Eizo FlexScan F77

In our last monitor Labs (see issue 21), it was Eizo that ran away with our coveted Quality award, thanks to the Eizo FlexScan F563-T's stunning picture. Going back further, it scooped the same award in our issue 4 monitors Labs. This sort of form leaves Eizo looking like a frontrunner this month, but in PC Pro Labs, there's no such thing as a sure thing.

Eizo has, as usual, got it right in the fundamentals of solid design and professional build quality. Although the unit is quite deep, at 520mm the back of the casing is manufactured so as to minimise the space needed. The D-SUB, BNC and power sockets are more than adequately recessed, so it's perfectly possible to place the F77 directly against a wall at the rear. The FlexScan F77 doesn't offer a lot of scope for movement, with only 90 degrees of horizontal swivel and about 15 degrees of vertical tilt possible, but this should be enough for most.

The front control panel could best be described as minimal. There are two buttons on the left side of the panel which control signal select, and an autosize function which automatically selects the correct image size and position for that particular resolution - a handy one-press feature, even if it tends to leave large dark borders on display. On the right of the panel is the off button, and a rocking cursor key that tilts in all four directions. This is used to select and make adjustments. A press in the middle chooses and confirms changes, while pressing at the appropriate side cycles through the options and alters the various levels. While this method might seem elegant, it can be a bit difficult to wander through the various nested menus and make the changes you need.

In our tests the FlexScan F77 came out as a solid and capable performer, with few of the problems in geometric linearity we encountered in most other monitors, and excellent screen regulation. When running at 1,600 x 1,200, with a 0.28mm dot pitch display, there isn't the physical resolution to manage such an image without losing some of the horizontal detail. Eizo, however, does this job commendably. It's worth noting that Eizo's recommended resolution is 1,280 x 1,024, and at that setting the monitor offers a sharp display with admirable clarity.

The FlexScan F77 has the best overall image quality on test, which goes some way to justifying the price.

Author: labs