Can the iMac G5 handle semi-pro photo and video editing?

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Level 2

273 points

Can the iMac G5 handle semi-pro photo and video editing?

Hi.
I'm planning to upgrade my unbelievably faithful iMac G3 400MhZ with 640MB RAM and a 10GB hard drive. I've used this baby for the last, what? 4 years? I've run a freelance web design business on it (BBEdit, PhotoShop, Acrobat, QuickTime, iMovie, etc.), edited photos with PhotoShop 7; made simple movies with iMovie (iLife '04) that require titles, fades in and out, and some overlaid audio; done some processor-intensive QuickTime authoring; done alot of processor-intensive audio ripping and exporting, and all kinds of hammering on the little gumdrop machine.

I have a Digital Rebel XT and shoot hi-res now, a Canon miniDV camera (and plan to get two more), and plan on running iLife '05 or better, Adobe Creative Suite 3, probably Final Cut Express, and some audio software. Most of my photos stay on the computer or a FireWire drive because I'm learning photography. SOme of them will be used in print, and many of them will be used online, so there will be a lot of post-processing. Same with the movies: I'll post a lot online, so I'll be doing a lot of rendering.

By no means am I a "pro", but I want to do this kind of stuff. I'm a new photography "student" and I want a machine that surpasses my needs now, that I will grow into, and fit comfortably for a while. Will the new iMac G5 20" be able to handle that? How about running Aperture on that machine: anyone have success with that?

Please help me decide, and offer as much real world counsel as possible. I don't care about the consumer aspect of the iMac, I want to use it for my main machine.

Also, I don't have the budget or room for a desktop G5 and a 30" monitor, but I would consider saving more for the desktop and a decent monitor if theere really is an outstanding reason to go that route. I don't know for sure, but I don't t hink I'll be using al lof what the desktop G5 offers, and don't want to pay for something that I will not use.

Thanks a lot,
Scott

iMac DV, Mac OS X (10.2.x)

Posted on Dec 28, 2005 7:18 AM

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Answer 1

Dec 28, 2005 7:32 AM in response to Scott Hampton

The 20" imac will run aperture if you increase the RAM enough. I can't speak to the video side of things, but I can tell you that I have completed two books on Photoshop/Elements on a first generation G4 imac. The G5 will handle PS very snappily.

However, you definitely need to budget for a good hardware calibrator for the monitor. The screen on the 20" is at about 165 lumens and the native white point is just over 7000, despite the fact that the Apple system calibrator swears it's at 6500. I use the GretagMacbeth Eye-One Display Two, but the pro version of the Spyder is also a good choice for someone in your situation.

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Answer 2

Supergper

Level 2

375 points

Dec 28, 2005 7:36 AM in response to Scott Hampton

I will absolutely garantee the 20" iMac will be plenty for any and all photo editting. My shop (a digital print shop) has a dozen or so of the 20" Rev A iMacs. The biggest thing youw ill want to upgrade will be the memory. While the programs you want to use wil wrk with 512mb of memory, if you up it to 2.5gb you will be MUCH happier. The video editting may take some patience but it will deffinitely be able to handle it. I have also used Aperture on my personal 20" iMac and it runs sweet with 2gb of memory, if you're at 1gb with aperture it gets a little sluggish and frustrating but when I upped it to 2gb it ran sweet.

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Answer 3

Dec 28, 2005 7:47 AM in response to Scott Hampton

Scott,

I have a first generation iMac G5, and it handles Final Cut Express HD just fine. I only use it for home movies, but so far I haven't had any problems. I also use a Canon Optura 60 mini DV camera. My footage is captured and stored on an external firewire drive from OWC.

Can't comment on Aperture, but I also just got a digital Rebel XT for christmas, (thanks Santa,) and will be trying that out with iPhoto 5, and Photoshop Elements.

I really think the new iMac G5 would be up to the task. Just try and put as much RAM in as you can afford, and a good, fast, external firewire drive for storage and backup purposes.

See below for my computer info.

Good luck, and have fun,
Eric.

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Answer 4

Dec 28, 2005 8:11 AM in response to Scott Hampton

Amazing you did so much on the G3. Moving to the G5 will astound you.

Screen size of the 20" is ample for the needs you stated. I'll have to look into the screen calibration mentioned earlier in this thread.

As suggested by other posters, max the RAM - you'll be much happier. At 2.5 gigs, my machine is very snappy, easily handling the bigger apps. Of course, with Video rendering tasks, patience is important.

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Answer 5

Scott Hampton Author

Level 2

273 points

Dec 28, 2005 9:18 AM in response to Scott Hampton

Hi everybody.

Thanks for the amswers so far.

What I'm gathering is that for my needs I will NOT have to go the tower route, as the iMac will do me well.

I didn't mention it, but I have about 9,000 pictures in my iPhoto library and use a Lacie FireWire drive and a Canon Elura 50MC.

I'll certainly get more RAM. I know I'm gona need it!

Barbara: thanks for the calibration insight. I'm going to look into it.

Supergper: thanks for the insight on your experience with Aperture. I think I'll be using it one day, and it helps to hear how others use it.

ericdbrewer: I think I use movie editing like you, so I should be fine!

Hawaiian_Starman: Yes, you would be surprised to see what I did on that iMac. I amaze myself at wat it could do. Only added RAM and a new CD drive: it came with a CD player, I upgraded to a burner.

I'm sure the 20" is light years nbetter than my 1024x768 15".

Any more comments? Fire away!

Thanks, everyone!
Scott

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Answer 6

ScotMij

Level 7

21,913 points

Dec 28, 2005 12:36 PM in response to Scott Hampton

Scott,
Just another few comments from a home user who does a reasonable amount of photo work plus video. Certainly not a pro but fairly serious. I do enjoy the luxury of having a 1.8 SP G5 Tower (Oct 2003) and a new 20" iMac G5 iSight. Pretty sure you can do what you want on the iMac. You cannot have too much RAM and Firewire drive is strongly recommended. More than one if you can, especially for video which is a hog. I admit that having the Tower, I am tending to do all my photo editing on that before transferring so-called finished material to the iMac but that is a luxury. It also gives me additional backup which is a must. The entire set-up here is working very smoothly. Using SuperDuper! for backup. The Smart Update feature is very smooth and I run that nightly on the iMac which is a great machine.

Edit: I am fairly sure I have posted this elsewhere. My only photo problem has been that I was scanning old colour slides for ages - slow process. The iMac arrived and the screen is so bright it exposed many flaws in my scanned images. I have had to re-do quite a few. Many more to go as I look at them using Front Row whilst typing this on the tower. My problem, certainly not Apple's 😉

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Answer 7

Scott Hampton Author

Level 2

273 points

Dec 28, 2005 1:06 PM in response to ScotMij

An SP Tower and an iMac iSight? You luck chap!

I love the screen on the 20", it's much better than the 17".

I'm going to look into the SuperDuper!. I have about 140GB free on the FireWire, so I can use that to back up. But, well, I'll have to back thatup, too.

Once I finish spec'ing my complete iMac outfit I'm gonna dive right in and not look back!
scott

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Answer 8

ScotMij

Level 7

21,913 points

Dec 28, 2005 1:19 PM in response to Scott Hampton

Lucky indeed and a VERY understanding other half. I think she thought the tower might be sold on but no chance ! I have already experimented by moving the iMac downstairs temporarily for slide show purposes. She liked that but wonders when I will complete the backlog. Some thousands involved counting slides and prints for scanning. The digital stuff is so easy but I just grind away at the task.

The iMac has been working like a charm for about six weeks. I have both Macs on a Router/Modem so copying photo files across is painless. I think you will enjoy the iMac.

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Answer 9

Dec 28, 2005 4:26 PM in response to Scott Hampton

I'm going to look into the SuperDuper!.

Great app. Well worth the price and found here.

iMac G5 Rev C 20" 2.5gb RAM 250 gb HD/iBook G4 1.33 ghz 1.5gb RAM 40 gb HD Mac OS X (10.4.3) LaCie 160gb d2 HD

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Answer 10

Rod Hagen

Level 7

32,000 points

Dec 29, 2005 4:59 AM in response to ScotMij

Just by the way, Mij, what scanner are you using for your slide scanning? I've got to get around to doing this myself sometime (around 4000 slides sitting there being ignored for far too long).

Cheers

Rod

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Answer 11

Dec 29, 2005 6:20 AM in response to Scott Hampton

Scott-

To answer your original question, based on your task description the iMac G5 will handle your current needs. I also think it will give you room to grow, should your student needs turn more professional.

My production company, however humble, counts on two of them amongst others.

Peace-

DaddyP

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Answer 12

ScotMij

Level 7

21,913 points

Dec 29, 2005 7:24 AM in response to Rod Hagen

Rod,
Currently using Epson Perfection 4990 which has assorted adapters including eight way for 35 mm slides. Occasional hiccup with poor quality originals where the image does not fully feature and cropping does occur. It also seems to fall asleep at times with multiple images but does awaken after a prod. Overall, very satisfied with the scanner, despite the fact that I have to re-do quite a few, prompted by the iMac screen. Here is UK link.

http://www.epson.co.uk/products/scanners/Perfection4990Photo.htm

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Answer 13

edpsy

Level 1

0 points

Jan 3, 2006 11:37 AM in response to DaddyPaycheck

I am in the same situation as the original poster. Not a professional but a serious amateur photographer. What I have noticed is that the iMac iSight (20") with 1.5 GB RAM is a lot less expensive than a Powermac dual 2.0 with 2 GB RAM and 20" display. However, if one increases the iMac RAM to 2.5 GB, the two computers are extremely close in price. So one question to consider is whether your (our) needs include 2.5 GB RAM or whether 1.5 GB is sufficient.

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Answer 14

Jan 3, 2006 11:46 AM in response to edpsy

nlphd, welcome to the discussions!

If you want to add RAM to a Mac, skip buying it from Apple and buy it from a reputable vendor that offers a lifetime replacement warrantee and guarantees Mac compatability. Apple does not make RAM and they have some serious markup on it. If you buy third-party RAM, you will find the price difference to be greater.

Also, DDR2 prices will drop as production increases to meet the increasing demand.

Yes, the iMac can handle pro-level programs very well indeed. I just finished a large PAL-NTSC conversion and DVD reauthoring project that came out very nice on my first gen iMac with 2GB RAM.

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Answer 15

edpsy

Level 1

0 points

Jan 3, 2006 12:03 PM in response to Eric Kracinski

Thanks for the kind welcome.

I recently had problems with 3rd party RAM (well known vendor) and replacing it with Apple RAM seems to have solved the problem so I am a little leery of third party memory for now.

I do agree that DDR2 prices will drop in the future but part of the problem is that the new iMac has only one slot for extra RAM so one needs a 2 GB stick to raise the total to 2.5 and that's expensive for now, even third-party. Having said that, I'm still leaning toward the iMac, because 1.5 GB is probably plenty for Photoshop tasks.

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