Eizo’s top end grading monitor is the Prominence CG3145, a 31.5” LCD monitor that uses the Panasonic dual-panel architecture. However, the backlight does not include zonal control in this implementation leading to a peak luminance rating of 1000 cd/m². Eizo says this results in a monitor that has better accuracy, uniformity and longevity. It has 4096 x 2160 resolution, covers 99% of DCI-P3, a very low 0.0003 cd/m² black level and a price point of $30K.
What the display lacks is SDI connectivity (only HDMI) and a very robust set of image diagnostic tools more typically found on reference film/TV monitors. One studio told us they evaluated the display but found it just did not yet meet their needs.
Eizo also showcased their ColorEdge CG319X, the successor to the CG318, a 31.5” monitor for HDR but with a more modest 1500:1 contrast ratio, 300 cd/m² of peak luminance and 99% of P3 gamut coverage. It should be available in May and pricing will be announced then.
Both support inputs in HLG or PQ HDR encoding and include is an internal sensor to perform automatic calibration with a 3D LUT capability. -CC
Analyst Comment
The choice of no zonal backlighting is because for broadcast reference applications, users are much happier to have a fixed backlight. In this case, they can be certain that if they see something they don’t like, the problem is in the content itself, not in the algorithms used in the backlight. As Eizo said, it’s about accuracy rather than the optimum effect. At IBC, Eizo was showing the monitor alongside a Sony OLED and while both looked good in lower brightness, the Eizo looked better when the overall brightness got higher, which is because of the better colour volume – the same argument made by Samsung for its LCD TVs. (BR)
