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Posts Tagged ‘Displays’

Sony quietly updates the a7R III, a7R IV with improved LCD displays

07 Apr
One of our product photos of the original a7R IV.

Sony has, rather quietly, released updated versions of its a7R III and a7R IV cameras that bring small improvements to the full-frame mirrorless cameras. The updated cameras now have an ‘a’ appended to their model numbers to differentiate them from their original predecessors.

According to the update product specifications, both the a7R III (model: ILCE-7RM3A) and a7R IV (model: ILCE-7RM4A) have improved rear LCD panels, up to 2.36 million dots compared to the 1.44 million dots in the original models. Sony notes in the the battery life of the updated cameras has dropped slightly (10 shots) when using the LCD panel. Also, based on the product photos on Sony’s website, the a7R IV (model: ILCE-7RM4A) no longer has the Sony logo under the LCD monitor. Aside from those details, it’s not clear what else, if anything, has changed.

Note the ‘Sony’ underneath the LCD panel on this product image of the original a7R IV. Note The lack of the ‘Sony’ logo under the LCD panel of the newly-updated a7R IV ‘a’

Sony’s updated product pages don’t show whether or not the price has changed and, as of publication, Sony’s site isn’t linking out to any retailers with the new models in stock. Neither Adorama or B&H Photo have the new models listed as of publication. This, combined with the fact Sony hasn’t actually changed the more general name of the cameras will likely lead to some confusion for buyers, so you might want to hold off if you’re hoping to get one of these updated cameras until more information is available.

We have contacted Sony for more details and will update this article accordingly when we receive a response.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Forthcoming USB4 will power displays up to 16K at 60 fps thanks to DisplayPort 2.0 ‘Alt Mode’

04 May
DisplayPort logo on a USB Type-C device notes VESA certified DisplayPort Alt Mode support.

The next-generation USB protocol will combine its functions with those of a DisplayPort, allowing users to run extreme resolution monitors or to connect and power external devices from the same port type.

The Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) has worked alongside the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) to develop the DisplayPort Alternative Mode standard which ‘provides seamless interoperability with the new USB4 specification.’ This new functionality means the new USB 4 standard will be able to take on all the roles of the forthcoming DisplayPort 2.0 standard.

DisplayPort Alt Mode will allow users to not only run high-resolution monitor from a USB-C socket but also transfer data and deliver power to external devices

As reported in July 2019 DisplayPort 2.0 will provide communication speeds of up to 70 Gigabits per second (Gb/s) to allow users to run monitors with resolutions up to 16K at 60fps, as it will offer three times the current data rates of DisplayPort 1.4.

The new USB 4 standard, however, will allow up to 80 Gigabits per second, which DisplayPort Alt Mode will be able to take advantage of via the USB Type-C connector. As much as these speeds are exciting for those interested in super-resolution monitors that don’t yet exist, for the majority, it means being able to run multiple high-resolution screens and data-hungry devices at the same time, all without sacrificing frame rates.

We should expect to see devices supporting these new standards by 2021, according to the press release. For more information see the DisplayPort and USB-IF websites.

Press release

VESA Releases Updated DisplayPort™ Alt Mode Spec to Bring DisplayPort 2.0 Performance to USB4™ and New USB Type-C® Devices

The Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA®) today announced that it has released version 2.0 of the DisplayPort™ Alternate Mode (“Alt Mode”) standard.

DisplayPort Alt Mode 2.0 provides seamless interoperability with the new USB4™ specification published by the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF), and fully enables all of the features in the latest version of the DisplayPort standard (version 2.0) through the USB Type-C® (USB-C) connector. With DisplayPort Alt Mode, the USB-C connector can transmit up to 80 Gigabits per second (Gbps) of DisplayPort video data utilizing all four high-speed lanes in the cable, or up to 40 Gbps with simultaneous SuperSpeed USB data delivery. VESA anticipates first products incorporating DisplayPort Alt Mode 2.0 to appear on the market in 2021.

DisplayPort 2.0, which was introduced in June 2019, provides up to a 3X increase in data bandwidth performance compared to the previous version of DisplayPort, as well as new capabilities to address future performance requirements of displays. These include beyond-8K resolutions, higher refresh rates and high dynamic range (HDR) support at higher resolutions, improved support for multiple display configurations, as well as improved user experience with augmented/virtual (AR/VR) displays, including support for 4K-and-beyond VR resolutions. Featuring the highly efficient 128b/132b channel coding shared with USB4, DisplayPort 2.0 delivers a maximum payload of 77.37 Gbps across four lanes (up to 19.34 Gbps per lane)—supporting ultra-high display performance configurations such as an 8K (7680×4320) display with 60 Hz refresh rate with full-color 30 bpp 4:4:4 HDR resolution uncompressed, and 16K (15360×8460) 60 Hz display with 30 bpp 4:4:4 HDR resolution with compression. With the release of DisplayPort Alt Mode 2.0, all of these high-performance video capabilities are now available to the USB ecosystem.

“VESA’s updated DisplayPort Alt Mode spec includes a number of under-the-hood developments—including updates to interface discovery and configuration as well as power management—to ensure seamless integration with the USB4 specification,” stated Craig Wiley, senior director of marketing at Parade Technologies, and VESA board member and DisplayPort Alt Mode sub-group leader. “This major undertaking, which was several years in the making, could only be made possible through the combined efforts of VESA and the USB-IF. Through our latest collaboration with the USB-IF, VESA is now taking care of everything related to high-performance displays over USB-C, whether through a native DisplayPort or USB-C connector, or through tunneling of DisplayPort over the native USB4 interface. DisplayPort is also tunneled through the Thunderbolt interface, making it the de facto video standard across PC and mobile displays.”

“USB Type-C is becoming the connector of choice in notebooks and mobile solutions. With the new DisplayPort Alt Mode 2.0 specification, USB Type-C now delivers compelling single-connector solutions for docking, gaming, AR/VR HMDs, and professional HDR displays that combine 80 Gbps of video bandwidth and other important features of DisplayPort 2.0 with the transport of USB data and power delivery,” said Syed Athar Hussain, VESA board vice chairman and display domain senior fellow, AMD.

“Intel’s contribution of the Thunderbolt™ PHY layer specification to VESA for use in DisplayPort 2.0 was a significant milestone, and it underpins this new DisplayPort 2.0 Alt Mode specification to provide data rates up to 20 gigatransfers per second,” said Jason Ziller, general manager, Client Connectivity Division at Intel. “This contribution ensures great user experiences by enabling today’s most versatile port with the highest performing display capabilities.”

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Forthcoming USB4 will power displays up to 16K at 60 fps thanks to DisplayPort 2.0 ‘Alt Mode’

02 May
DisplayPort logo on a USB Type-C device notes VESA certified DisplayPort Alt Mode support.

The next-generation USB protocol will combine its functions with those of a DisplayPort, allowing users to run extreme resolution monitors or to connect and power external devices from the same port type.

The Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) has worked alongside the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) to develop the DisplayPort Alternative Mode standard which ‘provides seamless interoperability with the new USB4 specification.’ This new functionality means the new USB 4 standard will be able to take on all the roles of the forthcoming DisplayPort 2.0 standard.

DisplayPort Alt Mode will allow users to not only run high-resolution monitor from a USB-C socket but also transfer data and deliver power to external devices

As reported in July 2019 DisplayPort 2.0 will provide communication speeds of up to 70 Gigabits per second (Gb/s) to allow users to run monitors with resolutions up to 16K at 60fps, as it will offer three times the current data rates of DisplayPort 1.4.

The new USB 4 standard, however, will allow up to 80 Gigabits per second, which DisplayPort Alt Mode will be able to take advantage of via the USB Type-C connector. As much as these speeds are exciting for those interested in super-resolution monitors that don’t yet exist, for the majority, it means being able to run multiple high-resolution screens and data-hungry devices at the same time, all without sacrificing frame rates.

We should expect to see devices supporting these new standards by 2021, according to the press release. For more information see the DisplayPort and USB-IF websites.

Press release

{Pressrelease}

VESA Releases Updated DisplayPort™ Alt Mode Spec to Bring DisplayPort 2.0 Performance to USB4™ and New USB Type-C® Devices

The Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA®) today announced that it has released version 2.0 of the DisplayPort™ Alternate Mode (“Alt Mode”) standard.

DisplayPort Alt Mode 2.0 provides seamless interoperability with the new USB4™ specification published by the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF), and fully enables all of the features in the latest version of the DisplayPort standard (version 2.0) through the USB Type-C® (USB-C) connector. With DisplayPort Alt Mode, the USB-C connector can transmit up to 80 Gigabits per second (Gbps) of DisplayPort video data utilizing all four high-speed lanes in the cable, or up to 40 Gbps with simultaneous SuperSpeed USB data delivery. VESA anticipates first products incorporating DisplayPort Alt Mode 2.0 to appear on the market in 2021.

DisplayPort 2.0, which was introduced in June 2019, provides up to a 3X increase in data bandwidth performance compared to the previous version of DisplayPort, as well as new capabilities to address future performance requirements of displays. These include beyond-8K resolutions, higher refresh rates and high dynamic range (HDR) support at higher resolutions, improved support for multiple display configurations, as well as improved user experience with augmented/virtual (AR/VR) displays, including support for 4K-and-beyond VR resolutions. Featuring the highly efficient 128b/132b channel coding shared with USB4, DisplayPort 2.0 delivers a maximum payload of 77.37 Gbps across four lanes (up to 19.34 Gbps per lane)—supporting ultra-high display performance configurations such as an 8K (7680×4320) display with 60 Hz refresh rate with full-color 30 bpp 4:4:4 HDR resolution uncompressed, and 16K (15360×8460) 60 Hz display with 30 bpp 4:4:4 HDR resolution with compression. With the release of DisplayPort Alt Mode 2.0, all of these high-performance video capabilities are now available to the USB ecosystem.

“VESA’s updated DisplayPort Alt Mode spec includes a number of under-the-hood developments—including updates to interface discovery and configuration as well as power management—to ensure seamless integration with the USB4 specification,” stated Craig Wiley, senior director of marketing at Parade Technologies, and VESA board member and DisplayPort Alt Mode sub-group leader. “This major undertaking, which was several years in the making, could only be made possible through the combined efforts of VESA and the USB-IF. Through our latest collaboration with the USB-IF, VESA is now taking care of everything related to high-performance displays over USB-C, whether through a native DisplayPort or USB-C connector, or through tunneling of DisplayPort over the native USB4 interface. DisplayPort is also tunneled through the Thunderbolt interface, making it the de facto video standard across PC and mobile displays.”

“USB Type-C is becoming the connector of choice in notebooks and mobile solutions. With the new DisplayPort Alt Mode 2.0 specification, USB Type-C now delivers compelling single-connector solutions for docking, gaming, AR/VR HMDs, and professional HDR displays that combine 80 Gbps of video bandwidth and other important features of DisplayPort 2.0 with the transport of USB data and power delivery,” said Syed Athar Hussain, VESA board vice chairman and display domain senior fellow, AMD.

“Intel’s contribution of the Thunderbolt™ PHY layer specification to VESA for use in DisplayPort 2.0 was a significant milestone, and it underpins this new DisplayPort 2.0 Alt Mode specification to provide data rates up to 20 gigatransfers per second,” said Jason Ziller, general manager, Client Connectivity Division at Intel. “This contribution ensures great user experiences by enabling today’s most versatile port with the highest performing display capabilities.”

{/pressrelease}

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Apple’s new 16-inch MacBook Pro can power two 6K displays, including Pro Display XDRs

20 Nov

Apple’s new 16-inch MacBook Pro is a major step up in terms of specifications and performance compared to its smaller predecessors. While we already know many of the specifications fo the computer, Apple has posted the support document for the new computer unveiling a nice surprise for photographers and videographers who want to make the most of the new hardware.

In the support document for the new 16-inch MacBook Pro Apple has revealed that its new laptop can be used to power up to two 6K displays, including Apple’s own Pro Display XDR. According to the support document, the new 16-inch MacBook Pro can be used in the following configurations:

  • Two 6K displays with resolutions of 6016 x 3384 at 60Hz
  • Two 5K displays with resolutions of 5120 x 2880 at 60Hz
  • Four 4K displays with resolutions of 4096 x 2304 at 60Hz
  • One 5K display at 5120 x 2880 at 60Hz and up to three 4K displays at 4096 x 2304 at 60Hz

So, in addition to more robust 4K and 5K display options, the new 6K support means two of Apple’s Pro Display XDR can be used at full resolution with the new 16-inch MacBook Pro. If it sounds like an intense operation, Apple assures users it is, clarifying that in order to maximize display performance with multiple monitors, users should plug a single monitor into each side of the laptop, as there’s only one bus for each set of Thunderbolt 3 on the side of the laptop. This will spread out the workload and result in better performance. Below is an excerpt from the support document:

Your MacBook Pro has two busses for its four Thunderbolt 3 ports. Each pair of Thunderbolt 3 ports (on the left and right sides of your Mac) are different busses. Whenever possible, connect your displays to different busses to maximize performance. Don’t connect more than two displays to either bus. If you connect a 6K, 5K, or multi-cable 4K display, use a different bus for each of the displays.

Using some back-of-the-napkin math, such a setup with the new 16-inch MacBook Pro and two Apple Pro Display XDR units would cost at least $ 12,795, if we are to assume the base 16-inch MacBook Pro computer and the base Pro Display XDR units with the first-party VESA mounts.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Duet Display adds support for turning Android tablets into secondary displays

03 Oct

Duet Display, the software that was launched as a way to turn an iPad into a secondary Mac display, has launched support for Android. The new Duet Display for Android app enables users to turn an Android smartphone, tablet, or Chromebook into an extra display for use with a PC or Mac computer, a feature that is particularly useful when working outside of the office.

Apple made the Duet’s main product defunct with the launch of its Sidecar feature, which now directly offers a way for using an iPad as a secondary Mac display. Users had anticipated an eventual arrival of Duet Display for Android given the sudden change in its primary market.

As with iPad, Android and Chromebook users can turn their devices into secondary displays for a main PC or Mac computer by connecting the two with a USB cable. Users must install the free Dual desktop client on their computer and the Duet Display Android app on their supported secondary device.

Duet supports gestures and touch control, enabling users to scroll and zoom, among other things, directly on the secondary device. The Duet Display for Android app costs $ 19.99 USD, but is temporarily discounted on the Google Play Store at $ 9.99 USD.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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X-Rite’s i1Photo Pro 3 Plus profiler can calibrate for difficult surfaces, brighter displays

22 Aug

Calibration tool manufacturer X-Rite has announced an updated i1Photo Pro profiler that it says is designed to provide greater accuracy when measuring from heavily textured and high gloss papers. The professional-grade i1Photo Pro 3 spectrophotometer has a larger measuring aperture to compensate for imbalances caused by uneven surfaces and uses a polarizer to cut through reflections on high-gloss papers and on textured surfaces such as canvas.

The profiler is also now able to read from much brighter displays when performing screen calibrations, with a maximum of 5K NITs allowed for. The i1Photo Pro 3, along with the i1Profiler software, can also be used to emulate M0, M1 and M2 conditions after a single scan to demonstrate how images will look under various types of lighting when optical brighteners are present in the target paper.

X-Rite says the device has been developed in response to the broadening of the range of surfaces now being printed on, and the increasing brightness and resolution of backlit displays.

X-Rite has also launched a new calibration table for those really serious about print accuracy. The i1iO Automated Scanning Table allows automated patch reading for reflective and transparent materials, and can work with a thickness of up to 33mm.

The X-Rite i1Photo Pro 3 Pro costs $ 2199/£1750, while the i1iO Automated Scanning Table costs $ 2995/£2400. For more information see the X-Rite website.

Press release:

X-Rite Now Shipping i1Photo Pro 3 Plus

The new i1Photo Pro 3 Plus from X-Rite is an ultra-precise spectral colour measurement solution that is optimised for Colour Perfectionists who print digitally on a wide range of specialised materials and surfaces.

Birmingham, UK, 15th August 2019 – X-Rite Incorporated, the global leader in colour science and technology, is now shipping the new i1Photo Pro 3 Plus, a spectral colour measurement solution specifically designed for professional photographers who print on challenging textured and glossy photo media looking for the most accurate colour in their RGB print workflows. i1Photo Pro 3 Plus combines the new i1Pro 3 Plus spectrophotometer and i1Profiler software to deliver the ultimate professional-level colour management for displays, projectors, scanners, RGB printers and cameras.

Current profiling solutions are limited in their ability to measure textured, rough, or uneven surfaces and cannot accommodate various material thicknesses. Many devices do not have the resolution required to ensure the highest colour quality when printing detailed patterns, metallic effects, or photography images. This leads to costly colour errors and rework, which impacts a photographer’s bottom line.

“The i1Photo Pro3 Plus builds on the success of the i1 Family and removes the variability to create accurate ICC profiles on a broader range of photographic materials,” said Liz Quinlisk, Photo and Video Business Unit Manager, X-Rite. “Photographers will see the immediate value by incorporating the i1Photo Pro 3 Plus into their RGB print workflow, resulting in more accurate, repeatable colour and improved shadow detail, as well as a reduction of waste and an increased return on investment.”

New in the i1Pro3 Plus spectrophotometer:
Larger 8mm aperture supports new materials and substrates used in digital printing.

Polarisation Filter (measurement condition M3) that reduces specular highlights and shadows to provide “better blacks” and richer colours on rough surfaces and glossy media, like canvas prints and fine art photo papers.

High Brightness Measurement up to 5K NITs for ultra-bright displays.

Simultaneously measure M0, M1 and M2 in a single pass to account for optical brighteners so photographers can quickly predict how colours printed on optically brightened substrates will look under different lighting conditions.

New LED illuminant that improves device reliability. The i1Pro3 Plus allows for four measurement conditions (ISO 13655 M0; M1: D50; M2: UV Excluded, M3Polarised).

Transmission scanning support for backlit materials.

Longer scanning ruler to support wider charts.

“We are used to seeing bumpy shadow measurements from unpolarised devices on glossy textured media like canvas. With the new polarisation feature in the i1Pro 3 Plus, our M3 measurements are dramatically smoother in the shadows – perfect in fact,” commented Scott Martin, Founder, Onsight, a leading workflow consultant for print, prepress, design and photography.

New X-Rite iO Table
In addition, X-Rite announces a new i1iO Automated Scanning Table that supports the i1Pro 3 Plus hardware. This hands-free test chart reader offers automated colour profiling on a variety of substrates with reduced risk of colour measurement errors. It is ideal for colour perfectionists who want to speed up and automate the measurement process and eliminate manual strip reading. The new i1iO table can be used with a variety of materials including canvas, textiles, ceramics, corrugated, etc. and supports materials up to 33mm thick, with the optional z-axis spacer. It also supports transparencies and backlit materials.

Additional i1Pro 3 Plus Solutions
In addition to i1Photo Pro 3 Plus, X-Rite is now shipping these new i1Pro 3 Plus solutions:
i1Basic Pro 3 Plus – includes monitor calibration and quality control for monitors and printers
i1Publish Pro 3 Plus – includes CMYK+ printer module and all features of i1Photo Pro 3 Plus

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Creating Spectacular Photo Displays with Digital Projectors

02 Jul

If you are reading this, it is likely that you take copious amounts of photographs. A few years ago, families would gather around their Kodak carousel slide projector and look at 35 mm slides of family vacations. There was something that was almost magical about seeing images on the big screen in living color. Really, back then, a homemade slideshow Continue Reading

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Creating Spectacular Photo Displays with Digital Projectors

24 Apr

If you are reading this, it is likely that you take copious amounts of photographs. A few years ago, families would gather around their Kodak carousel slide projector and look at 35 mm slides of family vacations. There was something that was almost magical about seeing images on the big screen in living color. Really, back then, a homemade slideshow Continue Reading

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Wacom announces the Cintiq 16HD, a Full HD graphics tablet that displays 16.7 million colors

09 Jan

Wacom has announced its latest creation, the Cintiq 16HD, a mid-range pen tablet that takes inspiration from Wacom’s much larger (and more expensive) Cintiq Pro lineup and packages it in a more compact and affordable form factor.

The Cintiq 16HD falls right between Wacom’s Cintiq 13HD and Cintiq 22HD graphics tablet. Its display, as it name suggests, is a 15.6 inch 1920 x 1080 pixel touchscreen display with the ability to produce upwards of 16.7 million colors — 72% NTSC color coverage and 100% sRGB. The screen has a brightness rating of 210 cd/m², a 1000:1 contrast ratio and a 176-degree viewing angle.

The pen tablet features built-in legs that provide a natural tilt angle and a recessed connection so it lays flat when the three-in-one power port is plugged in.

Included with the Cintiq 16HD is the Wacom Pro Pen 2, which works with the tablet to offer 8192 levels of pen pressure sensitivity — four times that of its predecessor, the Cintiq Pro 16. The pen features two side buttons and lag-free tracking. It uses Electro Magnetic Resonance (EMR) technology, meaning no batteries are needed to keep the pen operating.

The Wacom Cintiq 16HD works with both macOS and Windows operating systems and is currently available for pre-order for $ 649.95. In addition to the graphics tablet and Wacom Pro Pen 2, it comes with a detachable pen holder, three replacement nibs, a nib removal tool, a 3-in-1 cable, and the required power cable and adapter.

Wacom offers a limited one-year warranty in Japan, Asia Pacific and China and a two-year limited warranty in the USA, Canada, Latin America, Europe, Middle East and Africa.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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VESA establishes world’s first open standard for HDR displays

07 Jan

HDR is a term increasingly causing confusion amongst both photographers and the masses. ‘Isn’t it that thing that makes my images look flat and less contrasty by including all the shadows and highlights in my final image?’ many of our friends and forum members ask.

Well, yes, if it’s not done right. But when it comes to displays, the ironic thing is that ‘HDR’ is meant to make imagery look less flat, by taking the wide dynamic range encompassed in HDR images and stretching it back out on the display to no longer look flat but, instead, encompass nearly as much punch as the scene had in the real world.

Whenever a new display technology comes along, and particularly when it falls into that gap before it’s well defined or understood, monitor manufacturers LOVE to throw the spec all over their products. That, in a nutshell, is what has happened with the ‘HDR’ moniker and computer displays, making it very difficult for someone to know what is and isn’t a “real” HDR monitor.

What kind of brightness and contrast ratio should you be looking for? What’s the actual static contrast ratio, not the stupidly high (and irrelevant) dynamic contrast ratio often quoted? What kind of color output should you expect out of an HDR monitor? And what the heck is local dimming?

These are the questions that manufacturers tend to not answer, at least for now, and it’s why VESA has created the world’s first open standard for HDR displays: DisplayHDR.

Targeted largely at LCD-based computer monitors (not OLED), the purpose of DisplayHDR is to establish an open standard with fully transparent testing methodology, so you can “rate” your display and see where it falls on the HDR scales. Is it really just an SDR monitor, or does it rank as DisplayHDR-400 (low-tier), DisplayHDR-600 (mid-tier), or DisplayHDR-1000 (top-tier)?

Here’s how those tiers break down, and the performance metrics they have to hit:

A breakdown of the VESA standard. Click to enlarge

‘Corner Maximum Limit’ is aimed to ensure local dimming implementations can effectively keep black levels low even when small non-central portions are illuminated brightly. ‘Tunnel Maximum Limit’ ensures good overall contrast with varied content all over the screen but with nothing hitting pure white. Many of these targets cannot be met without some sort of local dimming capability, which most computer displays don’t have. Consider these targets a ‘push’ to get manufacturers to embrace the future of HDR display.

Up until now, there was no open standard for HDR displays. The closest thing we had is the UHD Alliance Premium Standard, which is essentially just a stamp that you’ll see on TVs, Blu-ray players, discs, and the like that ensures your device hits 4K resolution, BT.2020 color space, 10-bit encoding, and a few key contrast and brightness specs. But unlike the VESA standard, there’s no gradation: you either have the UHD Alliance Premium Standard badge or you don’t.

VESA’s standard, on the other hand, aims to grade LCD-based computer monitor displays or grading monitors. It establishes tiers that manufacturers can shoot for when designing computer monitors. And since most if not all of these manufacturers are members of VESA, they have access to the documentation outlining the specifications and testing methodologies.

The hope is that the standard becomes widely accepted. That way, you can look for the VESA badge on your next monitor purchase to make sure the manufacturer isn’t just throwing the term “HDR” onto an IPS monitor that can only hit 350 nits brightness and a 1000:1 static contrast ratio (many otherwise highly-rated IPS monitors aimed at photographers from manufacturers like Dell, BenQ, Eizo and the like).

A DisplayHDR-400 rated display would be guaranteed to hit peak brightness of 400 nits, a black level of no more than 0.4 nits for a largely black scene (or 0.1 nits for a more varied scene only hitting 50% white at any point), 10-bit encoding, and 95% sRGB coverage. This would be considered the “first genuine entry point for HDR” by VESA. Funny enough, the otherwise excellent IPS displays many photographers choose might hit this standard, but we’d argue you shouldn’t consider such a display ‘HDR’. In other words, we here at DPReview don’t really consider monitors with the ‘DisplayHDR 400’ truly ‘HDR’. Grading or processing your images on these displays aren’t going to guarantee your images will look proper on future, truly ‘HDR’ displays.

A DisplayHDR-600 rated display would be guaranteed to hit a peak brightness of 600 nits, a black level of no more than 0.1nits, 10-bit encoding, 99% sRGB, and at least 90% DCI-P3 coverage. These specs, according to VESA, describe “professional/enthusiast-level laptops and high-performance monitors.” This rating, in our opinion, is far more stringent and is better indicative or a truly ‘HDR’ display. If you want your images and video to be future-proof, pick a display rated no lower than this.

Finally, a DisplayHDR-1000 rated display would guarantee peak brightness of 1000 nits, a black level of no more than 0.05 nits, 10-bit encoding, 99% sRGB, and at least 90% DCI-P3 coverage. This final tier describes, “professional/enthusiast/content-creator PC monitors.” This is the stamp of approval we’d be looking at were we to be grading video or photos that will look good on displays of the future. Monitors with the DisplayHDR-1000 badge will be far more representative of the displays of the future, so if you want to make sure your content is ready to be displayed on future devices, this is the badge you’ll want to look for when shopping for monitors.

This new 5K UltraWide monitor from LG earned the VESA DisplayHDR-600 badge, meaning it hits at least 600 nits peak brightness, 10-bit encoding, and 99% sRGB and 90% DCI-P3 coverage.

These new standards are also more stringent about color gamut coverage: the 600 and 1000 standards require what we’d call ‘wide gamut’ color coverage, capable of displaying colors well outside of the old (can we say ‘boring’) sRGB standard of yesteryear. That means they can display colors well outside of old photochemical printing devices, so you can edit far more saturated and interesting colors into your image that will be displayed by monitors and printers of the future (and current).

Furthermore, these new standards set stringent requirements on bit-depth: while 8-bit monitors with dithering are allowed, each one of these standards require you hit 10-bit color reproduction with or without 2-bit temporal dithering (many monitors of the past would only hit 8-bit by 6-bit panels with 2-bit dithering: a big no-no for HDR content capable of displaying a wider range of luminances and colors that might otherwise band or posterize with 6-bit panels).

To learn more about the new VESA standards, head over to the DisplayHDR website. There, you’ll find a simple breakdown of what constitutes an HDR display, why the standard was set up, and a link to download the DisplayHDR CTS (Compliance Test Specification) for free.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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