The 27inch iMac Predicament

The last 27-inch iMac was engineered on an intel chip in 2020, almost immediately after the M1 chip was introduced. The M1 chip meant even a base model iMac was faster than a tricked-out Intel Mac. There was also a new operating system that advanced each year, and with each iteration, my intel machine seemed to slow down. This is possibly due to the advancing operating system in Adobe, Capture One, and DXO software or the increase in the megapixels of cameras. The machine often ceases up with the spinning “wheel of death.” So what are the possibilities given October’s release of new M4 Macs? I)

Minimum Computer Specifications for a Photographer

So, looking for an upgrade presents a problem as Apple has discontinued the 27-inch Mac in favour of an external monitor. This, in most cases, means looking toward either a laptop or the Mac mini. The Bytom article referenced below seems to imply that most M1 machines, provided they have more than 512TB in the hard drive and at least 24GB of unified memory, will run the most up-to-date photography software. He suggests that if you are going to leave many things open and running, the best thing to invest in is unified memory, followed by SSD memory, core upgrading then being a last consideration. He suggests that the number of cores is a future-proofing consideration. The article is quite detailed, so I will leave the reader to browse it for more details.

This led me to believe that my ideal specifications would be a 1TB drive with 32GB of unified memory. This would mean less worry and some future-proofing. However having only 1TB of storage on internal storage would, for me, require an external SSD drive to contain my Lightroom or Capture one Library. If this SSD was a 2 TB drive, it would allow me to include the library and one year’s worth of photographs; photographs older than that could be stored in other ways.

External SSD Storage

There are two primary issues with SSD drives: speed and durability. The latter issue is more critical if you are actively reading and writing files rather than using them as archives. Adam’s video suggests that there are three types on the market: USB 3.2, which has speeds up to 1000mbs; USB “two by two” drives, which have higher speeds but perform more like USB 3.2 drives in terms of speed with Macs; Thunderbolt 4 SSD, which has a speed of 2500 -3000Mbps; and Thunderbolt 5 SSD that runs at 6000Mpbs. So, he immediately dismissed the second option for obvious reasons. So, the two real options are USB 3.2 or Thunderbolt. However, the durability of the USB 3.2 drives is much lower, and they are designed for storage, not constant use. This would leave me looking at Thunderbolt 4 or 5 drives.

If you look at what Apple recommends for this sort of device, they sell a SanDisk Professional Pro-G40 SSD 2TB drive for $450. This is the same drive Adam recommended. Since adding 2TB to a Mac is $750, this option is much cheaper and perhaps more flexible. SanDisk also makes a blade system called Pro-Blade Transport, a modular enclosure where the SSD blade can be removed and replaced, allowing you to upgrade or replace it more cheaply. This runs at a speed of 2000Mbps. It is USB C, but I am unclear if it is running Thunderbolt 4 or 5. Another option might be the SanDisk Extreme Pro SSD, which I am settling on.

San Disk Pro
San Disk Blade Enclosure

MacBook Pro versus Mac mini with Apples Studio Display

The next issue, of course, is what screen to use with either a MacBook Pro or Mac mini. The chart below explores various options that utilize the Apple display paired with multiple versions of Macs driving the display. This was to give a brief idea of the cost of multiple options. It was clear that the most economical approach would be the Mac mini; unless one needed a field machine, the MacBook Pro would be more economical. One could stop here, but it made me wonder what other monitors might be out there that might have similar or better specifications.

Monitor 27 inch Monitor Options

The Mac monitor has a superior build and the best audio of the available photography monitors when I looked at them initially. The screen is solid and very well build and reviewers seem impressed with the internal sound system. There are some short comings pointed out by those same reviewers, the camera is average, there are only four USBc ports, unlike either the MacBook Pro or Mac mini and for some strange reason the power core does not come away from the back of the machine, although some reviews have manage to remove it. The biggest issue for me is the size of the monitor, it would be nice to get some more screen realestate, and to do that in Apple’s world that would mean the 6k Apple Pro Display, which is well over $6000 as you see in the chart. So my first look look at monitors was to look at 27 inch alternatives. The chart below does not contain all the options for a colour-accurate high-resolution screen, but the ones I have listed appear compatible with Apple’s ecosystem. The LG listed below is the same one that Apple relied on for three years before bringin out the Apple Studio Display. Oddly enough it is was more expensive that the base Apple Studio Display. LG, sold by Apple for three years, is now more expensive than the Apple Studio Display. Currently, of the 27 inch monitors, the Samsung monitor appears to be the budget option. Given the marginal difference in price I am not convinced the savings is worth stepping out of the Apple eco system.

Options Greater than 27 inch Monitors

During the exploration of 27 inch monitors I did run across a 32 inch Dell Ultra Sharp monitor for have the price of the the Apple Pro Display, and since then have been looking at Dell offerings. In their section of 30 inch or greater monitors, they appear to have a number of monitors that not only meet Apple’s specifications but in some ways provide more features that the Apple monitors. They list a number monitors which are designed to be Mac compatiable.

The first one of interest was the 5k Dell UltraSharp 40 inch Curved Thunderbolt Hub Monitor U4025QW. Its regular price is $2629CA and goes on sale for $2309.99CA. This 5k monitor has better adjustablity as it not only tilts, has a height adjustment but also a swivel function. It also has what Dell calls a built in Hub with more options for connectivity than one might ever need. It also has the dedication USBc port so you can connect just one wire from your Mac to the the hub and all the other wires would be managed by the monitor. It is a P3 colour accurate monitor with IPS black technology. It does lack a camera and it has a built in speaking but it does not appear to be much of a sound system.

Dell UltraSharp 40 Curved Thunderbolt™ Hub Monitor – U4025QW, $2309.99CA

The next monitor of interest is the ‘Dell UltraSharp 32 inch 6k monitor U3224KB. This monitor sells for $2500CA which is equivalent in price to the top version of Apple Studio Display. In otherwords you would get a monitor equivalent to the very expensive Apple Pro Display for the price of the Apple Studio Display. So this one real got me interest as it comes with a better 4k adjustable camera and a sound bar speaker system attached to the top of the screen. It also has the hub system, and a drop down port at the front with two USBc ports and a USBa port. It usually sells for $3320CA but seems to be discounted rather than being on sale. At this price for a 6k monitor fullly loaded with features it seems to be the best buy on the market if you are looking for a large screen with excellent resolutions.

Dell UltraSharp 32 6K Monitor – U3224KB CAD $2,499.99

The last two options are attractive as they would undoubtedly mean more screen real estate, but the Apple Pro Display is an expensive option, at three times the cost. The Dell machine provides a cheaper alternative, but there may be integration issues with the Apple ecosystem.

Colour Space in Monitors, Why P3 standard

Colour gamut or colour space is essential for viewing and printing digital images. If you look at the two charts below, you will notice that the screen’s colour gamut, which on the monitors above is P3, differs from the print gamut. The two printers in the second illustration are high-quality art printers. If you own an Epson printer, it covers a similar colour space as sRGB, but not all the colours you will see if your monitor is set to P3 or Adobe RGB, the settings the monitors above use.

The green line is the Epson P900 printer, and the red the Canon iPF PRO-1000
Source: Epson SC-P900 vs Canon iPF PRO-1000: The Gamut Battle, francescogola.net

The difference between the two printers’ colour spaces is that the Canon can handle warm tones more effectively, and the Epson printer can handle the blues and greens. Perhaps this is not the difference between Fujifilm film and Kodak Film.

References

Compact Flagship Cameras

The release of the new X2D 100C Earth Explorer Limited Edition and the Leica Q3 has been big news in the high-end camera market. How do these two cameras line up with the other flagship compact camera? In this category, I believe Sony produces the smallest full-frame sensor camera, and Fujifilm produces the most compact APSC cameras. In the medium format, both Fujifilm and Hasselblad seem to have the most compact cameras.

The chart below, courtesy of Rob Will, shows the range from APSC to Medium Format. The two most compact cameras are the X100VI, an APSC camera, and the Sony RXrII full-frame camera, both fixed-lens cameras. The former has Fujifilm’s most advanced 42mp APSC sensor and processor, and the latter is a full-frame Sony camera released in 2015. Both are excellent street cameras that produce high-quality images in a discreet and pocketable size. I would worry about investing in the Sony camera, given its age and the possibility of a new version. Also, given the size of the A7Cr and Sony’s latest compact lens series, this might be a better option and almost as discreet.

Click Image to Enlarge

So, when choosing between the two compact cameras, I chose the Fujifilm X100VI. Its advantage over this RX1r II is the external dials, dual EVF/Optical viewfinder, and the ability to adapt the lens to the 24—or 50mm range. This camera has been reviewed by DPReview and received the Gold Award.

The most appealing camera in this lineup is the Leica Q3 43, a fixed-lens camera with a 43mm f2 lens and macro. This focal length has been growing in popularity among many photographs. The lens is an apochromatic design, giving the camera’s Image Quality a bit of a boost over cameras using achromatic lens designs. Its compact design and the simplicity of its menu system are getting good reviews.

The full frame compact camera market is really donminate by Sony, which also as a sensor manufacture have the most advanced sensors on the market. Here the choose would be the A7RV, a 61mp interchangable lens camera. This camera coupled with the three new compact 24, 40 and 50mm prime lens creates the smallest possible full frame kit. This would be my choice for the most compact, highest quality full frame interchangable lens camera.

In the medium format range it would be difficult to decided between the Hasselblad X2D 100C and the new GFX 100s II, in general the Hasselblad is more compact and has a cleaner design. This camera coupled with the new line of compact XCD V lenses, would make this camera an excellent choice over the Fujifilm camera. However, the Fujifilm camera has more options for adapting third party lense, and is perhaps a more rugged build should you be a landscape photographer.