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IPS Panel
The CG243W display uses an IPS (In-Plane Switching) panel. Generally those panels deliver extreme viewing angles and superior quality – a major factor for professional users who work with colors like photographers. The disadvantage is the price and reaction time. These displays aren’t made for video editing or gaming! The same panel is used in CG221 (100% Adobe RGB). It is 3” smaller than the CG243W and costs almost double!
Positioning the display
The ergonomic rules are really important with these large wide displays. Make sure that the distance to your eyes remains higher than 50cm. The first time it will feel a little strange, but you’ll get used to it and your eyes will appreciate it as well. To determine the ideal height of the display is a little less easy. When we follow the official ergonomic rules, I need to be seated with my feet flat on the ground and my knees in an angle of 90°. I need to have a supported straight back (by the chair) and look straightforward. The line of my eyes and the top of the display need to be equal. Now you will work correctly. Everything seems overacting but when you work 8 hours (or more) in the same position, you need to sit correctly. You can slide the display easily above. I need to justify that the maximum height isn’t that high. Tall people will need to search for a solution to place the display higher.
The monitor can be switched in portrait stand (90°). This could be useful when you need to correct a large amount of portrait pictures and want to use as much as possible of your display. Still, I don’t think you’ll use this function a lot because there isn’t a sensor that detects that the display is switched to portrait. You still need to do it manually in the system preferences.
It’s really a pleasure that the display is so flexible and easy to position.
Monitor hood
The CG243W comes standard with a special monitor hood to reduce light from both sides and the top to reach the display. The difference with or without the hood is huge; I would never want to use a display without hoot anymore. At the top of the hood, you’ll find a part that’s able to slide to one of the sides. This is made to calibrate the display.
Quality
Eizo displays are high quality products. You can see it immediately! Each display is calibrated at the factory and the personal test results are delivered with it. This test includes 25 points all over the display. The difference between these 25 points has to be minimal. Eizo claims to deliver displays that guarantee that 5 years of utilization will give the same results as day 1. To prove it, they give 5 years (on site) guarantee.
Color range
One of the major advantages of the Eizo CG243W is the wide color range. The display can show up to 98% of the Adobe RGB range. Like many other professional displays, this one can show 100% of the sRGB color range. You’ll find the differences right away by reviewing older pictures. In the past you couldn’t see that much differences in the same color, now you can!
Resolution & format
Like many other displays of this size, the Eizo CG243W has a resolution of 1920 by 1200 pixels. As this display is a wide screen, it’s a pleasure to use it with Adobe Lightroom or Photoshop. At both sides you have plenty of space to put your different palettes.
Using the display
At the lowest side of the screen, you’ll find some buttons to change some settings on the display. In most cases, you’ll never use these buttons. I just name them (from left to right): the First one is a transparent circle “Light sensor” – to verify the light density and adapt the screen (more info below). The next button “S” is to switch to another connected computer. “M” stands for Mode – to switch to different mode as Custom, RGB, EMU en CAL. To correct pictures, you choose CAL. To play a game or film, choose RGB mode. The next 2 buttons are placed to upper or lower the brightness. Those don’t work in the CAL mode. The new button shows the menu structure. The last buttons will put the display in standby. If you want to shut down the display completely, there is a button at the back of the display.
Light sensor
Like I’ve mentioned above, this display has a light sensor (small transparent circle in front of the display) that can measure the light in the room and adapts the brightness of the screen. This function will give you a brighter screen at daytime and less brightness in the evening.
Response time
I can be short about the reaction time: with a response time of 5Ms (grey to grey) it’s fast enough to correct photos, but to slow for video editing or gaming!
Conclusion
The Eizo CG 243W is an awesome display for every professional photographer – graphic employee! The price is high, 2300 euro. But you get a lot more than just a simple display. This display will sell!
Best regards,
Sven Michiels