring your price, they are down to around 720 now, btu are like having two side by side monitors :)
 
bbg404 said:
Think I'll stick with me choice if the dell U2713 thanks
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Great choice and once calibrated is excellent VFM, i still enjoy editing on mine and cant imagine using anything smaller than a 27 again.
 
Byker28i said:
LG 34UM95
LED Backlit, 3440x1440 Resolution, 5000000:1 Contrast Ratio, 320cd/m² Brightness, 5ms Response Time, 1x DisplayPort Input, 2x HDMI, 2x ThunderBolt, 2 Years On Site Warranty.

Ignoring your price, they are down to around 720 now, btu are like having two side by side monitors :)
Click to expand...


Sorry but that contrast ratio is [PLEASE DON'T TRY TO BYPASS THE SWEAR FILTER] :) in reality, it's probably around 600:1 like most screns are. That figure is based on dynamic contrast, whic is useless.

Also... consider other things. If you also game, or watch up-ressed HD content, you need a beastly GPU to drive 4K.


I'd recommend the Dell U2713H (not HM) or Dell U2413. Both can be hardware profiles with a i1 Display Pro, which is a MASSIVE advantage.
 
kellett said:
I'm a new owner of the dell2412 and its a massive upgrade from my ten year old laptop I was using. To be honest I cant compare much as this is my first ips screen, fully aware its 'budget' spec.

I feel your pain though I was a little mind boggled when trying to find one I always thought a monitor was a monitor, me just being naive

Kellett
Click to expand...

Exactly the same here. I'd suggest doing what I did - not necessarily in terms of monitor choice - but in listening to the sage advice from the experts here. They'll keep you right and make sure you get something which suits your needs and budget. I couldn't be happier with my upgrade :)
 
Byker28i said:
LG 34UM95
LED Backlit, 3440x1440 Resolution, 5000000:1 Contrast Ratio, 320cd/m² Brightness, 5ms Response Time, 1x DisplayPort Input, 2x HDMI, 2x ThunderBolt, 2 Years On Site Warranty.

Ignoring your price, they are down to around 720 now, btu are like having two side by side monitors :)
Click to expand...

It seems strange for a monitor this price to have no height adjustment??!! There is no way I'd ever buy a screen that was "tilt only" like a mac
 
boliston said:
It seems strange for a monitor this price to have no height adjustment??!! There is no way I'd ever buy a screen that was "tilt only" like a mac
Click to expand...

You don't like stacking books underneath them...? :)
 
I use a Eizo Floris FS2333, £270 new with 5year warranty, I use it for photo editing and the occasional movie its a great monitor for the price and has fantastic reviews if you have a look online, mite be worth looking at....
 
The Eizo FS2333 is indeed a great screen. One of the lowest black levels I've ever measures on a LCD screen was the FS2333. It's not great value for money though. £270 is quite a high price for a 23" 1080P monitor, but it is good.

I can't stress the difference hardware profiling makes though. When all your calibration is at 12 or 14bit level the gradients are soooooo smooooooth.... and it's definitely more accurate, Being the monitor's LUT that's programmed, not the graphics card's your screen is always calibrated regardless of input, and you avoid calibrating at 8bit and therefore messing up your tonal gradation.

For this reason, I'm still recommending the Dell U2413, U2713H, and U3014 range of screens, along with a X-Rite i1 Display Pro. (you have to download Dell's own calibration software... but it's made my X-Rite, and works well). Previously you'd need to spend the wrong side of £1000 for a high end 27" model with hardware profiling.

I'm not recommending them because I'm a dell fanboy: I do not own a Dell screen. I've used them, tested them, and was impressed by them. Simple as that. For the money you're getting a monitor that can compete with the big boys of Eizo and NEC for a very good price indeed.
 
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