robert blu
quiet photographer
Is here anyone using these mac? In case I'm interested to know about your experience. I was in an apple store and the machine looks good, is powerful, you can go up to 32 G ram. But the screen...I did not like it. Ok, I could add a second monitor...just a question of money....My old i-mac needs a replacement and a new mac pro is not around the corner....meantime I read this...
robert
PS: One of the reason for which I'm confused is that when I buy something I keep it so long as possible, I hate to buy something wrong ...computers or cameras...
robert
PS: One of the reason for which I'm confused is that when I buy something I keep it so long as possible, I hate to buy something wrong ...computers or cameras...
icebear
Veteran
For photo editing get a wide gamut NEC 271-W with proper calibration tools an be done.
For watching movies get the MAC display.
Boris Stupak
Well-known
I used to use the most expensive calibrated display equipment and the most powerful graphics workstations when I worked as a professional in an office. One workstation could easily cost $50,000.
For the last eight or nine years, I've worked at home. I use high-end 27" iMacs. I'm using one now.
I use iMacs for InDesign graphics, word processing, internet and Photoshop.
I have found the iMac to be more than sufficient for anything I want to do with it.
I inspect completed InDesign work on my home 27" iMac computer, with photos and graphics already embedded by the graphic artist. My own photos are processed with Photoshop by me.
We send the completed graphics files to our contracted printers all over the world, including Japan, Taiwan, Mainland China, Philippines, Germany, and the USA.
Very little problems or trouble. I would endorse the 27" iMac unconditionally. The new one that has been announced looks even better.
For the last eight or nine years, I've worked at home. I use high-end 27" iMacs. I'm using one now.
I use iMacs for InDesign graphics, word processing, internet and Photoshop.
I have found the iMac to be more than sufficient for anything I want to do with it.
I inspect completed InDesign work on my home 27" iMac computer, with photos and graphics already embedded by the graphic artist. My own photos are processed with Photoshop by me.
We send the completed graphics files to our contracted printers all over the world, including Japan, Taiwan, Mainland China, Philippines, Germany, and the USA.
Very little problems or trouble. I would endorse the 27" iMac unconditionally. The new one that has been announced looks even better.
johannielscom
Snorting silver salts
The final word. There's an answer if ever there was one.
Better get that iMac soon!
nightfly
Well-known
There are some questions as to if Apple is going to kill the Pro line entirely.
Another option is a Mac mini plus your own monitor.
Another option is a Mac mini plus your own monitor.
robert blu
quiet photographer
Thanks for your suggestions, I think I'll go i.mac 27. If reflections disturb I will darken my studio room...if still problem I'll add an external monitor (already saving...) Now, 16 or 32 G RAM ? It is said add so much Ram as possible and the max for this machine is 32...the cost difference between 16 and 32 is almost half a 24 good monitor...
robert
robert
icebear
Veteran
I have no mac experience but I swapped 24gb RAM into my windows machine and it was much cheaper than ordering the desktop with that much RAM from Lenovo. 16gb's sound to be already more than sufficient for any kind of photo work. Unless you also edit videos, 32gbs might be overkill. Better invest the additional money in the monitor.
f16sunshine
Moderator
Hi Robert
I will likely also move to that machine this year. One consideration for RAM is the program you don't yet have. The one that is being developed somewhere by Adobe, PhaseOne, DXO, Apple....etc. The next version of "x-Software" combined with larger and larger image files as resolution continues to improve could make 16G of RAM run like 4G does now. Try and arrange your machine for the next 5 years of innovation. Not just todays needs. I will be ordering 32G ... Just my 2c
Cheers!
I will likely also move to that machine this year. One consideration for RAM is the program you don't yet have. The one that is being developed somewhere by Adobe, PhaseOne, DXO, Apple....etc. The next version of "x-Software" combined with larger and larger image files as resolution continues to improve could make 16G of RAM run like 4G does now. Try and arrange your machine for the next 5 years of innovation. Not just todays needs. I will be ordering 32G ... Just my 2c
Cheers!
nightfly
Well-known
Whatever you do, get some sort of SSD for at least your core applications. Think the new iMacs have the hybrid ssd/hardrive by default.
SSD made a much bigger difference in perceived speed of my machine than processor speed or RAM.
SSD made a much bigger difference in perceived speed of my machine than processor speed or RAM.
robert blu
quiet photographer
Yes, this is how I'm thinking, when almost 6 years ago i bought my actual i.mac24 it seemed that my 3 G RAM were a real excess...but now...
I used CS3 and adobe gently "forced" me to go to CS6 because since jan 2013 it will be no more possible to upgrade my current version and if, for any reason I would like a more updated version I'll have to buy it with a much higher price compared to the upgrade. Therefore the need for more RAM,specially thinking to keep the machine for a few years.
robert
Sparrow
Veteran
... the monitor's position in relation to the ambient light and proper calibration are what matters, in a room with a northern light put the monitor between you and the light and buy a colour-spider or the like and all will be well
robert blu
quiet photographer
This is a logic suggestion, unfortunately I cannot change the layout of my studio, the desk is against a wall and behind me there is a door-window to the terrace (sigh!). But when doing serious work I always close it, therefore it becomes a dark room, a "dry" darkroom! Yes, I already have a spyder, unluckily it requires Rosetta which is not supported by the new OS (lion and Muontain Lion) and eventually I have to buy a new one :bang:
robert
dcsang
Canadian & Not A Dentist
I am not sure what year of iMac you're talking about but I am using a 27" iMac from mid-late 2011.
This system is "ok" and more than powerful enough to handle the RAW files from Nikon and Fuji and others. No problems running PS CS 3 and LR 4 and a browser and iTunes and not miss a beat.
That said, with respect to the screen, it is a bit too bright IF you are determined to print your own images off of a printer. Profiling the iMac shows that you can't get the brightness down low enough. I have a second faithful monitor, an NEC 26" which is awesome and it is perfectly profiled and whatever I print out of my Epson 3800 is comparable to what I see on the NEC given that we're talking about two different types of media (projective vs reflective).
The hassle is, connecting to the iMac's thunderbolt display connection - it can be done via a connector of some sorts (name escapes me right now) but every time the iMac goes to sleep, it has a funky result on the connected non-thunderbolt (i.e. the NEC) display. Just has some flickering which inevitably disappears but is, to me, annoying each and every time.
Outside of that issue, that is my current set up that I'm living with and using.
Cheers,
Dave
This system is "ok" and more than powerful enough to handle the RAW files from Nikon and Fuji and others. No problems running PS CS 3 and LR 4 and a browser and iTunes and not miss a beat.
That said, with respect to the screen, it is a bit too bright IF you are determined to print your own images off of a printer. Profiling the iMac shows that you can't get the brightness down low enough. I have a second faithful monitor, an NEC 26" which is awesome and it is perfectly profiled and whatever I print out of my Epson 3800 is comparable to what I see on the NEC given that we're talking about two different types of media (projective vs reflective).
The hassle is, connecting to the iMac's thunderbolt display connection - it can be done via a connector of some sorts (name escapes me right now) but every time the iMac goes to sleep, it has a funky result on the connected non-thunderbolt (i.e. the NEC) display. Just has some flickering which inevitably disappears but is, to me, annoying each and every time.
Outside of that issue, that is my current set up that I'm living with and using.
Cheers,
Dave
keytarjunkie
no longer addicted
I use an iMac 27" from 2010 or 2011 and one of those relatively new thunderbolt screens. The iMac screen is calibrated, and I print on an Epson 9880 44" printer. That's good enough for me! I work in a space with no window light and relatively low reflective opjects to start with. We have a hood that fits over the iMac to reduce reflectivity, maybe you should look into that.
Do you know what the brand is?
Sparrow
Veteran
This is a logic suggestion, unfortunately I cannot change the layout of my studio, the desk is against a wall and behind me there is a door-window to the terrace (sigh!). But when doing serious work I always close it, therefore it becomes a dark room, a "dry" darkroom! Yes, I already have a spyder, unluckily it requires Rosetta which is not supported by the new OS (lion and Muontain Lion) and eventually I have to buy a new one :bang:
robert
... then you're probably not going to get any screen to work accurately, reflections and the constantly changing ambient light throughout the day will make it impossible I fear
Boris Stupak
Well-known
Seriously, don't even consider not using a Mac if you're doing any sort of graphics work. Trust me.
16gb of RAM should be sufficient unless you're working with insanely huge files all open at once. An SSD will make a huge difference in the perceived speed of your set-up.
16gb of RAM should be sufficient unless you're working with insanely huge files all open at once. An SSD will make a huge difference in the perceived speed of your set-up.
Sparrow
Veteran
so, why do artists and designers almost invariably use them? ... I don't trust you BTW Sparrow
Veteran
There is something else bothering you there, since obviouly the monitor brightness can go completely black.
For me it is LED screens in general, they are just too "bright." I even notice it on my Samsung LED TV. But exactly what the bright is I am not sure, but it does not look like paper prints. I use the word bright in a very subjective way.
But I have never worried too much about personal printers, I can learn what things are going to look like, it is outside color matching which has always been maddening for me -- even when I have printer profiles.
It's like the difference between incident and reflective, or a slide and a print ... it's close on forty years since I studied it and I've no idea where my notes are now .. but it's something to do with the primary perception RBG verses RBY.
Brightness is simply a quantum thing ... but yes I perceive LED as brighter too
Phantomas
Well-known
Do not buy upgraded memory from Apple. Everyone know's that they charge close to 10X of what it costs on the market. Instead buy it yourself and replacing it on the new 27" is easier than ever - it has a little door on the back now so you open it, plug the new chips and off you go. Easy as that and saves you at least a 100.
I've ordered the new 27". They are in such short supply that I've been waiting for it for 6 weeks now. Common story. In the meantime I'm starting to loose my mind because I haven't touched my photos in a couple of months. Damn Apple! *shakes fist*