Best Monitors for Photographers in the UK

Review & Comparison, Last Update January 20, 2024
If you're a professional photographer, you need a special LCD monitor yielding high resolution and great performance. Here's a review ...Read more
PROS

The SplendidPlus Video Intelligence will allow you to change the settings according to the task at hand. The ASUS Ultra-Low Blue Light technology reduces the amount of harmful blue light emitted by the monitor. 

CONS

The height isn't adjustable. 

OUR VERDICT

ASUS MG28UQ 28-Inch 4K Monitor isn't just a great display for work but also one of the better monitors out there for people that enjoy a good movie as the Ultra High Definition resolution will provide the most detailed imagery. 

detailed parameters
SCREEN SIZE

28"

PANEL TYPE

AH-IPS

RESOLUTION

3840x2160

ASPECT RATIO

16:9

COLOUR SUPPORT

1.07 billion

BRIGHTNESS<br>CONTRAST

330 cd/m²

100000000:1

PANEL COATING

Matte

INTERFACES

2 x HDMI(v 1.4), HDMI(v 2.0), DisplayPort 1.2, USB 3.0

PROS

CAD/CAM modes provide remarkable image contrast, allowing the lines and shapes of your technical illustrations to stand out. The DualView feature will allow you to compare two images in different display mode side-by-side. The AH-IPS panel offers superior viewing angles. 

CONS

Not a whole lot of opportunity for effective cable management. 

OUR VERDICT

The monitor in question might very well be the best pc monitor for photographers if you take into account the sort of price tag that it comes with and all of the specifications that make this particular product what it is.

detailed parameters
SCREEN SIZE

27"

PANEL TYPE

AH-IPS‎

RESOLUTION

2560x1440

ASPECT RATIO

16:9

COLOUR SUPPORT

1.07 billion

BRIGHTNESS<br>CONTRAST

350 cd/m²

20M:1‎

PANEL COATING

Matte

INTERFACES

HDMI‎ V, 3 x USB 2.0, DP 1.2 x1 /mDP1.2 x1‎

PROS

The anti-glare matte does a pretty good job handling glare without overexposing the image to grey tones. The monitor offers true 8-bit colour reproduction, meaning there will be no dithering to worry about. The QHD 1440p resolution provides four times the number of pixels compared to the regular HD panel.

CONS

Might encounter some issues with MacOS. 

OUR VERDICT

The Dell U2518D Ultrasharp 25-Inch Monitor is one of the most versatile and flexible options in its price range. The model will easily prove to be a great fit for graphic designers and photographers that like to play some video games in their spare time but do not wish to overpay for a gaming monitor.

detailed parameters
SCREEN SIZE

25"

PANEL TYPE

IPS

RESOLUTION

2560x1440

ASPECT RATIO

16:9

COLOUR SUPPORT

16.7 million

BRIGHTNESS<br>CONTRAST

350 cd/m²

1 000:1

PANEL COATING

Anti-glare

INTERFACES

DP (v1.2), mDP (v1.2), DP (v 1.2), HDMI (v 2.0), USB 3.0 (Upstream 4 x USB 3.0)

PROS

The Brightness Intelligence Plus technology detects ambient brightness and colour temperature in order to adjust the settings of your display, thus reducing the strain to your eyes. By increasing the dynamic range between the darkest blacks and the brightest whites, HDR allows the monitor to produce the most realistic image. 

CONS

The buttons on the monitor are inconveniently positioned. 

OUR VERDICT

If you're the kind of person that cares not just about the performance of the monitor but also about the way it looks, the BenQ EW277HDR is the model you ought to be looking for. Appearance aside, this is also a solid choice for people that care about their eye's condition.

detailed parameters
SCREEN SIZE

27"

PANEL TYPE

AMVA+

RESOLUTION

1920 x 1080

ASPECT RATIO

16:9

COLOUR SUPPORT

16.7 million

BRIGHTNESS<br>CONTRAST

300 cd/m²

3000:1

PANEL COATING

Matte

INTERFACES

D-sub/HDMI2.0 x2/3.5mm jack

PROS

The uniformity correction technology does an impeccable job balancing the luminance performance, so your images will look exactly as dim or bright as they're supposed to look. The 5 gamma settings will allow you to optimise both the colour performance and the contrast ratio according to your needs and preferences.

CONS

The instruction manual is far from being comprehensive.

OUR VERDICT

We would recommend the ViewSonic VP2468 to those customers that do not have a whole lot of money to spare on a monitor but still need a device that delivers in terms of colours. We could also recommend it to people that prefer working with a multi-monitor setup.

detailed parameters
SCREEN SIZE

24"

PANEL TYPE

IPS

RESOLUTION

1920 x 1080

ASPECT RATIO

16:9

COLOUR SUPPORT

4.3 trillion

BRIGHTNESS<br>CONTRAST

300 cd/m²

1000:1

PANEL COATING

Matte

INTERFACES

DisplayPort in, DisplayPort out, Mini DisplayPort, 2 HDMI, 3 x USB

A Worthy Competitor

Looking at the specifications of the ASUS MG28UQ, you could call it a serious competitor to other more expensive models. It has a humble yet strict design, as well as a 28" display that supports 4K UHD and will look great in a room of every gamer. Ergonomic stand this 4K monitor has allows you to rotate the display, pivot and swivel it, as well as adjust its height.

In addition to such a convenient stand, the monitor can be mounted on the wall with the help of VESA mounts.

The TN panel of this display has a 1ms response time that will handle every fast-paced movie or game you'll find. Adaptive-Sync will ensure smooth visuals and responsive control while Flicker-Free technology will reduce the amount of eyestrain caused by screen flickering. It will also provide constant screen backlighting to allow you to spend more time watching movies or playing games.

Only the Best for Your Gaming Session

This 4K monitor is advertised as a gaming one, which is why the manufacturer also included some gaming features and settings for you to play with the utmost comfort. The Asus GamePlus technology includes several features at once. The first one allows you to bring up one of four crosshairs to use while playing shooters. Others are a timer, which could be especially useful while playing strategies or MMOs; FPS counter that will show you a number of frames rendered per second, so that you don't need any external software to see it; Display Alignment, which will help you adjust the frame according to the screen.

In addition to those features, the monitor also incorporates the Asus GameVisual Video Intelligence that has 6 different settings presets for different game genres, such as first-person shooters, strategy, racing or RPG games, as well as for working with photos or images. In order to make it even more convenient, those modes can be switched with a hotkey.

Keeping Your Eyes Safe

One of the numerous features of this monitor is an ability to suppress the amount of blue light it emanates. This light is one of the main reasons why your eyes get tired. Settings allow you to choose one of five levels of suppression for you to adjust it to your preference.

Exceptional Compatibility

It doesn't matter how you plan to use the monitor as the number of interfaces ensures you won't run into a problem where you can't connect some device to it. HDMI 2.0 and DisplayPort support the maximum resolution and refresh rate. Several USB ports will allow you to recharge devices while you play. If for any reason now is the time for a headset instead of the built-in speakers, there is a 3.5 mm jack.

Additional Info

User Manual     Manufacturer

Last updated price $0.00
Stock In stock
ASIN B01B6JD2R6

All the Right Specs

BenQ advertises the PD2700Q model as a designer monitor and if you look into the model's specifications, it becomes fairly evident that they aren't wrong in doing so. The people behind this particular product have clearly put some thought into it as you won't find a single spec or feature here that professional photographers, designers, and editors won't find useful.

Since this is BenQ we're talking about, the best place to start would be the colours, as the company's brought back their very own AQColour technology that offers 100% sRGB colour accuracy straight out of the box and Rec.709 colour coverage. Add to that the 10bits colour depth and you can rest assured knowing that the BenQ PD2700Q will bring the sort of colour performance that will do your creations justice. With the help of all of these technologies, you'll have over a billion colours at your disposal, meaning that the image that you're going to be dealing with will be as precise as it gets.

Now, before moving on to some of the more specific characteristics, we would like to mention a few of the more basic elements that the model incorporates. For starters, this is an AH-IPS (Advanced High Performance) panel, one of the reasons behind the model's exceptional colour reproduction and superior viewing angles. The 27-inch screen also supports the Quad HD 2560x1440 resolution, just the right size and the number of pixels for a monitor for photo editing.

Modes for Every Application

Speaking of some of those technologies, we would like to bring some attention towards the CAD/CAM modes that provide remarkable image contrast, allowing the lines and shapes of your technical illustrations to stand out. As the name of these modes suggests, they work best with software like Pro/E, SOLIDWORKS, AutoCAD, CATIA and other CAD/CAM programs.

And if you spend more time working with animation, the monitor has you covered with an Animation mode that you can use to fine-tune your animations with outstanding precision. People that work in video gaming, motion picture, and other industries that rely on animation often have to deal with drawing in varying ambient lighting, which is why this particular mode that offers 10 different levels of brightness will be such a welcome feature for them.

Finally, the model will prove to be a great monitor for photographers as well. All of the previously mentioned technologies aside, the display comes equipped with the Darkroom mode. Similar to the way the Animation mode operates, you can use this one to fine-tune your images. Give them the sort of clarity they deserve, make the details as sharp as possible, create the most optimal setting and, above all else, simply improve the efficiency of your work, especially if your work revolves around imagery with darker post-processing environments. And since we have brought up improving the workflow efficiency, let's just say that the DualView feature will come in handy as far as the latter is concerned. With the help of this mode, you will be able to compare two images in different display mode side-by-side.

All things considered, the monitor in question might very well be the best pc monitor for photographers if you take into account the sort of price tag that it comes with and all of the specifications that make this particular product what it is.

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price £265.75
Stock In stock
ASIN B01K2210GS

Supporting the Professionals

The Dell U2518D Ultrasharp 25-Inch Monitor is an all-rounder that offers a variety of people in different professions a little bit of everything to improve the quality and performance of their work.

For starters, the "ultrasharp" in its name isn't just for show as the model looks as sharp as the next monitor, with an elegant design that owes its elegance to the slim bezels. As for the screen surface, the manufacturers decided to go with a very light anti-glare matte that some people refer to as semi-glossy. The surface does a pretty good job handling glare without overexposing the image to grey tones the way some other anti-glare surfaces do.

Speaking of the greys, the model features 5 ms grey to grey response time, making this monitor for photographers a pretty versatile option that will provide these people with the opportunity to enjoy some video games in their spare time as the response rate will allow them to stand their ground even against opponents with gaming monitors. Of course, the refresh rate is limited only to 60Hz, which is more than enough for photo editing and other designer and photographer purposes but might just prove to be a little bit underwhelming if you were planning on dominating the world of competitive online gaming with this monitor. That said, the model comes equipped with an IPS 25" panel that supports the QHD 1440p resolution, offering you four times the number of pixels compared to the regular HD panel, so the sharpness of the image should probably go without saying.

Vibrance and Accuracy

When it comes to colours, the Dell monitor for photo editing purposes as well as other applications sticks to the basics without relying on gimmicky technologies that often don't bring enough value to justify their presence. The 16.7 millions of colours will be enough to satisfy the majority of customers. All of the colours offer true 8-bit colour reproduction, meaning there will be no dithering to worry about.

Of course, that just means that the colours will look vivid and authentic. Though, as far as accuracy is concerned, the model does not trail behind either, offering 99% sRGB colour space coverage. That tiny 1% bit of extension in the red and green regions sacrifices very little of accuracy in favour of vibrancy, which is a nice little feature or a minuscule drawback depending on your point of view.

Before bringing the review to a logical conclusion, we would be absolutely remiss not to mention the fact that this graphic design monitor supports the High Dynamic Range imaging technology that is usually reserved for the Ultra High Definition panels. With it, you will have the opportunity to experience a far greater depth of colours, absolutely outstanding clarity, and the sort of contrast ratio between shades that will bring your creations to life.

In conclusion, the Dell U2518D Ultrasharp 25-Inch Monitor is one of the most versatile and flexible options in its price range. The model will easily prove to be a great fit for graphic designers and photographers that like to play some video games in their spare time but do not wish to overpay for a gaming monitor.

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price $0.00
Stock May be out of stock
ASIN B07436JM8Z

Design to Match the Performance

As you probably know, designers and photographers are a meticulous bunch, they care about the tiny details not just in their work but in their devices and accessories too. The experts at BenQ are aware of that, of course, which is why they put so much work into designing and constructing the BenQ EW277HDR, one of the better-looking designer monitors out there. The ultra-slim bezel design on all four sides will be a perfect fit for virtually any interior that emphasises sharp details and elegant décor. The matte black chassis is another reason why this monitor will satisfy even the most peculiar customers that maybe, just maybe, care a bit too much about the looks of their devices.

Having said that, this is a monitor, as in a piece of computer electronics, so even the best looking device wouldn't be worth a dime if it didn't have both the functionality and performance to back those looks up. Fortunately enough, the monitor brings enough of those to justify the fairly modest price tag that it comes with. But before we go a bit more in-depth about those features that bring out the performance, we would like to mention the Brightness Intelligence Plus technology. Without going into some of the more technical details, the said technology detects ambient brightness and colour temperature in order to adjust the settings of your display. It all results in less of a strain on your eyes, which is important for people that tend to focus on every little detail for hours as they work.

Protect Your Eyes

Now, as far as performance goes, one of the most noteworthy things about the particular monitor for photographers from BenQ is that it supports the High Dynamic Range technology. By increasing the dynamic range between the darkest blacks and the brightest whites, the technology allows the monitor to produce an image that is nearly identical to what your eyes see and experience in the real world.

By the way, the aforementioned Brightness Intelligence Plus technology is also useful outside of the health concerns and applications as it adjusts the brightness in order to avoid overexposure in those scenarios where the picture may be a bit too bright and enhances details in darker areas where some of those details may get lost in the background otherwise. That said, this isn't the only technology that works towards reducing the eye strain as this monitor for photographers also comes equipped with the familiar to monitor enthusiasts Flicker-Free and Low Blue Light, both of which are as friendly to the human eye as these technologies get.

Other than that, not much is left to say except for the colour reproduction, with the model covering 100% of Rec. 709 and 93% of DCI-P3 standards. So, if you're the kind of person that cares not just about the performance of the monitor but also about the way it looks, the BenQ EW277HDR is the model you ought to be looking for. Appearance aside, this is also a solid choice for people that care about their eye's condition.

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price £275.47
Stock In stock
ASIN B074Z4CNFX

All of the Colours

The ViewSonic VP2468 is, without a doubt, one of the most appealing entry-level monitors for people who spend the majority of their time working with all kinds of imagery. It isn't a perfect model and it does have its drawbacks, with the most notable one being the 24-inch size of the screen that some people may find somewhat limited. But considering its price, you will be hard-pressed to find a better offer out there.

First things first, there's the panel that offers 99% sRGB colour coverage, providing the model with the ability to reproduce the richest and the most vivid colours. There's also the Delta E <2 colour accuracy that makes this particular display a pretty great monitor for photographers as the latter individuals value precise colour performance far more than your casual customers.

Of course, accurate colour representation is all well and good, but it wouldn't be worth much if the model didn't have enough colour support to back those technologies up. Which is why the team of experts behind the product made sure to pack their colour engine with 4.3 trillion colour palettes. As you would imagine, this will prove to be one colour too many even for the most demanding professionals that obsess over every little detail. And, speaking of colour accuracy, we wouldn't recommend overlooking the uniformity correction technology that the ViewSonic VP2468 comes with since it does an impeccable job balancing the luminance performance, so your images will look exactly as dim or bright as they're supposed to look.

Ergonomics Galore

Before moving on from the colours, we would like to bring some attention towards the 5 gamma settings as they will allow you to optimise both the colour performance and the contrast ratio according to your needs and preferences. From graphic design to video editing, the model will provide you with the ability to choose the right colours and contrast that best suit the task at hand.

Finally settings the colours aside, we thought it wouldn't hurt to talk about the ergonomic design of this monitor for photographers as it is arguably one of the model's strongest points. Simply put, the model incorporates the sort of construction that offers a full range of adjustments. You can use that range to increase your productivity or to simply amplify the level of comfort via swivel, pivot, tilt, and height adjustment options. With the help of the G sensor, the screen automatically adjusts to the angle change.

By the way, we did point out that the relatively small size of the screen is one of the biggest downsides of this model. However, the 4 sided frameless design will provide you with the opportunity to build a multi-monitor setup without the huge annoying edges in the middle and on the sides of the screen.

All in all, we would recommend the ViewSonic VP2468 to those customers that do not have a whole lot of money to spare on a monitor but still need a device that delivers in terms of colours. We could also recommend it to people that prefer working with a multi-monitor setup.

Additional Info

User Manual     Manufacturer

Last updated price £480.00
Stock In stock
ASIN B01HSABSGE

What Is a Monitor for Photographers?

If you work with high-quality photos or draw website layouts and logos, you surely need a special monitor to edit and enhance your pictures. So, a professional monitor is one of the essential devices for you. It goes without saying that a good monitor will dramatically improve or maybe even change your photos. What exactly is the monitor for photographers? It is a specific computer monitor that enhances brightness and colour rendering, thereby providing you with the ultimate image quality.

But if you are looking for a high-quality computer monitor for other purposes, look through our best computer monitors or best gaming monitors reviews.

What Features to Compare

Modern market offers a huge variety of monitors for photographers and there are many requirements for them. We've decided to make a choice simpler for you and reviewed the best computer monitors by their essential features.

Image Quality

Image quality is a very important feature and it depends on the panel used in each device. Almost all devices for photographers have an IPS (In-Plane Switching) panel. This is a cutting-edge technology that has some sub-divisions: AS-IPS, S-IPS, E-IPS and H-IPS. The panel can show a very large number of colours (close to 100% of the sRGB colour space). Also, the colours are in no way distorted while looking at the screen from various angles (can be viewed pretty well above 170 degrees). The IPS panel also provides good contrast, brightness, and deeper black. When it comes to photo editing, a colour gamut plays a very important role. It is a specific range of colours a monitor can display. Photo editing monitors are divided into 2 categories: Standard Color Range (sRGB) monitors and Wide Gamut RGB (extended gamut) models. Standard colour range monitors are generally capable of displaying all the colours of sRGB colour gamut, while monitors with a wide-gamut RGB are capable of displaying a larger number of colours. On the one hand, extended colour gamut monitors are perfect for some specific photo-editing applications. However, photos on the Internet are virtually all sRGB, and what's more important, our browsers can display only sRGB gamut. Thus, sRGB monitors are rather widespread and satisfactory for the vast majority of users. Most screens have 2 major configurable features: Brightness and Contrast. Brightness refers to the overall lightness or darkness of the image. Contrast is the difference in brightness between objects or areas.

Monitor

Which screen is better? With a glossy or matte coating? Both these screens are great. A glossy screen is fantastic for entertainment: for example, for watching movies or videos. And you may think “wow” when you see such display at first. Glossy displays provide more vivid colour and better contrast. The only problem is that they reflect light, which can cause a colour misbalance. Matte screens are “anti-glare” as they prevent reflections. Matte displays keep glare better due to a polarised coating over the glass. So, you will be able to see a matte screen even in a very bright room. Screen size. There is little to say about this aspect. 24"-27" displays are perfect for photo editing. They allow you to view pictures at a wide resolution. For example, most standard 27" monitors feature the resolution of 2560x1440 pixels, but more sophisticated models can provide you even with 4K (3840x2160 pixels) resolution. The viewing angle is a pretty important feature to consider since if it's too small, the contrast changes and the colours are transformed. Thus, it is vitally important to choose a display with wide viewing angles.

Ergonomics

If you work with a variety of vertically-oriented content, it may be convenient to have a display that rotates around its stand in different directions. Nowadays, almost all models are fitted with a digital connection, HDMI or DVI. You should also check which ports are available on your computer. Note that many monitors let you plug in more than one video input and switch between them. This is really convenient if you prefer using a monitor together with your workstation and laptop. Finally, don't forget to check the availability of USB ports; some monitors for photographers can even have the whole USB hub, which is very convenient if you need to connect lots of storage drives and peripherals.

Sources:

1. Jim Fisher How to Choose the Right Monitor for Photo Editing, PCMag. April 4, 2014.

2. How to choose the best monitor for designers, photographers, artists and video pros, DigitalArts.

3. Christian Eberle How To Shop For A Professional Display, Tom's Hardware. June 12, 2016.

4. Nasim Mansurov Best Monitor for Photography, Photography Life. January 20, 2015.

5. Glenn Harper How to Choose the Right Monitor for Photo Editing, Digital Photography School. May 2, 2017.

6. Aimee Baldridge Choose the Right Monitor for Photo Editing, X-Rite Photo blog. July 18, 2013.

7. Conrad Chavez Choosing a Display for Photography and Design, Peachpit. June 4, 2014.

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