atournas Posted April 2, 2024 Share #1 Posted April 2, 2024 (edited) Advertisement (gone after registration) After nearly six years of doing photo editing (and other tasks) on Mac Pro Intel systems, I recently acquired a Mac Studio M1 Max. It's the base model, but with a 32-core GPU; it proved a wise choice for working with my photo galleries. It cost me just under 2000 euros, although I will have to get a better monitor or some expensive Thunderbolt 4 external SSDs to fully exploit its capabilities. For now, I mostly run Sonoma from a Samsung T7, with no noticeable deterioration in performance. The machine is extremely fast. Standard tests like Geekbench are OK, but more impressive are real-life demanding runs of apps like Photoshop, Topaz, or Matlab. At last, I managed to upload and edit various large scans; also, I found and deleted all the duplicates in the galleries---the Photosweeper and Cisdem run insanely fast! I would have gone for the Ultra, but it would cost 2000 euros extra. No way, although the Ultra's specs are a dream for a photographer. Other members here with analogous computer systems? Edited April 2, 2024 by atournas 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted April 2, 2024 Posted April 2, 2024 Hi atournas, Take a look here Moving from Mac Pro to Studio. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
AndreasG Posted April 2, 2024 Share #2 Posted April 2, 2024 I bought two years ago a Mac Studio M1 Max also with 32GB RAM and a 1TB SSD and I am very satisfied with the performance though for photo editing it is certainly an overkill... 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted April 3, 2024 Share #3 Posted April 3, 2024 This should probably go in the Digital PP section, where there are many related posts. I recently switched from 2009/2010 Mac Pro (upgraded innards over the years) to an M1 Ultra with 64GB. And switched from 24” NEC screen to 27” Eizo. More than I need, but at age 73, I figure this is the last system I’ll need for my active photo years. My Epson P800 is still going strong, but this is the remaining piece that will eventually need upgrading. Jeff 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Einst_Stein Posted April 4, 2024 Share #4 Posted April 4, 2024 I am tempted by Mac Studio Max once the M3 version is available. Right now I am using iMac 27/i7. I want to stay with its monitor. I am thinking to remote login the Mac Studio through iMac. I think Mac Studio M3 Max + 64GB + 1TB should be enough for still photos, but wondering if 96GB has any meaningful advantage.. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterGA Posted April 4, 2024 Share #5 Posted April 4, 2024 1 hour ago, Einst_Stein said: I am tempted by Mac Studio Max once the M3 version is available. Right now I am using iMac 27/i7. I want to stay with its monitor. I am thinking to remote login the Mac Studio through iMac. I think Mac Studio M3 Max + 64GB + 1TB should be enough for still photos, but wondering if 96GB has any meaningful advantage.. Yu will never regret having more rather than less RAM. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Einst_Stein Posted April 4, 2024 Share #6 Posted April 4, 2024 9 minutes ago, PeterGA said: Yu will never regret having more rather than less RAM. How many are you using? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterGA Posted April 4, 2024 Share #7 Posted April 4, 2024 (edited) Advertisement (gone after registration) I'm using 128GB on a StudioM2 ... Edited April 4, 2024 by PeterGA Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Einst_Stein Posted April 4, 2024 Share #8 Posted April 4, 2024 Do you do any major work besides ALR and APS? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterGA Posted April 4, 2024 Share #9 Posted April 4, 2024 I shoot with 100MP X2D a lot...also I must admit I am lazy and can have multiple windows of google open at teh same time with many tabs etc et- more ram just give me a bigger working 'space' and faster processing of large files/libraries catalogues etc etc...no brainer for video work, Logic Pro if your into music composition etc etc.. Also consider your storage and back-up system... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Einst_Stein Posted April 4, 2024 Share #10 Posted April 4, 2024 (edited) I shoot 64MP S3 but also 16MP X and 24MP M. I do scan & Stitch and color reversal on films. The is probably more GB demanding. But give. iMax now only max to 24GB, I am hoping it is enough for typical photo work. iMac with 24GB/1TB is actually more expensive than Studio, and Studio with 64GB is only $250. ( of course the difference is the display and peripherals). So I am leaning towards Mac Studio. This allows more GB for future proof. Edited April 4, 2024 by Einst_Stein Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
atournas Posted April 4, 2024 Author Share #11 Posted April 4, 2024 I guess more RAM than apparently needed right now is kind of guarantee that the system will still be functioning in the future, when apps become RAM-hungry. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Einst_Stein Posted April 4, 2024 Share #12 Posted April 4, 2024 My rule of thumb is paying 25%+ extra to upgrade the base model, but no more than 50%. For Apple, I mean. For other systems that can upgrade on the go is not necessary. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marchyman Posted April 4, 2024 Share #13 Posted April 4, 2024 15 hours ago, Einst_Stein said: I think Mac Studio M3 Max + 64GB + 1TB should be enough for still photos, but wondering if 96GB has any meaningful advantage.. M2 Studio Max with 64GB + 1TB here. With LrC and Xcode (Apple's sometimes memory pig of a development system) loaded along with the usual web/mail/others my memory use is shown below. Glad I have 64GB, but suspect it will be time for a new computer before I need 96. If I spent lots of time doing video editing I might have a different opinion. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! 1 Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/392267-moving-from-mac-pro-to-studio/?do=findComment&comment=5157590'>More sharing options...
Einst_Stein Posted April 4, 2024 Share #14 Posted April 4, 2024 (edited) Wondering if any Imac M3 (16GB or 24GB) users can post similar data, given it can max up to 24GB only. Edited April 4, 2024 by Einst_Stein Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thighslapper Posted April 4, 2024 Share #15 Posted April 4, 2024 I moved from a well spec'd 2021 iMac to a studio M2 Max with 64Gb and 4Tb ...... and assumed it would handle everything I could throw at it. LR regularly causes an 'out of memory' warning which NEVER happened with any of my previous Mac's. Everything was copied over from my original Mac so all the LR settings and how things are cached is the same...... and I thought the whole point of the later versions of the OS on these machines was to dynamically manage memory anyway and they boast it can run multiple applications on 16Gb with ease. Otherwise it's exceptionally zippy, silent and never runs hot. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted April 4, 2024 Share #16 Posted April 4, 2024 On 4/2/2024 at 8:34 PM, Jeff S said: I recently switched from 2009/2010 Mac Pro (upgraded innards over the years) to an M1 Ultra with 64GB. Meant M2 Ultra. Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marchyman Posted April 4, 2024 Share #17 Posted April 4, 2024 1 hour ago, thighslapper said: LR regularly causes an 'out of memory' warning which NEVER happened with any of my previous Mac's. I'm curious as to why you see that but I don't. I rarely edit panorama and never hdr images. I could see how doing that would eat into memory. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Einst_Stein Posted April 4, 2024 Share #18 Posted April 4, 2024 If Adobe moves into AI, which is likely to happen soon, I wonder if it would suddenly be GB hungry with a quantum jump. But if it happens, Mac belows Studio would also suffer the computing power. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted April 4, 2024 Share #19 Posted April 4, 2024 Adobe already incorporates AI. Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Einst_Stein Posted April 4, 2024 Share #20 Posted April 4, 2024 1 hour ago, Jeff S said: Adobe already incorporates AI. Jeff Yes, still very primitive . Not close to current AI capability yet. I mean when fully AI powered. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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