Pro monitors put to the test

Josh Collins whips out the colourimeter to investigate and rate eight professional-grade LCDs.

For many people, when they see the price of professional-orientated monitors, they first need to pick their jaw up from the ground because of price-shock. This is especially common when in the smaller 24- to 27-inch ranges where bargains can indeed be had. Then they’re left perplexed as to how or why these displays are so expensive!

They read the common specs; response time, refresh rate, panel size. They might even look at the panel type, too — at a basic level, at least. Essentially looking to see if the display uses an in-plane switching (IPS) technology-based panel because they’ve heard they’re meant to look nice and view well. However, the majority of the time, they miss the point and just don’t quite get it.

Does this sound familiar to you? Is this how you react or how one of your friends, family members or colleagues reacts? It’s time to come into the fold and begin to understand the complicated, broad and deep world of digital colour reproduction.

For those of you in the loop already, we’ll be looking at a range of colour-accurate displays across a broad spectrum of prices and specifications from leading brands in the marketplace.

A core aspect of what contributes so generously to the significant prices of professional-orientated displays is the ability to accurately and broadly reproduce many millions or even billions of colours. Not surprisingly, this is very important for professionals working in occupations that rely on being able to tell the difference between an emerald green and olive green, or perhaps the differentiation in shades of grey and minute details in dark images.

Welcome to the world of professional monitors.