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New iMac Retina has 14.7 megapixel display!

bradhusick

Active member
Did anybody notice that we're getting closer to 1:1 display for our digital photos? The new iMac has a 14.7 MP display.

There won't be a standalone monitor that big for a while because the DisplayPort protocol doesn't yet support that kind of bandwidth.

Interesting.
 

Godfrey

Well-known member
That'll be greater than 1:1 display for my E-1, E-5, L1, 10D, *ist DS, K10D, GXR, etc cameras!

G
 

JMaher

New member
Anyone have any idea if this monitor will cause any issues with Lightroom, etc. Thinking of buying one of the new iMacs but not if Lightroom will slow down, not scale well, etc. I am making the assumption that none of this is an issue but figured it would not hurt to ask.

Jim
 

Godfrey

Well-known member
Anyone have any idea if this monitor will cause any issues with Lightroom, etc. Thinking of buying one of the new iMacs but not if Lightroom will slow down, not scale well, etc. I am making the assumption that none of this is an issue but figured it would not hurt to ask.

Jim
Not seen one yet, but LR works very well on the Retina display MacBook Pro models. The underlying hardware and display for the iMac Retina should be just as transparent.

G
 

fotografz

Well-known member
I'm just pulling the trigger on a maxed out iMac 5K this Monday, and am dealing with some of these questions with my Mac Store Business specialist.

The main question is regarding a second display. Previously, my order was the standard iMac with a Thunderbolt second display … but he stopped me, and said wait for this past week's announcements regarding the iMac and 5K.

Then the thought was to hold off on the 2nd display to see if a 5K Retina version of that was also coming … which he investigated and sent me this info:

Retina 5K iMac Will Not Act as External Display, Standalone Apple 5K Display Unlikely Soon - Mac Rumors

Now I may just get something temporary for desktop holding, since I sure wouldn't be doing PP on that with a 27" 5K to work on.

Still not sure what to do.

Now my 15" MacBook Pro is going to look dowdy:rolleyes:

- Marc
 

docmoore

Subscriber and Workshop Member
Diglloyd points out that this monitor can be profiled but not a true calibration...

diglloyd - October 2014



So if color space and dynamic range is important to you ... look elsewhere.

Also no specs as to refresh rates for those interested in video ...

However it is a nice upgrade for those interested in 4K video that will be coming but not the ideal solution for photographers or those who produce 4K.

Bob
 

fotografz

Well-known member
Diglloyd points out that this monitor can be profiled but not a true calibration...

diglloyd - October 2014



So if color space and dynamic range is important to you ... look elsewhere.

Also no specs as to refresh rates for those interested in video ...

However it is a nice upgrade for those interested in 4K video that will be coming but not the ideal solution for photographers or those who produce 4K.

Bob
Thanks Bob. Interesting read.

This looked pretty good to my eye, so I'm a bit confused: (click on pic)

MacPerformanceGuide: How Much Resolution in a 5K Display?

My iMac order is for a second station in Florida not my main work place here at home. So budget is a consideration.

However, I've been working on an old Mac Pro with dual 30 cinema screens, so I suppose those have been faux calibrated all along anyway.

Maybe I should price out the NECs and see what that adds up to with a Mac Pro. Doesn't seem like the 4K NECs are even available yet. Hmmm

- Marc
 

docmoore

Subscriber and Workshop Member
Marc,

There are some amazing 4K monitors on the way...

Presently Sharp Dell and Asus have some options....Eizo and NEC coming.

Problem is driving them...short of a new Mac Pro the boards are upwards of $2000....

The Dell is profile able ... give some thought to pixel size and menu items...almost anything less than 32 inches is unreadable...

My vote will be for the Sharp or the NEC or the Eizo..as I have only one monitor and system I need to have a profiled solution.

I lived with an Apple Cinema display for years...moved to a Dell which could be profiled and could not believe how much more information was available...mainly for me with the Leica Monochrome...could actually see differences that made my post process work...not resolution as much as dynamic range and subtle shades in the mid tones.

I think it will be a long time before prices drop on the good 4K monitors ...

Bob
 

Godfrey

Well-known member
Regards the 5K display, much as having "newer, more, better, blah blah blah ..." sounds, I really don't see the point. It's not going to make my prints any better than they already are. It's not going to make the photos I post to the internet any sharper either. Yeah, it might make imaging on my image processing workstation a tiny bit sharper and clearer.

But i have no problem with my existing Thunderbolt Display 27" and see no point to 5K displays. Most of the 4K video I've seen doesn't impress me either.

Call me an old curmudgeon, but there's a limit to how many pixels actually make a difference which is an advantage...

G
 

fotografz

Well-known member
Regards the 5K display, much as having "newer, more, better, blah blah blah ..." sounds, I really don't see the point. It's not going to make my prints any better than they already are. It's not going to make the photos I post to the internet any sharper either. Yeah, it might make imaging on my image processing workstation a tiny bit sharper and clearer.

But i have no problem with my existing Thunderbolt Display 27" and see no point to 5K displays. Most of the 4K video I've seen doesn't impress me either.

Call me an old curmudgeon, but there's a limit to how many pixels actually make a difference which is an advantage...

G
Tell me more … sounds a lot less expensive …:ROTFL:

Actually, way back when I made the dual 30" Mac Cinema decision it was as much for client presentations as for working acuity. Easier to sell a lot more work with them.

I don't evaluate anything on the basis of web showing, but I do make prints all the time. So, I wonder why such a gain in screen resolution wouldn't be of some advantage in the editing attributes that Bob touts as showing up with his profitable monitors?

Frankly, I've paid no attention to this stuff for a long time and now feel like a dummy.

BTW, what's the difference between all the HD4K TV screens and these 4K computer monitors just coming out? Lack of Calibration? Different rendering characteristics? Pixel structure?

Right now I was thinking of a new 5K iMac and temporarily using a larger TV as a secondary screen to make presentations on, and to use as a holding area while I do PP on the iMac screen. Then get a 4K computer monitor that can be profiled later when (and if) it is doable.

The room this is all going in is totally dark, so I was also considering that a Plasma would be good there … since I need a TV in the room anyway.

Way to much info to digest … nothing ever seems to just fall together easily.:confused:

- Marc
 

turtle

New member
I'm with the curmudgeon on this ;)

Sounds great, but I dislike spending too much time looking at monitors and as long as mine offers a pleasant enough viewing experience and allows me to make the prints I want, I am happy. This additional resolution may be nice to have, but monitors are already darned good and sufficient IMO.

And... despite all the technophiles who believe a perfect match between monitor and print is the panacea, I regard draft/test printing as inevitable, necessary and in fact desirable. You make better prints by looking your prints, not your monitor. Just as it is easier for most people to make numerical adjustments to their darkroom printing (time and contrast), I find it the same in the digital darkroom, so what the monitor actually shows is not terribly important. Relating inputs to outputs is.

I'll probably replace my existing iMac in five to seven years, a year or two after my now four year old Macbook Air :D
 

MGrayson

Subscriber and Workshop Member
As with the retina display on laptops, don't judge the new iMac until you've seen it. I made all the same arguments why the extra resolution would be wasted on the Macbook Pro. Those lasted about 30 seconds after seeing the screen.

If you're really committed to avoiding a retina display, I strongly advise not seeing one.

Best,

Matt (who is trying to forget how good a big Eizo monitor looks)
 

Godfrey

Well-known member
As with the retina display on laptops, don't judge the new iMac until you've seen it. I made all the same arguments why the extra resolution would be wasted on the Macbook Pro. Those lasted about 30 seconds after seeing the screen.

If you're really committed to avoiding a retina display, I strongly advise not seeing one. ...
Um, my statement is made from the perspective of having both MacBook Air 13" and MacBook Pro 13" Retina displays in front of me. The Retina is a mite bit sharper to my eye, but not really enough to make me jump up and down, and the prints I make from either of the same image look identical. (I need the MBP Retina to obtain screen shots for my documentation efforts with enough pixel resolution, which is why I have it. I like lugging the MacBook Air around a lot more... !)

G
 

fotografz

Well-known member
This review of the monitor Apple sells with the new MacPro may be of interest:

Review: Sharp's 32" 4K display is a high-performance workhorse made for Apple's Mac Pro


Bob
This potentially solves an issue for me Bob.

From now on I will be split between two working locations. One location is getting all new computer gear and the other will need all new soon because my current home MacPro is no longer upgradable, and the 30" cinema screens are just about finished anyway (one recently died).

As an alternative, I am going to explore getting a maxed out MBP Retina to carry back and forth, and two of these screens … one in each location.

- Marc
 

docmoore

Subscriber and Workshop Member
This potentially solves an issue for me Bob.

From now on I will be split between two working locations. One location is getting all new computer gear and the other will need all new soon because my current home MacPro is no longer upgradable, and the 30" cinema screens are just about finished anyway (one recently died).

As an alternative, I am going to explore getting a maxed out MBP Retina to carry back and forth, and two of these screens … one in each location.

- Marc
I think that is wise as it will give you consistency through the duplication of screens...now the issue is light within each location.

The MBP is much more affordable than a maxed MacPro at this point...though I still prefer a full-size keyboard.

Bob
 

fotografz

Well-known member
I think that is wise as it will give you consistency through the duplication of screens...now the issue is light within each location.

The MBP is much more affordable than a maxed MacPro at this point...though I still prefer a full-size keyboard.

Bob
Both rooms are light tight. So any ambient is fully duplicatable. I tend to use desktop OttLites for additional lighting needs, so using those will be very consistent.

I'll explore this option with the Mac Business specialists today.

I know the MBP won't provide the same level of core computing power, but with a SS drive and 32 gigs of RAM, it'll be faster than what I have now I think.

The drawback is exactly what you mention …no full sized keyboard.

- Marc
 

Godfrey

Well-known member
Why not add a keyboard at each location?
Exactly. I use a full size wired keyboard and a wireless trackpad at both home and office. When I'm doing work for the office, it just plugs into my display which carries all the other wired connections.

G
 
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