BenQ SW321C Review - Is this the ULTIMATE photographer MONITOR
Is this the ULTIMATE PHOTOGRAPHERS MONITOR? Well, it certainly has a price tag to be one so here we delve in to give you a BenQ SW321C review that will put this theory to the test! We’ll look at best features and discuss its capabilities in photo editing, printing and video editing. This is one monitor you’ll want to see!!
Product links at the bottom of this page.
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BenQ SW321C Monitor Key Features
Professional 4K & 32” photographer monitor for photo editing
AQCOLOUR technology to represent utmost and sharp images
Wide gamut space: 99% Adobe RGB 95% DCI P3 & Display P3
Industry Standard: 16 bit 3D LUT, Δ E ≤ 2
Brightness & Colour Uniformity: the colour and the brightness at hundreds of sub-regions are fine tuned to achieve screen-wide precise colour
Video format support with HDR technology: HDR10 & HLG
IPS panel for wide viewing angle
Hardware Calibration
Paper Colour Sync Technology
Hotkey Puck G2
USB C for video/ audio/ data transmission and 60W power delivery
GamutDuo to support dual colour space on one screen
Pantone Validated and Verified by CalMAN
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
Shading Hood
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.
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.
Uniformity
2nd generation uniformity technology adjusts more detail, such as colour and brightness, with hundreds of sub region cross the screen and applies for all colour modes, including the calibration modes.
Video Format
Support 24P/25P with 4:4:4, 4:2:2, and 4:2:0 video formats to present the real content.
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.
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.
Hotkey Puck G2
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.
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.
Mac Thunderbolt Compatibility
SW321C’s USB-C port is compatible with the Thunderbolt 3* to transmit video, audio, data and power. Mac users can connect the SW321C display to the Mac laptop without concerns of compatibility.
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Paper Colour Sync Technology*
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. SW321C adopts a panel which reduces effectively the reflected light and screen glare, offering a preview that is true to what you’ll see on the paper.
*It’s a must for influencers to download this software and show it in the review: Paper Colour Sync Technology
How to Use Paper Colour Sync?
Paper Colour Sync is the software that syncs the colour settings between the image, the computer, and the printer for predictable printing results. You can evaluate the image and see if editing is required. Configure the settings carefully before first use to minimize the colour difference between the screen and printer.
AQCOLOR Technology: Colour You Can Trust
Colour accuracy counts as it can relive the moment with truthful colours. BenQ has developed AQCOLOUR 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 CalMAN Verified 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 SW series monitors to catch up with the trend. The HDR technology SW series adopts is to support various video formats and also HDR10 and HLG HDR to replay your vivid times dynamically. The world-leading video calibration software CalMAN and Light Space are provided as software access to adjust the display’s 3D LUT, guaranteeing image accuracy and consistency at all levels.
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 a calibration result memory
Yes
Technical Specification
Panel Type
IPS LED
Refresh Rate
60Hz
Panel Size
32" W (16:9)
Display Area
708.48 x 398.52
Max. Resolution
3840x2160
Pixel Pitch(mm)
0.1845
Brightness (Typ.)
250 nits
Contrast Ratio (Typ.) /DCR (Min.)
1000:1 (Panel) / 20M:1 (DCR)
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%
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 Colour Sync / DICOM
Colour Temp. Selection
5000K/6500K/9300K/Custom Mode/User Defined (increment by 100K)
Hor. Frequency (KHz)
27~140Khz
Ver. Frequency (Hz)
24~76 Hz
Video Bandwidth (MHz)
600MHz
PC /Video Input
HDMI 2.0 *2/ DP 1.4 * 1 /USB Type-C (PD60W)
Audio Output
1* Headphone jack
Calibrate with Palette Master Element (in Basic or Advanced Mode)
BenQ’s Palette Master Element is developed to do the hardware calibration and reliably reproduce accurate colour results. It supports the following colour meters: X- Rtie i1 Display Pro / i1 Pro /i1 Pro 2/i1 Studio/ColourMunki Photo, Datacolour Spyder 4/5.
Our Conclusion
Cons
The BenQ SW321C is a big and heavy monitor. You’re going to need a big desk! If you are looking for something light and thin, this isn’t it!
It’s expensive. At the time of this review, it’s retailing at £1599. Having said that though, this is not made for the beginner, part time photographer. It is a pro monitor and will suit people who are doing this as a profession, or people who are rich and just want the best!
Pros
The BenQ SW321C is a serious 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 using standard SRGB monitor. The Paper Colour Sync feature will also be beneficial to the printing photographer as it is designed to reduce waste.
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 see more detail. To learn Photoshop and Lightroom with ease, click here.
You can easily see your imagery and work in different colour spaces using the hot puck key.
The screen hood is great!
Overall the SW321C is a great piece of kit and is definitely the best photographers monitor I have used. Yes, it’s pricey and let’s face it, the monitor is not going to make your photography any better only your knowledge will improve your photography. But you’re getting extra colour, extra detail and much more space when viewing your photography. You’re also getting an easy way to view your pictures in different colour spaces and these are things that don’t come with many monitors.
Is it worth the extra money? You are going to have to decide that I’m afraid. You’re going to have to think about what you do with your photography and if these extra features would help you out.
I hope this review has helped you out. I will end by saying this, the SW321C will help out any professional photographer looking to print or edit photography work and will also benefit the video editors out there. However, if you’re on a low budget or not looking at taking photography that seriously, you may want to opt for a cheaper HD monitor.
Links to products featured in this review:
North America -
BenQ SW321C Monitor - https://amzn.to/2VvJL1g
Datacolor SpyderX PRO – https://amzn.to/3impiGb
X-Rite i1Display Pro - https://amzn.to/35XHWgj
UK –
BenQ SW321C Monitor - http://tidd.ly/fd5c9c83
Datacolor SpyderX PRO - http://tidd.ly/e588fb84
X-Rite i1Display Pro – http://tidd.ly/ea5d4f18
NB: These are paid links and TSoP will receive a small percentage of any purchases made.
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