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With 12-bit hardware calibration and a 6 ms response time, the CG241W displays both still and moving images equally well, making it ideal for a wide range of high-end graphics work including pre-press, digital photography, video editing, and post production.
- 1920 × 1200 native resolution
- 850:1 contrast ratio
- 300 cd/m2 brightness
- 178° viewing angles
- Dual DVI-I inputs
- Features
- Specifications
- Reviews
As a ColorEdge Premium Edition model, the CG241W offers the following benefits.
- Brightness and color uniformity from corner-to-corner with EIZO's latest ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit).
- 16-bit internal processing for grayscale rendering that is on a par with high-end CRT monitors.
- Monitor hood with sliding top cover and screen cleaner kit are bundled with the monitor.
This EIZO-developed software comes bundled with ColorEdge CE models and offers 12-bit hardware calibration when used with X-Rite or ColorVision measurement device.
The wide gamut LCD panel reproduces 96% of the Adobe RGB color space so it can display most colors in a photograph taken in Adobe RGB mode. It also covers CMYK color spaces used for printing so the monitor can produce a reliable soft proof when calibrated.
The wide screen format with its 16:10 aspect ratio offers more horizontal viewing space than conventional monitors. Two applications such as a text document and web browser can be viewed side-by-side, or graphics applications can be opened and work palettes displayed simultaneously without any overlap.
To ensure that each ColorEdge CE monitor produces the most accurate and consistent color gradations possible, EIZO carefully measures and sets every shade of R, G, and B from 0 – 255 on the production line with the monitor's 12-bit Look-Up Table, to produce a monitor gamma value of 2.2. Should the user prefer a different value, ColorNavigator CE software can be used to set the gamma value from a range of 1.0 up to 2.6 in increments of 0.1.
To enhance moving image playback capabilities, an overdrive circuit is included. An overdrive circuit vastly improves the LCD panel’s response time for changing between midtones or gray levels, which is necessary to display color images without blurring.
Ensures stable brightness - necessary for the proper display of color – with EIZO patented technology*. A drift correction sensor quickly stabilizes the brightness level after startup or coming out of power saving mode. Furthermore, the monitor detects and automatically compensates for brightness changes caused by surrounding temperatures and the passage of time.
Simulates * two types of red-green color vision deficiency – protanopia and deuteranopia. The ColorEdge CG241W does all the color conversion processing in real time – even moving images. With the bundled UniColor Pro software (Windows Vista/XP/2000 and Mac OS X 10.3.9 or later only) – also developed by EIZO – the designer can instantly switch from a normal viewing mode to the Protanopia and Deuteranopia viewing modes. Until now, tools available for simulating color vision deficiency have been software based so the color conversion process can be time consuming depending on the size and quantity of images to be converted, making these tools of limited practical use.
* This product simulates, but does not show colors exactly how they appear to a person with protanopia (shades of red are reduced or not distinguishable in depth and luminosity) or deuteranopia (differences between red and green are difficult to distinguish). People with color vision deficiency are more sensitive to differing levels of luminance and saturation than those with normal color vision; hence some differences in color perception will remain when looking at a simulated image. What this product can do is make it easier to identify which colors and color schemes will be difficult for protanopes and deuteranopes to distinguish.
The stand is height adjustable through an 82 mm range and provides 40° tilt and 70° swivel so every user can easily set the ideal position. It also pivots 90° for portrait mode viewing. Compatibility with VESA mounting standards allows the monitor to be removed from the stand for mounting on a movable arm or wall bracket.
A five-year warranty offers a long service life, and compliance with leading industry standards such as TCO’03 and TÜV Ergonomics ensures a better working environment. The EIZO Eco Products 2006 label indicates these products meet strict internal requirements for design, manufacturing, packaging, and usage, including the introduction of lead-free solder and chrome-free steel plates.
| Panel |
Panel Size and Type |
61 cm (24.1") TFT color LCD panel |
| Viewing Angles (H, V) |
178°, 178° (at contrast ratio of 10:1) |
| Brightness |
300 cd/m2 (maximum) |
| 120 cd/m2 or less (recommended1) |
| Contrast |
850:1 |
On/Off Response Time
|
16 ms (typical) |
| Midtone Response Time2 |
6 ms (typical) |
| Native Resolution |
1920 × 1200 |
Active Display Size
(H × V) |
518.4 × 324 mm |
| Viewable Image Size |
Diagonal: 611 mm |
| Pixel Pitch |
0.270 × 0.270 mm |
| Gamut Coverage |
sRGB |
98% |
| Adobe RGB |
96% |
| Display Colors |
16.77 million from a palette of 68 billion |
| Look-Up Table |
12-bits per color |
| Internal Processing |
16-bits per color |
| Cabinet Colors |
Black |
| Dot Clock |
Analog: 202.5 MHz
Digital: 164.5 MHz |
Scanning Frequency
(H, V) |
Analog |
24 – 94 kHz, 47.5 – 86 Hz |
| Digital |
26 – 78 kHz, 47.5 – 63 Hz
(VGA Text: 69 – 71 Hz) |
| Input Signals |
Analog: RGB Analog
Digital: DVI Standard 1.0 |
| Input Terminals |
DVI-I 29 pin × 2 (switchable), HDCP supported3 |
| USB Port / Standard |
1 upstream, 2 downstream / USB Standard Rev. 2.0 |
| Plug & Play |
VESA DDC 2B |
| Power |
Power Requirements |
AC 100 – 120 V, 200 – 240 V: 50 / 60 Hz |
| Power Consumption |
110 W (maximum) |
| Power Save Mode |
Less than 2 W |
| Physical Specifications |
Height Adjustment Range |
82 mm |
| Tilt / Swivel / Pivot |
40° Up, 0° Down / 35° Right, 35° Left / 90° |
Dimensions
(W × H × D) |
With Stand: 566 × 456 – 538 × 230 mm
22.3 × 18”– 21.2 × 9.1” |
Without Stand: 566 × 367 × 85 mm
22.3 × 15.6 × 3.35" |
| Net Weight |
With Stand: 11 kg / 24.3 lbs
Without Stand: 7.4 kg / 16.3 lbs |
| Auto Brightness Functions |
Auto Brightness Stabilization, BrightRegulator |
| Auto Adjustment Functions (analog only) |
Auto Adjustment, Range Adjustment |
| Display Mode Options |
Fine Contrast (Custom, sRGB, Calibration, Emulation) |
| ScreenManager OSD Adjustment Functions |
Screen Adjustment
|
Clock, Phase, Position, Resolution, Range, Signal Filter, Screen Size (full screen, enlarge, normal), Smoothing (5 stages), Border Intensity |
| Color Adjustment |
Brightness, Independent 6-Color Control, Gamma, Temperature (in 500 K increments from 4,000 K – 10,000 K including 9,300 K), Saturation, Hue, Gain, Reset |
| Power Save Settings |
Analog |
PowerManager (VESA DPMS), Off Timer |
| Digital |
PowerManager (DVI DMPM), Off Timer |
| Other Settings |
Input Priority, Product Information (product name, serial number, resolution, operating time), OSD Menu Settings, Adjustment Lock, Languages (English, German, French, Italian, Japanese, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Swedish, Traditional Chinese), Beep, Reset |
| Certifications and Standards |
CUDO certified mark, TCO'03, TÜV/Ergonomics (including ISO 13406-2), TÜV/GS, c-Tick, CE, CB, UL (cTÜVus), CSA (cTÜVus), FCC-B, Canadian ICES-003-B, VCCI-B, EPA ENERGY STAR, RoHS, WEEE, EIZO Eco Products 2006 |
| Supplied Accessories |
AC power cord, signal cables (DVI-D – DVI-D, DVI-I – D-Sub mini 15 pin), USB cable, setup guide, EIZO LCD Utility Disk (ColorNavigator CE software, UniColor Pro software4, PDF user's manual, ICC Profile), adjustment certificate, ScreenCleaner, monitor hood, quick reference, 4 screws for mount option, warranty card |
| Warranty |
Five Years1 |
1 The usage time is limited to 30,000 hours or less, and the warranty period of the LCD panel and backlight is limited to three years from the date of purchase. The warranty period of the backlight is warranted only if the monitor is used within the recommended brightness of up to and including 120 cd/m2 with a color temperature between 5,000 K – 6,500 K and limited to three years from the date of purchase subject to the usage time being less than or equal to 10,000 hours.
2 Average response time measured between each grayscale level of 31, 63, 95, 127, 159, 191, and 223.
3 Display with audio/video devices is not supported.
4 UniColor Pro Software is compatible with the Microsoft Windows Vista/XP/2000 operating systems and Mac OS X 10.3.9 or later only.
With current LCD technology, a panel may contain a limited number of missing or flickering pixels.
April 02, 2008
By Dan Havlik
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| Eizo offers great out-of-the-box color: Each display is precisely calibrated at the factory. |
I'd long heard about Eizo's monitors being a sort of "Ferrari" line of high-end displays for photographers, but it wasn't until recently that I was able to take one for a test drive. And after pitting the new 24.1-inch Eizo ColorEdge CG2421W against my favorite 23-inch Apple Cinema HD display, I have to say the Eizo wins going away. But according to how much you have to pay for this incredible LCD monitor, it really should be no contest. While there are many photographers out there who might already balk at Apple's $899 price tag for a 23-inch Cinema HD, that's actually a fraction of what the ColorEdge CG241W sells for. Street price on this high-end screen is a very spendy $2,345. As the saying goes with Eizo monitors, though, you get what you pay for. What surprised me about the ColorEdge CG241W wasn't its incredible resolution—which is native at 1920 x 1200—nor its wide color gamut—it reproduces 92 percent of NTSC and 96 percent of the Adobe RGB color space—it was its ability to expertly handle moving images as well. I ran the frenetic car chase scene at the end of The Bourne Ultimatum on the Eizo monitor and found it was not only able to keep up with the action with no lag time but could maintain its high resolution with little or no down-rezzing or pixelization. This is likely due to the Eizo's very fast 6 ms gray-to-gray response time, which is a good barometer of how quickly an LCD monitor can refresh what is happening on the screen. So along with viewing and editing photos, the ColorEdge CG241W would be great for video editing or even gaming. (Though, in my opinion, using it exclusively for gaming would be a very sad waste of the Eizo's talents. Hard-core gamers, however, may feel differently. )
GREAT COLOR EVEN WITHOUT CALIBRATION
Where ColorEdge CG241W really excels (and why you're likely reading this review) is in its ability to accurately display digital still images. Color on this monitor, straight out of the box, is incredible and that's no accident. Every CG241W comes with a certificate showing the exact color measurements on the screen at the time of shipment. Before shipping, Eizo measures every tone from 0 to 225 to produce an exact gamma curve of 2.2. A function called the Digital Uniformity Equalizer (DUE) is designed to make the brightness and color consistent on the screen, a great feature that puts Eizo's LCD displays in line with the uniformity you used to get on those highly accurate, though clunky, CRT screens of yesteryear. Eizo's new ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), with its 12-Bit look-up table (LUT), is the engine that drives this feature, thanks to its palette of 4,081 colors for each R, G and B. The ASIC also has as 16-bit internal processor for bringing out detail in the shadow areas of your images. This is another area in which I felt the Eizo was head and shoulders above the Apple display. Being able to see these details in my RAW images meant I was able to tweak them and clearly view the results during image editing. Another thing I liked about the ColorEdge CG241W was its native 16:10 widescreen aspect ratio, which let me have several images, documents and Web pages open on the screen at once. The ColorEdge CG241W's maximum brightness of 300 cd/m2 and contrast ratio of 850: it didn't knock my socks off but those levels are fine for image editing. Viewing angles, which are rated at 178-degress, were quite wide and I could clearly see my shots while walking nearly all the way around the screen. This would come in handy when reviewing images with groups of clients and art directors.
EVEN BETTER COLOR WITH CALIBRATION
If you're not satisfied with the color and brightness right out of the box, the ColorEdge CG241W comes with color management calibration software called ColorNatvigator CE, which works with colorimeters from X-Rite, and Datacolor's Spyder3 (also reviewed in this section). Though I used a Spyder3 to calibrate the Eizo monitor, the ICC profile generated by the colorimeter was not significantly different from how the screen was already set, but that's not a knock against the Spyder3. It's a testament to the accurate built-in color of the ColorEdge CG241W. (It is strange, however, that for as much as this Eizo costs, a colorimeter is not included.) Aside from its image reproduction chops, the ColorEdge CG241W is a rather bare-bones affair. For set-up purposes, that's actually a great thing. I just needed to connect one DVI-to-DVI cord from my MacBook Pro to the back of the screen, and one USB cable (which is used for calibration), and plug the monitor in and I was good to go. If you're looking for extra features like built-in speakers or a Web camera, there aren't any. The CG241W does, however, come with a monitor hood (to shield out light) and a screen cleaner kit. The screen itself is adjustable with a 40-degree tilt, 70-degree swivel, and 90-degree pivot for viewing in vertical portrait mode
THE BOTTOM LINE
While testing the Eizo ColorEdge CG241W, I had a lot less guesswork in reviewing shots I was going to print out on inkjet art papers for a story in this issue of PDN, which was a big plus. Photographers who do their own printing for gallery shows could greatly benefit from this screen. Without question, graphics pros who want to get their proofs right the first time would find it invaluable. For anyone else, however, the price could be cost prohibitive. If you already have a decent monitor—and though it may not stack up to the Eizo, an Apple Cinema HD display is a very good monitor—you might not think you need ColorEdge CG241W. If you ever get the chance to try one out for a week, however, you may start to think differently. A Saab is good. But a Ferrari is even better.
Pros: Incredibly accurate color right out of the box; fast image response time for video editing work; comes with five-year warranty.
Cons: Very pricey; includes color calibration software but no colorimeter.
Reproduced by permission from PDN.
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