Gene51 wrote:
Your digital asset management program - iMatch - is fine. No need to replace it. Phototools is a mature company and their product is extremely well thought out, based on the trial I downloaded. It has many of the features of Lightroom's catalog and management, but is a more "open" product that can manage all sorts of files.
A thought about Photoshop. It is the best supported photo and graphics editor in the industry. 90% of those using it are likely only using 25% of its capabilities. So, it is logical to thing that it is more than you need, but that is fairly typical for a piece of software that is so broad in scope and deep in capability. It is more like a spreadsheet - you can use it for a million uses - from scientific and financial analyses to inventory management, project management, or simply keeping a simple flat list of "stuff". It's capability should not be a disincentive for getting it. But it has a raw converter (Adobe Camera Raw), file browser (Bridge) and the best editor in the business. There is nothing you can't do with it. Will you ever "need" all that it offers? Most likely not. Can you learn it easily enough to use it for your specific needs without having to master all 600 commands and thousands of techniques - of course you can. There are countless videos, tutorials, demonstrations, courseware etc, much of it free, that will help you learn what you need to know.
A computer to run this stuff is simple - i7 quad core cpu, 16 gb ram (preferably 32, or at least room to expand to 32), a solid state system drive, USB 3/3.1/C connectivity so that your external drives will have a fast connection, and a discrete graphics card with 2 gb VRAM (not Intel CPU based graphics which shares memory with the operating system and programs). A laptop will cost you about 30%-50% more than a comparable performing desktop.
External drives like Passports and My Drives and other packaged retail solutions are universally horrible. They fail at an alarming rate. Better to get a SDD (expensive, lower capacity) or a Western Digital Black drive which has a 5 yr warranty, and install it in a case that you can buy for around $25 - make sure the case has at least USB 3 connectivity. USB-C is better and faster. Installing the drive in the case takes about 5 minutes and you will only need a screwdriver - very easy, and much much better than the 4 TB Passport drives you can get at Walmart for $100, and may not make it beyond its 2 yr warranty.
I like Sager laptops - gamers use them as a lower cost alternative to Dell's Alienware - and they are fully customizable and as fast as most desktops when properly configured.
https://www.sagernotebook.com/home.phpYour digital asset management program - iMatch - i... (
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Hi Gene. Thanks for your comprehensive and helpful reply. You give a compelling argument for Photoshop. I guess I'm leaning towards Affinity because it appears that it will give me the capability I'm looking for at a much lower cost. Also, with the Photoshop/Lightroom package and my IMatch, I would end up with a second image management program that I wouldn't need or want. Thanks for the laptop suggestions. I'll have to think about the external drives. I now use a small, old Passport drive, OK for my JPEGS but probably too small when I go to RAW.
Thanks for the links Jerry. Much to chew on. I guess I'll start the hunt for a new laptop. Your links are an excellent starting point.
Thanks Bruce, I'll check it out.
Brucej67 wrote:
It is a powerful software, but the only thing I don't like about it is their persona approach to editing.
Can you please clarify "persona approach"? I'm considering Affinity and thus very interested in hearing from people who have used it.
via the lens wrote:
Hi,
You have equipment you like; you have software you like; yes, a new computer is always needed, one that is fast with lots of memory for quick operation and a couple of large external storage drives; I use a Mac so no info on what to buy. Sounds to me like you want to work on the artistic side of your work and this takes little in the way of camera equipment or computers. It takes a lot of work with learning composition and all other aspects of photography, from the technical skill of how to use your camera to what makes a good piece of art. After you accomplish this, then look for other equipment as needed. BTW, Lightroom is both a digital asset management program and a processing program so it's a sort of "two-fer," I suppose. I like LR a lot and have been using it for several years, along with other programs. There are also other programs that provide both benefits. It actually sounds like you know what you have been doing that is not so-right, so just change that and your photography will most likely improve.
Hi, br br You have equipment you like; you have ... (
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Thank you for your comments via the lens. As I said, I'm interested in a great variety of subjects, but you're right, I would like to do more with the "artistic side" of photography. At times I'm drawn to images composed of lines and shapes and would like to shoot more of those, particularly in black & white. For some of these images I don't see grain (noise?) as a problem so I'm thinking high ISOs are not always bad! That may put me at odds with some photographers (particularly the landscape shooters) that may always want low-noise sharpness. Of course I envy their skill and would also love to do what they do!
BB4A wrote:
My suggestions (my perspective, which may be wrong, it often is!) are:
1. Yes, replace that fine old, bullet-proof Toshiba. It's obviously done a sterling job for you over the last 7 years, but with a screen failure, there's a better than average chance that the motherboard or other components will be next... And it really isn't economical to replace those old failing parts. Any known & respected manufacturer (I personally like HP, Toshiba, and Dell), with an Intel Core I7 processor, ideally a solid state hard drive of at least 250 Gb . This will be a little faster than a bigger but spindle-mounted drive like a 1Tb; however sometimes these bigger, standard drive laptops are offered with excellent discounts.
2. Buy an external mobile hard drive, as your back-up device (I'm sure some folks here will recommend you buy two; they are relatively cheap). I love the Western Digital Passport Drives at the moment; not only do they have bullet-proof backup software ready to go & a 3-year warranty, but they are also being discounted quite heavily to corner market share. I just upgraded my backup hardware with two of these in the 2Tb size, for less than $80 each.
3. Once you have a good working hardware platform like this, you can then experiment & decide on your software upgrade? You might also want to/need to buy a cable or two, to connect laptop to your larger monitor/TV; again, that's down to your personal preference & how you like to work on your hobby.
Hope this advice helps, and have fun with the digital photography experience!
My suggestions (my perspective, which may be wrong... (
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Thanks for your response BB4A. Good suggestions. External drives seem to be a controversial issue (not the fact that you should use them, but what kind to get!)
Patrick9 wrote:
Seven year old computer is not what you want to use for working with photos. Time to get a new machine and put Affinity on it.
Thanks Patrick; others also suggested that I need a new machine. I'm gonna take my time - had computers that I thought died prematurely (HP, Lenovo, and now Toshiba). But then again getting 7 years out of a computer may not be bad!? If I get a new machine - with a 64-bit OS - I will certainly look at Affinity
DVJ wrote:
How can I use my 15 on my 10? Am I missing something?
DVJ aka David Jenrette
You need the 64-bit version of Windows 10
BACKGROUND:
There’s been a lot of discussion of post-processing software and hardware on this forum, but I could use some advice focused on my specific situation. Old guy, retired, strictly amateur, but an avid picture-taker for many years. In the old film days it was mostly black & white (Tri-X, Plus-X) with a Minolta SRT-101 camera and 50mm f/1.7 lens. For some reason color never seemed to work well for me.
Never considered myself a true “photographer” because too many of my shots were the “Oh look; click” type taken with insufficient regard for some of the basics – lighting, depth of field, backgrounds, etc. Also, I was (and am) interested in too many different types of subjects and never spent enough time to master the ins and outs of any of them. I haven’t done too well chasing grandkids with a camera, taking “memorable” shots while on travel with a tour (one eye on the viewfinder, one on the pickpockets), shooting good landscapes when I don’t want to get up at 5 AM, taking pictures of deer in my backyard when parts of their anatomy are in deep shade, others in bright sunlight, etc., etc.
I would like to kick my picture-taking and post-processing up a notch and am considering some changes. Yes, money is an issue in that I can’t justify expensive equipment and software unless it really helps me get to the next level of satisfaction and pride in my work. I don’t see myself printing much any more; going more towards slide shows for viewing on TV/computer/tablets/etc. I’ve never shot RAW (only JPEG) but want to try it.
UHH seems to be populated with an extraordinary group of knowledgable and helpful people and I’m hoping that some of you will give me good advice on the issues/questions I have.
MY EQUIPMENT:
Nikon D5300 (love it!). Kit lenses from my old D50 - Nikon DX AF-S Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G, and 55-200mm f/4-5.6G. I miss the 1.7 aperture of my old Minolta lens! Bought an adapter to use Minolta lenses on the D5300 but preliminary evaluation is that that was a terrible idea!
Toshiba Satellite Pro L450 laptop. Seven years old. Screen died recently; temporarily using an external monitor from an old PC. Windows 10, 32-bit. I keep my photos on an external drive.
Konica Minolta DiMage Scan Dual IV film and slide scanner. Haven’t done too much but want to do more. Nice scanner but old and not supported. I have no idea how it compares with the Epson film scanners that have been mentioned in this forum.
MY SOFTWARE:
I use IMatch (photools.com) for my photo management. Great program, much more capability than I need, but I will stay with it (support from the developer is outstanding!).
Have been using Ulead Photoimpact for many years to do PP. Would like to replace it.
Photodex ProShow Gold for slide shows. Nice program. Happy with it.
Scanner software that came with the Konica Minolta scanner. Still works in Windows 10, but what about the next generation of Windows OS?
SPECIFIC ISSUES/QUESTIONS:
(1) IMatch works for me. Any reason to consider Lightroom for my image management function?
(2) I’d like to replace Photoimpact. It seems too complicated and, even though I have a manual, there doesn’t seem to be enough easily accessible info on how to do things. No help on the web. Part of my problem here is that I don’t work with it enough to remember things the next time I use it. Perhaps this would be an issue for me with any program I use. Sounds like PhotoShop is much more than what I need. I’d like to try Affinity but it requires a 64-bit OS (my OS is 32-bit). So does PhotoShop Elements 15.
(3) Do I need a new computer? Should I change out my 32-bit Windows 10 for 64-bit? If so, I assume that my Konica Minolta software will no longer work. What then? Any recommendations for a reasonably priced laptop? (No Apple recommendations please! I have too much Windows software)
I’m sorry about the length of this post. Didn’t know how else to present my case. Any constructive advice would be greatly appreciated.
bullethole wrote:
While I love lightroom adobe's subscription model ticks me off. Any suggestions for alternatives which include the catalog and organization capabilities as well as the develop functions. I have no need for photoshop at this time as I can handle all my PP activities from LR develop moduoe
I've never used Lightroom so it may not be appropriate for me to comment. But as an alternative to the photo file management part of LR you might want to look at IMatch at photools.com. But you would need a separate post-processing program.
therwol wrote:
I have found in the past that Craig's list will find local people interested in what you want to sell. I've sold analogue televisions, computers and monitors, CD players and recorders and lots of VHS tapes through my postings. The last thing I sold was a Viewsonic 22 inch CRT a couple of years ago for 25 bucks. It saved me from lugging 70 pounds to a recycle center and throwing my back out. The problem with Craig's list, as has been pointed out in this forum, is that you don't know what kind of people you're inviting over to your house. Meeting on neutral ground doesn't work if you don't want to carry something as heavy as 70 pounds anywhere. I haven't used it since I sold that monitor. By the way, it still worked, and I'd still be using it if I hadn't replaced the table it was on. The new one wasn't large enough for it. Bye bye.
I have found in the past that Craig's list will fi... (
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Thanks. I have old electronic gear to get rid of, including an old stereo console! I keep thinking there must be some "hobbyists" somewhere that might want it... (sorry to go off the OPs topic!)
BebuLamar wrote:
I dunno! On my Nikon Df I can assign the Fn button to switch between Auto ISO on and off. I have to hold the Fn button and turn the command dial to turn Auto ISO on or off. I checked the manual of the D5300 and there is no such thing.
Thanks BebuLamar. I guess the D5300 doesn't have that feature. Wish it did!
BebuLamar wrote:
I do use the auto ISO feature. I put my camera on A and auto ISO on. Fixed my lens at f/8. It works fine really until.. I run into a scene where the background is brighter than my subject. So I need to increase exposure and what I normally do it such a situation is to switch to manual (I don't use the EC) but when I switched to manual I realized that I have to turn auto ISO off too in order to increase exposure. The first time I ran into this situation I didn't know short cut to turn off Auto ISO and I had to go thru the menu and it was a pain.
I do use the auto ISO feature. I put my camera on ... (
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What is the shortcut for turning off auto ISO? (Nikon D5300)
Peterff wrote:
That's not actually what is happening in the market. Cell phones have pretty much eliminated the market for P&S cameras. The market for all ILC cameras is shrinking, and mirrorless ILC camera share is growing, but recently the share of DSLRs grew faster than the share for mirrorless. The market is in transition and it's very hard to predict with any degree of accuracy.
Also, you shouldn't put electronics of any kind in the trash. They have a value to somebody, and at worst should be recycled.
That's not actually what is happening in the marke... (
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"They have a value to somebody..."
Agree; how do you find them?