dick914 Loc: Columbus, OH

I am new to the forum and this is my first post. I have been monitoring this site for a couple months and have learned a lot in a short time. I am retired and getting bored, my interests include landscape photography, birds, pets and to develop other interests as I grow.

I am about to invest in a new camera body (NIKON D7100) and a couple kit zoom lenses (18-140mm and 55-300mm)

I want to learn post processing software but I only want to do it once so I am going with Adobe Lightroom 5 and Photoshop Elements 13.

Next I need to replace my desktop computer, which is long overdue. So I went with some of the recommendation from this site. Intel i7 cpu, 16MB memory expandable to 32MB, SSD drive and 2TB hard drive.

Now I need to choose a new monitor. Is there anything specific that I need to look for. How important is resolution. Any help would be appreciated.

ebbote Loc: Hockley, Texas

Welcome to the Hog Dick.

Dan L Loc: Wisconsin

Welcome to UHH and also use search for some great articles previously posted. You will find expert advice there and I hope this helps and if not ask again.

Dan821 Loc: Traveling........

Welcome to the forum!
As stated above, you can search and find a lot of threads concerning your question. Most recently there was this one with some pretty good suggestions:

http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-250458-1.html

Leicaflex Loc: Cymru

Welcome to the HOG - Enjoy.
I use EIZO monitors.
Take a look here:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/buy/Shop-by-Brand-Eizo/ci/4/phd/4291465174/N/4294255798

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Dick, welcome to the Hog, in spite of what ebbote said! :lol: :lol:
SS

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Dick, if you want to "future proof" your purchase, I have a couple of suggestions.

Rather than PSE, you might want to consider the regular Photoshop/LR bundle for several reasons.

1. You will likely experience the same learning curve, you don't have to (and probably never will) use every feature in Photoshop. I've been using it since 2000 and I still don't use everything in my work. But the tools provided are not deliberately "dumbed down" for the casual or occasional user.

2. Photoshop allows you to edit in 16 bit. This can have a profoundly positive impact on the quality of the images you make. PSE is only 8 bit.

3. The raw editor in PSE is a stripped down version of ACR, The editor in LR and Photoshop is the fully functional ACR engine.

4. You seem to be someone who reads and learns and takes the time to figure things out. My guess is that you will experience frustration, probably sooner than later, when you start hitting the limitations of PSE.

5. PS allows full control over the editing, and you can easily record your own keystrokes as actions for future use on other images. Better yet, you can use other actions from other photographers by simply loading them into PS. PSE does not support actions.

6. It's actually cheaper to purchase a subscription to PS and LR, which is only $120 a year or $10/mo. At any point during your subscription, you can stop it. Your images are still on your computer, and you can use any software you decide to use to edit your images. With the subscription, you get free updates and version revisions. With LR/PSE, when there is a version upgrade you pay an upgrade fee.

7. You can turn on 30 bit display in PS, and view your images in 30 bit color (over 1 B colors), with the right display card (NVidia K620 or higher, or ATI Fire Pro), and a 10 bit capable display (Dell 2413, Asus PA249Q, etc). This will make a difference in your editing, and you will see more of what the printer can print, since the range of colors (gamut) is wider. This is not possible in PSE.

Regarding your display and graphics card, you need to decide PS vs PSE, then select a display that will support it.

singleviking Loc: Lake Sebu Eco Park, Philippines

It's all in the sentence structure....

"Dick,
Welcome to the Hog."

Sounds a bit more welcoming than the way you said it.

Just sayin'.

ebbote Loc: Hockley, Texas

Sorry SS, I couldn't help myself.

flyguy Loc: Las Cruces, New Mexico

:twisted: :twisted: :twisted: