Eizo FlexScan F980

People often associate the phrase 'shadow mask' with the word 'budget', but as the FlexScan's price shows that certainly isn't the case here. Historically, the 21in monitor user is involved in design, and the two visible damping wires that are the trademark of an aperture-grille screen are seen as an unwelcome distraction; because of this, people are willing to pay good money for a quality shadow-mask monitor.

Eizo has spared no expense to ensure that the tube is of the highest quality, and this was duly reflected in our tests. In fact, it passed more than any other monitor on test, only failing the most difficult tests that DisplayMate has to offer: the horizontal and vertical wedge test, and the focus matrix. It was only in the sharpness and resolution section where the Eizo stumbled.

Its geometry was very good for a shadow-mask monitor, with no sign of the keystone effect, and reasonable straightness on the horizontal and vertical axes. Colour reproduction was another key strength, with some of the best registration on show, although it did suffer from streaking.

The FlexScan's OSD takes a little getting used to thanks to a control pad that needs to be precisely hit in the centre to activate commands, but it provides all of the functions you might need, plus a few more. The bezel is also home to a handy Auto button, which adjusts the size and alignment of the screen's image, and a button for switching between BNC and D-SUB inputs. All this adds up to the best shadow-mask on show, but its price is simply too prohibitive.