BenQ SW271 review - Photography monitor with hardware calibration

[@danielborges69]

I know we should be talking about the BenQ but i've got to say i love the way you light your room for camera.

[@HugosDesk]

Haha, thanks so much. Yes, it was some time to light this time. lol

[@shadostorm8375]

True VFX artist. Great advice Hugo!

[@HugosDesk]

Thanks so much mate

[@FM-lo9vv]

Thank you for the comment about the graphics card support, thanks to you I was able to change my pc order before if arrived and swapped the graphics card for a Quadro to support the 10 bit display. This topic hasn't being covered very well online and it's still confusing - it could be quite helpful if you'd make a video on this topic for other users. Thank you.

[@SebasPerezCR]

Great review mate, subscribed.

[@jordanfish]

Have you tried this monitor with a 2080 ti with the new Nvidia studio drivers? I’m very curious to hear about 10-bit performance on these high end consumer cards, but not much info out there.

[@HugosDesk]

Sorry I haven’t tested it yet. I only have Quadros and Radeon Pro cards are the moment

[@joelarvidsson]

I need a new monitor and 30-32" would be the goal and have been looking at "Asus ProArt PA329Q" and BenQ PD3200U 4K. But I wish it HDR but its not a deal breaker. How many nits does the SW271 do? The Asus ProArt PA32UC seams really good with powerful with HDR...But its well quite expensive! So you recommend the sw271 over the PD3200U for what top reasons? Is the calibration easier then the PD3200U? Cheers! //Joel

[@fayyazb]

Great review! Thank you for the insight. Have you tried or planing to try the competition to this - LG 27UK850? I am planning for a monitor for print design and MGFX, unsure which 27" to go for! Any suggestions?

[@jpstevenson]

Thank you very much for taking the time to make a detailed and well considered review. Refreshing to see this from an industry pro over the slew of 'unboxing' videos out there! I have a question for you! How do you think this monitor stacks up against HP's latest DreamColor 27x G2? These are the two I'm considering, the BenQ is the less expensive. I had an interesting chat with a colorist through his website who said not to sweat too much over really trying to nail down accurate colour at home as you'll only get so far. He said that even in a controlled studio environment with Flanders monitors and Klein probes etc, they still struggle. Since colorist duties are now making up more and more of my paid work though, I'd really like to make an informed decision. Currently running a 6 year old Samsung UHD LED Wide Gamut monitor that was top tier in their consumer range at the time, with a 2018 Datacolor Studio i1 calibrator. That calibrator really did transform this older screen into something very workable, but I'm looking at better solutions going forward with the advances in tech since 2012. And advice you can give would be great. The HP and BenQ are the two that compare well, one having internal LUTs and the other having 99% DCI P3 coverage and built in calibration. Keep up the great work! Very familiar with the Mill (I started my career at Cinesite around the corner, fellow Brit now working in Vancouver)!

[@MiRaje8086]

Nice! I've been looking into this monitor

[@HugosDesk]

No problem, glad to help.

[@Underhills]

What did you see?

[@Ryan.Lohman]

Hey Hugo- You're very informative and helpful. The only dilemma I have with this is you have a 10-bit monitor, your video card is set to 10-bit color resolution, you have photoshop/premiere preferences setup to 10 bit color. There is some confusing information going around saying that ONLY a Quadro or AMD Pro card to display 10 bit video/images in adobe software- is this still true? Windows did have a creators update and there seems to be a mix of information regarding this subject. Many sources out on the internet say Adobe still doesn't display 10-bit video/imagery since GeForce / Radeon cards only show 8-bit in OpenGL. I would just like a solid answer from a professional before I invest my time and money into making sure I make the right decisions.

[@HugosDesk]

Thanks so much for watching. And yes I know there is a lot os miss-information about this. For you to have 10-bit in Pro apps like PS, DaVinci or Nuke in the view port you need a Nvidia Quadro or AMD pro. I can confirm this (I have tested this in many configurations and in many VFX companies) . These apps use 10-bit Open GL and it’s only supported in the Pro cards. I have read reports of people managing to get 10-bit in open GL by running custom drivers in Linux but I have never tried this. I do not know if it is possible in Windows. Natively it only works in Pro Cards. Any card can run the desktop in 10-bit but openGL in 10-bit is a different matter. It’s only available natively in Pro cards. Hope I helped. Thanks

[@OfficialEthern1ty]

I think pretty much all AMD chip have 10 bits support

[@onestepsolutions]

Hi Hugo, a Big Thank's for your video very helpful. just wondering , i want to buy a new NVIDIA CARD, for the 10 bit is not working on AFX, nuke, etc on the new (Expensive ;) ) RTX 2080 TI ? only on quadro ? have nice day, Best Regards Daniel

[@MrJemabaris]

@@HugosDesk By now the limitation for 10bit in Open GL only is removed and 10bit can be used in any pro application :) Thanks Nvidia!

[@HugosDesk]

@@MrJemabaris Yes I know, this is amazing news. I wish KZbin hadn't remove annotations. I would have loved to add that info on my video.

[@AlexLopez-iy4by]

Thank you for great review.

[@HugosDesk]

You are welcome. Thanks for watching

[@LostAndHangry]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think this monitor says it "SUPPORTS" HDR10 but it's actually an 8bit panel with an internal algorithm instead of a 10bit panel. I think a monitor needs to have a minimum of 1000 nits & contrast ratio of 20,000:1 to qualify as True HDR10. This thing has 350 nits and Native Contrast of 1,000:1

[@HugosDesk]

This is a 10-bit panel. Most TVs that “support” 1000 nits are actually not 10-bit but 8-bit. So it does support HDR10. I have graded material in HDR in DaVinci with this panel.

[@villepakarinen]

@@HugosDesk How is it possible to grade HDR with only 350 nits?

[@HugosDesk]

It depends what you are delivering. If you mastering a film I would recommend a professional broadcast HDR monitor with 1000+ but that could cost more then £10k-20k. If you just want to preview HDR then this monitor is a great cheaper solution since it is only £1k and it is also 10bit.

[@villepakarinen]

@@HugosDesk but even consumer tvs display much more than 350 nits these days. For what HDR application can you reliably grade for with a 350 nit monitor?

[@HugosDesk]

You are missing the point. This is a professional monitor. A regular TV does not have the following features: - 10bitdisplay - Technicolor certification - 100% SRGB and Rec709 - DCI-P3 Color Space - Hardware calibration - 14-bit 3D Lut - Delta E of

[@drmindriot]

You can now use Nvidia studio drivers to enable 10-bit support for consumer cards.

[@HugosDesk]

I know, unfortunately the video is old so I can’t change it. Also KZbin removed support for annotations. Thanks

[@drmindriot]

​@@HugosDesk Cool! Still a great video. Just have a couple of questions if you have a minute. Is HDR not possible through a Display Port? In your opinion, which is the superior> HDMI or Display Port, or do they simply have different uses? Can you game with a Display Port? Finally, the display is listed as HDR 10 in your video, does that mean it can reach 1000 NITS of brightness in those situations? Is there any other display you would recommend over this one? Thanks again for your great content!

[@HugosDesk]

Thanks so much for you kind words. So regarding HDMI vs DP: They are the same if you plan to use up to 4K at 8-bit. Please keep in mind that due to limitations of HDMI 2.0 bandwidth you can’t have 10-bit 4K in HDMI cable @60 at 444 color fidelity. HDMI 2.0 only supports up to 4K 10-bit at 444 @30hz. If you need 4K or 5K at 10-bit you need DisplayPort. Regarding the 1000 nits, to run 10-bit HDR at 1000 nits you need a Reference monitor like a Dolby, a Sony OLED or a Apple XDR. They all cost from 5K to 35K. The BenQ monitors allow you to monitor HDR but they should not be use as a reference monitor for grading since they only do 300 nits. If you are doing critical HDR grading then you need to spend a lot more money.

[@drmindriot]

@@HugosDesk Awesome, thank you, that is very helpful! :) Do you have any recommendations for other displays in a similar price range to the SW271?

[@CaptainScorpio24]

gtx 1060 6gb???

[@OfficialEthern1ty]

Enjoyed the video ! Good job !

[@HugosDesk]

Thanks so much.

[@OfficialEthern1ty]

@@HugosDesk by the way, you should totally check out the benq ew3270u. 95÷ dci p3 for cheap!

[@WowPhotographyNZ]

Hi Hugo, Thanks for the great review! I have the BenQ SW271 and the BenQ SW320. Which spider would you recommend to work with Palette Master Elements?

[@HugosDesk]

Thanks so much. I would recommend this: www.xrite.com/categories/calibration-profiling/i1display-pro It's the best one.

[@VFXforfilm]

Hey sir, I have a question: what would you recommend for a VFX workflow system. I have a growing KZbin channel (5200 subs) and would like to be legit for nuke/Maya/Resolve/nukestudio (even if audience only sees 8bit). What would be a modest budget trio combo: 1. 10 bitGraphics card 2. Monitor like the above you just reviewed. 3. Any Blackmagic card for 10 bit hdr.

[@SachinBalan_PB]

Hello sir, I just bought the BenQ SW2700PT and i don't have any colour calibration device yet. Previous I had a cheap monitor and it had issues with viewing angle and no colour accuracy at all. I had vision issues because of that. So i decided to move towards BenQ SW2700PT. I still have colour accuracy issues with monitor. Yes i have no calibrating device. I have no clue how to setup this monitor for basic photography purpose. What should be the monitor colour profile and how should I adjust photoshop color settings manually without calibration device. I previously worked on sRGB but with this monitor has Adobe RGB by default. So at this point what should i do to fix colour washed out issues for my old sRGB images and up coming post processing images.

[@alanb7289]

Hi Hugo, thanks for your in depth review. I'm considering this monitor for pro photo editing, preparing images for gallery quality prints and some video editing in HD and 4K. How would you compare this with the Eizo ColourEdge CS2740? Is the Eizo monitor worth the jump in price of around £400.?

[@bmwcar335]

Hi, Love the review and I just bought one but like to know as Photographer, how did you do split screen for Printing and Photoshop development? so you can see how the print will look when you modify in Photoshop. Please can you explain? Can you also explain for HDR what will be the best setting to develop HDR in Photoshop.

[@21ftclean]

Hey Hugo! great videos 👌I'm looking to get an external display for my MBP 16'' after my beloved 2012 iMac departed this world. The majority of my work is wedding photography and almost only use LR + PS. If Apple did a reasonably priced display I would probably just go down that route but paying 6K for a display is just obscene. The BenQ range is definitely something I am considering especially because of the affordability but with so many different models I am lost and confused. Some photographers are saying they prefer a 2k displays (SW270C) over the 4k because of the scaling with menus in LR and PS etc.. Can this not be easily changed in preferences?! Sorry for the waffle but what display would you recommend for someone like myself with budget below £1k. Best wishes, Nick

[@diegortuso]

Hi Hugo, thanks for this video, very helpful. I noticed that you have a Tangent Ripple on your desk. Are you using it? Is it worth to buy for color correction? I'm considering to by a surface and I don't know wich one to pick. Thank you!

[@michaeltan_]

Thanks for the review, I'm totally going to get this monitor. But I only have GTX 1080ti cards so I won't get 10bit colour in my pro apps. Would a Quadro P1000 be sufficient enough card to get full colour?

[@HugosDesk]

Thanks for watching. I know the P4000 and P5000 does Support. Do not know about the P1000. I think any Quadro supports 10-bit in Photoshop, DaVinci, Nuke etc In Windows. But I don’t know for sure. I have tested on my machines the K4000, K5000, P4000 and P5000. The rest maybe look around in forums.

[@BlackPantherElite]

Hey there, thx for your great content. You mentioned consumer cards of nvidia dont support 10 bit display on desktop or pro apps. - Does this still hold for the new rtx 20xx cards? And if so, do you think or know if it's possible to bypass this display problem by buying a cheap quadro (eg. p400) together with an rtx card?

[@levsuhinin5290]

Thank for an exellent review, Hugo! Very informative! Thumbs up!) I have a question for ya about 10 bit. Does it really nessesary to buy a Quadro card to get a 10 bit in a desktop applications? I heard that New Geforce cards from 2018 and 2019 year line suupport 10 bit, such as 1080 Ti and 2080 Ti. Is that true?

[@hzubovi1]

Yeah would like to know which cards support this

[@tommasomatteodiveronesi4283]

The left corner is SO DAMM GOOD! :D

[@HugosDesk]

Haha, yes it’s my chill side. And you haven’t seen what’s off camera more to the left. Got a PS2, PS3, Dreamcast, SegaCD, Jaguar, 3DO, Xbox, GameCube and WiiU and a Switch. Got to love retro gaming.

[@tommasomatteodiveronesi4283]

Wow... someday you have to show us all that! Cool retro/old/dreamy/chill side of life! :D

[@HugosDesk]

I would love to show it. I give up making gaming videos since most people were not enjoying them and preferred me to make VFX stuff. Maybe I could do a one-off like the Resident Evil review I made. Thanks for the suggestion.

[@craigcawkwellphotography]

I recently bought the Benq SW2700PT as I am a photographer. I mainly use LR/PS i currently have a Geforce 660ti card. But would like the 10-bit colour do you reckon an AMD Radeon Pro WX3100 would be sufficient? I don't shoot any video or render. Great video :)

[@callharry209]

hi...could it be that the new model of the S271 isn't able to show rec709? just the SW320 can do it now?

[@HugosDesk]

Why do you say that? The 2 monitors share the same exact specs except for the 2x HDMI ports on the SW271 vs the 1x HDMI on the SW320.

[@callharry209]

@@HugosDesk thank u for your answer. i found too many different specs. a few didn't say anything about the rec709 gamut. U know ... if u are searching u find a lot, but what is right?! ;) Good to have someone like u!!!

[@HugosDesk]

@@callharry209 Well back when I did this review the official page said it was 100% rec709 but now it is not on the page anymore. I will contact BenQ and ask for clarification. At least when I reviewed it I was told by BenQ it was 100%. I will ask them if something has changed. Cheer

[@callharry209]

@@HugosDesk that would be great. Thank u so much

[@reinaldomoon2617]

Hi, on amazon I also found the "BenQ PV3200PT" for "postproduction", did you test it ? apart from HDR are there many differences ? GREAT review by the way !

[@HugosDesk]

Well, that monitor is a Post-production specific monitor. I also use it. It is very good but beware it does not have any HDR or HDMI 2.0. It is older so it is HDMI 1.4. Btw thanks for watching.

[@reinaldomoon2617]

Thanks hugo !

[@otiniano]

Hi, nice review! I have a question though, Is this monitor true 10 bit or is it 8 bit + FRC?

[@HugosDesk]

Thanks for watching. This monitor has a true 10-bit panel. Having said that you need to have a Quadro or Radeon Pro to get true 10-bit on pro applications.

[@WillNicholson]

@@HugosDesk Is that to say that a Titan XP would not produce 10-bit output from Nuke?

[@HugosDesk]

@@WillNicholson It does not matter if it is a Titan or any other GTX. 10-bit in professional apps is a feature of the Quadro and Radeon Pro cards. But please understand if you are not working in color-critical material this is not an issue. I would recommend a Quadro for professionals that work in finishing shots. Have a read: nvidia.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/3011/~/10-bit-per-color-support-on-nvidia-geforce-gpus

[@matkovodopija4990]

@@HugosDesk it doesn't. it's 8bit with frc: www.displayspecifications.com/en/model/5be2cec

[@HugosDesk]

Most professional monitors are FRC. To have a true 10bit display you need to pay up to £5K. The same way that most 8bit monitors are in fact 6bit+FRC. This is a common way to produce 10bit in the industry by most manufacturers. If you want true 10bit you need to get a Eizo CG , Apple XDR or a Sony Pro OLED. They range from £5K to £35K. At this price range, FRC simulation is this is the best way to support 10bit.

[@faid2black]

Great video! I'm close to buying the sw271 for photo editing. After calibrating, are you happy with it's performance in Adobe RGB?

[@HugosDesk]

Hi there, thanks so much for watching. Yes, I am very happy with the Adobe RGB performance. I also have the SW320 (same exact monitor but 32 inches but only 1 HDMI and no USB-C) www.benq.co.uk/product/monitor/sw320

[@faid2black]

Sounds good, I'll give the 271 a shot!

[@gamingchannel-gh2wh]

Why no mention of adobe premiere pro or after effects.. Or did I miss it. Driving while listening.. Are thoes programs good for this monitor or only the ones you mentioned? I'm thinking about getting this I'm New to this whole video editing world but it's amazing lol

[@HugosDesk]

Hi, yes this monitor is great for any creative software but I was showcasing the more high-end applications like Nuke and DaVinci. But yet it’s great for After Effects. I also show Photoshop and mention FCP. Thanks for watching

[@HugosDesk]

This monitor is a great pick for editing for sure.

[@gamingchannel-gh2wh]

@@HugosDesk thanks!!

[@Chaoticmind_Shan]

Can u compare this with benq PD2700U or atleast tell me what are the major difference mainly from video color grading prospective.

[@weqn9s]

descobri agora isto, é pena esta area ser tao cara... continua o bom trabalho!

[@jeannotbadjie6289]

Hi there excellent review. Which BENQ WILL U RECOMMEND. SW2700 vs SW271. Thanks

[@HugosDesk]

Thanks so much for watching. Well depends on what you need. The SW271 is 4K and has HDR so it is better and more future proof but it is more expensive. What's your budget?

[@gomistudio9771]

Hola Hugo, how are you, thanks for the review. I´m relatively new to color grading but I´m thinking in buying this monitor. So I have a PC with Nvidia rtx 2080 and a BM decklink mini monitor 4k. So I want to use these monitor as a color reference monitor but also would like to use it as a 2nd screen thought my GPU Nvidia. Can I calibrate two times the monitor so I can use it both ways?

[@jessierivera6537]

I own a mid-2015 macbook pro with these graphic specs: AMD Radeon R9 M370X 2048 MB Intel Iris Pro 1536 MB. I use Premiere to edit and Davinci Resolve to color grade as best I can at the moment. Will this monitor work with my laptop?

[@eatmykwad]

your a great presenter Hugo, nice review :)

[@HugosDesk]

Thanks so much mate. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@harrij.9542]

Dear Hugo, is it true that i need a SDI connection from blackmagic decklink-card to monitor in order to get Rec.709 colors? Best regards,

[@HugosDesk]

If you want to have a true video signal in rec709 in any reference monitor or TV you need to have a video card like a Blackmagic. This is the only way to playback true progressive or interlaced video in the correct frame rate and color. So if you want to playback 23.98, 24, 29.97, 30, 50, 60 you can’t just use a regular monitor connection. This is why you find a video card on any editing or grading suite all around the world.

[@harrij.9542]

I read from blackmagic forum that specifically SDI connection is required between the monitor and Decklink-card, to achieve Rec.709 colors? I don't know if it's true.

[@HugosDesk]

Yes is it true. And this is why I use an SDI to HDMI converter also from Blackmagic to be able to connect to an HDMI monitor. These monitors are capable of true 100% rec709.

[@jadhavvinit97]

Hi I am thinking to buy PD2700Q for vfx work like paint and compositing this monitor enough or any other best monitor suggest please... Budget are 25000

[@martinfatnesrenders1767]

Hi! I know this is a pro edition monitor and it’s pretty freaking cool, but do you have any reccomendations for a student level monitor?

[@tag4663]

Wich one did you end up buying ?

[@fgarciaish]

Hi Hugo, I love your videos (and that School Of Motion podcast you did). I’m finishing up my PC build and seriously considering this monitor. I’ll be using C4D, AE, Resolve, and continuing to hone my Nuke skills. Since I will have 2 x 1080 Ti’s for Redshift, will a Blackmagic Decklink provide all I need to get a 10-bit signal from Resolve and Nuke to this monitor? And in the case of Nuke is it just a preview I would see or the whole GUI through a decklink? I will have a second monitor regardless but just curious.

[@HugosDesk]

Thanks so much for watching and so happy you liked the podcast. I should do my own really, lol. Well, the Decklink does not show the desktop or GUI. So yes it will show a 10-bit signal from Nuke's or DaVinci SDI preview through the black magic but it will only show the video signal. If you want to have a 10-bit desktop or GUI then you either have to use a Quadro or FirePro cards (professionals cards) or you could try to find an "unofficial" method to "force" 10-bit Open GL in a GeForce. I personally never tried that but I read a few comments on Facebook about people managing to make it work.

[@yoshidaco]

Hi Hugo, thank you very much for a very comprehensive review on a monitor I was thinking to buy. Since you and Francisco talk about Decklink let me piggy back to this thread. I know this monitor doesn't come with SDI input and Decklink 4K doesn't have HDMI output, so I believe you need to convert SDI to HDMI or Display port.. Do you recommend any brand for a converter? Is there any difference in quality inputting into HDMI or Display Port on this monitor? Because I know some monitors would take 10bit input only on Display port but not on HDMI.

[@fgarciaish]

First off, thanks for your reply last week Hugo! That really clears things up. And Taro, I was looking at the Decklink Mini Monitor 4K ($195), and my research on various forums confirms that it will output 10-bit over HDMI 2.0a and at formats up to 2160p30. “...including HDR playback and metadata” I’m not an expert on this by any means, so I could stand to be corrected. :)

[@HugosDesk]

Actually, I am using the "DeckLink Mini Recorder 4K" I use the SDI to connect to my SDI monitor but the card also has an HDMI 2.0 so I can connect directly to the BenQ monitor. Also on this card, only the HDMI supports HDR. For HDR with SDI you need another card.

[@HugosDesk]

Yes, that is the card I use on my Mac Pro. It doe snot support 4K at 60FPS but I never had to do a 60 FPS production "thank god", lol

[@eavesphoto]

Whats the default brightness of the default Adobe 1998 preset? 140 or 160

[@planetmekon]

HI Hugo, great video, will a Nvidia Titan XP output 10-bit similar to Quadro?

[@HugosDesk]

Thanks so much for watching. Well, probably not. NVIDIA Geforce graphics cards have offered 10-bit per color in Direct X for a long time. This works for most traditional Windows Apps to create the application UI and viewports, but, this method is not used for Pro apps like Photoshop, Nuke or DaVinci for example. These programs use OpenGL 10-bit per color buffers which require an NVIDIA Quadro. So, natively no. But I know of people that manage too "hack" the card to run 10-bit Open GL in Linux. Not sure in Windows. Maybe there is a way.

[@Skasparoff]

Hugo's Desk - is this limitation for windows only or mac too? i can't understand do i need a pro level gpu on a mac for color grading 10 bit log from gh5 or raw from BM pocket 4k for example... and why imac or imac pro are ready for hdr if it's not equipped with a pro gpu ? Thanks for your great videos and it's nice that you're responding on comments : )

[@olegcovian209]

Great review, do you recommend ay panoramic monitor for DaVinci ?

[@HugosDesk]

Thanks so much. Well unless the panoramic monitor can do 10 bit and has professional color profiles like 100% sRGB and Rec709 and maybe P3 then maybe. But I think most panoramic monitors do not have PRO features. Maybe investigate the monitor first or try to find one with some of the same features as the ones on this review. Thanks

[@organicmatt]

What is the difference between this and the PV3200pt apart from the obvious display size?

[@HugosDesk]

Well the SW has HDR and Adobe RGB. The PV series does not. Also the SW has a hood and HDMI 2.0. The PV is only HDMI 1.4

[@organicmatt]

Cheers so there isn’t a comparable 32 inch model of this display?

[@michsanabia]

Great Review! what do you think about the EIZO monitors?

[@HugosDesk]

Thanks so much for watching. I have used Eizo monitors for years at The Mill when I was the Head of Nuke in the London Office. I think it is pretty close and very difficult for me to really notice much difference. I think BenQ's price point is much more affordable and since it has a Hardware calibration I am very happy with the BenQ. I have a feeling Eizo has become the standard and now other brands are catching up fast.

[@michsanabia]

Good point! thanks Hugo! ps. i like the quality of your videos, first content, second the image, is the ursa right?

[@HugosDesk]

Thanks so much mate. Yes, it is an Ursa Mini Pro set to 4.6K with Apple Prores 4444XQ with a Canon 24mm L f1.4 and a Canon 50mm L 1.2 (both filming wide open). Final video edited in FCPX, Graded with ColorFinale Pro and delivered in 4K.

[@michsanabia]

Great! Thanks for share your Knowledge!

[@prashantsahani8645]

Sir i am photographer , only work in PS and LR, which one i have to buy sw271 or pd2700u?

[@HugosDesk]

Highly recommend a SW because of the hardware calibration alone!

[@andresb3599]

Hi. I am starting a HDR VFX project. Do you think using this kind of HDR monitor will make my life easier at the moment of compositing ? I see that there is no cheaper options for HDR monitors in the market and that makes me doubt about how good is this BenQ monitor. I will appreciate your answer !!!!!

[@HugosDesk]

Well this monitor is good for playing HDR games or watching HDR films but making a project it’s not good enough. I would not master HDR with it. You need a 1000 nits monitor for that. The cheapest one is the Apple XDR but its £5K

[@andresb3599]

@@HugosDesk thanks for you reply. I will not make finish. Just vfx and delivery exr files to the post house that it will grade and delivery the finished material

[@andresb3599]

@@HugosDesk What do you think about working with Dell UP2018Q ? I will not grade. Just VFX in ACES and delivery to post house.

[@leeevans1874]

Hugo Fantastic review . Im moving up to 4k after working mostly with Arri Files and bought myself an Ursa Mini Pro for personal projects and some short film work . I also Upgraded My Black magic Mini monitor to the 4k version . Are you using yours on the hdmi 2 port ? or coming out of the sdi and then through a convertor ? Ive been waiting for a 2.0 hdmi monitor to get 10 bit . would you mind sharing you settings and configuration for davinci ? Thanks in advance for any advice .

[@HugosDesk]

Thanks for watching. Yes I too have a Ursa Pro. Great camera. I use HDMI from the Blackmagic DeckLink Mini Monitor 4K. It is a HDMI 2.0 so it supports HDR. That card does not support HDR with SDI. For that you need the DeckLink 8K Pro. But the problem is converting SDI to HDMI keeping HDR signal. At lest at the moment. I am sure Blackmagic will have new converters and cards at IBC.

[@leeevans1874]

Thanks Hugo. That's what I was looking for . Think I'll pull the trigger on this monitor in the next few days.

[@HugosDesk]

Send me a PM and I send you a discount code for the EU BenQ store.

[@leeevans1874]

Cheers Hugo , done . also followed your Insta (The Lorien Creative thats me)

[@elias38]

What video card should I get for this monitor to support 10bit?

[@freedomhiking6925]

Using a 10 bit monitor you’re going to need a graphics card that supports 10 bit. The question I have you for is: I only use Lightroom for my photo editing. Lightroom does not support 10 bit, so it it pointless to obtain a 10 bit monitor and a new graphics card? Thanks bud!

[@HugosDesk]

Even if your application does not support 10 bit you are still better server with a 10bit display. This display is hardware calibrated, so the Color accuracy I much more greater then a regular monitor, not to mention you have specific modes on this monitor not found in other cheaper ones like 100% sRGB, Rec709 and even P3.

[@racketsong]

it does it is called "30 bit display support" in LR - 10 bit per chanel

[@jeannotbadjie6289]

👍in that matter I am good, thanks again.

[@HugosDesk]

No problem

[@strippedlist]

Please tell me what video card are you using that can output 10 bit?...

[@HugosDesk]

Hi there. Any Pro level class card can output 10 bit signal. Nvidia Quadro Cards provide open GL at 10 bit so they support Nuke, DaVinci, Adobe in 10-bit. (Among others) also AMD Fire and Pro cards do the same. Regarding HDMI previews from softwares, most modern Blackmagic PCI cards support 10 bit in both SDI and HDMI, some even Support HDR and some even 12bit. Thanks for watching.

[@geroldwaefler9485]

Nvidia Titan X Maxwell also produce Open GL 10Bit or not???

[@geroldwaefler9485]

Where can i read this? In the Nvidia Card Specs. i cant find informations about 8 or 10Bit OpenGL output!!!!

[@guy-fl1gr]

I've actually heard that most desktop video cards support 10bit

[@theonlyaamir]

Hey Hugo, what's your take on this monitor for Compositing/Substance Painer/Gaming? (Dell UltraSharp 25 Monitor: U2518D): www.dell.com/hr/business/p/dell-u2518d-monitor/pd pcmonitors.info/reviews/dell-u2518d/ I've been looking for a decent 2k/4k IPS Panel around the 24-25" mark and VESA compatible but haven't found many options! Any ideas? The one I linked above has 99% sRGB coverage according to their specs [Color Gamut (typical): 99% sRGB, 99% REC709, 79.3% DCI-P3] edit: If you had to buy a 24-25" screen today what would you get? (I'm trying to go for a dual monitor setup)

[@olliphoto]

Can this monitor be used with the following. Photoshop, lightroom and editing video. 4k. Are these specs okay for it? Intel Core i7-7700K 32 GB DDR4 Ram MSI Gefore GTX 1080 11GB Ti

[@HugosDesk]

Yes it will work but Open GL in 10-bit will only work in a Quadro. So Photoshop, DaVinci, Nuke or any Pro app able to display a 10-bit viewer will display in 8-bit only. 10-bit Open GL is only available in Nvidia Quadro or AMD Fire/Pro cards. Thanks for watching.

[@thomastuorto9929]

Is it still better to go for a 10 bit monitor if you only have a 8 bit video card or not worth the extra money? Just a semi serious photo hobbyist ! Buy the way, a great in depth review.

[@GoldwireIT]

@@HugosDesk Nvidia Geforce GTX cards now support 10-bit with the latest studio drivers: www.cnet.com/news/nvidia-studio-drivers-deliver-geforce-30-bit-color-unto-photoshop-and-more

[@shivtiwari2303]

I have nvedia's zotac GeForce GTX 1070 amp extreme...does it support 10 bit?

[@HugosDesk]

It will Support 10bit on desktop only. It will not support 10bit in OpenGL so it won’t support 10bit on the creative tools. But this is not a problem. Unless you are working professionally with you machine you won’t need 10bit. It’s only needed for critical work like VFX, grading or photography editing. Even in 8bit having a 10bit display will still be an advantage since a professional monitor has better color accuracy and more professional functions like calibration and proper LUT support. So even using a GeForce it is still much better then using a regular monitor.

[@shivtiwari2303]

@@HugosDesk thnks mate... u got urself a new sub :)

[@HugosDesk]

Thanks so much

[@cyna76]

no only quadro/firegl

[@duarteraposo278]

@@HugosDesk Hi Hugo, you need to check the new drivers, that now allow it! www.anandtech.com/show/14682/nvidia-siggraph-2019-nv-to-enable-30bit-opengl-support-on-geforce-cards

[@TheHearMyMusic]

so even if I can select the 10bpc with my gtx 1070 I wont see 10bit in my program am I getting this right?

[@HugosDesk]

Yes, that is correct. Your desktop will run at 10-bit but OpenGL apps will run in 8-bit. To run 10-bit in OpenGL you need a Quadro or Radeon Pro.

[@izoyt]

@@HugosDesk da vinci runs in open gl?

[@HugosDesk]

I am talking about Nuke, Adobe apps and 3D apps. You need a pro card to have full support on pro apps.

[@drewc9947]

Hugo's Desk do you have any experience with Blackmagic’s DeckLink? I was going to use one of those to run a 10-bit reference monitor

[@windvfx2522]

@@HugosDesk - good news! petapixel.com/2019/07/29/nvidia-unveils-new-studio-driver-with-support-for-10-bit-color-for-creatives/

[@DNGMaestro]

Ah ganda hugo caralho!

[@HugosDesk]

Hahaha, Obrigado???

[@DNGMaestro]

Nada meu! Well done! Btw (em inglês que pode servir para outros) Have u ever tried the Benq pd3200u or have an opinion on ? I ordered it but was in doubt with the available choices. And btw2, i also have my snes mini and Switch next to me on my setup and the same pair of small mackie monitors, besides the other big Yamaha ones (i'm a musician and video editor). Keep it up Big Hugo!

[@GoldwireIT]

When Nvidia announced that Geforce GTX cards will now be able to utilize 10-bit, I thought of this video about when you said you needed a Quadro card. Well you no longer need a Quadro card to view 10-bit so you should add a note to mention that. www.cnet.com/news/nvidia-studio-drivers-deliver-geforce-30-bit-color-unto-photoshop-and-more/

[@HugosDesk]

Unfortunately KZbin does not support notes anymore so I can’t add it. This video is 1 year old so I can’t do anything about it. Sorry.

[@HugosDesk]

But I will add this new information on any new review I make from now on. Thanks for watching

[@SlobboVideo]

I hope someday I can be good enough to actually earn using this kind of monitors. Here's hoping.

[@sundeepsembi6091]

Is the sw320 just as good (just bigger) ?

[@HugosDesk]

Yes it is the same monitor. The only difference is the SW320 only has 1 HDMI input and it does not have USB-C connection. Apart from those 2 things, it is the same. I have a SW320 and it’s great. Thanks for watching.

[@sundeepsembi6091]

Hugo's Desk thanks Hugo . I got the 32 and it is brilliant however I have struggled to run 2 monitors . I have a 2017 MacBook Pro and a owc dock which in theory easily rune two monitors however it won’t run the 32 4k and a Ben q pd 2k - I have no idea why ?

[@HugosDesk]

Which MacBook Pro are you using? Is it with dedicated GPU? It may not have power to get 2x 4K Monitors plus the MacBook screen. That may be too much resolution for the hardware. What specs do you have?

[@vincentchin93]

Can type C run 10 bit ?

[@HugosDesk]

You mean Thunderbolt 3?

[@vincentchin93]

Hugo's Desk usb C cable , can it run 10 bit ?

[@HELLSING_JEZSÚ]

Doesn’t Make Coffee 🤣😂

[@Underhills]

Pst, I'll tell you a secret. After the owned endorsement video is over and the camera is off they all turn on their trusted Eizo ColorEdge. Me too. There is no substitute.

[@HugosDesk]

Well you are pretty wrong. I been using BenQ Monitors for years. Maybe you should try them!

[@Underhills]

I've been using alot of monitors myself, but I've had Eizo ColorEdge as my main go to source since they came around. Except from perhaps a couple of high-end NEC models I've had, there's nothing that rivals them. I prefer the Eizo's for color accuracy and post editing. I have actually checked out the BenQ product you reviewed and although its' good value it doesn't really compete with the Eizo ColorEdge monitors on any level as I see it. The prize is fair as it is a lesser product. @@HugosDesk

[@HugosDesk]

That is fine. I understand. I just wanted to make it clear that I do use BenQ and not Eizo as a “secret” as you suggested. Thanks

[@Underhills]

Then you must try out the Eizo ColorEdge CG318-4K. Should be right up your alley work wise. The 4096 x 2160 resolution perfectly matches the one most often used for 4K film making. It comes with a stiff prize but it's the best on all measured levels. Thanks for sharing and keep up the good work. @@HugosDesk

[@Str1000ac]

is there a 32'' version?

[@Underhills]

There's very few 32" monitors. Think most of'em are either 31.1" or 31.5" at best.

[@JLMtime]

My gpu was made 2 years a 1080ti it uses 10bit Bt-1886 color space or HDR BT2020 so your wrong buster high end gaming cards output 10bit wide color gaumat 100% of the time as long as my refresh rate isent higher than 98hz it even ouputs 12bit at 60hz RGB No chroma sub sapling

[@HugosDesk]

Well, 'buster' I am actually not wrong, I never said they don't do 10-bit. Geforce can do 10bit since 2008. What I said was that support for 10bit Open GL and support for 10bit in professional applications was the only available on Quadro cards. But since this summer NVidia finally made it possible to use 10bit Open GL on regular GeForces. Have a look: www.nvidia.com/en-gb/geforce/news/studio-driver/ So, at the time that I made this video, in 2017, you could only have 10bit in a professional application using a Quadro. As of Agust 2019, you can finally use any NVidia card as long as you install the new Studio Drivers. So no, I am not wrong, I am a professional VFX supervisor with 20 years of experience, I do my research and I fact check my content every time. Thanks for watching and the next time you try to give me a 'correction' maybe google it first.

[@Indiestereographer]

Are you suggesting you can use this monitor for Video production- I think not. It has a refresh rate of 60Hz - totally unsuitable for 24fps - 25fps or any other television/video format in the world. You will get tearing or frame stutter at worst. You are also looking at a monitor which operates in RGB colourspace and not YUV as required for accurate viewing of Broadcast material.

[@HugosDesk]

I am suggesting it can be used as a cheap reference monitor. Of course, you need a proper grading monitor to do high-end professional work but these can cost up to $25K. I have been used this monitor in many productions with great success but I currently use an SW321C for cheap reference. Having said that, this monitor, the SW271, does support 24, 30, 50 and 60 FPS at both RGB and YCbCr at 4444 up to 4K. Have a look at the SW271 Resolution file from BenQ's website: www.benq.eu/en-uk/support/downloads-faq/products/monitor/sw271/manual.html

[@tusharpatel1614]

Why is it that the entire video looks washed out? did you forget to color correct it?

[@HugosDesk]

No, I did not forget to grade it. It was my own choice. I would not do it like this now but back then i did.

[@Notmy00000]

the manual, from BenQ palette master, leaves a lot to be desired, it is round out badly

[@HugosDesk]

Yes, I actually mention this in my review. I have sent this feedback to BenQ. So I am sure it will improve.

[@Notmy00000]

Hugo's Desk ; From arco. let's hope, they do it. I have already sent a mail to BenQ en, I am asking for two things. whether or not to check (profile distribution) and matrix or 16 bit color

[@coolbuddydude1]

But it's a 8bit+FRC monitor, not a true 10bit.

[@HugosDesk]

The SW range is true 10-bit. Both this and the SW320. I was told this by the engineering team at BenQ

[@coolbuddydude1]

@@HugosDesk strange. displayspecification website says it's actually 8bit+frc.

[@HugosDesk]

@@coolbuddydude1 I will ask again.

[@HugosDesk]

Btw most '8-bit' monitors are actually 6bit+FRC monitors and most '10-bit' are actually 8bit+FRC monitors! This has always been an issue even on Eizo monitors. I am assuming we will get '12bit' monitors next year that is actually 10bit+FRC monitors! Manufactures of monitors are pretty vague on these details, unfortunately.

[@CaptainScorpio24]

@@HugosDesk so we are forced to buy real 10 bit tv in 4k resolution only? right

[@BernardoAmorim]

Hugo muito obrigado pelos teus videos. vou comprar este monitor. se precisares de 3d alguma vez diz-me. gd abc. vivam os gatos. vivam os pixeis

[@HugosDesk]

Muito obrigado por ver o meu vídeo. Espero que gostes do monitor.

[@DBLCreations]

Waaaaaaaaaaiiiiiiiiiiiiiit aminute, it doesn't make coffee hu? Lol :P Anyway, looks like a great monitor.

[@HugosDesk]

I know, told BenQ to make a Nespresso capsule post, lol

[@DBLCreations]

Hugo's Desk 😜😂🤓 hahaha 😀

[@evenaicantfigurethisout]

Except that the SW271 isn't true 10-bit though. It's 8-bit+FRC. Did BenQ pay you for this? Or did they just give you the monitor for free? If it's only the latter, then I don't think that was a very wise more on your part selling out your integrity for such a low price.

[@HugosDesk]

My review is very honest, I talk about the good and the bad! BenQ did not pay me to make this review! I have returned this monitor to BenQ. It was not given to me free. But even if they would give me a monitor for review it would always be an honest review from a professional point of view. I am a professional working in the VFX industry for 20 years and my channel is all about VFX training and tutorials and not a review channel (you can go and check the rest of my videos). I have been using BenQ monitors for many years. Regarding the 10-bit, I have only recently discovered that only the SW320 is full 10-bit and I have spoken with BenQ about this in detail. At the time of this review, I was under the impression the SW271 was 10bit since the SW320 is 10bit. This was my mistake due to miscommunication with BenQ. Since I can't add annotation anymore (KZbin removed that option) I will explain this in my next review. I am currently using the BenQ SW321c in my professional work and I will be reviewing it very soon. In this new review, I will explain a few things, including; The fact that Full 10-bit panels are extremely expensive, that most '10-bit' monitors are, in fact, 8-bit+FRC regardless of the manufacturer. That most '8-bit' monitors are only 6-bit+FRC and finally, I will explain that 8-bit+FRC is much better than standard 8-bit (6-bit+FRC). This is something that, unfortunately, all monitor manufacturer has been miscommunicating in their websites for a long time. I hope this explanation is enough for you to understand that my reviews are indeed honest. Thanks and have a nice day

[@craigcharlestone]

8-bit+FRC is not 10bit. False ad.

[@HugosDesk]

First off this is not an AD, it's a professional review from a VFX Artist perspective. Second, the monitor supports 10-bit using 8-bit+FRC. Most monitors at this price range are all 8-bit+FRC supporting 10-bit by simulating the 2 extra bits. To have a full 10-bit monitor would cost at least £4K. You should also know the most 8-bit monitors are actually 6-bit+FRC. To preview 1.07 Billion colors you need at least 8-bit+FRC or 10-bit.

[@aldeen1982]

Funny you said you working in the industry for 17 years... because you look like 25 :D

[@HugosDesk]

I am 41 my friend. I started in 1999 so it’s 20 years now. The video is almost 3 years old. Thanks for the compliment

[@aldeen1982]

@@HugosDesk Nice! Keep it going!

[@art.generalist]

But its not true 10 Bit, its 8 Bit+FRC ! Just marketing ))) In overall its still 8 bit...

[@HugosDesk]

To buy a true 10-bit display you need to pay at least £5K. It's not marketing at all, 8bit + FCR is 10-bit compatible. The same way that most '8bit' monitors are actually only 6-bit+FCR. If you use an '8bit display you won't have the option to display billions of colors. On this monitor, you can so it's not marketing, it's accurate. This monitor displays 10-bit but the 2 extra bits are simulated by FCR.

[@DUBTOSTER]

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