These monitors are the Best of the Best for still image work. If you really love colour, want unparalleled accuracy, and ease of use, then these are the monitors for you.

These Eizo CG monitors have fully automatic direct hardware calibration and an inbuilt full calibration sensor.

You can set this up once (takes about 10 minutes) - and then sit back and enjoy your monitor for the next 5+ years as it self-calibrates with absolutely no further intervention required. It can even do this in the middle of the night so it doesn't interrupt your workflow! It simply doesn't come any better, or easier to use, than this.

Eizo don't currently make a model larger than 27", other than their very expensive 4K model, so we've also included BenQs best larger model as the best of the large screen options at a reasonable price...but do note it's obviously not in the same league as the Eizo CGs, so we recommend sticking to 27" unless you absolutely need a bigger size, or 4K.

Personally, I consider the Eizo CG279X the finest monitor Eizo make for general purpose imaging use. I find it more comfortable than the 4K models where you can still hit tiny text issues, and the colour accuracy and ease of use is quite simply as good as it gets. 

While Eizo's CG monitors remain the king of the best-of-the-best, most people will find a model from Eizo's CS or BenQ's PV ranges a great choice for general imaging work.

BenQs are priced very competitively. With BenQ you tend to lose just a little refinement in the screen itself – you get slightly lower quality neutrals, slightly less uniformity and the BenQ warranty (3 years) is not as long as Eizos (5 years).

However, they still have excellent reliability (much better than general consumer brands), offer good uniformity, and excellent clarity. We strongly suggest adding a compatible calibrator and with BenQ PVs this really means i1Display Pro.

We use a BenQ PV270 on our client machine at Image Science, where customer's check their colour before printing.  It really is a remarkably good screen for the price (read a fuller evaluation here).

The Eizo CS models are their entry level ColorEdge models.

They are very similar to the NEC PA and BenQ PV models but slightly more refined - most noticeable in deep shadows and the quality of neutral tones, and the extremely refined software for calibration.

They come with Eizo's calibration software, ColorNavigator, included and with two years extra warranty over the BenQ/NECs, so they offer great value - you just need to add a calibrator and you've got everything you need.

On a budget or just getting to that level where you want a significant improvement over your typical desktop monitors from office brands like Dell, Apple etc?

BenQ's SW2700PT model is the hugely popular king of entry level colour accurate models - indeed calling it entry level is really a little unfair - as it offers all the features, and most of the performance, of much more expensive models.  While it is not uniformity corrected like the PV270 model listed above, the panels used are very good, and this feature filled model is a real bargain and probably the most popular monitor bought by photo enthusiasts right now.

There's also a great 32" 4K model if you're looking for a screen with real physical presence and all mod cons - big screens are a real pleasure to work on, and if you're looking to impress your friends and family, or sell bigger prints to your clients - 32" of BenQ SW321c has the WOW factor you're looking for!

There is simply be no other monitor to touch the BenQ SW240 in terms of combination of quality, features and value.

Given the BenQ SW240's smaller size, and ridiculously low price, this model also makes a perfect cheaper option for your second monitor, or a dedicated monitor for tethered studio shooting or on location work.

Read more about this model here.

If you're looking more for a general purpose high quality monitor, then Eizo also have their EV range.  Go for the BenQs if you're looking for photo editing models, but if you're just after a really excellent quality 'business graphics' monitor with great ergonomics, consider the Eizo EV models as well.

These monitors are the first big step up from your standard computer monitors.  And yes, overall they are a BIG step up from popular 'higher quality' models like Dell Ultra-Sharps and Apple Cinema Displays etc. These are simply a lot more accurate, respond better to calibration, and have better attention paid to ergonomics, particularly with respect to issues like eye fatigue.

They also come with longer warranties and Eizo's general reputation for quality and support remains unmatched in the industry.