First test
BenQSW321C PRICE: £1599
LUMESCA.COM
BenQ’s latest screen is aimed at discerning photographers. It boasts 4K resolution and 99% of the Adobe colour space. It’s also 32in, so you get an amazing image, too WHY SPEND THOUSANDS on the latest high-resolution camera with an array of high spec primes, only to view the results on a cheapmonitor? And while a monitor is a means to an end and not an exciting piece of shiny tech to boast about to your friends, skimping on a screen is self- defeating – and just not satisfying. You’re not going to appreciate your camera skills and the incredible detail delivered by the quality glass in your camera bag. BenQ is known for its high-quality products at attractive prices. Indeed, previous BenQmonitors have done really well in the Photography News Awards, which are voted for by our readers. The SW321C is BenQ’s most recent introduction and it has already won in the TIPAWorld Awards 2020 for Best Professional PhotoMonitor. Buy a SW321C and it arrives in a big box, and while I got it out of the box on my own, having an extra pair of hands wouldn’t do any harm. The stand is height and tilt adjustable and comes pre-assembled. All you have to do is lay the screen face down on a clean, smooth surface (I used the packing sleeve in which the monitor came) and click it into position. Easy – and no tools needed! A selection of interconnects is supplied in the box (USB-C to USB-C, HDMI to HDMI, mini DisplayPort to DisplayPort), meaning I was ready to fire it up very soon after delivery. In fact, fitting the shade probably took the same time as setting up the monitor. I set the SW321C up onmy VariDesk workstation, which has a rear raised platform. As such, I used the screen at its minimumheight. The bottom edge of the monitor was just over 5cm above the work surface and this increases to just under 21cm at maximum extension. The screen can also used in upright format. Irrespective of its height placement, the monitor was sturdy and there was no slippage to worry about. After a warm-up period, with the monitor connected to aMacMini, and giving an 3840x2160 image, I calibrated it using X-Rite’s i1Studio colorimeter software. The screen itself comes with PaletteMaster Element software that can be used with calibrating devices.
SPECS › Price £1599 › In the box Shading hood, CD, QSG, factory calibration report, hotkey puck G2, mains cable, USB Type-C cable (1m), mDP to DP cable (1.8m), HDMI 2.0 cable (1.8m), USB 3.1 cable (Gen 1) (1.8m) › Screen size 32in › Resolution (max) 3840x2160 › Panel type IPS › Backlight technology LED backlight › Colour gamut 99% Adobe RGB, 100% sRGB, 95% P3 › Colour mode Adobe RGB, sRGB, Rec. 709, DCI-P3, Display P3, M-book, B+W, HDR, Calibration 1/2/3, Custom, Paper Colour Sync, DICOM › Colour temperature 5000K, 6500K, 9500K › Displaymode Full, aspect ratio, 1:1 › Gamma 1.6-2.6, sRGB › Brightness 250 › Software Palette Master Element › Connectivity 2x HDMI v2.0, 1x DisplayPort v1.4, USB 3.1 Hub (1x upstream, 2x downstream), USB Type-C, SD card reader › Power consumption 170W › Dimensions (hxwxd, landscape) 51.3-66.3x75.9x34.5cm › Weight (with stand and shade) 13.2kg Contact colorconfidence.com
ABOVE A wide range of ports is provided on the SW321C. Elsewhere, there’s another two USB-A ports and an SD card slot RIGHT The on-screen display is easy to navigate using the buttons or with the supplied USB connected hotkey puck
There’s a row of six slightly raised buttons at the bottom right of the monitor to adjust screen andmenu brightness, select colour space andmuchmore. The on/off button is backlit. Having all of them faintly lit would be a nice touch inmy dim room, but it’s not as if you’re into the menus too often, after initial set-up. Performance-wise, what can I say? Over the test period, the SW321C produced sharp, stable and colour correct images. It made those moments when you go full screen to enjoy your edited images – or when checking out a finished presentation, or when viewing 4K video footage – extra special. WC
PROS Image quality, screen size, hotkey puck and shade supplied, good value, height range CONS Backlit buttons would be lovely Verdict The BenQ SW321C is a very capable and user-friendly monitor. £1599 is a good price for a screen of this quality, with its 4K (3820x2160) resolution, 99% coverage of the Adobe RGB colour space and the delivery of very detailed results. Very happy to recommend this monitor.
Issue 82 | Photography News 37
photographynews.co.uk
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