4K monitor for video editing: best options for $1,000

[Gavin Gear]

Hi all- I'm looking for the best $1K 4K display for video editing, color grading, previewing for use with my Windows 10 PC. I want something that will color calibrate well, and give me a good "Reference" for the videos I'm working with in Premiere Pro CC, etc. I would consider 27" - 32", but could entertain going bigger...

I know the display "ecosystem" is changing monthly- given my goals, and given my budget, any first-hand-experience recommendations?

 

[Phil Holland]

Hi Gavin, long time!

I've been using the LG 31" 4K (31MU97-B) display as my primary editing and review monitor since the day it's been released.

It is a DCI aspect ratio monitor (1.9:1) rather than 16x9, which for projects I work on is very, very useful.

Can be had for about $1K.

I edit in Adobe Premiere Pro CC and the wider aspect ratio screen is fantastic for panel layouts.

 

[Billy Jim]

Gavin,

LG 31" discussion here.

 

[Nathan DuMoulin]

I highly recommend the BenQ BL3201PH 32" 4K IPS. It's quite impressive.

 

[Will Keir]

Gavin,

If you want 4K. I'd suggest you wait. TVs are "almost" there but still a bit unresponsive. For sub 1K, you can get 4K monitors but the text/GUI is so small at 4K you might consider how valuable your long term vision is.... Your eye balls...

Until OS X and Windows put major efforts into 4K integration, we need to go bigger.

For now. Stick with Dual 1080P displays. I'm pushing a 55" TV, logging hours editing and finding that we are so close... almost.

Hi all- I'm looking for the best $1K 4K display for video editing, color grading, previewing for use with my Windows 10 PC. I want something that will color calibrate well, and give me a good "Reference" for the videos I'm working with in Premiere Pro CC, etc. I would consider 27" - 32", but could entertain going bigger...

I know the display "ecosystem" is changing monthly- given my goals, and given my budget, any first-hand-experience recommendations?

 

[Will Keir]

The wider the better. I'm looking at a Ppro timeline on this 55" TV stretch from end to end and love how fast it makes my editing when changing out scenes, selecting best takes and implement them in the sequence.

4K/6K Native timelines slow down Premiere's responsiveness. I was advised to use 1080P for timeline sequences.

the wider aspect ratio screen is fantastic for panel layouts.

 

[Gavin Gear]

Thanks everyone for the reccomendations! Looks like the BenQ and LG would both be good options, at nearly the same price. Has anyone seen/used both of them? My highest priority is getting the right "reference" (gamut, contrast ratio, etc) for grading and previewing footage.

 

[Will Keir]

I've used the LG 31" 4K display and returned it because the GUI/Text is too small to read in a functional working environment.

Thanks everyone for the reccomendations! Looks like the BenQ and LG would both be good options, at nearly the same price. Has anyone seen/used both of them? My highest priority is getting the right "reference" (gamut, contrast ratio, etc) for grading and previewing footage.

 

[Chris Lowe]

I've used the LG 31" 4K display and returned it because the GUI/Text is too small to read in a functional working environment.

There are occasions were this is the case, but for the vast majority of usage I think things scale appropriately. In windows 10 I set the scale to 150% (sometimes even up to 200) so that text/icons are generally the same size as if it was a 1080 monitor, only they are much clearer on the 4k screen.

 

[Phil Holland]

The wider the better. I'm looking at a Ppro timeline on this 55" TV stretch from end to end and love how fast it makes my editing when changing out scenes, selecting best takes and implement them in the sequence.

4K/6K Native timelines slow down Premiere's responsiveness. I was advised to use 1080P for timeline sequences.

Gavin,

If you want 4K. I'd suggest you wait. TVs are "almost" there but still a bit unresponsive. For sub 1K, you can get 4K monitors but the text/GUI is so small at 4K you might consider how valuable your long term vision is.... Your eye balls...

Until OS X and Windows put major efforts into 4K integration, we need to go bigger.

For now. Stick with Dual 1080P displays. I'm pushing a 55" TV, logging hours editing and finding that we are so close... almost.

I haven't experienced any slowness on Windows 8.1 or 10 with Premiere Pro with 4K through 6K timelines. Also, Windows 10 fixed whatever weird mouse bug was apparent in some applications. Seems to support 4K fully. Been using it for a couple months now.

The LG is still working fine for my workflow and main system. Just finished a 5.5K cut natively in it tonight.

 

[Nathan DuMoulin]

I've used the LG 31" 4K display and returned it because the GUI/Text is too small to read in a functional working environment.

Windows 10 has made my 4K experience an absolute pleasure. Windows supports icon and text scaling, and most apps (resolve, adobe CC, etc) all support native scaling now. The 4K experience is not perfect, but its 90% as good as HD. The advantages far outweigh any drawbacks.

EDIT. Windows 10 also offer "quadrant snapping" (segmenting), so your 4K monitor can act as dual or quad monitors when maximizing applications or UI panels.

 

[Tyler Dreher]

LG all the way. I don't know what a previous poster is talking about, both Windows and OSX support text/icon scaling. It's not hard to read text.

 

[Nathan DuMoulin]

I'm the guy who mentioned the BenQ 32" 4K IPS in an earlier post. I figured I'd elaborate as I spent countless hours about a month ago researching 4K IPS panels.


The LG 31-MU97 that is being suggested sort of scared me, as a lot of the reviews that I read were horrible (a poor 2 star rating on B&H, including one guy who purchased 3 and sent all 3 back). The Dell P2715Q is another popular option, but has bad backlight edge bleeding, color calibration, and is aimed at the lower end consumer market. The BenQ BL3201PH was the only $1K 4K IPS that I could find that had fantastic ratings, and based on many reviews, forum posts, and product comparisons, I ultimately made the purchase.

If everyone here says the LG is good, then it could very well be. I just know that I avoided it due to the low reviews, and took a gamble on the BenQ. I can honestly say that it's been one of the best purchases that I've made in a long time.

 

[Joshua Binder]

Gavin,

If you want the LG i have one for sale barely used just bought from B&H about 3 months ago if that.

Original box and all accessories and cables.

I am moving and do not have room for it right now, great monitor though. I'm having to live mobile off a laptop for a bit.

PM Me if interested i'll give you a good deal on it.

 

[L. Langer]

The Seiki Pro monitors with the latest HDMI and DP revisions will be out early next year. At CES, Seiki will demonstrate a revised version of their current 4K unit as well as some larger sizes, possibly going up to 65 inches.

 

[Will Keir]

Does the Windows 10 Scaling work for the text inside applications like Final Cut or Premiere?

There are occasions were this is the case, but for the vast majority of usage I think things scale appropriately. In windows 10 I set the scale to 150% (sometimes even up to 200) so that text/icons are generally the same size as if it was a 1080 monitor, only they are much clearer on the 4k screen.

 

[Will Keir]

Time for me to upgrade.

Windows 10 has made my 4K experience an absolute pleasure. Windows supports icon and text scaling, and most apps (resolve, adobe CC, etc) all support native scaling now. The 4K experience is not perfect, but its 90% as good as HD. The advantages far outweigh any drawbacks.

EDIT. Windows 10 also offer "quadrant snapping" (segmenting), so your 4K monitor can act as dual or quad monitors when maximizing applications or UI panels.

 

[Will Keir]

That was me Tyler. Would you help us old guys and make a tutorial for us doing some MAC OS X text/GUI scaling and show us how easy to read it is? On a 31" Display 4K is tiny because OS X doesn't fully support 4K and it's not integrated at the APP level very well.

If you know something I don't, please share. Looks like you have young eyes, that might give you the edge too.

LG all the way. I don't know what a previous poster is talking about, both Windows and OSX support text/icon scaling. It's not hard to read text.

 

[Will Keir]

hehe. Not that good if your selling it! The good monitors move with me.

Gavin,

If you want the LG i have one for sale barely used just bought from B&H about 3 months ago if that.

Original box and all accessories and cables.

I am moving and do not have room for it right now, great monitor though. I'm having to live mobile off a laptop for a bit.

PM Me if interested i'll give you a good deal on it.

 

[Will Keir]

My question is when are they going to make 40" and 50" monitors. Doesn't it seem at 4K, computer displays and TV displays are starting to merge in a good way?