ViewSonic P95f CRT Monitor

ViewSonic continues its tradition of excellence in monitors with the professional quality P95f, a 19 inch CRT monitor with a great flat screen and outstanding color display. The P95f sports impressive features for its type. It has 0.25 mm dot pitch in the middle and 0.27 mm dot pitch on the edges. The maximum resolution is a gigantic 1920x1440 pixels at a refresh rate of 77 Hz. Lower resolutions have higher frequency ratings for a virtually flicker-free display. It also has an ARAG coating to combat glare and reflection. The screen uses the PerfectFlat technology for maximum accuracy in image proportions. Calibration software is also included for optimizing your display. The onscreen display (OSD) control panel is very easy to use and straightforward, requiring only 4 buttons to adjust the settings of the P95f instead of the mess of knobs and buttons that many monitors use.

The best feature of the P95f has to be its PerfectFlat technology, a derivative of Sony's popular Trinitron. After a side-by-side viewing of ViewSonic's PerfectFlat monitors against the cheaper, "rounder" monitors, I could never go back. Users of standard monitors have no idea how badly the image is distorted by the curved "fishbowl" surface, and when comparing the two you will notice that lines which should be straight instead have a slight curve to them, while on the PerfectFlat screens they are purely straight. Having perfect image proportions is essential to a professional in graphic design, and the P95f delivers.

ViewSonic's multicolored finches proudly represent the stunning color quality of the monitor. If you are upgrading from a generic, low-end screen, the color of the P95f will knock your socks off. Every pixel on the screen is spot-on accurate, and the calibration software included with the monitor will ensure that you can optimize it for any lighting environment. Viewing a high resolution photo with bright colors on the P95f is guaranteed to cause jaws to drop.

The P95f does have a few faults, but ViewSonic has included damage control to minimize the flaws associated with all large screen monitors. At resolutions between 1140 and 1280, moire patterns become an annoying problem. I used a moire detect pattern and was shocked to see giant ripples on this otherwise great display. As I was flipping through the OSD control panel, however, I came across a moire option which was able to eliminate up to 95% of the pattern with a little tweaking. The moire only shows up in specific cases such as small text on a screen, where certain letters may look slightly faded or blurrier than the others, but the problem is easily remedied with the OSD controls. The P95f also carries a minor flaw commonly associated with Trinitron based monitors: two faint gray horizontal lines across the screen. The lines are noticeable but are not an eyesore.

The ViewSonic P95f is an outstanding display for professionals and hobbyists in digital imaging. Although the $550 P95f is pricier than cheaper 19-inch monitors, the perfectly flat screen and brilliant color quality carry it far beyond its competition. Once you have seen a ViewSonic, you will never look at monitors the same way again.