iMac Late 2015 27" 5K Impressions

[halfcamerageek]

I made some gamut coverage comparisons today between the P3 iMac, Dell AdobeRGB and a high end Epson printer in order to gauge the real world impact of the expanded gamut on the iMacs. I used an Argyll CMS tool that creates a graphical comparison between two color profiles, calculates gamut volume and coverage.

For fine art printing, it’s a wash between the iMac P3 and a traditional wide gamut AdobeRGB monitor. The iMac’s color gamut covers 87.56% of the Epson, while the Dell covers 88.32%.

This is a negligible difference and each has its strong points. The iMac has better reproduction of greens, yellows and oranges, while the Dell shines on the cyan part of the spectrum. Both are good choices for photography work, and offer a real improvement over standard sRGB displays. For comparison, a standard sRGB display covers only about 67% of this particular printer gamut.

Compared to the DCI P3 video standard, the ** profiled ** iMac display covers 94,4% of it. Profiling a display to a known standard - 6500K and gamma 2.2 - reduces the useable gamut, more or less depending on the quality of the display and the calibration curves required. I assume it can reach the over 99% coverage stated by Apple if profiled with native gamma and white balance.

 

[macfrik]

Thank you for the first impression write up. Enjoy your machine.

 

[Textureboy]

Thanks for the impressions; reading this to keep me busy until my iMac ships

 

[EDLIU]

Nice. I just pulled the trigger on the 27" iMac 5K i7 4.0GHz/32GB RAM/512SSD. I'm pumped for the retina display...

Hi,

How's the 32GB RAM doing? I learned from the Internet that there are "64GB (16 x 4) RAM" from the OWC.

Do you think 32GB is enough? Or should we upgrade to the 64GB of RAM?

Thanks.

 

[MP4]

That's great to hear! I'm interested to see how other people go with backlight bleed on the new panels; if they are as bad on average as last year's models were, I will definitely be clutching on to mine for dear life rather than going up to an all ssd model.

My new iMac arrived today (my first one). Unfortunately the screen has a yellow tint, that I haven't been able to successfully resolve via calibration (i1 Display Pro). On a black screen, there is some bleed from various edges, more than I'd like, but that isn't as important to me as the tint .

I think it will end up being replaced.

 

[netnothing]

My new iMac arrived today (my first one). Unfortunately the screen has a yellow tint, that I haven't been able to successfully resolve via calibration (i1 Display Pro). On a black screen, there is some bleed from various edges, more than I'd like, but that isn't as important to me as the tint .

I think it will end up being replaced.

My biggest fear. I have had real bad luck with Apple displays, whether it is iPhone/iPad or the old Cinema Displays. My Mom's 2013 iMac has the yellow tint (see doesn't see it but I do).

I have never had an iMac. Currently using a 2010 Mac Pro with a Dell display (gave up on problems with 27" Cinema Display - had to be repaired 4 times).

Looking at the new iMacs, but really nervous about the display. This does not make me feel better.

-Kevin

 

[Gr81MB]

My biggest fear. I have had real bad luck with Apple displays, whether it is iPhone/iPad or the old Cinema Displays. My Mom's 2013 iMac has the yellow tint (see doesn't see it but I do).

I have never had an iMac. Currently using a 2010 Mac Pro with a Dell display (gave up on problems with 27" Cinema Display - had to be repaired 4 times).

Looking at the new iMacs, but really nervous about the display. This does not make me feel better.

-Kevin

Went though a few late 2014 5k iMacs, screen issues, aluminum casing where chipped/scratched, last year got a decent screen that is not too warm not too cool, not that much backlight bleed, no scratches or chips, unfortunately i think these displays run this way, luck of draw, hence why I'm sticking with this late 2014 5k iMac for a while!

 

[3587]

Received my iMac yesterday... Love everything about it... Well, mostly... The only thing I think that would make this better is for the screen to be shorter and wider... I'd rather have more space on the sides than up top... The screen seems too tall almost, as I don't tend to put stuff towards the top, as it feels like it is too far away... This may be because I sit a little lower in my chair? I loved my 34" Widescreen, the width and height were PERFECT, the text was not.

 

[kazmac]

Digging mine. I did see one beachball on Monday night while shutting down (most likely El Capitan) but otherwise smooth sailing. I am very, very pleased. Happy that my eyes adjusted as quickly as they did too.

Of course, I had to imitate Tom Servo when I unboxed this thing: "I'M HUGE!" (I would love that as a start up sound.)

 

[dsc888]

That's something else I should have mentioned in my original write up. I have been very, very happy with my panel. There is almost no light bleed apart from a gradual bleed in the bottom right corner, which difficult to notice even when the display is showing a black image at full brightness in a pitch black room. I know bleed has been an issue with other 5k iMacs, and even my mother's 2013 21.5" has pretty bad bleed, so I may end up keeping the fusion drive model for the panel alone!

Now that I've had my new 2015 BTO 27" RiMac for an entire 24 hours, I have noticed the same light bleed as well from the lower right corner as well. It's noticed with a complete black screen and it's "pinkish" in appearance with the screen displaying a black screen. Compared to my 2010 27" ACD connected to my Mac Pro, it's leaps and bounds better.

I've also noticed that the right side of the display seems ever so slightly "warmer" color temperature wise, which I detect with white web pages. You can see it if you look at the upper left (slightly cooler and whiter) and look back to the right upper corner (slightly warmer or yellow).

I bought this to edit photos with. So this may be an issue. I will see how I like it after a few more days. I hate to return it as it's a BTO and I'd have to wait for a replacement with NO guarantee that the replacement doesn't have issues. I went through that with the 2010 iMacs and never did find one that did't have a ton of backlight bleed on the lower corners.

 

[kazmac]

Not sure if El Capitan is adjusting to my usage or what, but not surprisingly saw a few beach balls with my external LG dvd drive last night. And I had to reset the display again to play iTunes material (that just makes me laugh.)

Other than software annoyances, I'm still good. The machine starts up super fast, it's very nice to use (and right now feels like way more than I need, but that will change.) Pixelmator and others launch instantly and the hardware itself is fine. Just frustrating as hell that Apple's OS is not what it used to be; but iOS isn't smooth either.

 

[netnothing]

Now that I've had my new 2015 BTO 27" RiMac for an entire 24 hours, I have noticed the same light bleed as well from the lower right corner as well. It's noticed with a complete black screen and it's "pinkish" in appearance with the screen displaying a black screen. Compared to my 2010 27" ACD connected to my Mac Pro, it's leaps and bounds better.

I've also noticed that the right side of the display seems ever so slightly "warmer" color temperature wise, which I detect with white web pages. You can see it if you look at the upper left (slightly cooler and whiter) and look back to the right upper corner (slightly warmer or yellow).

I bought this to edit photos with. So this may be an issue. I will see how I like it after a few more days. I hate to return it as it's a BTO and I'd have to wait for a replacement with NO guarantee that the replacement doesn't have issues. I went through that with the 2010 iMacs and never did find one that did't have a ton of backlight bleed on the lower corners.

Really can't stand we pay a ton of money for these things and we have to play a lottery to get a good screen. At the minimum you shouldn't have to have a yellow tint on part of the screen.

But I guess in the end you are buying a computer with a free display.

-Kevin

 

[dsc888]

Really can't stand we pay a ton of money for these things and we have to play a lottery to get a good screen. At the minimum you shouldn't have to have a yellow tint on part of the screen.

But I guess in the end you are buying a computer with a free display.

-Kevin

The saddest part is that I do have to exchange my iMac. I was displaying a dark photo last night and noticed a "spec" that I thought was dirt. Upon closer inspection, it was a stuck pixel an inch below the iSight camera. I decided to put up a black screen. I found 15+ stuck pixels in the vicinity! Unbelievable! LG really needs to get their panel QC act together. This is awful.

 

[netnothing]

The saddest part is that I do have to exchange my iMac. I was displaying a dark photo last night and noticed a "spec" that I thought was dirt. Upon closer inspection, it was a stuck pixel an inch below the iSight camera. I decided to put up a black black screen, I found 15+ stuck pixels in the vicinity! Unbelievable! LG really needs to get their panel QC act together. This is awful.

I've never had an iMac....always Mac Pros. But with how expensive 3rd 4K displays are, the iMac is the best bargain. BUT - I'm scared to death to buy one. Just seems they have continued quality control issues. I get it to a sense....people like my Mom, never notice the yellow tint. But for a professional, we are going to examine the display with a fine toothed comb. And because most of us get a BTO, it's even more of a pain.

I've gone through so many iPads because of these types of issues.

Apple really has let the Pros down.

Good luck on your return!

-Kevin

 

[Textureboy]

The saddest part is that I do have to exchange my iMac. I was displaying a dark photo last night and noticed a "spec" that I thought was dirt. Upon closer inspection, it was a stuck pixel an inch below the iSight camera. I decided to put up a black black screen, I found 15+ stuck pixels in the vicinity! Unbelievable! LG really needs to get their panel QC act together. This is awful.

Wow you're just like me. After getting so many I wonder if its even possible to get a "perfect" display. I'm afraid my next exchange is going to have at LEAST one....


I counted 20+ on mine as well.

 

[dsc888]

BUT - I'm scared to death to buy one. Just seems they have continued quality control issues. I get it to a sense....people like my Mom, never notice the yellow tint. But for a professional, we are going to examine the display with a fine toothed comb. And because most of us get a BTO, it's even more of a pain.

I've gone through so many iPads because of these types of issues.

Apple really has let the Pros down.

Good luck on your return!

-Kevin

Kevin,

Thank you. Editing photos, whether professionally or for a hobby, really trains your eyes to notice tints and color variation. I too played the iPad3 screen lottery and too 6 tries before I found an acceptable one. The uneven tinting on the sides and corners completely ruins the user experience especially when so much of the UI is white with grays.

My dilemma right now is whether I should even hold onto the iMac. It's an amazing machine BUT I bought it for the screen. My trusty 2010 2.8 QC Mac Pro is still chugging along just fine. But my old 27" ACD is so pixelated compared to all the Retina screens.

 

[dsc888]

Wow you're just like me. After getting so many I wonder if its even possible to get a "perfect" display. I'm afraid my next exchange is going to have at LEAST one....


I counted 20+ on mine as well.

Yup. I thought I was "stargazing" when I finally found an entire cluster of them! It was actually pretty. Some were red. Some where green. And one was white. It really brought me back to my middle school astronomy class

My guess is that Apple hopes most people will not find them due to the pixels being so fine and the fact you sit further away from the 27" screen. But I didn't pay $3k for that many stuck pixels. It's totally unacceptable.

 

[netnothing]

Kevin,

Thank you. Editing photos, whether professionally or for a hobby, really trains your eyes to notice tints and color variation. I too played the iPad3 screen lottery and too 6 tries before I found an acceptable one. The uneven tinting on the sides and corners completely ruins the user experience especially when so much of the UI is white with grays.

My dilemma right now is whether I should even hold onto the iMac. It's an amazing machine BUT I bought it for the screen. My trusty 2010 2.8 QC Mac Pro is still chugging along just fine. But my old 27" ACD is so pixelated compared to all the Retina screens.

That's too funny. I went through like 4 iPad 3 models (the first retina) and finally gave up. Had a hell of a time with the first retina mini as well. Even my first mini 4 I just bought I forgot to open in the store. Got home.....big bunch of dead pixels. Had to truck back to the store and exchange. Opened the next one in the store.

Personally.....if this were a hobby machine doing surfing and emails I'd say keep it. But once you start doing anything with photography, you owe it to yourself (for the money paid) to have a good screen. If Apple came out with a disclaimer on all models like this:

* All iMac display will have uneven tinting and white/yellow patches.

Then we wouldn't have anything to do. But they claim it's a good quality screen......any yellowing is not good quality to me.

Bad pixels....that's just the the norm with mass producing these displays. That's down more to bad QC and what I feel as "letting it through" in hopes the customer doesn't notice. I'm sure most of Apple's customers are like my Mom....they wouldn't notice unless it was really bad.

-Kevin

 

[dsc888]

Bad pixels....that's just the the norm with mass producing these displays. That's down more to bad QC and what I feel as "letting it through" in hopes the customer doesn't notice. I'm sure most of Apple's customers are like my Mom....they wouldn't notice unless it was really bad.

-Kevin

You hit the nail right on the head. I can see me letting go one or two pixels at the corners but 15+ is too much.

Just noticed you are in NH. I picked up my BTO from the Rockingham Mall store

 

[netnothing]

You hit the nail right on the head. I can see me letting go one or two pixels at the corners but 15+ is too much.

Just noticed you are in NH. I picked up my BTO from the Rockingham Mall store

Yeah, if I ordered I've been tempted to have it ship to Mall of NH to open it there. Problem is those damn bright-as-the-sun lights in the store!! Even inspecting iPads is tough. It's like everything is perfect in the Apple Store.....it's once you leave

For my first iPad mini retinas, I bought from Rockingham and kept walking outside to my car under the garage to get a good look.

I think anything over 1-2 are too much. And it the 1-2 are in direct line of sight like the middle of the screen....I'd return that too. Problem is once you see them....you can't un-see them.

-Kevin

 

[Textureboy]

Yup. I thought I was "stargazing" when I finally found an entire cluster of them! It was actually pretty. Some were red. Some where green. And one was white. It really brought me back to my middle school astronomy class

My guess is that Apple hopes most people will not find them due to the pixels being so fine and the fact you sit further away from the 27" screen. But I didn't pay $3k for that many stuck pixels. It's totally unacceptable.

Seriously... for me it costed me $5k. We shouldn't even be getting any stuck pixels.

 

[netnothing]

Seriously... for me it costed me $5k. We shouldn't even be getting any stuck pixels.

Exactly. Pro prices but consumer hardware!!

-Kevin

 

[photoj2754]

27" 5K Retina iMac with the 3.2 GHz quad core, 512GB flash storage and 8GB memory upgraded to 16.
Boy do I love my new iMac. Waited eight years and even though I am no where near a power user, so glad to get this. So fast on everything. Love the screen and look forward to getting home to use it. I do miss iDVD but will be adding something to take care of that. Overall very pleased.