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Best set up for Photo editing?

Kulfon

Kulfon

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Nov 4, 2013
911
1,377
Dear all,

I currently have 15' MBP from 2015. I am going to build a set up for the next 5-6 years and want to do it around a monitor this time.

I want to have a 27 or 32 inch monitor that will be stellar for the next 5-6 years and will be perfect for photo editing. I think the camera will be around 100 MP.

These are the choices I have:

1. LG (https://www.rtings.com/monitor/reviews/lg/32ul950-w)

2. Dell (https://photographylife.com/reviews/dell-up2720q)

3. BenQ (https://www.francescogola.net/review/benq-sw321c-photographic-monitor-review/)

Priority for me is modern design (aluminium and thin bezels), 4K to 8K as I will have an 8K camera, accuracy of colors and black especially. Connectivity and calibration built in (not mandatory, nice to have). I would get an Apple Pro monitor if not for the 5-6K$ price tag.

Once I will pick the monitor, I think I will use it with the current 2015" MBP for now (16 GB RAM, 512 SSD, etc) and will purchase Mac Mini (if I can myself add RAM, no Apple tax for RAM acceptable for me) or will purchase an upcoming 14' MBP in 2021.

Can you help me think?
 
The LG seems pretty basic - but I didn't dig into it more than the link you provided. The Dell and BenQ both look like good options, the Dell actually having a built-in colorimeter, which can be nice. It's still a nice idea to have a separate 3rd party device even with a built-in one to calibrate the calibrator but that depends on how far you want to take color management and what you do with the images once you're done. Color management can be a very expensive and deep rabbit hole :).

For the mac mini, you can absolutely add your own RAM - up to 64G I believe, which should work well. The 6 cores are nice. It might be underpowered on GPU. It just has an integrated one that would make me worry when pushing around 100MP files and 8K video and wanting it to be my main machine for 5 or 6 years. It may be worth considering a separate eGPU in that case, but that depends on your own working preferences and whether whatever your post processing software is can effectively take advantage of it. And you can also decide to add it later if you feel you need it.

Additionally, I'd either max out storage or make sure you've got plenty of it externally (or both). As you know 100MP files can chew up space quickly. And obviously, you'll want some external storage anyway to back things up.

Anyway, all things to think about!

(Edited several times as I think of things)

Cheers,
Ray
 
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Kulfon said:
Dear all,

I currently have 15' MBP from 2015. I am going to build a set up for the next 5-6 years and want to do it around a monitor this time.

I want to have a 27 or 32 inch monitor that will be stellar for the next 5-6 years and will be perfect for photo editing. I think the camera will be around 100 MP.

These are the choices I have:

1. LG (https://www.rtings.com/monitor/reviews/lg/32ul950-w)

2. Dell (https://photographylife.com/reviews/dell-up2720q)

3. BenQ (https://www.francescogola.net/review/benq-sw321c-photographic-monitor-review/)

Priority for me is modern design (aluminium and thin bezels), 4K to 8K as I will have an 8K camera, accuracy of colors and black especially. Connectivity and calibration built in (not mandatory, nice to have). I would get an Apple Pro monitor if not for the 5-6K$ price tag.

Once I will pick the monitor, I think I will use it with the current 2015" MBP for now (16 GB RAM, 512 SSD, etc) and will purchase Mac Mini (if I can myself add RAM, no Apple tax for RAM acceptable for me) or will purchase an upcoming 14' MBP in 2021.

Can you help me think?
Click to expand...

Maybe add the BenQ SW271 to the list too? @Apple fanboy is the guy I go to for monitor advice.
 
Question really is:
1. IMac is a 10-year old design and I think it will be different soon, thinner bezels and a bigger screen, maybe 30 inch - this is preferred solution for me, hopefully being able to add RAM myself
2. If an external monitor, then which one and what to connect to it, Mac Mini or a new MBP, maybe wait for 14 inch MBP in 2021
 
Kulfon said:
Question really is:
1. IMac is a 10-year old design and I think it will be different soon, thinner bezels and a bigger screen, maybe 30 inch - this is preferred solution for me, hopefully being able to add RAM myself
2. If an external monitor, then which one and what to connect to it, Mac Mini or a new MBP, maybe wait for 14 inch MBP in 2021
Click to expand...

There isn't one perfect answer. A lot of it depends on things that are unknown about you: budget, workflow, software, other needs, etc.

For (1) it depends on how good the rumors are and when you need it. I don't know :).

For (2) I'd be happy with either #2 or #3 in your monitor list (not the LG). I think @Apple fanboy in this forum uses BenQ and perhaps can offer insight. I'm looking for a new monitor myself so I'm still pondering. Again, a monitor that's good in a color-managed workflow has somewhat different cost implications than a basic one, and that depends on how far you want to push it.

I've just gotten a new mid-range 16 inch MBP and I'm really happy with it. It has 8 cores (16 vCores), a reasonable amount of memory (32G), disk (2 TB) and GPU (fast 8GB) that helps me with the large files I work with. The 14 inch MBP will probably be lower on the power scale and may not be what you need to push around the file sizes you're talking about. A Mac mini with external GPU would be a pretty flexible option. More cores, more memory available and a lot of flexibility. A tricked out mini comes in under the price of the mid-range MBP I bought ($3k or so, I think, and not including the eGPU).

If you want it to last 5 years, flexibility is a good thing. Apple has a couple of flexible options - the mini and the most flexible, the Mac Pro, which is worlds more expensive.
 
Kulfon said:
Question really is:
1. IMac is a 10-year old design and I think it will be different soon, thinner bezels and a bigger screen, maybe 30 inch - this is preferred solution for me, hopefully being able to add RAM myself
2. If an external monitor, then which one and what to connect to it, Mac Mini or a new MBP, maybe wait for 14 inch MBP in 2021
Click to expand...
So if your serious about photo editing I’d shy away from an iMac. Their glossy screens are not good for a natural look.
I currently have the SW271 and it’s great for photography. The SW321C is very similar. You get the full Adobe colour gamut and calibration software so you can access the LUT that’s built in. You will need a separate calibration device, but to be honest you should be doing that whatever screen you buy. Any specific questions let me know.
 
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r.harris1 said:
There isn't one perfect answer. A lot of it depends on things that are unknown about you: budget, workflow, software, other needs, etc.

For (1) it depends on how good the rumors are and when you need it. I don't know :).

For (2) I'd be happy with either #2 or #3 in your monitor list (not the LG). I think @Apple fanboy in this forum uses BenQ and perhaps can offer insight. I'm looking for a new monitor myself so I'm still pondering. Again, a monitor that's good in a color-managed workflow has somewhat different cost implications than a basic one, and that depends on how far you want to push it.

I've just gotten a new mid-range 16 inch MBP and I'm really happy with it. It has 8 cores (16 vCores), a reasonable amount of memory (32G), disk (2 TB) and GPU (fast 8GB) that helps me with the large files I work with. The 14 inch MBP will probably be lower on the power scale and may not be what you need to push around the file sizes you're talking about. A Mac mini with external GPU would be a pretty flexible option. More cores, more memory available and a lot of flexibility. A tricked out mini comes in under the price of the mid-range MBP I bought ($3k or so, I think, and not including the eGPU).

If you want it to last 5 years, flexibility is a good thing. Apple has a couple of flexible options - the mini and the most flexible, the Mac Pro, which is worlds more expensive.
Click to expand...
I’m using the Mac Mini and it’s good for my needs right now. In the future I might add a eGPU if I think it needs it.
 
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I have a lot of suggestions for you.

• Wait for the ARM processors. You are getting an expensive system and by the time you get it assembled, a new gen of Macs will pretty much be out.
• I have the 32" VA version of the LG monitor you listed. It works fantastic once calibrated. The only drawback is you can't view it at severe angles (but why would you want to?).
• For medium-format camera images with a Mini you're going to need an eGPU. A big eGPU. I have an RX 570 with my 30 mp camera and it barely cuts it in Photoshop, Photo Mechanic, Lightroom, Bridge, etc.
• 4k, 5k+ monitors aren't as practical as you think. I run my 4k monitor at 3008x1692 because otherwise text gets too small to read. Photos (and everything else) still look outstanding. Once calibrated, I wouldn't trade mine for anything.
• Get at least a 1GB SSD built-in, it's faster than the smaller ones.
• Don't rule out an iMac. Especially if they introduce a 32" one. Having all the components come from the Apple spec'ed machine, insures everything will be forward compatible. Many of us using eGPUs are at the mercy of Apple/card makers for drivers and compatibility. The new graphic cards in the iMacs are high-performance and you're insured they'll be supported for years.
• Many external NVme TB3 SSD drives are exceptionally fast. I use one as spillover storage for projects I'm working on. Archive and backups goes on my traditional high-capacity HGST HDDs. Ext. HDDs are plenty fast to watch movies off of and for music libraries, etc.
 
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Thank you for the answer!
I would need to figure out the way forward myself, but I see two options:
1. I now have a MBP retina mid 2015 maxed out. If I get the Benq 32 monitor, can I use the max quality of the screen? If this solution works for now, I would then get an ARM 14” MBP in 2021 and it will be great. Great at home and I can also take 14” mbp for travel
2. Wait for 30 inch redesigned iMac in 2021 possibly, but it would be 1-2 years from now.
 
From the narrative so far, I am not seeing any concerns of current processing or other performance issues.

Buying a monitor is not going to lock you in at this stage and more screen real estate is not a bad thing. I would go the separate monitor route for now and take a pause while we see how this Apple silicon evolution goes - hopefully smoother than the PowerPC to Intel. I imagine that any new device you connect to the monitor will be able to support it either as primary display, or as an additional display (if you go MBP or imac for instance).

I see little point in getting a $5k monitor unless your revenue depends on it. Hell, choosing a £1000 reference monitor over a £300 gaming monitor is a stretch unless you really really HAVE to have colour accuracy (I don't but YMMV, I don't know your circumstances so forgive me).

If your MBP works right now, then I wish you many years of happy editing. At the time you need to address your MBP as it becomes unusable, then assess the options but just know that regardless of mini, MBP, 14", 16" dare I say it... PC... the monitor will still be useful or at least have some resale value - dont get a curved monitor... money for little to no value add IMHO and also, have fun getting your image geometry right with a curved monitor... lol...
 
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Apple fanboy said:
So if your serious about photo editing I’d shy away from an iMac. Their glossy screens are not good for a natural look.
I currently have the SW271 and it’s great for photography. The SW321C is very similar. You get the full Adobe colour gamut and calibration software so you can access the LUT that’s built in. You will need a separate calibration device, but to be honest you should be doing that whatever screen you buy. Any specific questions let me know.
Click to expand...
This...
While I haven't used BenQ, my current monitor is the Dell U2715Q, an earlier version of the U2720Q, and a 21" LG the Dell replaced now serving as a security camera monitor. Compared to the LG, my biggest letdown on the Dell was calibration. The LG let me me dig in on white balance and individually set RGB levels where Dell dumbed it down to a semi-automatic mode and no access on the control panel to directly access RGB. Was excited to hear that added calibration internally, and from the article appears to be very accurate. Then the limitation dawned on me as you still need the advanced level external calibration. Dell's calibration does what the base XRite and Datacolor system do, but when you advance to the upgraded systems, Dell's become superfluous. There is no way you can create a printer profile with the Dell to assure that the printed output matches what you see onscreen. I have similar issue with digital output as clients view on their uncalibrated monitor...but that is a whole different issue, requiring educating the client and at worse, going over and calibrating their monitor.
 
Apple fanboy said:
So if your serious about photo editing I’d shy away from an iMac. Their glossy screens are not good for a natural look.
I currently have the SW271 and it’s great for photography. The SW321C is very similar. You get the full Adobe colour gamut and calibration software so you can access the LUT that’s built in. You will need a separate calibration device, but to be honest you should be doing that whatever screen you buy. Any specific questions let me know.
Click to expand...

Excellent point. Requirement 1 - matte screen. No gloss, absolute pain in the ass. I edit on an HP Z1 with glossy screen and it is a fecking nightmare. I either post dark images as I have the blinds closed, or I feel like every picture has an ugly fat guy in the middle of it because of the reflection. No gloss...
 
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kenoh said:
Excellent point. Requirement 1 - matte screen. No gloss, absolute pain in the ass. I edit on an HP Z1 with glossy screen and it is a fecking nightmare. I either post dark images as I have the blinds closed, or I feel like every picture has an ugly fat guy in the middle of it because of the reflection. No gloss...
Click to expand...
I can imagine. Horrific! ;)

The BenQ also comes with a nice shading hood.
 
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They definitely have a nano-texture glass option (for $500) on the 27". I haven't seen the new gen. iMacs but I'm sure the display is nice.

I used a 27" iMac for photo editing for years and loved it. I'd go back to one without hesitation if the next-gen ARM processor versions have a 32"+ screen.

I love my Mini, but it's taken a lot of headaches to get everything to play together nicely (mostly with Mini & display).
 
weaztek said:
They definitely have a nano-texture glass option (for $500) on the 27". I haven't seen the new gen. iMacs but I'm sure the display is nice.

I used a 27" iMac for photo editing for years and loved it. I'd go back to one without hesitation if the next-gen ARM processor versions have a 32"+ screen.

I love my Mini, but it's taken a lot of headaches to get everything to play together nicely (mostly with Mini & display).
Click to expand...
Really? In what way?
 
Apple fanboy said:
Really? In what way?
Click to expand...
I have used Apple's professionally since 1997. My Mini worked fine under Mojave, but the second I put Catalina on it, it all went down the toilet. It was hands down the most unstable computer I'd ever touched.

The computer would not wake up from sleep. The screen would go black sometimes for a second, other times longer. An absolute host of other problems I don't care to revisit.

A bunch of us here on the forums eventually discovered to not let the Mini go to sleep. And discovered our HDMI cables weren't reliable under Catalina so we all switched to DisplayPort > TB3 cables. After a month of crashes daily, I used TimeMachine to revert back to Mojave. I think it was not until 10.14 that Catalina actually worked on my machine. Everything works extremely well now, but it's been quite a project.
 
weaztek said:
I have used Apple's professionally since 1997. My Mini worked fine under Mojave, but the second I put Catalina on it, it all went down the toilet. It was hands down the most unstable computer I'd ever touched.

The computer would not wake up from sleep. The screen would go black sometimes for a second, other times longer. An absolute host of other problems I don't care to revisit.

A bunch of us here on the forums eventually discovered to not let the Mini go to sleep. And discovered our HDMI cables weren't reliable under Catalina so we all switched to DisplayPort > TB3 cables. After a month of crashes daily, I used TimeMachine to revert back to Mojave. I think it was not until 10.14 that Catalina actually worked on my machine. Everything works extremely well now, but it's been quite a project.
Click to expand...
Ah I see. I’ve got mine connected using USB c so I’ve never used the HDMI port.

My Mini had to have a motherboard replacement in March due to an Apple update. Not great.
 
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Here is the reality of life:)
1. Eizo and BenQ are great for display quality, but come in ugly all plastic design
2. Imac looks awesome, but display is not as great

There is also a third option if money are not an issue:
3. Apple Pro XDR display - has awesome display and stunning design, quality of materials

So.....I wish money were not an issue!
 
Kulfon said:
Here is the reality of life:)
1. Eizo and BenQ are great for display quality, but come in ugly all plastic design
2. Imac looks awesome, but display is not as great

There is also a third option if money are not an issue:
3. Apple Pro XDR display - has awesome display and stunning design, quality of materials

So.....I wish money were not an issue!
Click to expand...
Indeed. Although the expensive Apple XDR display isn’t as good as a top end Eizo for a fraction of the price.
But I agree an all aluminium monitor would be beautiful. But also highly improbable at the moment.
So it’s form vs function I guess.
 
Which Eizo display you have in mind that is better for the fraction of the cost?
Seriously wondering why there is no other aluminium monitor except for Apple. Strange. Plastic outgases and looks bad.

Apple fanboy said:
Indeed. Although the expensive Apple XDR display isn’t as good as a top end Eizo for a fraction of the price.
But I agree an all aluminium monitor would be beautiful. But also highly improbable at the moment.
So it’s form vs function I guess.
Click to expand...
 
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