BenQ SW271C Review
Is this the best 27-inch monitor for Photographers, and videographers? Let’s find out in this comprehensive review of the BenQ SW271 monitor.
BenQ kindly sent us their new SW271C monitor to have a good play around with and see what we think of it. This monitor has been specifically made for photography and for video editing. The SW271C is a 27-inch, 4k monitor which currently retails at around £950. Here I’m going to review the monitor and talk to you about all its features the pros and cons, and whether we like it or not!
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BenQ SW271C Monitor Key Features
Professional 4K & 27” photographer monitor for photo-editing & video-editing
AQCOLOR technology to reproduce precise images
Wide gamut space: 99% Adobe RGB / 1.07 Billion colour bit
16-bit 3D LUT &ΔE ≤ 2 colour accuracy
Colour Consistency Technology maintains colour consistency across monitors
Uniformity Technology adjusts colour and the brightness at hundreds of subregions are fine-tuned to achieve screen-wide precise colour
IPS for wide viewing angle
Video format support with HDR technology: HDR10 & HLG
Hardware Calibration
Calman Verified and Pantone Validated colour accuracy.
3rd party video calibration software (Calman and LightSpace)
Wide compatibility with AJA and BlackMagic SDI to HDMI device
Paper Colour Sync Software
USB-C for video/audio/data transmission and 60W power delivery
BenQ SW271C Review
Key Features in Summary
Shading hood: easy-to-install, easy-to-fit to prevent unwanted glare and reflections with a selective lining of non-reflective soft velvet that further dissipates any stray light.
Wide Colour Gamut: 99% Adobe RGB, 95% P3 and 100% sRGB colour space offers an impressive range of vibrant colours, particularly in reproducing shades of blue and green that are true to the original colour.
High Resolution: 4K UHD resolution provides extraordinary clarity of fine details and textures for an optimal viewing and visual- intensive work experience.
Panel Type: IPS technology enables wide viewing angles (178°/ 178°).
Colour Accuracy: The 16-bit 3D Look Up Table (LUT) attains a colour difference of Delta E≤2 in Adobe RGB and sRGB colour spaces and improves RGB colour blending and accuracy, resulting in impeccable colour and grey tone reproduction.
Hardware (HW) Calibration: To calibrate the monitor with a colour meter allows you access to the internal image processing chip through BenQ’s Palette Master Element. Calibration is done on the internal image processing chip without affecting the graphics card setting.
One Cable Calibration: With USB Type-C cable, you will be able to conduct hardware calibration with ease. When doing colour calibration, SW321C’s built-in USB-C input delivers video, audio and data contents as well as power with just one cable to bring ultimate convenience and simplicity to your workstation.
Hotkey Puck G2: The Hotkey Puck is a remote control that allows user to do the quick switch and control the OSD menu. 3 single-function keys and rotation key and the dial allow the user to do the customised settings.
GamutDuo: Switch to PIP/PBP mode for multitasking in GamutDuo viewing. This mode enables you to simultaneously display content side-by-side in two different colour spaces, such as Adobe RGB and sRGB.
Advanced Black & White Mode: This mode enables you to view your photos in a black and white film effect. Choose from three different black and white presets to preview your photos before you perform actual adjustments in your photo editing program.
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My Palette Master Element Calibration Settings
Here are the setting I use when calibrating my BenQ monitor with the Palette Master Element software provided by BenQ. We mainly do photography and video work and these settings work for us.
Firstly, make sure your monitor is connected to your computer via the USB lead they provide with the monitor. Then plug your calibration device directly into the monitor.
On opening the software, select the monitor to calibrate > select the calibration device > tick Advanced > Click Start.
In the next window choose Photographer (Adobe RGB) > White Point: D65 > Luminance: 120 > Black Point: Absolute zero > Mode: xy
In the next window you can name your profile if needed then choose > Profile version: V4 Profile Type: Matrix > Profile size: Large > Click Start Measurement.
Prepare your sensor and put it in place on your screen as directed by the software. Make sure you have no bright windows or lights nearby, then click continue. Your monitor will now be calibrated.
When the calibration ends click Validate Calibration > Continue. Wait for the validation to complete. If you see ‘Passed’, click finish, if not, start again.
Palette Master Element Calibration
AQCOLOR Technology
Colour accuracy counts as it can relive the moment with truthful colours. BenQ has developed AQCOLOR technology, designed for accurate reproduction of creative work in graphics design, photography, and video post-production, and built itself upon the efforts of its colour expert team had poured into. Your professional work will benefit from colour accuracy by experiencing the smoothest colour gradations, and natural colour transitions and subtle shading. The latest BenQ Uniformity Technology offers screen-wide precise colour from corner to corner for perfectly authentic and consistent viewing experiences by utilizing high precision apparatus to meticulously fine-tune the colour and the brightness at hundreds of sub-regions on the entire screen. The third-party certification from CalmanVerified and the Pantone Validated reiterates BenQ’s promise to maintain the industry-approved performance all the creative enterprises will love to reproduce.
HDR Technology for Video Editing
As more and more photographers are using digital cameras to capture the moment and to preserve any remarkable episode in life, BenQ has upgraded its PhototVue series monitors to catch up with the trend. The HDR technology PhotoVue series adopts is to support various video formats to replay your vivid times dynamically. The world-leading video calibration software Calman and LightSpace are provided as software access to adjust the display’s 3D LUT, guaranteeing image accuracy and consistency at all levels.
Paper Colour Sync Software
Paper colour sync is a BenQ proprietary technology to simulate the printing results. You can edit photos with efficiency and confidence in this time-saving screen-to-print process just by picking the colour gamut of the photo, printer model and paper type to get a preview.
Technical Specification
Panel Type - IPS LED
Refresh Rate - 60Hz
Panel Size - 27" W (16:9)
Display Area - 596.16 x 335.34
Max. Resolution - 3840x2160
Pixel Pitch(mm) - 0.15525
Brightness (Typ.) - 350 nits
Contrast Ratio (Typ.) - 1000:1 (Panel)
Viewing Angle (H/V), CR≧10 - 178。/ 178。
Display Colours - 1.07 Billion
Response Time - 12 ms (Tr+Tf)
GtG Response Time - 5 ms
Colour Gamut - Adobe RGB 99%, sRGB 100%, P3 90%
Preset Modes -14 Modes (by hotkey): Adobe RGB / sRGB / Rec.709 / DCI-P3 / Display P3 / M-book / B+W / HDR / Calibration 1 / Calibration 2 / Calibration 3 / Custom / Paper Color Sync / DICOM
Colour Temp. Selection - 5000K/6500K/9300K/Custom Mode/User Defined (increment by 100K)
PC /Video Input - HDMI 2.0 *2/ DP 1.4 * 1 /USB Type-C (PD60W)
Audio Output - 1* Headphone jack
USB hub - 2*USB3.1 downstream, 1*Upstream (USB type C), 1*Upstream (USB type B), SD Card reader x 1
USB port for OSD controller - upstream mini USB2.0 x1
Tilt (Up / Down) - 20° ~ -5°
Height Adjustment - 150 mm
Pivot - 90°
Swivel - +45° ~ -45°
VESA Wall Mount - 100 x 100mm (Quick Release)
Kensington Lock - Yes
Windows compatible - WIN7/8/8.1/10
Mac compatible - Yes
Gamma Select - 7 steps (1.6~2.6 and sRGB)
Display Mode - Full / Aspect Ratio / 1:1
Colour Gamut - sRGB / Rec. 709 / Adobe RGB / DCI-P3
Black Level - Yes
LUT - 16-bit Programmable 3D LUT
PIP/PBP - Yes
Gamut Duo - Yes
HW calibration reminder - Yes
HDR (HDR10/HLG) - Yes
Use Flash as calibration result memory - Yes
Our Conclusion
Cons
The BenQ SW271C is a big and heavy monitor. If you’re looking for something light and thin, this isn’t it!
It might seem expensive, at the time of this review retailing at £950. If it’s just a normal 4k monitor you’re after, you may find it cheaper elsewhere.
Pros
The BenQ SW271C is a good quality piece of kit. It’s solid and sturdy and will stand the test of time.
If you are thinking of printing or already do print your pictures, then this monitor will give you more colour accuracy and colours will be more vivid than a standard SRGB monitor.
If you’re editing your photography this will help as it’s a higher resolution than a normal Full HD monitor. In short, you can zoom into images and see more detail. To learn how to edit your photography with ease, click here.
You can easily switch to different colour spaces to view how your images will look in print and on-screen.
For video editing, it supports with HDR technology at a relatively low cost which is great for those serious videographers out there.
The screen shading hood is a must!
My personal view is that the BenQ SW271C is a great piece of kit, yes, it’s expensive and let’s face it, the monitor is not going to make your photography any better only your knowledge will improve your photography. You can easily pick up a good 4K monitor for around £300 these days. But, this is a specific photographer and videographer monitor and if more vivid colours and colour accuracy is important, especially when printing, this monitor is a great option.
Is it worth the extra money? You are going to have to decide that. You have to think about what you do with your photography and if these extra features would help you out.
I hope this BenQ SW271C review has helped you out and here’s my ending statement. The SW271C will certainly help out any professional or budding photographer looking to print or edit your own work. However, if you are on a low budget or not looking at taking photography that seriously, you may want to opt for a cheaper 4K monitor.
Links to products featured in this review:
Amazon
BenQ SW271 27 Inch 4K Photography Monitor - https://amzn.to/3vedMCO
NB: These are paid links and TSoP will receive a small percentage of any purchases made.
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