Luminous Landscape Forum

Equipment & Techniques => Computers & Peripherals => Topic started by: sergio on May 27, 2010, 08:06:53 am

Title: Imac 27 inch Quad i5
Post by: sergio on May 27, 2010, 08:06:53 am

I am planning to buy a ne machine and this one looks good. However I have heard they have problems when profiling the screen. Have these probems been solved? Anybody with this machine that can chime in? Thanks.

Title: Imac 27 inch Quad i5
Post by: kphelan on May 28, 2010, 09:02:28 am

I am using a last generation top-of-the-line iMac.  24 inch, 8gb ram, 1TB drive.  It is about a year old and I bought ot for the same reasons you are contemplating one.

In a word it is terrible for profiling, and as such for serious photography as well.  I purchased an Eye One Display 2 to profile it.  That makes it better but nowhere near good enough.  My main gripe is that the monitor is impossibly bright, with no way to tone it down.  It defaults to a value of something like 400.  The most I can get it down to is 250.  Recommended is 100-150.  Also uneven corner luminance.

My workflow is typically raw files -> ACR or LR3b -> CS4 -> Imageprint 8 -> Epson 3800.  I spend an inordinate amount of time re-doing prints that do not come out as they appear on screen.

I am considering purchasing a NEC PA271W and adding it to the iMac via the mini-DVI adapter cable from Apple.  Hopefully this will solve it, and I will use the iMac screen for pallettes & controls.  

The iMac is probably a great machine for games & movies, and is attractively priced.  But I would not buy one again.

---Kent

Title: Imac 27 inch Quad i5
Post by: sergio on May 28, 2010, 10:33:11 am

Could it be possible that Apple has solved this problem already?

Title: Imac 27 inch Quad i5
Post by: Ken Bennett on May 28, 2010, 10:41:35 am

The new generation iMac can be profiled, and the intensity lowered to the point where it is usable for photo editing. I have the 27 inch iMac and it's a decent machine. See for example:

http://luminous-landscape.com/forum/index....showtopic=38801 (http://luminous-landscape.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=38801)
http://luminous-landscape.com/forum/index....showtopic=38983 (http://luminous-landscape.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=38983)

Some users have reported a color shift from top to bottom on the display. My iMac shows this, but not enough to bother me.

Using the iMac for photo editing is a compromise -- it is NOT as expandable or as fast as a Mac Pro. Think of it as a non-portable laptop with a really big screen -- it only has one internal hard drive, no eSATA port, only one Firewire 800 port, etc. So get the 2TB drive, and pack it with RAM, and it'll be okay.

Title: Imac 27 inch Quad i5
Post by: John S C on June 02, 2010, 01:53:19 pm

I've been using a 27" iMac now for about 6 months. Profiling I use ColourEyes Display Pro and it works just fine.

CEDP will actually turn down the brightness to the level you want. Alternatively simply reduce the brightness in monitor settings ( about 50% seems fine)

Some screens did have a yellow tinge  problem, mine has it but you have to look for it. From what I understand it's a screen problem not driver or software.

Title: Imac 27 inch Quad i5
Post by: mrazster on July 01, 2010, 04:14:08 pm

I´m also running the new 27" iMac and have been since early january.
I have it profiled with i1 Display2 and Coloreyes Display Pro.

I absolutely love it....sure there are better LCD panels out there, but at what price?

Anyhow...treat your self with one, I´m confident that you won´t be disapointed !!!