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The Canvas 27F is a rare monitor that can be calibrated in any of its eight picture modes. That being said, Standard is the best choice for an accurate picture that doesn’t need adjustment to realize its full potential.
Grayscale and Gamma Tracking
Our grayscale and gamma tests use Calman calibration software from Portrait Displays. We describe our grayscale and gamma tests in detail here.
The Canvas 27F’s default grayscale chart would be a great result for a calibrated monitor. Remember that you can pick one of these up for just $270 with stand. There are a lot of jealous pro monitors looking at this review right now. Gamma tracking is nearly perfect except for a slight rise (too dark) in the 60-90% range. In practice, this means a few slightly darker highlights which will be very hard to spot.
Calibration improves the numbers, but visually, the Canvas 27F looks the same as before. It doesn’t get much better than this.
Comparisons
The Canvas 27F easily out-paces the other monitors in my default grayscale tracking test with an impressive 1.30dE average error. There are no visible issues anywhere in the brightness range. The field draws even after calibration, with all screens having no problems whatsoever. The AOC is on par with the NZXT in this test.
The AOC continues its winning streak in the gamma test, but the Canvas 27F is right behind. The good part is that the error is to the darker side, making it much less significant. Numbers below 2.2 mean the picture can look washed out. None of the panels have problems with that score.
Color Gamut Accuracy
Some may complain about the Canvas 27F’s lack of wide gamut color, but that is typical for the category. Nearly all FHD 240 Hz displays are sRGB or sRGB plus with a little bonus color. The Canvas stands out with more accurate color than other screens in the class.
Our color gamut and volume testing use Portrait Displays’ Calman software. For details on our color gamut testing and volume calculations, click here.
If you switch back and forth between the Canvas 27’s default and calibrated charts, you’ll barely notice a change. That means calibration is not necessary and that it’s a very accurate monitor out of the box. This is pro-level performance that would typically indicate a high price of entry. I can’t make any comment other than that all points are on-target and there’s a slight bit of bonus red and green.
Comparisons
Were the Canvas 27F not calibrated, it would finish third in the group. With a few tweaks, it takes the crown for color accuracy in the sRGB realm. Note that none of the monitors have a wide gamut.
Despite that, I sorted the volume chart to show DCI-P3 ranking since HDR is in play for four of the screens, including the Canvas 27F. Oddly enough, the AOC has the greatest color volume but doesn’t support HDR. NZXT is the best of the rest, with over 77% coverage of DCI-P3 and over 114% of sRGB. In this class, you won’t find too many wide gamut panels. Color-critical work will require a software lookup table. But the Canvas 27F does justice to games with its accuracy and correct color tracking in HDR mode.
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