Monitor for Photo Editing - advice please

[Hillman_Imp]

I use Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop on a high-spec laptop but the 15.6 screen is too limiting (size, colour and resolution). I am thinking of a 25-28" monitor. Top end photo editing monitors can be thousands of pounds, but a little research threw up the Dell U2719 at £350 to have the capability about right for me, but any practical recommendations gratefully received.

[tog]

I haven't seen the U2719, but I've been using a pair of Dell U2415s for professional photo editing for the last couple of years and I'm happy with them. Sure I'd like an Eizo, but they are not cheap and the Dells do the job fine for a fraction of the cash. I prefer a 16:10 if possible over a 16:9 monitor for photo editing. (I'd like a pair of 4:3 really but that ship has sailed.)

[Turn7]

Dell U2412M here and its used for LR as well as general use.

Cant fault it tbh....

[Hillman_Imp]

Thanks for your repies, very useful. TOG - can I ask why a) 4:3 and why b) two off?

[RobDickinson]

I've had a dell 27 for a while (u2711 from 2011) and its worked really well.

Trying to find a replacement at the moment ( that can dual purpose with gaming, 4k, hdr etc), but that dell should do OK for photos

[VFX_Artist]

Don't forget a calibration kit, for me it's an essential. It might seem a waste of time, but it really isn't if you are taking it seriously.

[tog]

Hillman_Imp said:

Thanks for your repies, very useful. TOG - can I ask why a) 4:3 and why b) two off?

Portrait photos fit better on a less wide screen, and I prefer two monitors so I can have toolbars etc on one and the image on the other. LR also works well with two monitors. A pair of 24s I prefer to a single larger monitor. I use a Mac Pro so no built-in screen.

VFX_Artist said:

Don't forget a calibration kit, for me it's an essential. It might seem a waste of time, but it really isn't if you are taking it seriously.

Also this.

[Sheepshanks]

tog said:

Portrait photos fit better on a less wide screen,

Maybe they all do this but I’m sure the Dell monitor I’ve got rotates to portrait format.

[tog]

Mine will rotate, but I meant it in more general terms. The fascination with widescreen has come from TVs being 16:9, and most phones I presume (although people will keep shooting movies in portrait on them). But for some uses a wider screen is completely unnecessary (especially writing fitting an A4 page onto a screen) and a squarer aspect ratio is more flexible. But I accept it's not a huge problem, just a personal preference, and a lot of the shortcomings can of course be overcome these days by just using a larger screen to give you the height.