27" 4K monitor: Hello everyone, I am considering getting a second 27" 4K monitor. Two monitors will be used for work with MBP 16" M1Pro (programming and other IT related stuff) and...

Sergey

Hello everyone,

I am considering getting a second 27" 4K monitor. Two monitors will be used for work with MBP 16" M1Pro (programming and other IT related stuff) and with MBP 15" (Late 2016) for everything else including photography Post Processing. I am an amateur photographer and mostly use Lightroom Classic, and occasionally Topaz, PS and some other products. I prepare images for printing - about 4-6 images a year - and don't print it myself.

I'm considering buying Phillips PHL 276E8V ($290 on Amazon) but also would consider BenQ PD2700U ($500 at BH Photo Video). I know that BenQ monitor is for designers rather than photographers but I can't afford BenQ SW series.

So my question is whether it worth to spend $200 more on BenQ PD2700U or should I just go with Phillips monitor for less?

Thanks,
Sergey

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Dunno, is it?

NickGee Loc: Pacific Northwest

Sergey wrote:

Hello everyone, br br I am considering getting a ... (show quote)

You want a monitor that you can calibrate, which points toward the BenQ. I have the BenQ SW270C PhotoVue 27" (QHD 1440p) which is optimized for photo editing and which I recommend highly. BenQ monitors have a tremendous reputation and many on this forum have them.

RWeisz

I have the BenQ PD2720U, which is one of the designer models, and I am very happy with it. I am a graphic designer in addition to being a photographer, but it works very well with my 14" MacBook Pro. I don't know the specs of the model you are looking at. Mine is 4k. It is a matte screen, but not quite as matte as the SW series and doesn't have a hood. BenQ's customer support has been excellent!! I spend hours in LR and PS and Topaz and they all look great.

Sergey

NickGee wrote:

You want a monitor that you can calibrate, which points toward the BenQ. I have the BenQ SW270C PhotoVue 27" (QHD 1440p) which is optimized for photo editing and which I recommend highly. BenQ monitors have a tremendous reputation and many on this forum have them.

Right, I know about SW series but I can't afford it

RWeisz

I couldn't either. That is why I got the PD series. Mine was marked down during the holidays. You need to get color calibration software. It seems to run very bright. That is my only complaint.

Sergey

RWeisz wrote:

I have the BenQ PD2720U, which is one of the designer models, and I am very happy with it. I am a graphic designer in addition to being a photographer, but it works very well with my 14" MacBook Pro. I don't know the specs of the model you are looking at. Mine is 4k. It is a matte screen, but not quite as matte as the SW series and doesn't have a hood. BenQ's customer support has been excellent!! I spend hours in LR and PS and Topaz and they all look great.

Thank you for your reply.
It looks like PD2720U is very similar to PD2700U. The one that you have has a wider Gamut, less contrast, HDR mode, slightly different set of ports; it also has been discontinued.

RWeisz

Right. That is why they had a half price sale. But, I agree, I don't think it is much different and with the calibration software you should be okay. I run it in it sRGB mode.

Sergey

RWeisz wrote:

I couldn't either. That is why I got the PD series. Mine was marked down during the holidays. You need to get color calibration software. It seems to run very bright. That is my only complaint.

I have Spyder 5 Pro for calibration.

yssirk123 Loc: New Jersey

The 24" BenQ SW240 24.1" 16:10 PhotoVue IPS Monitor works well for me ($399 at B&H)

Toby

I have a 27" and a 23" both run simultaneously from the same computer and the res on the 23" will not go as high as the 27". The result is frequently when I move something from the 27" (main) monitor the size changes on the smaller monitor and is often it is too big for the screen size and has to be "pulled in" to fit. This is frustrating. I am told that the only solution is to set both monitors to the same res which defeats one of the reasons I bought the larger hi res monitor.
Mabe one of the computer guys here knows of a good solution other than buying another 27" monitor.

Fotoartist Loc: Detroit, Michigan

Sergey wrote:

Hello everyone, br br I am considering getting a ... (show quote)

I spent $1,000 on my Apple monitor 12 years ago and it still works perfect. Never even a calibration issue. And I am a professional photo retoucher. Get the best you can afford.

Jagnut07 Loc: South Carolina

I also use the MacBook Pro 15” 2016. But as an external monitor I use the LG 27” 5k. Which I find fantastic together. When I bought it I paid around $600 but it was on special from Apple. I have no idea what price it is now but it is a great combo.