When it comes to video editing and color grading, the hunt for a professional-grade monitor is quite natural and fairly straightforward. In the realm of ultra high-resolution videos and image manipulation prioritizing color accuracy and screen uniformity for color-critical work over everything else becomes more and more important.
In other words, there isn’t much room nor is there a need for gimmicks such as FreeSync, V-Sync, G-Sync, Adaptive-Sync, or any other extravagant technology available out there. So, if you’re someone who’s looking for a reasonable no-frills professional-grade monitor for your post-production suite, the BenQ PD3200U could certainly give you the best bang for your buck, as explained in Hardware Canucks’ video below.
Going through the basic specifications, the monitor comes equipped with a 32-inch IPS display supporting a native resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels. The unit also offers a 4ms GTG response time and 60Hz refresh rate. More importantly, the PD3200U covers 100 percent of the sRGB and Rec.709 color space and outputs 10-bit colors, an essential feature when it comes to professional-grade content creation and color work.
As explained previously, the unit doesn’t have any flashy design features to boast. Instead, it’s well constructed and built with solid materials. The design of the monitor itself seems a bit outdated with its thicker-than-standard bezels, although is straightforward and not distracting in its appearance.
If the price of $799 is over your budget, you can opt for the cheaper version of the very same model that will set you back just $499. Unlike its more expensive counterpart, the budget-oriented BenQ PD3200Q comes equipped with vertical alignment panel with lower resolution topping at 2560 x 1440. Rather than that, it provides virtually the same features.
When it comes to adjustability, the monitor supports pan, tilt, swivel, and pivot adjustments allowing you to position the monitor in the way that’s comfortable for you. The menu can be controlled through the buttons located in the front bottom right-hand corner of the display bezel, allowing for easy access to the settings.
Regarding I/O the display connects to your computer via single DisplayPort or two HDMI connections. There are several USB in/out ports around the display, as well as a surprisingly fast SD card reader. Furthermore, BenQ also includes what they call the “hockey puck” with the monitor.
All in all, it’s a small device that plugs into the device, allowing you to quickly switch between the display color profiles and even navigate the menu. The buttons are reprogrammable if you’d like to assign your own profiles per button.
Looking at the quality of the display, BenQ really seems to have delivered a product that truly deserves its professional-grade title. The monitor comes calibrated right out of the box and produces vivid and accurate color representation in the images shown on the display.
While the whites may seem a bit warmer compared to other professional monitors, these subtle differences in color can be easily fixed with further calibration from your end. Also, by adjusting your operating system’s scaling settings, you’ll find that you get a lot of screen real estate, thus helping you maximise your workspace within a single display.
Overall, the PD3200U does merely what is intended to do. It’s a top-notch performer when it comes to producing color-accurate images, and it does it very well for the price. With this product, BenQ provides creators the necessary tools they expect a professional monitor to have, all without any frills or unwanted/distracting features.
[source: HardwareCanucks]
Order Links:
BenQ PD3200U 32″ 16:9 4K IPS Monitor (B&H, Amazon US)
BenQ PD3200Q 32″ 16:9 QHD LCD Monitor (B&H, Amazon US)
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate partner and participant in B&H and Adorama Affiliate programmes, we earn a small comission from each purchase made through the affiliate links listed above at no additional cost to you.
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