Pro Photo HOME
Go Back   Pro Photo HOME > Professional Digital Workflow Discussion > Macintosh – Selection, Configuration and Use
Register Now for FREE!
Our records show you have not yet registered. Sign up for your FREE account INSTANTLY. Free accounts provide basic access.

Username: Password: Confirm Password: E-Mail: Confirm E-Mail:
Agree to receive admin email and abide by forum rules 

ColorRight

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes

New 24" iMac instead of Mac Pro?
  #1  
Old 08-07-2008, 12:41 PM
JohnLund's Avatar
JohnLund JohnLund is offline
Gold Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Vancouver Island
Posts: 210
Referrals: 0
JohnLund 10
New 24" iMac instead of Mac Pro?

I was going to buy a new high end Mac Pro as my main unit for photo processing and all the rest but got stalled when I found it was going to cost close to $5,000 with all the bells and whistles.

Then along came the new 24" iMac with 3.06 GHz processing power. Combined with 4GB RAM, 1TB hard drive and an external drive I figure I could save $2,000+ and have a pretty decent unit for my main work.

I don't process huge amounts of batch files or do much other strenuous lifting. Most of my work is picking individual RAW files to be processed one at a time, converted to JPegs and then forwarded to editors.

Would an iMac configured as above do a satisfactory job?

Thanks,

John
What is White Balancing ?
Pro Review of White Balance.
Get your Color Right in 15 seconds
www.colorright.com




Support Pro Photo Home. Buy all your gear at the Pro Photo Store and B&H.


__________________
John Lund - ASMP; SATW
www.johnlundphoto.com
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote

Re: New 24" iMac instead of Mac Pro?
  #2  
Old 08-07-2008, 02:00 PM
Jerry Skrocki's Avatar
Jerry Skrocki Jerry Skrocki is online now
Super Moderator
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Amsterdam, New York
Posts: 505
Referrals: 2
Jerry Skrocki 10
Re: New 24" iMac instead of Mac Pro?

The iMac has enough processing power to do the job. The main problem that many photographers and graphic designers have with the new iMacs is with the construction. The all aluminum housing looks very stylish, but there is a piece of tinted glass covering the entire LCD. The glass seems to diffuse the light passing through it, making it difficult to get an accurate profile with a hardware device. It also introduces screen glare.

This critical flaw was enough for me to go the MacPro route.
__________________
Gerald J Skrocki
Graphic Design & Photography
www.skrockidesign.com
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote

Re: New 24" iMac instead of Mac Pro?
  #3  
Old 08-07-2008, 03:40 PM
AndrewRodney's Avatar
AndrewRodney AndrewRodney is offline
Lifetime Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Santa Fe, NM
Posts: 2,803
Referrals: 0
AndrewRodney
Re: New 24" iMac instead of Mac Pro?

The other issue is the displays pretty much suck and, if LED, very difficult to calibrate and profile.
__________________
Andrew Rodney
Author "Color Management for Photographers"
http://www.digitaldog.net
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote

Re: New 24" iMac instead of Mac Pro?
  #4  
Old 08-07-2008, 04:02 PM
David_Buzzard's Avatar
David_Buzzard David_Buzzard is offline
Lifetime Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Whistler, BC, Canada
Posts: 1,678
Referrals: 0
David_Buzzard 10
Send a message via AIM to David_Buzzard
Re: New 24" iMac instead of Mac Pro?

I now a of of photographers and designers o use the iMacs without a problem. According to Macworld, the 3.06 iMac is just little slower than the entry level MacPro.

I recently bought a 2.4 MacBook Pro, and it will churn through a few hundred 12MP NEF files without a problem, so power-wise, I don't think you'll have any issues.

David Buzzard's Technical blog
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote

Re: New 24" iMac instead of Mac Pro?
  #5  
Old 08-08-2008, 09:06 AM
PhilipKach PhilipKach is offline
Lifetime Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: NE Ohio
Posts: 529
Referrals: 0
PhilipKach 10
Re: New 24" iMac instead of Mac Pro?

Quote:
Originally Posted by AndrewRodney View Post
The other issue is the displays pretty much suck and, if LED, very difficult to calibrate and profile.
Speaking only on the issue of color sync for photographic use, Andrew is right.

I decided to go with the 24" iMac instead of the Mac Pro and I am very happy with it on all levels except color accuracy. The speed is fine.

However, I knew that when I bought it. I already own a 23" ACD. With the two display setup, I am in heaven!

I use the iMac display for Aperture 2.1 menu and file system. Then I use the ACD display for judging and adjusting the image.

Two displays also work great for other programs.

Total cost was still much less that a Mac Pro with one 23" ACD.

Philip
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote

Re: New 24" iMac instead of Mac Pro?
  #6  
Old 08-08-2008, 10:31 AM
BobSmith BobSmith is online now
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Waco, TX USA
Posts: 741
Referrals: 0
BobSmith 10
Re: New 24" iMac instead of Mac Pro?

I recently took a staff job running computer labs and the darkroom for a college fine arts program. They provided me with a new 24" iMac. The descriptions here are accurate... great performer... not so great monitor. Not horrible mind you... but not near as good as the separate better monitors. Not as good as the previous generation 24" iMacs with the matte surface screen either. Still, for the price, its a very good system. I know a friend that bought one primarily to use as the hub of his entertainment system. Not a bad idea. DVDs look incredible on that screen.

Bob Smith
__________________
Accurate Image
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote

Re: New 24" iMac instead of Mac Pro?
  #7  
Old 08-08-2008, 12:03 PM
Edmond_Terakopian Edmond_Terakopian is offline
Lifetime Member
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: London, UK
Posts: 828
Referrals: 0
Edmond_Terakopian 10
Re: New 24" iMac instead of Mac Pro?

As already mentioned, the machine's great, but the screen not so good. I have one and use it mainly as an office machine and do all the colour work on the Mac Pro (or MacBook Pro when in the field).
As Philip mentioned, you do have the option of getting a second screen and calibrating that for colour work.
__________________
-----
www.pix.org.uk
--------
http://edmondterakopian.blogspot.com/
---------
www.thebppa.com
------------
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
Pro Photo Store and B&H

Visit the B&H Pro Photo Store for the best Gear Prices and regular specials!

Brilliant Color for any Digital SLR
White Balance Cap
The Pros Agree on ColorRight
What People Are Saying


Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 01:54 PM.





ColorRight

Pro Photo Store

Professional Photo Resources Atlanta






Geo Visitors Map

Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.1.0