Stemma Loc: Lancaster, PA

Hello to all! I am essentially a novice photographer. I am new to UHH and would like to introduce myself. I have been reading posts and getting educated greatly by what I have read in the last month or more.

I own a Nikon D7100 and will be looking to buy a computer and decide which editing software I should use. My main question is what computer specifications would most benefit my new hobby. I have been using Macs and I am leaning mostly toward the purchase of an Apple computer.

What is most beneficial RAM, hard drive/storage options for my new purchase. I purchased my camera on eBay and currently have no photo software for editing.
Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

Stemma Loc: Lancaster, PA

[quote=Stemma]Hello to all! I am essentially a novice photographer. I am new to UHH and would like to introduce myself. I have been reading posts and getting educated greatly by what I have read in the last month or more.

I own a Nikon D7100 and will be looking to buy a computer and decide which editing software I should use. My main question is what computer specifications would most benefit my new hobby. I have been using Macs and I am leaning mostly toward the purchase of an Apple computer.

What is most beneficial RAM, hard drive/storage options for my new purchase. I purchased my camera on eBay and currently have no photo software for editing.
Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.
Steve

Angel Star Photography Loc: Tacoma, WA

[quote=Stemma]

Steve,

Welcome to the forum and the wonderful world of photography.

My baseline recommendation regardless of whether you purchase an Apple or some other PC are the following:

RAM: minimum 16GB, more the better
Processor: Intel i7 minimum
Internal drive: preferably a SSD (solid state drive) but if not, then go for no less than a 7200 rpm spindle drive.
Video card: preferably dedicated (typically Nvidia)

As for editing software, the Adobe Photography Bundle for about $10/month is what I use but the are others who are more familiar with some free software.

Delderby Loc: Derby UK

Serif's "Affinity" editing software for Apple Mac would be one really good choice. Originally written for the apple mac, it proved so popular that it was then written for windows, replacing the previous Serif PhotoPlus X8 for windows (another excellent editor, which I still use). You may wish to consider a stand alone monitor for editing, but that can come later. To get started, a good lap top will be ok for early learning. Welcome to UHH and a great hobby.

yssirk123 Loc: New Jersey

My suggestions: Intel i7, 512GB SSD, Nvidia Graphics Card, 32GB RAM; Desktop form factor will make future upgrades easier than on a laptop; Software - Photoshop/Lightroom is by far the most powerful (with a steeper learning curve), Luminar is powerful and much easier to learn, but like every other app available it pales in comparison to PS/LR.

david vt Loc: Vermont

Hi

Suggest you use the search function in this section. This topic comes up at least once per month, so you will find lots of fairly recent threads. What computer, and what software, are two entirely different threads, so you can search for each

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

It's very easy to spend more money than is necessary. People tend to think think that more is always better. For processing images, you don't need a supercomputer. If you're getting a desktop, an SSD of 256GB would be good for the operating system and programs - very fast. For data, install a separate internal drive, like an HGST Ultrastar, of 2TB or larger capacity.

Memory
https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/how-much-ram-does-your-p
c-need-probably-less-than-you-think/
http://www.zdnet.com/article/how-much-ram-does-your-pc-need/

Processor
http://gizmodo.com/dont-waste-money-on-intels-top-processor-1791426602
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2404674,00.asp
https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/intel-core-i5-vs-i7/
http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/intel-core-i9-vs-i7-vs-i5-cpu/
https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/intel-core-i5-vs-i7/
http://www.laptopmag.com/articles/core-i5-vs-i7
https://www.extremetech.com/computing/210703-intel-core-i5-vs-core-i7-which-processor-should-you-buy

Setting up a new computer
http://www.pcworld.com/article/2861858/computers/7-critical-things-to-do-immediately-with-a-new-pc.html#tk.rss_all
http://www.computershopper.com/feature/13-essential-steps-set-up-your-new-pc

LCD

I have a i5 desktop with a solid-state hard drive. An i5 will save you a couple of hundred bucks over the faster, sexier, i7. Unless you plan to edit thousands of photographs for many hours a day, using many complicated post-processing features like image stacking, or employing dozens of Photoshop layers, I doubt if you will notice the slight difference in speed. You can spend the savings on more RAM, always a good investment. Unless you have the need for one, avoid buying a laptop for your post processing. Desktop towers have better cooling and are more expandable. With desktops you aren't paying for a screen, keyboard, batteries and other portability features. You end up with more computer for your dollar.

wds0410 Loc: Nunya

Having switched from Windows to Apple I would definitely stick with Apple. I have 16GB of memory and 250 GB of disk space which has been running low. So get as much as you can afford.

As for software I'll second the use of Luminar. Not as powerful as Photoshop but more than enough for this amateur. It was designed for the Mac world so it works great on an Apple and much cheaper than the Adobe monthly charge of $10 for the rest of your life. I think they are running a sale right now.

Bipod

The requirements of image processing aren't much different than other graphical applications.

Your choice of computer for image processing is like buying a car to commute: just about any car will get you there,
but some will cost too much money or spend a lot of time in the shop. The advice to buy one with plenty of RAM
is good. But that doesn't narrow down the field much.

Macs are pricey and slow, compared to PCs. But if you are used to the Mac GUI, you should
probably stick with it. Also, PCs run the gamut from very good to very bad --whereas Macs
are all fairly mediocre.

The parts most likely to fail in an microcomputer are the power supply (and fan), chip-top fan,
and hard disk. So those are good places to pay a little more. WIth PCs, you get a choice of
buying one with a better power supply (or just replacing the power supply); with Macs, you
don't.

Desktops are cheaper than laptops or notebooks, and on the whole more relaible . They are also
much more expandable and much easier to repair.

Computer monitors are notorious for having low-resolution and poor contrast. So it might be worth
sinking some money into a bigger, higher-res monitor, and possibly trying to get an OLED one.

The eye can see 10 stops of contrast at one time, but LCD/LED screens can display only 6 or 7 stops
at one time. OLED monitors can display a lot more contrast. That's why B&W movies look so
much better on the silver screen than on a computer screen.

If you get serious about color, eventually you might want to invest in a device for calibrating your
monitor, such as the Datacolor Spyder.

Computer hardware is almost inconceivably complex, and software is even more so.. So why not buy
something simple for your home, such as a nuclear reactor? (Seriously: reactor control systems have
to be validated, so they are vastly simpler than either Windows or OS X. Most are designed based on
relay ladder diagrams, proven correct, then implemented in software.)

Sorry I can't be more helpful, but if your neighbor asked you what nuclear reactor he should buy to
heat his house, what would you tell him?

olemikey Loc: 6 mile creek, Spacecoast Florida

I'll offer this - A "spendthrift" approach - Nikon has a great photo processing setup, ViewNX-2 and others they offer up for free right from their site. It is not the most powerfull or greatest, but would give you a lot of procesing capability for $0.00. You are just starting, so it would be a great way in (I still use it, have been for some time, it does everything I need). It works very well with my HP desktop, ( Refurbished HP 8200 Desktop PC with Intel Core i5 Processor, 4GB Memory, 500GB Hard Drive and Windows 10 Pro (I have it and a 23" monitor and only have about $200 in the whole setup), a Wallymart refurb deal (they have all types and levels of power). It also works well on my HP and Toshiba laptops.

If you have a lot to spend, ignore my setup.....and yes, there are many ways to get there. The higher end processing suites are going to need more RAM, and a faster processor, 3 GHZ or faster.
Good luck in your quest!

Fredrick Loc: Former NYC, now San Francisco Bay Area

You can BUY Luminar 2018 now for $49, with discount code DANBAILEY. All updates through 2019 are FREE. With their cataloging module coming out Dec. 18, it’ll do the vast majority of what PS/LR will do for most people. I also think it’s easier and faster to edit with. And their new AI engine is pretty slick. Luminar can also be used as a plugin to PS/LR down the road if needed.

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

https://www.pugetsystems.com/

These guys get it - and they do it right - great place to start, and they are quite good at zeroing in on what is important and what doesn't matter.

For what it's worth, you may want to consider what software you want to run AND THEN pick the most cost-effective platform to run it on. My guess is that when you start to compare specs and performance, you'll come to the realization that a Windows machine will likely be a better choice. Not because it is a better computer - either PC or Mac will get the job done - but rather because the PC is about 1/3 - 1/2 the price of a corresponding Mac, and you can get current cpus - like 9th gen Intel 6 and 8 core processors, while Apples are still providing 7th gen quad core cpus. If you end up using Adobe software, you'll appreciate the extra cores. Also, unless you order a new iMac with 64 gb ram, there is really no way to upgrade a machine with 32gb to 64 at the moment. There is no strong technological advantage of one over another - but the PC will be cheaper, have more storage and ram, and likely run faster than a comparably priced Mac. You COULD always get an iMAC Pro - but be sure to talk to a mortgage consultant before you do. . .

wds0410 Loc: Nunya

via the lens Loc: Northern California, near Yosemite NP

Hi, I've been a Mac user all of my adult life, so let's say about 35 years. I use an iMac Retina 5K, 27-inch, Late 2018 model right now. This is my fourth Mac over the years. My computer has 32GBs of memory and a 4GHz Intel Core i7. I'll probably see about pumping things up as I like to open lots of applications at one time, but right now I can run Word, Photoshop, Lightroom, and some other photo software package without a problem. My primary software applications are LR and PS. I'm a happy camper with it all, although there are always a few exceptions. I do not have a solid state drive but do use two WD external drives to store my images. That's about it. Good luck.