This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Review: BenQ SW272Q Photography Monitor - Second Generation
As a professional campaign and brand photographer, I've had the privilege of testing the latest iteration of BenQ's SW270 series, the SW272Q. This second-generation model boasts significant improvements over its predecessor, focusing on advanced features crucial for demanding editing tasks.
Specifications and Calibration:
The SW272Q now offers a broader color gamut, with 100% sRGB, 98% Display P3, and 99% Adobe RGB coverage. It remains hardware-calibratable, providing three calibrated presets tailored to industry standards, including panel native, sRGB, and rec 709 with respective gamma values of 2.2 and 2.4. With the updated Palette Master Ultimate software and the Calibrate Color Checker Display Plus calibrator, I achieved remarkable accuracy, with an average delta of just 1.5.
Anti-Reflection and TUV Certification:
One notable improvement is the enhanced anti-reflection coating, now officially TUV certified. This coating effectively diffuses light on the panel, minimizing distractions in brightly lit environments while maintaining sharpness and clarity. Additionally, the included shading hood further enhances the viewing experience by blocking distracting light from all angles.
Convenience Features:
The SW272Q comes equipped with a welcome addition: the G3 Hockey Puck. This wireless remote control allows users to effortlessly change presets, adjust inputs, and control monitor settings. It adds a layer of convenience and efficiency to the editing workflow.
HDR Performance:
Despite these advancements, HDR performance remains lackluster, mirroring its predecessor's limitations. Restricted to HDR10 support only, the monitor fails to deliver the vibrancy and contrast required for HDR content creation. The contrast ratio, while improved, still falls short of the advertised specifications, hovering around 666:1 to 800:1.
Uniformity and Color Accuracy:
However, the uniformity of luminosity levels and color accuracy has seen notable enhancements in this new generation. Luminosity levels are more even across the board, while color accuracy remains consistent and precise.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, the BenQ SW272Q represents a significant improvement over its predecessor, offering enhanced color accuracy, anti-reflection capabilities, and convenient features like the G3 Hockey Puck. While HDR performance remains a weak point, the monitor excels in delivering accurate and precise colors, making it an ideal choice for professional photographers seeking top-tier performance in their editing workflow.
