Which Mac For Me? Photographer
Apple, Photography August 17th, 2006Welcome to the first article in the series of “Which Mac For Me”. This first part we will focus on which setup suits a photographer best, both on a budget, and with cash to splash. Upcoming article in this series also include Which Mac For: video editors, web designers, and writers/bloggers.
What Display?
Photographers who shoot for a living all have expensive cameras which produce files with huge resolution. The first step is purchasing a display which will show the true colour of your images at top quality. Apple’s Cinema Displays are very popular with photographers because of the exquisite quality of the panels and the rich colours they display on them.
The Cinema Display is available in 20, 23, and 30” size forms. If you are shooting 8MP images and on a budget a 23” display should be more than enough real estate to edit your images, but if your shooting anything higher than 8MP images, or you have some cash to burn, the 30” display is a great investment. It will allow you to view images much larger, work on many more at once, and also will be great for multitasking.
The Mac Pro will power up to 2 30″ Cinema Displays, while the MacBook Pro will power one 30″. If you have seen a 30″ display running before, you will know how huge and amazing they are to use. Now imagine having two of these, running Aperture full screen. Can’t you just picture all the work you’d get done in half the time..? If you want the option of powering two displays in the future, the Mac Pro is hands down the machine you need.
The recent price drop of the 30” Cinema Displays looks pretty attractive for photographers, in my opinion, shell out for the largest display you can possible afford, you won’t regret it.
Optimal Display Advice: 30” Apple Cinema Display
Budget Display Advice: 23” Apple Cinema Display
What Mac?
Now, you have your display, you can’t do anything yet without a Mac. The first thing you need to ask yourself is “Will I be editing in the field or away from home often?” If the answer is no, the Mac Pro is your answer, if your answer is yes, the MacBook Pro is your answer. Don’t worry, both machines will power the 30” Cinema Display flawlessly.
If you answered No.
Mac Pro
The Mac Pro is Apple’s latest desktop computer for professionals. It features an Intel Quad Xeon processor up to 3Ghz in speed.
For your work, the 2.66Ghz model is a sweet spot. Stack it with 3GB of RAM for optimal performance with Aperture and Photoshop, and 1TB of mirrored RAID hard-drive space. This way you will have 500GB of storage space for you images, which will automatically be backed up to the second 500GB drive for safe keeping in case of a disaster.
If you are on a tight budget but still want the best, the 2Ghz option should still do the things you want it to do fine, and will save you a few hundred dollars.
I would also recommend adding Bluetooth + Airport to these machines as it might pay off at a later stage when Bluetooth technology begins to be added to digital cameras.
Optimal Desktop: Mac Pro, 2.66Ghz, 1TB HDD, 3GB RAM, Bluetooth + Airport
If you answered yes:
MacBook Pro
The MacBook Pro is the machine you are after. With the power of a 2.16Ghz Intel Core Duo processor, you will have the ability to run Aperture in the field at blazing speeds, but not as fast as the Mac Pro. In my opinion this is a very nice setup choice for a photographer, a MacBook Pro + Cinema Display. It gives you the freedom to work away from home, and still have a large canvas to work on when you are in the office.
The 17” MBP, with a 2.16Ghz processor, 100GB 7200RPM HDD, and maxed out 2GB of RAM will do the job with no pauses whatsoever.
If you dont exactly want to spend that much on your machine, the 15″ MBP model with a 2.16Ghz processor and 2GB of RAM will do the job all the same, minus the extra screen real estate which can be handy at times. With the 15” option you become even more portable, but you need to decide if thats worth losing the extra pixels for.
Optimal Portable: MacBook Pro 17”, 2.16Ghz, 2GB RAM, 100GB 7200RPM HDD
What Software?
Every photographer should have Photoshop in their armory no matter if it’s a serious hobby, or a full time job.
Apart from Photoshop you will need an application to store, and catalog your images. Apple’s Aperture is perfect for this job. It will even fulfill some functions you need Photoshop to do, speeding up your workflow.
If you want a free alternative, Adobe’s LightRoom is still free as it’s in beta stage.
Optimal Software Advice: Apple Aperture
Budget Software Advice: Adobe Lightroom
Desktop Setup (On Budget) Mac Pro 2Ghz, 3GB RAM, 500GB HDD, 23” Display
Desktop Setup (Optimal) Mac Pro 2.66Ghz, 3GB RAM, 1TB HDD, 30” Display
Portable Setup (On Budget) MacBook Pro 15”, 2GB RAM, 100GB 7200RPM HDD
Portable Setup (Optimal) MacBook Pro 17”, 2GB RAM, 100GB 7200RPM HDD
September 23rd, 2006 at 4:23 pm
why would you backup to the same machine :S
how bout dual 3 ghz ;)
September 23rd, 2006 at 4:23 pm
Why not the 3Ghz? Aperture or Lightroom don’t need that much power to function well. The 340Mhz increasement is not worth the extra $800 in my eyes for a photographer using Photoshop and Aperture.
For a video editor, different story.
September 23rd, 2006 at 4:24 pm
And don’t forget to calibrate your displays! Check out GretagMacbethEye-One Display 2 or Pantone Spyder 2.
September 23rd, 2006 at 4:24 pm
I dont know… Aperture seems to run like junk on everything I have tried it on. I have a top of the line Macbook Pro and I don’t find Aperture’s performance acceptable. I would definitely recommend Lightroom. Aperture is pretty and has awesome dual display support… but all the waiting is not cool. oh and the hangs suck too :p
September 23rd, 2006 at 4:25 pm
Screen: If every dollar counts, try Dells 24″ TFT. It uses the same panel as Apples 23″ Cinema Display (have one myself).
Mac Pro: It’s not two Quads, it’s two “Core 2 Duo”’s, making it four cores total.
MacBook Pro: it’s not two “Core Duo” processors, it’s one processor with two cores :-)
Software: “Capture One” from “Phase One” has the best raw converter in the industry. So if you want your pictures to look their best, you need Capure One too…
September 23rd, 2006 at 4:25 pm
I don’t know if bluetooth would be the ideal way to transfer your photos, especially not 8MP and more. Maybe that WiFi couold be an alternative, as it has a much greater speed
September 23rd, 2006 at 4:25 pm
Considering you’re only fourteen years old, your career description is impressive.
However, you knowledge of Macs is not so, its already been mentioned, but dual core is not the same as multi-processor – One CHIP, two CORES. This could be confusing for people who don’t know better.
Respect for a very nice website though.
September 23rd, 2006 at 4:26 pm
@ Jay
Changes made, thanks for the tip :-)
September 23rd, 2006 at 4:26 pm
“It features an Intel Quad Xeon processor up to 3Ghz in speed.”
More accurately, “It features two Intel Xeon dual-core processors up to 3 Ghz in speed.” The Clovertown true quad-core processors will be out at the end of the year. The statement in the article suggests that there is only one physical processor in the system and yet is somehow ‘quad’ implying 4. Anyways, I just want to help you be as accurate as possible.
You’re way beyond where I was at your age (1995). I was just then publishing my first site (which no one frequented since there were so few internet users). Those were the days; back then, we were hand-coding HTML because WYSIWYG editors were not out yet ;-). Anyone else remember HotDog and the first time Java was used on CNet.com?
September 23rd, 2006 at 4:26 pm
This reads like an add written by Apple. Yes Apple Cinima displays are nice but how do they ompare with lower priced displays from Dell or Samsung? Why Photoshop? OK maybe that is the thing to get but why? You don’t say. At least compare it to other producs like it or say what yu might use PS for after you buy it. You might also want the check the copyright on some of the photos on this site. Is it really OK to re-publish them here? What about used Apple equipment? Seems resonable as PS is not yet out in a Universal Binary. What about color managment? Should offer some advice on 3rd party equipment to calibrate screens, scanners and printers … Just trying to be contructive here. to really make a great site it has to add something over and above an Apple advertisment
September 23rd, 2006 at 4:26 pm
The Mac Pro can handle more than 2×30″ Cinema Displays – just upgrade the video card(s).
I agree with the above poster – you need to acknowledge companies other than Apple, especially for your display section.
September 23rd, 2006 at 4:27 pm
I couldnt agree more. Im so pro apple its quite sickening and although any laptop desktop or monitor I would choose to buy would be one you mentioned above you still need to show that there are many other companys around. Dell monitors are known to be very impressive for there price tag and youve just got to mention other things like colour calibration. And as said above mention that PS isnt universal. Right now this is just an apple advertisement in disguise. My true company of choice. But not everyones. Let people know theres other options and choices. This really is written through a tunnel vision outlook. Nice site though.
September 23rd, 2006 at 4:27 pm
What are the feelings for photographers regarding a MacBook Pro with a glossy or matte screen?
September 23rd, 2006 at 4:27 pm
you can also just get a mac mini with the core duo processor and 2 gigs of ram. i mean come on its just PHOTOS…not video. why do people always think they need so much more power, is it an ego thing or what???
September 23rd, 2006 at 4:28 pm
This article sucks…”if you are on a budget, get a 23in. monitor” bullshit…get a crt on craigslist
September 23rd, 2006 at 4:28 pm
Apple cinema displays are pretty, but any photographer worth her salt wouldn’t trust it do demanding color work. The same goes for most monitors from Dell, Sony, etc. Many photographers still use high-end CRTs because they offer accurate reproduction of wide gamut color spaces and much better black levels. If an LCD is a must, something like the Eizo S2410W would be much better suited to photography (higher contrast ratio than the apple displays, better black levels, more consistent backlighting, etc.) Or if you really wanted to break the bank, an NEC 2180WG-LED.
September 23rd, 2006 at 4:28 pm
I have to strongly disagree that a 30″ is great for multitasking. Appls like Aperture are full screen apps. Two 23″ displays [or two Dell 24"'s ] are ideal. A photo can be displayed full screen on one monitor while editing and controls are on another.
September 23rd, 2006 at 4:29 pm
I’d also recommend getting an external hard drive if you go the MacBook Pro route, so you have a place to back up your originals and also an external drive to take advantage of Time Machine in leopard.
September 23rd, 2006 at 4:29 pm
I’m not a fan of Lightroom or Aperture, but Bibble Pro is a great RAW workflow, cheaper than C1 with more features, and runs on OS X, Windows, and Linux (in case you have that whole Boot Camp thing going for other photography purposes, such as running Photoshop CS2 under Windows rather than Rosetta).
September 23rd, 2006 at 4:29 pm
Even those budget systems are too pricey for me. What about an Imac? The 17 inch would be good for a photographer on a budget.
September 23rd, 2006 at 4:30 pm
A 23″ ACD is hardly budget.. try a 20 inch dell widescreen MAYBE. This article is all wrong. |A macbook hooked up to a larger display is more than powerful enough with a 2ghz core duo. And to be honest all of this crap is wrong because Adobe CS2 isn’t a UB so a REAL photographer would use a Quad G5 setup..
September 23rd, 2006 at 4:30 pm
Congrats on the Digg! I have to say I’m very impressed by your work. Your writing, design, and photography is all very impressive. I thought I had some decent skills at 14 yrs old, but you blow me away in many respects at age 26.
Keep up the great work!
September 23rd, 2006 at 4:30 pm
I don’t think any of these new intel macs are really suitable for a demanding photographer.
The Mac Pro is very slow with Photoshop – about half the speed of my G5 2.3 dualcore.
Ok, sometime next year, when Adobe releases CS3, then the new macs should be very fast.
But until then?
Well, I don’t think they can be recommended.
However, the Cinema Displays are excellent for photo-editing.
(I briefly owned a 24″ Dell – a terrible monitor for photography as it has a very narrow viewing angle. I hear the 20″ Dell is better.)
September 23rd, 2006 at 4:31 pm
I’m not entirely sure on the point of your article.
Yes there are macs. They are expensive, and they are pretty and can be used for photography.
So can a cheap 2ghz pentium4. I bet your photos will still look the same.
September 23rd, 2006 at 4:31 pm
Etan said: “So can a cheap 2ghz pentium4. I bet your photos will still look the same.”
Actually they will probably not look the same. You adjust the look according to what you see on your monitor. Macs and PCs traditionally have different gamma, and apart from that they will possibly be calibrated slightly different.
Also, if you are using Apples RAW converter on the Mac, you will use a different RAW converter on the PC – so your pictures will definitely *not* look the same…
September 23rd, 2006 at 4:32 pm
Elliot_N said: “briefly owned a 24″ Dell – [..]has a very narrow viewing angle”
That must have been a long time ago. Mine has an excellent viewing angle. In fact it’s the exact same panel as Apple is using. ArsTechnica did a review and comparison of them both.
September 23rd, 2006 at 4:32 pm
As an adjunct, here’s what we recommend for a basic Photo Journalist Mac: MacBook Pro with MacOS X CameraBits PhotoMechanic Photoshop CS2 Panic Transmit Zterm HSDPA card Take, ingest, tweak, caption, send – sorted
September 23rd, 2006 at 4:32 pm
‘That must have been a long time ago’
About 8 months ago. I owned a 24″ Dell for ten days before exchanging it for a 20″ Apple Cinema Display.
Apple don’t make a 24″ display, so the Dell can’t use the same panel as Apple.
(It is the 20″ Dell that is said to use the same panel as the 20″ Cinema Display.)
All Apple displays use S-IPS technology, which is the only type of LCD suitable for photography.
The 24″ Dell is an MVA/PVA panel. Great for gamers, not for photographers. Move your head a couple of inches to the left or right whilst looking at the shadow tones of an image on the 24″ Dell. They will change significantly (lighten as you go off axis).
Not good.
No such problem with the Cinema Displays.
September 23rd, 2006 at 4:33 pm
BAD ADVICE
1. Cinema displays are not good for color critical work. Uneven backlighting, color casts. If you are a pro, you go with EIZO coloredge CG displays, or LACIE/NEC.
2. Aperture is not ready for prime time yet. For cataloging go with iView media pro or extensis. For editing use Photomehcahnic or Bridge if your camera is not supported under photomechanic.
3. Get a refurb quad G5, faster then mac pro at photoshop. http://www.barefeats.com/quad06.html
4. Lightroom. No pro would use a beta program while on a job.
5. No need to get a macbook pro or mac book. Save your money and use a mac mini. Can burn dual layer dvd’s and have socket processors, meaning you can upgrade when the 64 bit merom processors come out.
September 23rd, 2006 at 4:33 pm
No offense, but this reads like Apple porn.
September 23rd, 2006 at 4:34 pm
Dear Glenn What a great website from a 14 years old!
I don’t totaly agree with you on this matter, if you’re on a budget you can always buy a 20″ iMac with 2Gb of RAM and Aperture, it’s enough for the vast majority of amateurs out there. Believe me, i have one. You can add a second 20″ display later if you wish. Aperture is a very good app from Apple but was is own “ifs”, its slow and it lacks some features that are essencial to edit your photos. Of course you can always buy another application and use it as an external editor in Aperture. LightRoom seems a very good promise from Adobe but as said is a beta tester and NO ONE should trust it his beloved photos yet. When it comes out, let’s see how it performs, now it’s to soon.
I’m a recent user of Apple products and i share your entusiasm about Apple, a pleasure you discover when you use one for the first time.
Greatings from Portugal Glad to meet you!
September 23rd, 2006 at 4:34 pm
Dell Displays & Other Competition:
I apologize to all for only including Apple products in this write up, attention will be paid next time to include other options for different products.
Thanks for all the helpful advice! I’ll be sure to take it all in and use it to become a better writer.
September 23rd, 2006 at 4:35 pm
Hey Little Guy!
Wow you are growing up so fast! I have been watching your blog for a while now and every day it seems like you are getting a bit more mature! That’s great. How was your 14th birthday bud? I know being 14 can be tough with puberty and all, but in about 5 years you’ll be laughing at the cracking voice and pubes like it was a bad joke!
That’s awesome that you got your parents to buy you a new Mac again! Wow bud what a great set of parents you have to buy you all this computer stuff! Computer’s are so fun for kids these days huh?? Writing on your blog must be a ton of fun! Do you have a Xanga account too?
Alright little guy, goodluck with your parents, use clearsil if the zits get bothersome, and enjoy your new Mac toys! Mac’s are so fun, when you are all grown up you can use them for work and stuff too! They’re great!
Zim McMallan @ funpocket
September 23rd, 2006 at 4:35 pm
im, wouldn’t it be nice if my parents did have money they could spend on my gears..oh, only in my dreams…
I work hard for all of my technology gear. I write for a Mac magazine in New Zealand, work for Inventive Software on their application iClip, I’ve worked for MacZOT.com previously, along with MacsimumNews.com. I work extremely hard for what I have and I resent been called “loaded” or having “rich parents”. I pay for my gear, full stop.
September 23rd, 2006 at 4:35 pm
Thanks for this guide, I’m considering a Mac soon, although I’m still based on Windows, (depressing I know)…!
thanks again.
Charlie -
January 2nd, 2007 at 12:15 pm
Very nice guide - you should do more.
March 3rd, 2007 at 10:00 pm
To be honest all of this crap is wrong because Adobe CS2 isn’t a UB so a REAL photographer would use a Quad G5 setup.
May 16th, 2007 at 2:04 am
Good effort Glenn, but this ended up being one of those pages where I go, “damn it but I just wasted 10 minutes of my life!” The numerous contributors who are obsessed with what a “REAL” photographer would use are only highlighting their ignorance and sounding like pubescent blog-flies. The gear is a tool to a pro nothing more. 99% of them don’t care one whit about whether it’s a purple, fuzzy hammer or a silver, flexible one as long as it can drive a nail every single time. Damn! There I go again…another 8 minutes just gone!