Monitors for Photographers

In this video, I’ll tell you what types of monitors suit photographers. In photography, it’s important to use a monitor that produces accurate colour reproduction and is easy to calibrate. I’ll tell you what ones are best to buy on a budget and give you a short review on the one we choose to use here at TSoP which is the BenQ SW271 monitor. This is a 4K monitor and has a wider colour gamut which is a real help, especially if you’re printing your images.
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[@RileyTech]

Finally! A photography monitor video from an actual photographer! You have no idea how many videos I’ve searched through from random top 10 channels that just don’t know what they’re talking about.

[@theschoolofphotography]

Thanks Riley, glad to help

[@carlmcneill1139]

I bought the SW2700PT last year and I really like it so far. It was refurbished and I ordered it straight from BenQ. It was originally $600 US but I got it for $350.

[@theschoolofphotography]

Wow, that's a bargain! 👍

[@TimV777]

Zooming in to see clear details depends on the quality of the image and not whether the monitor is 2k or 4k. Correct me if I'm wrong

[@gregfaris6959]

Not every photographer prefers a 4K monitor. Look at the video from Photo Tom; “2K better than 4K” to learn his reasons for preferring a BENQ 270c, at 2K resolution. There’s a funny paradox about monitors; They’re always advertised as the brightest, most dazzling, most colorful image out there, but if you are really working with the most dazzling display there is, it just means that your work will look more dull to everyone who has a lesser display. So what you really want is a monitor that allows you to work critically under conditions that MATCH YOUR INTENDED OUTPUT. If that means 1000 x 800px for the web, you should be working in that resolution. If you are outputting to print, you need to dim your monitor WAY down, and calibrate it carefully to match the print media you are using. There’s little point in developing a workflow that guarantees your work only looks great to you.

[@Daniel_WR_Hart]

This is something that I realized recently when looking for super high gamut OLED displays, even though I'll be doing prints with a much more restricted color range

[@daujlay]

If 95% of the final photographs are for the web (so sRGB) is there any benefit in purchasing a monitor that is 100%, or near 100%, Adobe RGB?

[@theschoolofphotography]

If you're only working for web then no.

[@ashydayz1337]

Which monitor should I buy for around $600?

[@nunosantos8784]

Good content as always. However, highlighting as a first essential feature to be a 4K monitor, is not really a good start. Of course it's nice to have 4K, but there are other features that are far more important than the resolution.

[@robgerety]

4K? Noooo. 2k for photo editing is excellent. 4K ok sure, but totally not superior for photo editing and not necessary by any means. imho.

[@djalanemohamedamine6295]

Is 1440p 27 inch enough for photo editing ?

[@Daniel_WR_Hart]

@@robgerety 4K is awesome if it's for "large" prints or for editing 4K video

[@PLANETWATERMELON]

Great video and it is very nice of BenQ to send you a monitor, but obviously its not what you use. What monitor do you actually use for your photography?

[@theschoolofphotography]

We use BenQ monitors

[@PLANETWATERMELON]

@@theschoolofphotography Great. I’m starting to see why. Which model do you use and which model would recommend for an obvious newby going into product photography? Thanks. Much appreciated.

[@earavichandran]

Nice video about monitor. Wonderful explanation. I have a doubt. Is there a difference between ordinary monitor, that generally we've, view of the image and the image that is come out of print? I mean, is the colour may vary between monitor and print out?

[@theschoolofphotography]

Hi Ravi, just make sure you have an IPS monitor and it’s been calibrated properly to minimalize any difference between screen and print. Thanks

[@earavichandran]

@@theschoolofphotography Thanks Mark

[@williamborges3914]

Yes, there will be a difference between what you see on a regular sRGB monitor and what comes out of your printer which operates with a larger color gamut. Complicating things will be monitor calibration, paper profiles, lighting conditions in the room, etc. As you can guess, color management from the screen to print can take you down a rabbit hole. Adobe RGB monitors like the BenQs are a major step in achieving good color management.

[@shahrukhsadi7947]

carry on love from bangladesh

[@theschoolofphotography]

👍

[@thetruthh.8836]

Editing (color accuracy etc..) + gaming (editing as priority) ? Any thoughts? Maybe a dual monitor setup will be a better idea but much more expensive of course.

[@tedtedsen269]

so if im shooting my raw and converted to 16bit tiff and adobe rgb they wil look better on a adobe rgb monitor vs im shooting in s-rgb on a s-rgb monitor

[@theschoolofphotography]

You will see more colours. Thanks

[@mr.l6982]

What are your thoughts of the Apple iMac Desktop monitors?

[@theschoolofphotography]

They're good

[@beentheredonethat7572]

So for shooting I ordered a 19" with 1080p & an hdmi to attach my camera, it will run off a/c or d/c so I can run it off a battery. I'd love to have a 4k but I won't find it for $120. I'll see how it does tomorrow!

[@theschoolofphotography]

Thanks for sharing Will, hope it goes well.

[@livedeliciously]

I keep going back and forth about a monitor mostly because of price, but I realize in the end, I want to start printing. The money justifies the end goal.

[@williamborges3914]

The big deal about the BenQ calibration software is the profile resides in the monitor's hardware and not the computer. So, irrespective of whatever image the computer sends to the monitor it will be controlled by the profile in the monitor. In comparison, various image viewer and editing software applications may or may not be capable of using a conventional monitor profile that resides in the computer. So what? In my case with a computer-resident monitor profile TIFF files displayed with a simple photo viewer app used to be dark and over-saturated. To view them properly I had to open an editor that can use a profile stored in the computer. Whereas, now with BenQ's monitor-resident profile any image displayed by any app is rendered correctly. There is a bit of a minor quirk in setting up BenQ monitors. It's just unusual enough that a lot of people will overlook it or simply choose not to do a proper set-up because they don't understand why it's necessary. Of course, if the set-up isn't done correctly BenQ's calibration software is a pain. BenQ monitors require two cables between the screen and the computer; a video display cable such as a DVI, plus a supplimentary USB cable to handle the heavy data transfer loads during the calibration process. Without both cables in place the BenQ software either bogs down or simply won't work. BTW, BenQ provides all the necessary cables. With both cables in place, calibration is easy and effective despite the comments expressed in the video.

[@beatocarneiro657]

Thanks for your work and recommandations which I been following recently. But I have now a basic question to you since I need to buy a new and larger monitor and I hesitate between a 4K or a wider colour gamut option, for instance between LG UN880-B and 2K units BenQ SW270C (more expensive) or other ASUS or Dell (I think the BenQ SW271 is already discontinued). I do amateur work, shooting mainly portrait, landscape, some macro, and so I look for photo editing qualities, though most of the time I do general office work and CAD design. What would be your advice for may purchase considering that as amateur I have budget limitations. Thank you again.

[@JMKDragon]

If I'm posting images to online sources which use sRGB, should I still be editing in Adobe RGB or sRGB? I have a 27-inch 4k monitor from Viewsonic which has 99% adobe rgb and 100%sRGB. Every time I edit my photos on my screen they look absolutely beautiful until I see those same images on a different screen. Even on 5k Mac screens, they look very dull. Any idea why? Thanks

[@JWest1]

Mark, being that you shot this video four years ago, do you have any recommendations for new monitors?

[@theschoolofphotography]

Hi Jake, the modern version of this one is great 👍

[@ConstantinosIoannou]

Hello everyone. I am after a 43” 4K UHD TV that is going to be used and as a secondary monitor on a PC, mainly for showing/checking photos & videos. Can anyone recommend a model suitable for this purpose? Which tv panel technology is best for this? VA or IPS panels? Unfortunately, OLEDs don’t come in 43”…. Thanks!

[@viorelagocs]

Does the color space of the monitor matter at all if you work in b&w?

[@michaelkent7102]

Yes it does. Go in LR ,Black and white , and try move hsl ur pic will look diff

[@theschoolofphotography]

Hi yes it does. Effectively colours turn into greys when you convert a colour photo into b&w so the more colours you have the more greys you have. This monitor also comes with a specific black and white colour space built in. You simply change into it using the hot puck key shown in the video. Hope that helps 👍

[@viorelagocs]

@@theschoolofphotography It does, thank you.

[@LairdDavidson]

Just to add to the previous replies that colour space does matter for B&W I'd like to add that the bit depth matters too. Standard monitors are usually 8 bit which won't show the full greyscale. You need a 10 bit monitor. Google 10 bit Vs 8 bit monitor to see what I mean. Many, but not all, of the Benq professional monitors are 10 bit.

[@Daniel_WR_Hart]

@@theschoolofphotography If you're only in 8-bit mode, wouldn't you only have 256 different grayscale values?

[@muminki7783]

Hello, great video and information but around 11:45 q @ a If I want to earn money from photography but don't have budget like this what should I consider? save money for buying better lens ( I have taken good pictures with my D7200 and 18-140 ) or for buying the monitor? And start printing the pictures ( I have already ) for selling and then buy better lens (for money I earned from selling etc.) ? or start "making" (not taking) better pictures with better monitor? Bit complicated. Sorry. Just want to start selling the canvases. I'm more landscape disposed. Thanks Regards

[@theschoolofphotography]

Thanks for sharing 👍

[@mkm1015]

I wanna buy a budget monitor HP 22w. I'll do some Photoshop editing occasionally. I can't decide which one - 1080p 21" or 24" ???

[@amarg2199]

mkm 101 24 is good

[@pj31webb]

Hi would you recommend a 4K/5k iMac for editing?

[@theschoolofphotography]

Hi yes they would be great as well. Thanks

[@TheSionThomas]

What about macs ?

[@theschoolofphotography]

Hi, yes this monitor will work with Macs as well.

[@IxAMxYOURxFATHER]

I've finally found found a photographer/youtuber from my local area whoop whoop!

[@theschoolofphotography]

Glad to have you on board 👍

[@LairdDavidson]

Benq also make the less expensive SW240 photographer monitor that displays 99% Adobe RGB. Another less expensive option for those of us who realise that 100% sRGB colour space is enough for almost all of our work is the PD series from Benq such as the PD2500Q. Aimed at designers and film makers but great for photos too. I know they are 2K rather than 4K but they are fine for most photographers and even video. They are way ahead of standard monitors. I do recommend you choose a 10 bit (or better if you can get one) monitor regardless as these will display colour gradients correctly whereas an standard 8 bit one won't.

[@theschoolofphotography]

Thanks for sharing 👍

[@OneEuroMutt]

Do you think a BL2420PT would work as well? It's 100% sRGB and 77% Adobe. It has 123ppi which means it would be consider retina at 71cm back. or is the PD line better?

[@terrylwilliams]

I have a LG 27UL600 monitor (sRGB) When calibrating. the white point is D65, Gamma 2.2. Should I leave the black point at native. Is there an optimum contrast ratio for publishing SRGB for internet, etc... I'm a hobbyist photographer, shoot in RAW with a Nikon Z7. I finding my images lacking and seem muddy. Flicker: www.flickr.com/photos/164582289@N02/

[@francosousa1329]

Let's not go overboard about 4k. FHD+ is quite adequate for print photography. Most of today's well known photographers used monitors that would by today's plethora of options seem unsightly. Working within the right colour gamut is what's really cogent.

[@kefkapalazzo1]

Jesus Christ lol I’m just gonna stick with my macs screen for now. My dell just isn’t it, but I can’t get a good monitor yet

[@MikeBulka]

Great informational video!

[@theschoolofphotography]

Thanks Mike 👍

[@chrisg4433]

This is only about 1 monitor

[@JMac85X]

Just me or did he say a lot of the same thing over and over again?

[@theschoolofphotography]

No, I don't think so, I don't think so, don't think so, so. 😂😂

[@dodothebird2199]

Gamers: HeY ThAt CoLoUr I s aMazIng Do you reccomend full Srgb or Adobe Rgb? I usually shoot in SrGb but im trying out Adobe RGB

[@OlegKorsak]

Guys, never buy OLEDs. Got a new laptop from ASUS - it is a complete rubbish