Hi, I’m Salik, the author of FilmmakingElements.com. I have been a filmmaker for over 10 years. I am also a certified DaVinci Resolve Trainer and I have used DaVinci Resolve for many of my projects. From my extensive experience in video editing and post-production, I’ve learned that color grading can be the transformative element that turns your footage from simple shots to visual wonders. Over the years, DaVinci Resolve has become my go-to; its capabilities allow me to fine-tune my work exactly as I envision.
That said, a tool is only as good as the machine it runs on. To extract the best from DaVinci Resolve, you need a monitor that doesn’t compromise on color accuracy or performance.
In my professional journey, I’ve had the chance to test out various monitors. Here are my top five picks tailored for DaVinci Resolve, based on my hands-on experience:
5 Best Color Grading Monitors For Davinci Resolve
1. LG C2
Using the LG C2 OLED TV was a game-changer for me. It might be branded as a TV, but once professionally calibrated, it serves as an ideal tool for color grading.
Also Read- How To Calibrate LG C2/G2 For Color Grading: A Holistic Guide
Bit Depth:
Having worked with the LG C2, its 10-bit color depth, offering over 1.07 billion colors, has been a game-changer for me. The breadth of colors it provides ensures that gradients flow seamlessly, eliminating any chances of banding or unsightly artifacts. It’s been instrumental in giving me that granular control over color adjustments in DaVinci Resolve, a must for any serious colorist.
Color Space:
While I’ve used various monitors in my journey, the ability of the LG C2 to touch the Rec.2020 color space has been invaluable. A significant portion of my work adheres to the Rec.709 broadcast standard. And while Rec.2020 surpasses Rec.709 in terms of the color spectrum, the LG C2 effortlessly captures these broader palettes.
Through meticulous calibration, I’ve made sure that my projects graded on the LG C2 mirror the consistency and accuracy on other Rec.709 screens, offering viewers an unmatched visual treat.
Contrast Ratio:
One of the aspects I love about the LG C2 is its unrivaled contrast ratio, thanks to its OLED craftsmanship. Every time I witness the perfect blacks on this screen, I’m reminded of the magic of OLEDs – where each pixel lights up independently.
This feature has empowered me to bring out the minutest details in shadows and highlights, pivotal for any color grading task. Against its deep black backdrop, colors pop with vibrancy, lending my work an extra layer of depth and richness.
Price:
The LG C2 is priced at around $1200, making it an affordable option for professional color grading compared to other high-end reference monitors. This attractive price point, coupled with its advanced features and accurate color reproduction, makes the LG C2 an excellent choice for colorists working with DaVinci Resolve.
2. BenQ SW321C
The BenQ SW321C 32″ 16:9 4K Monitor is an exceptional display designed for color accuracy and professional use, making it the best choice for color grading in DaVinci Resolve. With support for various color gamuts, this monitor delivers stunning visuals and precise color reproduction that meets the demands of professional colorists.
Bit Depth:
Having personally tried and tested its capabilities, the SW321C’s 10-bit color depth never ceases to amaze me. The finesse it offers, with natural shading and impeccable color gradations, makes my work on DaVinci Resolve not only easier but also more precise.
Color Space:
One of the standout features I’ve come to appreciate about this monitor is its extensive support for various color gamuts. Covering 100% of the sRGB and Rec. 709, 99% of Adobe RGB, and an impressive 95% of both DCI-P3 and Display P3, it’s a colorist’s dream. Leveraging BenQ’s AQcolor technology and its 16-bit LUT, I’ve always been confident of achieving a Delta E≤2 in both Adobe RGB and sRGB modes. The result? An almost mirror reflection of my original vision.
Contrast Ratio:
With the SW321C, every detail is highlighted, thanks to its 1000:1 static contrast ratio and an astounding 20,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio. Add to that a brightness rating of 250 cd/m² and a snappy 5 ms (GtG) response time, and you’ve got a monitor that not only displays sharp, vivid images but also responds in real-time to every tweak and adjustment I make.
Price:
At $1,999, some might hesitate, but for a seasoned colorist like me, the BenQ SW321C represents a long-term investment in excellence. Given its precision, vast color gamut support, and top-notch features, it’s a price I’d willingly pay every time, especially for the unmatched quality I get when grading on DaVinci Resolve.
3. Asus ProArt Display PA32UCG-K
The ASUS ProArt Display PA32UCG-K is a high-end, professional-grade monitor designed for creative professionals such as game developers, cinematographers, and colorists. Based on my hands-on experience in our post-production house, the ASUS ProArt Display PA32UCG-K is unequivocally one of the best additions we’ve made.
Its 32″ 4K IPS mini-LED panel delivers impeccable color accuracy. This monitor has been a cornerstone in our DaVinci Resolve sessions, with its 120 Hz refresh rate, AMD FreeSync2, and HDR compatibility enhancing our post-production workflows to deliver truly immersive visuals.
Bit Depth:
In the grading suites of our post-production house, the 10-bit color depth of the ProArt Display PA32UCG-K has been a consistent performer. It grants us the luxury of creating smoother gradients and detailed colors, enabling us to uphold our standard of excellence in DaVinci Resolve projects. The broad color spectrum is a testament to the tool’s capability to achieve precise and refined outputs.
Color Space:
This monitor is designed to cover a wide range of color spaces, ensuring that it can be used for various creative work. It covers 98% of the DCI-P3 color gamut, 99.5% of Adobe RGB, 100% of sRGB, and 100% of Rec. 709. Additionally, it supports 85% of the Rec. 2020 color space, essential for HDR content creation. By offering compatibility with such a diverse range of color spaces, the ProArt Display PA32UCG-K allows users to work on various projects without any limitations or compromises in color accuracy.
Contrast Ratio:
The transformative power of the ProArt Display PA32UCG-K’s mini-LED technology, with its 1152 local dimming zones, has been nothing short of spectacular in our post-production setup. Its peak brightness of 1600 nits paired with remarkable contrast ratios, both static (1000:1) and dynamic (100,000,000:1), has often been the talk of our team. The monitor’s grasp over subtle details, especially in HDR content and color grading, aligns seamlessly with the high standards we set for our output.
Price:
The ASUS ProArt Display PA32UCG-K comes with a price tag of $3,499. While this may be a substantial investment, the exceptional color accuracy, HDR support, and performance features justify the cost for professionals working with color-sensitive applications like DaVinci Resolve. The monitor’s outstanding specifications and capabilities make it a valuable tool that can improve the quality and efficiency of creative work in various fields.
4. Eizo ColorEdge CS2740
The Eizo ColorEdge CS2740 is a high-quality, professional-grade monitor designed for creative individuals working in photography, video editing, or design fields. Its 26.9″ 4K IPS panel, wide color gamut, and USB Type-C connectivity make it an excellent choice for color grading in DaVinci Resolve. I started my career with this monitor.
Bit Depth:
The ColorEdge CS2740 features 10-bit support. This enables smoother color gradations and a reduced Delta-E between adjacent colors, resulting in more accurate color reproduction. The 16-bit look-up table (LUT) ensures a higher precision and better gradation characteristics compared to software calibration.
Color Space:
Engineered to support 99% of the Adobe RGB and 103% of the NTSC color gamuts, the ColorEdge CS2740 accurately reproduces a wide range of colors. This ensures that images shot in Adobe RGB are displayed correctly, and the monitor is also capable of reproducing almost the entire ISO-coated and US web-coated CMYK color spaces used in printing.
Contrast Ratio:
The ColorEdge CS2740 features a static contrast ratio of 1000:1, providing clear distinction between dark and bright areas in the image. With a maximum brightness of 350 cd/m² and a 10 ms (GtG) response time, this monitor delivers smooth visuals and minimal motion blur, making it ideal for video editing and color grading tasks.
Price:
Priced at $1900, the Eizo ColorEdge CS2740 offers great value for creative professionals who need a high-quality monitor for color grading in DaVinci Resolve. The monitor comes with an external EX4 calibration sensor, allowing users to calibrate the monitor to their preferred settings, ensuring accurate color reproduction and a consistent workflow.
5. LG- 32EP950-B
The LG UltraFine 32EP950-B is a 31.5″ 4K HDR OLED monitor designed specifically for creative professionals who demand exceptional color accuracy and performance. With its 3840 x 2160 resolution at 60 Hz, this 4K OLED monitor delivers vibrant colors and high-dynamic range, making it a top choice for video editors using DaVinci Resolve. Its lifelike colors, wide color gamut, and HDR capabilities ensure accurate color representation, while the Pixel Dimming technology provides deep blacks and stunning contrast.
Bit Depth:
The LG 32EP950-B features a 10-bit color depth. This extensive color range enables smoother gradients and more precise color rendering, reducing banding and other visual artifacts often associated with lower bit depths. The monitor’s color depth ensures that colorists and editors working with DaVinci Resolve can achieve the highest level of color accuracy and detail in their projects.
Color Space:
The LG 32EP950-B covers 99% of the DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB color spectrums, providing accurate color reproduction and wide color gamut for professional video editing and color grading. In addition, the monitor supports multiple HDR signals, including the BT.2100 HDR TV broadcast standard, as well as the PQ/P3 PQ standard. These features ensure that your edited footage will be compatible with a wide range of display devices and meet the requirements of modern broadcast standards.
Contrast Ratio:
The LG 32EP950-B utilizes Pixel Dimming technology, allowing for individual pixel brightness control. This feature delivers near-perfect contrast and an extensive range of colors by taking full advantage of the monitor’s impressive 1 million:1 contrast ratio. The result is rich, deep blacks and vibrant colors, allowing colorists and editors to work with greater precision and confidence in their color grading decisions.
Price:
At a price point of $2,500, the LG UltraFine 32EP950-B offers premium-quality color grading performance for creative professionals who require top-notch color accuracy and performance. While the cost may be higher than some other monitors on the market, the investment in the LG 32EP950-B ensures a level of color fidelity and detail that is crucial for professional video editing and color grading tasks.
Conclusion: Best Color Grading Monitors For Davinci Resolve
Each monitor offers unique features and capabilities that cater to the demands of professional color grading, ensuring that every shade, hue, and tone is displayed with utmost precision. By investing in one of these top-tier monitors, you can create breathtaking content that stands out from the competition and captivates your audience.
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