Category: Best video editing monitor

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ViewSonic VP2780-4K 27 Inch Monitor: Is it Worth Buying?

VP2780-4K 27 Inch Monitor

You may or may not have heard of the ViewSonic VP2780-4K because it doesn’t have the words “Dell” or “Apple” attached to it but I assure you it’s one of the good ones and is worth mentioning amongst the giants. Ok who are we kidding, ViewSonic doesn’t need our sympathy. They do about $1 billion in sales annually.

That’s neither here nor there. Your attention is probably on which 27-inch monitor you want to buy. There are so many 27-inch monitors out there that it can be a bit overwhelming trying to figure out which one to buy without immediately doubting whether or not you made the right decision.

What we try to do with these reviews is give you the full gamut of information regarding the 27-inch monitor we’re taking a look at. That way you can see if it fits your needs.

So let’s get into telling you all about the ViewSonic VP2780-4K.

ViewSonic VP2780-4K Specs

This monitor is known as a Professional Ultra HD LED monitor. That’s a lot of adjectives that basically means it delivers a wicked sharp picture or at least is supposed to. Other 27-inch monitors have slapped those titles on their products when they were unworthy.

Let’s look at the specs of the ViewSonic VP2780-4K to see if it lives up to that description.

  • Weight is 25.8 Pounds
  • The screen is 27 inches from corner to corner
  • Resolution is 3,840 x 2,160 which is a fairly high resolution
  • The screen display is backlit by LED
  • IPS panel (In-Plane Switching). See our 27-inch monitor guide for an explanation of IPS.
  • The screen has an anti-glare coating
  • 5 ms (milliseconds) response time
  • It swivels, tilts, pivots and is height-adjustable. Perfect for the contortionist in you.



ViewSonic VP2780-4K rear ports
Viewsonic VP2780 rear ports

Here’s what the port situation looks like in the back:

  • 2 HDMI ports
  • 4 USB 3.0 ports
  • DisplayPort 1.2
  • Mini DisplayPort



ViewSonic VP2780-4K under ports
Viewsonic VP2780 under ports

What’s it good for?

The ViewSonic VP2780-4K is built to handle high-def videos and graphic-heavy applications. That’s what it was born to do. Straight out of the box this fact is clear. The image comes through ultra-sharp with vivid detail smacking you in the face.

Response times comes in at 5 ms which is excellent for gaming. I’ve seen an article or two ragging on this response time but this is totally fine for any gamer. Anything better and I swear you won’t be able to tell the difference. You’ll just be spending more money.

You can use the ViewSonic VP2780-4K for the following:

  • Gaming
  • Video editing
  • Photo editing
  • Graphic design
  • General home and office use

Pros/Cons

Pros:

  • High resolution imaging on a truly 4K display
  • 5 ms response time is pretty good especially compared to some other similarly promoted monitors that come in at 20 ms
  • Reportedly one of the first 4K monitors that supports HDMI 2.0. This fact should go over really well with gamers.
  • IPS Panel allows for solid viewing from any angle

Cons:

  • It’s on the pricier side but honestly isn’t the most expensive monitor out there (it’s cheaper than the Apple Thunderbolt Display).
  • The actual physical make-up of the monitor isn’t really top-notch. It seems to be a bit flimsy with parts of it stuck on with adhesive.
  • There have been some complaints by users about a lack of sensitivity in the on-screen touch display.
  • No internal speakers



VP2780-4K 27 Inch Monitor
VP2780-4K 27 Inch Monitor

What kind of price are we looking at?

The ViewSonic VP2780-4K goes for $889.99 on viewsonic.com but can be picked up for even cheaper at amazon for $793.46.

If you’ve got some money saved up and are looking to invest in a robust 4K monitor, I highly recommend ViewSonic VP2780-4K due to it’s performance and ability to deliver high-quality imaging. Sureyou could save up several hundred more dollarsto buy something more expensive but “expensive” doesn’t always mean “better.”

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Best Video Editing Monitor Selection: Case Study With Kevin Thorpe of Big Jam Studios

Best Video Editing Monitor Setup

Interview

Kevin Thorpe from Big Jam Studios
Kevin Thorpe Big Jam Studios

What is the best video editing monitor? How do you make your selection? Is it as simple as just gettting the highest resolution screen you can afford? Kevin Thorpe of Big Jam studios offered Best 27 Inch Monitor is an experienced professional video editor and also a bit of a legend in the trance music niche. I headed over to Big Jam Studios to interview Kevin and find out more.

What Video Editing Monitor do You Currently Use?

Big Jam Studios currently run with a basic Acer 17″ monitor as a line monitor and a 27 inch Dell 2709W for video and photo editing. Kevin commented:

This setup has been great for flexibility. Many people are surprised that we run “pc monitors” off a Mac. Of course it’s entirely possible to choose any monitor you like and still use a Mac

Big Jam Studios Current Video Editing Setup
Big Jam Studios Current Video Editing Setup

Kevin bought the 27 inch monitor on the basis of a recommendation from a friend in the graphic design industry. At the time, with a resolution of 1920 x 1200, it was the best video editing monitor for the money. Resolution being a key consideration when selecting the best video editing monitor. Kevin also runs all of his sound editing work through the same setup hence the audio monitors (speakers) at either side of the monitor. Be careful to get screened speakers when placing them near any displays as the magnets in the speakers can distort the image.

Why Use a Multiple Monitor Setup?

Big Jam use a second smaller monitor as a line monitor. This allows Kevin and the team to monitor the frequency content of audio in real-time and while editing. This allows them to make changes to improve the overall audio quality while keeping the main 27 inch monitor free for either audio timeline management or for video footage editing.

Big Jam Studios Best Video Editing Monitor Setup
Big Jam Studios Setup

What is The Best Video Editing Monitor?

Going forward, Kevin and the team are investing in a brand new 27″ iMac Retina setup. When I asked why, Kevin commented

It’s just a great combination of awesome graphics, sleek design and the Mac is built in too.

The team have settled on a final iMac spec of:

Big Jam are also planning to add a new 19″ monitor to complement the iMac and continue frequency analysis capability which keeps the main display free for video and audio timeline editing.

What is the Best Software to Use For Video Editing?

Adobe Premiere Logo
Kevin uses Adobe Premiere exclusively. It’s hands down the best video editing software out there. With the new Adobe CC range, it can be purchased for just a few bucks a month.

Can we See an Example of Your Work?

Kevin has recently comopleted a series of Vlogs (Video Blogs) for local hypnotist Tim Box.

I was really pleased with the way these came out, the clarity is great and of course Tim and Zoe are naturals in front of the camera.

Where do You see the Video Editing Industry Headed in the Next 20 Years?

Well vlogging is growing rapidly. Smartphones are becoming more and more powerful and I do expect to that a semi professional video editing platform might be available in the not too distant future. Right now it’s just about possible to take professional video with a Nokia Lumia 1020. In fact Ellie Goulding’s music video “How Long Will I Love You” was famously shot using this exact phone as a publicity stunt by Nokia.

It’s impressive although the industry still has a way to go before pro-editing capabilities are available on the move. I think the future is exciting with technology driving the availability of online video, the quality and proliferation will continute to increase rapidly. With organic LED and curved screen technology already available, the best video editing monitor in two decades will be very different to the tech we have now.

What is the Webcam For?

Many eagle eyed readers will have noticed a 3rd party webcam on top of Big Jam’s 27 inch video editing monitor. When I noticed, this is what Kevin had to say:

We’ve noticed a strong trend into online learning. A lot of people are using technolgy to reach education they might never have been able to access. I’m currently teaching a DJ in Australia how to make better sounding trance music and a student in Hungary how to improve his electronic music skills. As an award winning music creator I tend to be quite well known in the DJing and techno / trance music space. It’s an unusal niche to be in and it is very rewarding when you see someone on the other side of the world achieve something special that you helped inspire!

Have a question for Kevin? Drop a comment below and I promise to get a direct response for you!

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Should You Buy The NEC PA272W?

NEC Multisync PA272W

As the title suggests, this article is about the 27 inch PC monitor, the NEC PA272W. So, should you buy the NEC PA272W? The answer is – sorry I’m not one to spoil endings. We’re going to go over this monitor and see if it holds up across the boards. Can it perform at a high level when it comes to gaming, photo and video editing, every day use, etc?

You may have heard different things about it like that it’s great for graphics-based applications but it’s filthy-expensive and something about something called “SpectraViewII,” but what is that?

Well, let’s get into it.

NEC PA272W Specs

  • The viewable screen size is 27 inches with a resolution of 2560 x 1440. That’s pretty much the best you’re going to get when it comes to a monitor these days.
  • The NEC PA272W weighs a cool 28.4 pounds. That’s not light. In fact when you take a look at one of these things it’s got quite a thick body compared to other 27 inchers. The panel itself is 3.5 inches thick. You’re not getting that sleek, slim look you might be used to with an iMac or Dell UltraSharp U2715H.
  • The NEC PA272W screen display is backlit by LED. This consumes 37% less power than earlier LCD screens including the NEC monitor just before this one.
  • SpectraViewII, which I mentioned earlier, is a very important feature. This is specifically an NEC tech that utilizes a color measurement sensor and calibration software. In a nutshell it creates color-rich graphics that calibrate to whatever you’re viewing at any given moment.
  • It has the typical convenient tilt, swivel and pivot ability with a height-adjustable stand.

What is the NEC PA272W good for?

What is it good for – absolutely nothing! Ok, that’s not true but I couldn’t help quoting that song. This monitor was practically designed with the photo and video editor in mind, not to mention the gamer.

With its kick-ass screen performance covering 99.3% of the Adobe RGB color space everything seems to pop. Any monitor that performs well in the graphics department will be sure to work well for general office use for simple black on white word documents as you’re looking at sharper imaging for text.

One important factor that you’re also going to want to think with, is whether or not it’s easy on the eyes. If you’re writing code or sitting in front of word docs or excel spreadsheets or working with highly detailed graphic applications, the last thing you’re going to want is to step away at the end of the day with bloodshot eyes looking like you’ve got a major case of pink eye. Luckily this display allows you to customize the brightness and RGB to find the exact right fit for your eyeballs.
Look for the NEC PA272W to be a perfect fit for:

  • Gaming
  • Video editing
  • Photo editing
  • General office use
  • Medical office use
  • Coding

What kind of connectivity are we looking at here?

Unlike the earlier NEC PA272W this newest model has better connectivity issues. And just to answer a question I’m sure a lot of you are burning to know – yes it is Mac compatible. This is what it looks like:

  • 1 DisplayPort
  • 1 Mini DisplayPort
  • 1 HDMI-DVI-D Dual Link
  • 3 USB ports – Downstream (for flashdrives, printers, etc.)
  • 2 USB ports – Upstream (for connection straight to another computer or a USB hub)

NEC PA272W Pros/Cons

Pros:

  • Amazing graphic display
  • Amazing graphic display
  • Amazing graphic display
  • Oh and did I mention graphic display.

That is really what sets this guy apart from the competition. The NEC PA272W was made for this purpose. It was not made to show off other bells and whistles or even to be the prettiest one out there. It was made for robust graphics work and it does its job.

Cons:

  • Bulkier than a lot of other monitors out there. It’s heavier and wider.
  • The price is a little bit higher as well. But if you watch it closely on Amazon the price tends to drop several hundred dollars for a day or two so I suggest you keep your eye on it.

Price


As of this writing it goes for $1299 on necdisplay.com and $1,295.19 on Amazon. But as I said earlier, watch Amazon because sometimes the prices drop for a short period. I’ve seen it drop to just over $1000.

What you’re looking at here is a monitor specifically designed to run the full color gamut and extract the most from it. If you’re willing to deal with a bulky, high-priced monitor that delivers what it promises in terms of quality then this is definitely the monitor for you.


 
If price is a concern then keep moving, nothing to see here.

Best 27 Inch Monitor