Ergonomics

Ergonomics

To begin with, we have to admit that the finishing touches are superb and definetly above average. The raw materials are very nice and assembling is perfect and flawless. The monitor looks superb. It is slightly less heavy than we expected at 8 kg. This figure has to be compared to the 11 kg of the NEC LCD2180UX.


The second surprise is the base, which Eizo calls the "ArcSwing 2". It was design with aesthetics in mind and follows a curved trajectory. You can either adjust it very high, at eye level, close to the desk or inclined like an open book.

Once again, the system looks very solid and is of high quality, but was it really necessary? The base of the next Samsung 970P gives you the same possibilities but is simpler. Of course, it doesn’t have this ample curved trajectory, but the end result is identical. We even found a downside in that it’s quite difficult to manipulate. You have to push quite hard to change the monitor’s position, height or inclination. Small adjustments for the perfect position are then quite difficult to make. Maybe with time, these adjustments become easier.


In terms of functionalities, we already mentioned the brightness sensor. Adjustment isn’t as immediate as Eizo says, but is still quite fast (around five minutes to stabilize colors) and efficient. It systematically improves quality and is very good from the beginning.

Finally, we draw your attention to the two USB 2 ports on the left side and the two “switchable” DVI inputs, which connect to two main units. There was a downside in that controls on the front of the monitor are too sensitive. It is difficult to minutely adjust colors.

Color quality

Color quality

The S2110W is a first, proving that it is possible for manufactures to sell monitors with satisfactory settings. Unlike its competition, with the S2110W you can skip the calibration process.

Here is the Eizo monitor without any adjustment compared to another monitor also equipped with an 8 ms S-PVA panel, the Fujitsu Siemens P19-2 :


Colors (set to 6500 K initially) are perfectly accurate. Here is a reminder how to read these graphs: DeltaE is a measure between the color requested and the one really displayed on the monitor. The result obtained is also counter-balanced for human eye color sensitivity.

With Delta E > 3 the desired color is noticeably different from the one on the screen.
With 1 < Delta E < 2 colors are accurate. With Delta E < 1, the result is perfect. It’s impressive and by far the best result obtained up until now. Eizo’s excellent reputation for color quality is perfectly justified. One point, however, is a bit surprising, the brightness level chosen by Eizo. The S2110W white level is close to 500 candelas (496), which is REALLY bright. We feel this is too bright for an extended period of use.


Initially, the monitor setting is USER. It features five other pre-recorded configurations, Movie, Picture, Custom (User), sRGB and Text. Only two are of interest to us, USER (colors are more accurate than other modes) and Text (the color temperature falls to 5000K and brightness to 91 cd/m²). The Text brightness level might seem quite low compared to the capacity of LCD monitors, but it’s what is best for your eyes. It is relaxing and still accurate. At first, the monitor may seem quite dark, but you will soon get used to it and changing to another mode may later be difficult. The downside to the comfort to your eyes is that color accuracy is slightly reduced. Calibrating this monitor helped to correct a couple of problems.


Once again the result for 5000K is very impressive! This time white is at 93 cd/m², and black at 0.2 cd/m²! In spite of the graph, which shows that the black isn’t really that deep, the color produced is very dark, much darker than the best IPS and S-IPS panels. In practice, when DeltaE > 3 the result isn’t really that bothersome. There is a difference between the black of the monitor switched off and the black displayed, but it is already excellent. This explains why Eizo chose a different type of panel this time.

Here is calibration at 6500K with USER mode:


Colors are even more accurate than before (see graph above). You will notice that we added the monitor’s gammut. We remind you that this is the colorimetric range compared to the sRGB range (the one usually used for digital cameras). This doesn’t correspond to accuracy, but to the range of reproducible colors. For accuracy refer to the Delta E figure (the graph on the right).

The spectrum is a little bit disappointing and identical to “standard monitors”. It isn’t the best even if Eizo is proud to work with 14 bit colors and the fact that they worked on backlighting. If we look at the monitor’s specifications in detail, we see that it really only uses 1.06 billion colors (10 bits then) and only simultaneously displays at best 16 million (8 bits). The “trick” doesn’t seem to be that useful. In the end, we only see an 8 bit monitor. This is far from what was measured with the Nec Lumileds.

3D applications and video

3 D

The S2110W is said to be intended for game creation and 3D professionals, amongst others. These users need very low reaction time and when afterglow is present it can be quite bothersome. We remind you that Eizo implemented a double overdrive, in addition to an image anticipation system.

The result is, unfortunately, not as good as we hoped. Not only is reaction time not as good as fast MVA monitors (Fujitsu Siemens C19-4, ViewSonic VP191b), but it’s also lower than IPS 16 ms monitors. We have many of these in the office; a Philips 200P6WS, Acer AL 2032W, etc. In clone mode, whether it’s DVI or analog, with the Eizo, afterglow is more noticeable, resulting in trails of white behind objects. It may be possible to ignore it, but you can’t say that it doesn’t exist.

Overdrive is always a bit of a problem. With some objects, especially with light colors moving in a darker background, we can see the amplification effect. It results in a pale halo in front of objects. It isn’t systematic, but it does occur and adds to another halo on the back of the object (afterglow + second amplification).

Video : DVD, HD

The S2110W is also intended for video professionals. With this type of use, the image anticipation system seemed to work. If it didn’t improve much in terms of 3D animation quality, afterglow was noticeably reduced and even negligeable. The shimmering effect, however, was unbearable and the main disadvantage of Samsung PVA panels with overdrive. If the first generation of panels displayed movies quite nicely, the images displayed by over amplified panels are terrible.

To begin with, don’t choose the Movie mode in the OSD, it being more or less the worst for films. Out of the five pre-established modes the least poor is Text, which, unfortunately, has low brightness.


The shimmering effect is visible even from a distance of 2 meters, which is very disappointing but not really that surprising. Results with the Dell 1704FPV and Fujitsu-Siemens P19-2 were identical (17 and 19 inch panels).

Viewing angle, verdict

Viewing angles

Eizo changed from IPS to PVA. Some may say that this is unacceptable, but we don’t agree. According to these critics, black is less deep (which is true). However VA viewing angles would be smaller, and to quote one of my most virulent detractors “S-IPS monitors are the only ones used by professionals for image and photo editing”. Whether he’s right or not, this monitor is the perfect example of the contrary.

The color accuracy issue was settled above. Now we will find out if VA viewing angles are indeed shorter than IPS’.

Photos are taken at a 50° angle to the panel.
Here is the result with the S-IPS Apple Cinema Display 20":



They are right, but not overwhelmingly so. S-IPS horizontal viewing angles are a bit wider than S-PVAs’. With the S2110W, colors are perfect until 80° from the side. Beyond this limit they are a slightly less bright. With the IPS, they are good until 100°. The difference is reduced and will only affect someone who wants to work with two very big monitors. If you only use one, ignore this characteristic as the viewing angles are already excellent.

Interpolation

Interpolation is good or at least with images it’s better than usual. It’s even possible to play in 1280 or 1024 (but is it really that interesting? if you can afford this monitor you can also afford a powerful graphic card). For text however, it is best to keep standard resolution as the reduction in sharpness is too great.

Verdict

The S2110W is a marvel. It has a lot of great qualities, but also comes at a very high price. This needs to be put into perspective. 1400 € isn’t extreme. Those who have the capability to buy this type of monitor have the choice. They can have this monitor, with light sensor, excellent color quality even at 5000K, or they may choose the Dell UltraSharp 2405FPW, the winner of our last 23 and 24 inches survey. Knowing that even if they choose one or the other, both feature 8 ms S-PVA panels produced by Samsung and behave quite similarly. They have a shimmering effect in movies, a strong afterglow in 3D applications and provide excellent color quality. Differences are in the form of additional functions and finishing touches (for this point Eizo has an advantage).


Take a look at this manufacture’s dead pixel policy by clicking here!