user2071 Loc: New England

I believe JPG works on all platform. I don't know about any others.

dongrant Loc: Earth, I think!

The issue is not platform (OS -Window vs Mac), but rather one of what file format are your images and do you have applications on each computer that will handle that file format. We will assume that your camera images are either RAW or JPG. Without getting into why it is best to always shoot RAW, in either case your camera should have came with software that will transfer your images to the computer and the software should have had both Windows and Mac versions. Also MicroSoft has a free application that will allow you to view many RAW types in Windows Explorer.

Dun1 Loc: Atlanta, GA

All of the Adobe Products have full working trial or demo copies you can download and use in most cases for thirty days. You can try the full array of Adobe Products and see which one works the best for you. If you have enough images that you want to organize them by events you might try Lightroom which is also available as a trial download. You can import your images into Lightroom and make a great many changes or edits to your photos. In the event you decide that you have images that you want to edit further you have the option of using Photoshop Elements or PS 5 to further edit your images easily inside of the Lightroom program.
Here is a link to the Adobe Lightroom download page
www.adobe.com/cfusion/tdrc/index.cfm?product=photoshop_lightroom&promoid&promoid=DTEML
Here is also a link to the Adobe downloads page with a listing of all the downloadable trials.
http://www.adobe.com/downloads/

user2071 Loc: New England

The issue is not what format you shoot in, but whether or not she could put the images on her Mac later and the answer is that JPG is a cross platform file format for images and was invented exactly for that purpose: you can pass pictures around regardless of the kind of computer you use.

Whatever format you edit it, regardless of what format you shoot in, you can convert your images to JPG and transfer them to your Mac. Mac has some Mac-specific formats as does PC and probably Linux too, but JPG works on everything.

I doubt there is any software that won't let you convert an image to JPG.

Ruthlin Loc: Long Island New York

Thanks you very much. It is great to have a forum that I can go to and that everyone is so helpful.

I started to learn Photo shop but it is very complicated. I like using Elements. I shoot mostly in JPG, but I just upgraded my camera to Canon T3I and I will begin to shoot in RAW and JPG.

GordonB. Loc: St. Petersburg, Fl.

You may have just given me the answer to ONE of my
problems. For the last few years I've been involved in
Paint Shop Pro. I am now looking into digital cameras
which is new for me. For a trial run I shot many pixs
with a borrowered camera and most of the shots came
out blurred. I thought the entire reason for a P&S was
just that; point, shoot and the shots will be in focus
everytime.
I am not so confused of a camera to buy. I can't afford
a dSLR which I used when I shot with film and loved it.
I'm wearing bifocals and is that perhaps the reason
the shots are out of focus? Even so, it doesn't make sense. Would any of you talented, experienced person
PLEASE guide me in correcting this problem. I want a
camera that has a book of instructions, not a CD which is
worthless out in the field. Many, many thanks.

dongrant Loc: Earth, I think!

Gordon,
Why don't you look at the 3/4 frame cameras? They are less expensive than DSLRs, you can still change lenses with many of them. Also, have you looked at the lower priced DSLRs. All to many people are under the mistaken idea that you need an expensive high end camera to take quality photographs. That idea is incorrect.

As to the bifocal issue, you may what to look for camera what have as an extra option, a magnifying eyepiece.

user2071 Loc: New England

NONE of them come with real manuals any more, but you can buy a good book of instructions for many, if not most cameras on Amazon. The why they don't include real manuals issue is for me very personal because that's what I did for a living: I wrote manuals. But companies don't believe people use them or care, so they don't include them. I disagree, but that's neither here nor there. Expect to have to buy your own book.

As to the eyeglasses: I wear them too. I could wear bifocals but I don't because I hate them. For exactly the reason you just mentioned: they are useless when you shoot. Actually, they aren't particular good for working on a computer, either.

Get a pair of regular glass so you can see what you are doing when you shoot. Bifocals (or the ones with no lines that are bi or tri focals, but don't look like it) are not good for working with a camera. They just aren't and no amount of discussion will change that.

Not all point and shoots are born equal. Some are a lot better than others. Depending on the camera and the light, cameras take time to find focus. Some are very fast (and the better the light, the faster most are). Also, most point and shoot cameras, especially the less expensive models, don't focus properly in low light. No, it isn't true: you can't just point the camera at something, press the shutter and magically, you'll have perfect pictures.

You need to give the camera time to find something on which to focus. If you are impatient, you'll get blurry pictures. It's not just the camera: it's you, too.

When I first got my Olympus, I went out and shot a bunch of pictures and when I came back and downloaded them, they were all blurry. I was horrified. "OH MY GOD it doesn't work!" Then I realized I was wearing my computer glasses which look very similar to my "seeing" glasses. Oops :-)

As for adjustable eyepieces: not all cameras even HAVE a viewfinder now. Many only have LCD screens. In all the years I've been shooting ... more than 40 ... the diopter adjusters on viewfinders have never done squat for me. I think they are meant for people with good vision to make minor adjustments, not to replace eyeglasses.

user2071 Loc: New England

I love my 4/3 camera (I get it backwards too and call it a 3/4, but it's a 4/3) ... but if you can't get a point and shoot to focus, you won't do any better using a 4/3. The 4/3s can be cheaper, especially bought refurbished ... but when you get into extra lenses and accessory viewfinders etc. the price starts to climb very steeply. The new lines coming out by Sony and Nikon are just as expensive as a DSLR entry model. So you have to define "affordable."

The new Olympus PM1 is adorable and is getting great reviews, but it's still $499, which is modest for a "real" camera, but not exactly cheap. Everything else cost MORE.

dongrant Loc: Earth, I think!

Humm.... real camera. I was just think a few minutes ago, one of my early cameras was an Agfa 35mm range finder camera. I would love to have it now. Sometimes simpler is better. And there is just something about film... I miss that. Don't miss the expense though.

user2071 Loc: New England

Real cameras. I am of the opinion that we tend to overrate the importance of gear and downgrade the importance of "eye." Probably because you can buy gear but you can't buy "eye." God gives it to you free ... or not. If you've got it, bet you could take great pictures on a Brownie camera.

dongrant Loc: Earth, I think!

You may fine a number of books by Freeman Patterson of interest, if you have not already read them. He has a very Zen like approach to photography that focus on the eye not the equipment. And I am often amazed when I'll pick up a photography magazine to look at the contest of the month and find 1st or 2nd place going to a kid with a point and shoot. And deservedly so. I believe that it is 99.9% photographer 0.1% camera/software. There are a few time though that the little extra in the camera will give an edge. Like wider dynamic range for instances.

user2071 Loc: New England

I'll have to go looking. I'm one of the judges for the Audie awards this year ("Oscars" for audiobooks), so for the next couple of months, I have a LOT of listening to do and won't be reading anything else. But after that, it will be winter and that is reading time here in the snowbound valley.

billybob40

I still say photoshop E10 is the best for editing your photos. But this is a freeie to help with templates, frames, and about anything you may need other wise. http://www.ononesoftware.com/free/?utm_campaign=enews&utm_source=enews&utm_medium=email
Its been a lot of help to me. MARRY CHRISTMAS anGODbless

Lawmanb2 Loc: New Smyrna Beach, FL

I am so glad I found Ugly Hedgehog...you guys are great. I find new answers to my questions all the time. This latest set of answers on editing is invaluable. Thanks very much.