Considering a New Monitor - LG 43UD79-B -- Any Reviews Out There

[PicksCDs]

Greetings All...

I do a lot of Photoshop work (still learning Illustrator) and I'm looking for a large monitor with quality color balance and performance reliability.  I received a Toshiba gaming monitor for Christmas.  Yikes!  The colors were WAY off...so it's going back to Santa.

The LG 43UD79-B sounds like what I'm looking for, but I'd feel better if I had some feedback from people who have had some experience with it.

Can anyone help?

Thanks much!

Tom Pickles

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[davescm]

I've never used that monitor however, if you are serious about colour, include in your budget a hardware calibration and profiling device (such as the i1display) so that the monitor profile in your system and used by Photoshop represents your particular monitor. It is the only way to accurate colour.

Dave

[PicksCDs]

Many thanks, Dave.  Useful input that I'll use in any case.

Much appreciated.

Thomas

[D Fosse]

Just a few things to think about.

The monitor is the only piece of hardware you have that will directly impact the quality of your work. The computer itself, on the other hand, may do the same job a nanosecond or two faster or slower, but the result is exactly the same.

Don't try to save money on the monitor. Yes, we all have budgets, but save where it doesn't have too much impact.

There are huge differences in the quality of monitors. There are in reality only two manufacturers that consistently keep a high quality level and tight tolerances. That's NEC and Eizo.

The others (LG included) compete in a market where it's all about pumping up paper specifications at the lowest possible price. As a result, they cut corners where it doesn't show up on the spec sheet. That's things like panel uniformity, highlight and shadow separation, even and regular tone curve without steps and banding, and so on. You have no idea how bad some monitors can look. Here's one example (a Dell U2713, this is a real-life example!):

[D Fosse]

Here's the best bargain currently on the market. You don't get more value for your money anywhere:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1246464-REG/eizo_cs2420_bk_cnx_coloredge_cs2420_24_16_10.html 

It comes with Colornavigator calibration software and sensor. There's also a 27" sister model at 2560 x 1440 pixels.

[NB, colourmanagement]

Hi

I've not had experience of that display nor any of my clients. Its right that displays in the regular marketplace are often shipped with poor uniformity. I too would recommend the Eizo brand. That's one manufacturer that seems to give you what you pay for. i.e. good value whatever price point.. 

You are going to need a sensor [colorimeter] and software to calibrate and profile the screen so that your images can be viewed as they actualy are.  

In their Coloredge models Eizo include the software and a sensor. 

Buy the best you can, think about the cost over 5 + years. 

I hope this helps

neil barstow, colourmanagement.net

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[PicksCDs]

Many thanks to all.  The input has been most useful.  

[D Fosse]

I do think the Eizo CG models are worth the price (I have two) - but purely in terms of cost/benefit ratio I don't think the CS series can be beaten anywhere. The CS models have no bells and whistles (except wide gamut), but there is no compromise in panel quality. Any other manufacturer would do the opposite: plmp it up, but fit a panel from the throwaway batches where tolerances are all over the map.

The next choice - again from a price/performance standpoint - would be the NEC PA243. A little more expensive, hardly any better.

BenQ is a dark horse. Yes, they are in the same market as LG/Dell/hp/Asus and the others. And yes, they do have problems with their software. But for some reason, I get the impression that they care a little more about their reputation than the others. I don't know, haven't tried one.

I should probably mention iMac as well, for the sake of completeness. Quite a few people complain that they look like the Dell example I posted above. Given that Apple customers tend to be very protective of "their" brand, I think it's safe to conclude that their displays are not at all in the same league as the rest of the machine.

A common argument is that all IPS panels come from the same manufacturer, namely LG. Yes, they do. But the magic word is, again, tolerances. Eizo and NEC pick from the best panels, and pay the price for the tight specs. At the other end are those that barely pass the function test. These are sold cheaply by truckloads to Dell and the others.

[NB, colourmanagement]

If you can I say buy Eizo

The monitor display IS your window on your work, if it's not accurate or if the uniformity is poor (a common fault) then it can be hard to work with.

good value at ehatever pricepoint, of course CS and CG mnodelsa re made fior imagine so that’s got ot be a good thing. 

A decent display will last you 5 years plus - so write down that cost over 5 years. 

I hope this helps

if so, please "like" my reply

thanks

neil barstow, colourmanagement.net

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[D Fosse]

I've had the CG246 for 6 years now. It's still state of the art and performing as new. Unless I decide to go to 4K at some point (no hurry), I expect it will last 6 more years. Break it down to useful lifetime, and this is one of the cheapest monitors I've ever had.

The 1920 x 1200 resolution is actually perfect for critical 100% review. Yeah, pixel-peeping, I do that 😉 The pixels are just big enough to show sharpness and noise clearly. I bought a 27" CG2730 for home use last year, but this has higher pixel density and I actually don't find that quite as useful as the 24 inch model. The extra space is nice, but not as necessary as you might think.

I also have a CX240, which at the time was the stripped-down sister model to the CG246. The panel is the same. I have it connected along the CG246 just because it's too good to not use. But I find I mostly use this second screen for email, which is sort of a pity. I do all the work on the main screen. So much for dual display setups... 😉

[PicksCDs]

I'm hearing the clear message about the quality of Eizo.  And, I don't doubt the testimonies.  However, I'm looking for a 43" monitor and Eizo pricing for monitors that come close to that size (a few inches short) are just too pricey for me.  I understand the thinking that it's an investment in long term performance, but...I'm a retired old fart and just don't want to put that kind of dent in my monthly budget.  Maybe someday when I have a windfall....

[NB, colourmanagement]

Wow,

a 43"monitor - for Photoshop? How far back from it do you plan to sit?

there are no proper graphics professioinal screens that large AFAIK. The broadcast video guys would have refrence monitors but not relevant for Photoshop work and North of 20K pricing. 

I hope this helps

neil barstow, colourmanagement