Is new iMac good for Photo processing?

amitpahuja · Jan 15, 2016

I'm getting very seriously interested in picking up the iMac 5k but confused as to buy the New (latest) version or the one that was earlier available.

Visited the Apple store to checkout the new version but they don't have the stock of the New version and not even for display/demo. I could only check the earlier 5k model with 3.2 and 3.3 Gig 1TB Fusion and 1TB normal drive. The display was surely good and the speed of fusion drive was good as well. I checked few of my pictures and they looked better than my normal MBA so I was sold on display for sure. Couldn't test LR as it wasn't installed on it but the apple rep was assuring me that it will be good and can handle LR 5+ easily.

Any suggestions on should I go for the New Latest version or the earlier one is good enough? The new version will not be available for purchase until march

(

If anyone has the new one, can you please share the feedback or running LR and PS.

Computer Whiz · Jan 15, 2016

amitpahuja said:
I'm getting very seriously interested in picking up the iMac 5k but confused as to buy the New (latest) version or the one that was earlier available.

Visited the Apple store to checkout the new version but they don't have the stock of the New version and not even for display/demo. I could only check the earlier 5k model with 3.2 and 3.3 Gig 1TB Fusion and 1TB normal drive. The display was surely good and the speed of fusion drive was good as well. I checked few of my pictures and they looked better than my normal MBA so I was sold on display for sure. Couldn't test LR as it wasn't installed on it but the apple rep was assuring me that it will be good and can handle LR 5+ easily.

Any suggestions on should I go for the New Latest version or the earlier one is good enough? The new version will not be available for purchase until march (

If anyone has the new one, can you please share the feedback or running LR and PS.

jhersco · Jan 15, 2016

Late 2015 model with 512 GB SSD working well for me with LR catalog on internal drive and photos on external 7200 RPM drive. Note: SSD on Late 2015 iMac is twice as fast as previous model.

MiguelD · Jan 15, 2016

The primary reason to go with the latest iMac is the expanded gamut presented by the display. Of course this depends on your output requirements. The old screen is sRGB, the new one P3 which is notably larger. I calibrated and profiled my new 5K a few hours ago and the software shows a significant gamut difference. It also includes about 73% of the AdobeRGB color space.

Regardless, I spend so much time in front of the monitor that my eyeballs deserve a fantastic viewing experience and the 5K provides that.

M

robgendreau · Jan 15, 2016

I've got a 2014 5k, 4.0 and I love it. Never going back to non-retina.

I'd recommend a bigger than 1TB Fusion, since those have smaller SSD components. I actually prefer just an SSD, but YMMV. Lr 6 CC runs great, as does most everything else, and I've got a massively tweaked system with tons of fiddly extensions and such. A great machine.

And I'd agree that having the P3 color would be great, unless you absolutely don't need it and get a good deal on the older model.

Don't buy extra RAM from Apple; you can install it yourself with this machine.

M Colyer · Jan 15, 2016

I have basic Dec 2014 5K with 1GB fusion drive - works for me. I run LR, PS Elements, Aperture, Capture One Pro, Perfect Effects. No problems.

JF69 · Jan 17, 2016

....a 2011 MBP with maximized RAM & an SSD, with an IPS external monitor or an ACD would be fine; in fact "fast" would be a better description.

I run my photographic work off a 15" (quad) core i7, 2.2GHz, late 2013 rMBP with a 27" ACD (non-TB) with 16GB RAM & 512GB SSD

....and it flies.

It also renders 4K video footage on FCPX real fast, often rendering in practically real time.

A more modern 5K iMac (go for the quad core option) will be an excellent choice, actually future-proof considering image files you'll be throwing at it (from your equipment list). Upgrade RAM yourself.

Enjoy!

Dave Braun · Jan 17, 2016

MiguelD said:
The primary reason to go with the latest iMac is the expanded gamut presented by the display. Of course this depends on your output requirements. The old screen is sRGB, the new one P3 which is notably larger. I calibrated and profiled my new 5K a few hours ago and the software shows a significant gamut difference. It also includes about 73% of the AdobeRGB color space.

73% Adobe RGB is not very good. I have a late 2012 21½ inch non Retina iMac and I get 82% Adobe RGB.

MiguelD said:
Regardless, I spend so much time in front of the monitor that my eyeballs deserve a fantastic viewing experience and the 5K provides that.

M

MiguelD · Jan 17, 2016

Dave Braun said:
73% Adobe RGB is not very good. I have a late 2012 21½ inch non Retina iMac and I get 82% Adobe RGB.

First of all, are you telling me that you can perceive the difference in color rendition re: that 11%?

Secondly, the monitor is designed for P3. Getting that much for aRGB is goodness. I don't think either of us can perceive the difference between 73% and 99%. Please document your perceptual powers otherwise.

M

Dave Braun · Jan 17, 2016

MiguelD said:
Dave Braun said:

73% Adobe RGB is not very good. I have a late 2012 21½ inch non Retina iMac and I get 82% Adobe RGB.

Click to expand...

First of all, are you telling me that you can perceive the difference in color rendition re: that 11%?

I do not know if I could see an 11% difference since I don't have a new iMac with P3 to compare it to. What I am saying is that if P3 only gives 73% Adobe RGB then an 11 % reduction is a backward step ! Not an upgrade I would pay money for.

MiguelD said:
Secondly, the monitor is designed for P3. Getting that much for aRGB is goodness. I don't think either of us can perceive the difference between 73% and 99%. Please document your perceptual powers otherwise.

You can't document perception !

MiguelD said:
M

Schroedingers_cat · Jan 17, 2016

amitpahuja said:
I'm getting very seriously interested in picking up the iMac 5k but confused as to buy the New (latest) version or the one that was earlier available.

Visited the Apple store to checkout the new version but they don't have the stock of the New version and not even for display/demo. I could only check the earlier 5k model with 3.2 and 3.3 Gig 1TB Fusion and 1TB normal drive. The display was surely good and the speed of fusion drive was good as well. I checked few of my pictures and they looked better than my normal MBA so I was sold on display for sure. Couldn't test LR as it wasn't installed on it but the apple rep was assuring me that it will be good and can handle LR 5+ easily.

Any suggestions on should I go for the New Latest version or the earlier one is good enough? The new version will not be available for purchase until march (

If anyone has the new one, can you please share the feedback or running LR and PS.

--
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Nikon D750, D7100, D90 - Nikor 18-105mm, 50mm, 35mm, 55-300mm, MB-D80, SB-700, Tokina 11-16mm

However, unless you can articulate some particular reason for having absolutely the latest and greatest, I would suggest the earlier version, spending first on RAM and second on a fast disk. As you don't mention doing video you have a greater latitude in your purchasing.

I'm assuming you have decided that 1 TB of internal storage is satisfactory. As an indication of how much photo work I do myself, I have 16 TB of external photo storage on my current system, frequently work with rather large files, and I'm fine with a late 2012 version.

--
http://www.nightstreets.com
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"Sick cultures show a complex of symptoms such as you have named...but a dying culture invariable exhibits personal rudeness. Bad manners. Lack of consideration for others in minor matters. A loss of politeness, of gentle manners is more significant than a riot."
This symptom is especially serious in that an individual displaying it never thinks of it as a sign of ill health but as proof of his/her strength. ...Friday, it is too late to save this culture--this worldwide culture... Therefore we must now prepare the monasteries for the coming Dark Age. Electronic records are too fragile..."
--Robert A. Heinlein in "Friday"

MiguelD · Jan 17, 2016

Dave Braun said:
I do not know if I could see an 11% difference since I don't have a new iMac with P3 to compare it to. What I am saying is that if P3 only gives 73% Adobe RGB then an 11 % reduction is a backward step ! Not an upgrade I would pay money for.

You can't document perception

I'll take my P3 5K monitor over your sRGB monitor any day. Anyway there is nothing sacred about the aRGB color space. P3 is also a wide gamut space. You are talking about something you haven't perceived or experienced. That's real convincing.

M

amitpahuja · Mar 20, 2016

Thanks to all those replied and helped me taking the decision.

So Finally I bought the 5k 3.3Gig, 8GB RAM with 2TB Fusion drive model (top end available as of now here) and I'm pretty impressed and blown away by the graphics, colour depth and smoothness of the system compared to my non-retina MBP 2012 version. This one surely is a winner!

Only desire now is to upgrade the RAM from 12GB (already added 2x2gb on 8GB) to 32GB.. which I'll do ASAP

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Is new iMac good for Photo processing?

amitpahuja

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