Does anyone here use as dual monitor setup and how does it benefit you?

[Ian]

My main monitor for a few years now has been a 27 inch 4K unit, which is nice but for 4K it's really a bit too small. I also have an older 27 inch 1080 monitor and I'm wondering of it's worth using it as a secondary monitor.

What's the verdict?

Ian

[Wreckdiver]

I use two 27" 4K main monitors and a 22" lower res monitor. I think using a big but lower-res monitor doesn't really do much, unless your eyesight is not too good.

Adding: If you have the extra monitor that is lower res then by all means use it as you'll get the extra screen space which is useful. Have you got the software (PS, Lightroom, Bridge.....) set-up to make full use of the 4K? Photoshop/LR on my 4K monitors is not displayed as 4K as I don't think PS/LR can do that yet (unless anyone knows differently)

[linus1884]

If you have the desk space dual monitors can be great, i used to have a dual monitor setup, 2* 1080p monitors, I’ve since downgraded to just one as one of the monitors failed (may look at getting another monitor and have it in portrait mode) although I’ve managed for now.

It did save having to arrange apps and browser windows whilst working, i guess dual setups have somewhat been superseded by ultra-wide screen and the 4k monitors which allow apps to be arranged side by side on a single screen.

I think it might help to look at work flow, when have you wanted to view 2 parts of work side by side? If your 2nd monitor can be orientated in portrait I think it’s worth setting up just to see if it benefits you personally.

[peak4]

Yes, I use a dual setup, a 24" in landscape format and a 19" in portrait, which I find better for emails and various other uses.
The second monitor also allows you to drag individual pallets etc away from the picture area if you're playing with photos.

[Wreckdiver]

I only really use the third low-res monitor for folder navigation/file moving and admin stuff. It means I can keep the two main calibrated screens clutter free.

[BDennis]

My main monitor is a 24 inch LCD connected to my Mac Mini. I sometimes use an old 27 inch iMac as a second monitor (using “target display mode”). It just gives some more real estate when using CaptureOne as shown here so I can see an edited photo full screen or when I’m using another app like DxO Pure Raw to process a batch while processing in C1Pro.

The problem is colour and brightness matching is proving to be a real pain - the Mac target display thing doesn’t seem to respect what was configured on the iMac or allow me to configure the “iMac Monitor” on the Mac Mini easily. I thought I had it sorted out but after recent updates found the colours are not matched at all and the iMac display in target mode is always at full brightness regardless of the iMac setting. It is a good use of an old 2009 iMac though and in the winter it makes a great panel heater!

My workspace is a real mess at the moment and quite cramped - I need to sort it out.

[moggi1964]

I use an HP LP2475W and a BenQ SW270C, the latter I use for photography and general, the former just general.

I also use a work laptop so sometimes I'll use one of the monitors as an extension of my work space.

I wouldn't be without a dual-monitor setup now.

[IainMacD]

I use 3 screens, a laptop and dual monitors, for work ever since I have been working from home (COVID) and it works very well. If I go into the office and don't manage to get one of the fully equipped desks I find it really hard to cope with just the laptop - I've been spoilt 😉.
I am also short of space at home so also use the 2 work Dell monitors (C2422HE & U2421E) on my home PC which is perfect for Lightroom with more "real estate" as Bill says.

[Bruce Clarke]

I have an Eizo CS2730 27" as my main monitor (2560x1440), and unless editing photos, tend to stick to that. For editing, I use my old NEC PA241W 24" (1920x1200) as a preview monitor in LrC. I have the main one with a dark grey background to the photo, and the preview one with a white background. I find this saves time, as editing photos on dark and white backgrounds tends to give different results. The extra monitor is also handy when putting Flickr photos into groups and so on. The NEC no longer calibrates, but I tweak it manually to be remarkably close to the main Eizo.

[biggles3]

I continue to use 2 Iiyama 24" screens, both of which can be tilted for use in portrait or landscape format. I find it particularly useful when working on image enhancement as the original can be kept on one screen while the wip is on the other, allowing ready comparison of progress. The home-built PC I use for photographic and graphics work is still using Windows 7. However, I bought a new PC with W10 installed 18 months ago and with it an ultra-wide screen; neither has been unboxed as the two screen system still works so well.

[Ian]

Thank you for all your comments 👍

Ian

[shenstone]

I have a 3 monitor set-up and I find it really useful and if one is off for any reason I really miss it
main 24" dell ultrascan which I use for all photo, video etc work this is the only one I calibrate

On the left the original Sony monitor that came with this PC back in the dim and distant past which is used mostly for email etc.

On the right an even older one that was attached to a machine at work which we updated and was going in the bin

Recently I've been doing family tree research and have had the family tree running on the main one,.faststone dealing with any downloaded images on the left and find my past on the right which has been very effective

Regards Andy

[Matt_Hirst]

I use two monitors for work and as I work from home I use the same two monitors to process my photo's currently, I am however looking to go to a single large monitor, probably 4k just can't get my head around what to go for and if I should go for the factory calibrated ones or buy a calibration device and just calibrate it every month or so or should I really be bothered about calibrating my monitor as I don't really do much printing????

The two monitor setup is really useful if you have the desk space, however with the modern picture in picture that you can do it's making me look to go single setup.

regards,

Matt