Developmental Issues

[Dan]

TimmyJoe:

What about running Bootcamp or Parallels?

 

[jsrockit]

I think that with the current higher megapixel Fuji sensors and the current Lightroom Classic, things work fairly well. But, while the improvement you get from programs like Iridient X-Transformer or Iridient Developer approaches pixel peeping with the 26mg sensors, I found them useful with the earlier, lower megapixel sensors. I know one of the genuinely knowledgable Fuji authorities, Rico Pfirstinger, has said that even with the current sensors they produce the best sharpening.

I don't doubt it Bill. However, I'm stuck in my ways, and have too many catalogs exactly the way I want them, to change for a little better image quality. I'm happy with my results and workflow.

 

[Bill Clark]

Yes, I’ve had my share of developmental issues.

I’ve learned a little over many years. Experience is the best teacher. It can help to have a coach; someone to help you along the way. I was in my mid-fifties before I found a person who was willing to help me by being my coach and mentor and just pointing me in the right direction. Then I did the rest.

Once I figured out that Photoshop is about layers and blending, the sky is the limit!

Another helpful tool is using RAW capture.

It also doesn’t hurt to develop a reputation that entices people to check your stuff out. But you gotta produce the right stuff to make the money. I figured that at each wedding, the entire bridal party could have potential clients for me. I made the most of it.

I’ve met some really fine people who are making their living with photography.

To summarize, the best ingredient/tool/device is to find someone with experience and is successful who would be willing to be your coach and mentor you. It’s the best tool you could possibly have.

 

[RichC]

I use Capture One because (a) it gives the best results once you've learnt to use it (I have Lightroom CC too, from work, but rarely use it), (b) it's a dream to use tethered in a studio and (c) it has no gimmicks like Lightroom (e.g. pet red eye removal!).

It's the "Photoshop" of raw developers - a steep price and learning curve - but worth it. Primarily designed for Phase One's $50,000 cameras, and it shows..l

 

[RichC]

By the way, there are some seriously ancient programs and creaky computers still being used here! The average lifespan of a computer is considered to be about 4 years, after which serious thought ought to be given to junking it. Software? The advice is to always have the latest version and never use outdated or unsupported programs unless you like Russian roulette...

Every 5 years or so I get a dedicated photography PC built (eg lots of Ram). Not as expensive as it sounds as quite a few parts can be reused.

Human years vs computer years:
1     5
2     15
3     30
4     50
5     75
6     105

 

[Bill Clark]

The average lifespan of a computer is considered to be about 4 years,

I don’t believe it. Where did that number come from?

My iMac is from 2006 and it still runs Photoshop just fine. I can receive email with my google account as they have an html version that works for me. Thank you.

My trusty Dell is from 2002 with Windows XP installed and it still works just fine. I use it with Quicken for a volunteer job as Treasurer of an organization. It also has Photoshop installed.

I have an IBM PC that is so old it has windows 95 on it. It runs Microsoft Office as well as Quickbooks. It has a 3-1/2” drive as well as a CD installed and a puny internal hard drive. When I was in business it was used for accounting and spreadsheet info. Those machines ran 24/7 for quite a few years. We just left it running.

Then again, when I was real busy with my business. my banker liked my business philosophy. He probably didn’t like it that I never had to borrow any money. But keeping my stuff a long time I didn’t need to. I took my Canon 20D out to exercise it and to photograph grandkids recently and it worked just fine. I bought it in 2004.

Where my wife works, downtown Minneapolis HQ with over 600 employees they stil use an IBM AS400. It’s rock solid.

At any rate, I don’t see the need to upgrade at all.

I will admit my wife wants to get a new Apple computer when she retires at the end of this year!

 

[Ronald M]

I'm with Rob_F, and have been using Aperture since it was first introduced. It is so intuitive, like Apple used to make their programs. Because it worked so well, even when coupled with Photoshop, I never had the need to learn Lightroom.

But now I'm in a pickle. My main desktop computer is very long in the tooth (2009) and Aperture and my legacy version of Photoshop (CS6) won't run on the new Apple machines (one of which I'm going to have to purchase). I'm a stubborn old coot and refuse to use a program that I have to pay for monthly, so I'm slowly but surely looking around for a program that does what Aperture did, and another that does what Photoshop did (although I must admit, I rarely use more than about 5% of what Photoshop is capable of, I could probably get by with Photoshop Elements). Luckily Photo Mechanic still seems to work on the new machines, and I don't have to pay for that monthly, so that one is sticking around.

Would like to hear what others are using on new Macs with Catalina, and how it's working out.

Best,
-Tim

PS: Oh, and for film (only processed B&W) I used Tri-X & Plus-X in D-76 from the mid 70's to early 90's then discovered AgfaPan & Rodinal and never looked back. Okay, until Agfa went belly up. Now it's mostly Tri-X or Double-X and HC-110 and occasionally (if I want sharper, higher contrast images) I'll use Rodinal/Adonal with the Tri-X.

As another old coot, 78, I hear you. Got rid of CC and went back to CS6. I have High Sierra. Computer will not update further.

As I use Leica and Nikons, I used to use Nikon NX2 and now NX D which are free. It will not take DNG, but today I tried to take Leicas DNG and convert to 16 bit tiff and take that to NX D. It works perfectly and I tried my usual test subject with D750 and M10 DNG>TIFF and can not tell them apart.

Also clone your HD and downgrade new computer from it.

There are other free programs out there.

Ilford Delta 100 and D76 1:1 still works. DSLR scans. I made many that are pretty good. Mix my own D76. Still working of a bottle of hydroquinone I have had for 50 years. Borax comes from laundry aisle, $2 for a lifetime supply. The Chemistry Store sells sell sodium sulphate and sodium carbonate { paper developer} cheap.

We have to get off the endless upgrade train.

 

[Bill Clark]

We have to get off the endless upgrade train.

Agree with you!

 

[jsrockit]

The average lifespan of a computer is considered to be about 4 years, after which serious thought ought to be given to junking it.

In the past maybe, but I don't feel that way anymore... I have a 4 year old MacBook Pro and it is still running really well. I think I'll try to get 6 years this time. In the past, upgrading my computer was exciting. Now? Not so much.

 

[RichC]

In the past maybe, but I don't feel that way anymore... I have a 4 year old MacBook Pro and it is still running really well. I think I'll try to get 6 years this time. In the past, upgrading my computer was exciting. Now? Not so much.

I agree with you that computers are evolving more slowly now and I too intend holding onto mine for a year or two longer now.

But I was reminded how fast technology changes when I upgraded some of my software a few weeks back. Artificial intelligence (AI) is the thing now, and I was seriously impressed by Topaz's AI software - I tried their sharpening and video enhancement apps. However, I found my 4-year-old computer barely coped: Topaz AI Sharpen took half an hour per photo and overheated my processor (temperature went to 100°C!), while Gigapixel needed 7 hours to render a 30 minute video! The results are amazing (especially Gigapixel) but clearly AI software doesn't run well on a computer that was state of the art just a few years ago!

Computers are not like film cameras where technology matured long ago and is not a barrier to use (at least for standard film formats like 35mm and 120).

Computers and software, like smartphones, are designed to have a finite lifespan to take advantage of innovations in technology. It's not classic built-in obsolescence (a bad thing) as the changes are often not only remarkable but necessary (e.g. for security or compatibility).

A photograph from the first and last Nikon film cameras is essentially the same, and may be impossible to tell apart.

But Aperture, say, is left in the dust by raw software like the current versions of Lightroom and Capture One. There's simply no comparison. Aperture was excellent ... a decade and a half ago. Today? It's like comparing kiddies' crayons with artists' paints!

Using an old film camera? That's admirable, and is no barrier to taking photos just as good as a modern digital camera in the right hands. Using a 15-year-old or more computer? Not so much... Why anyone would think that's a good idea beats me!

 

[willie_901]

I have used Lightroom since version 1. Occasionally I use Nik Silver Efex Pro (Google version). I rarely use Photoshop but it's good to have access when I need it.

I subscribe to LR Classic CC. I do not use Adobe's cloud sync in any way. This has nothing to do with security concerns. I find Adobe's approach to Cloud usage to be confusing and inflexible.

The main problem with LR is performance. However, Adobe improves performance with each release. Also, there are guides on how to optimize performance. LR does require a methodical approach to data backups. Without a current backup one could lose years of post-production work. While this may be true for other post-production applications as well, it is particularly relevant for LR.

LR offers all the image rendering tools one needs. Over time the rendering tools have become more complex. But they can reduce the time spent in Photoshop or other rendering platforms. I find LR's organizational tools to be very effective for image editing (selection) and sequencing.

 

[willie_901]

... The average lifespan of a computer is considered to be about 4 years, after which serious thought ought to be given to junking it.

...

I used a fully loaded MacMini (late 2012 edition) for post-production work for 8 years. The operating system and app were kept current. I used this system daily for commercial photography from 2008 - 2014.

Not once did this computer have a problem. However, as LR Classic CC became more resource intensive and my cameras' raw files grew in size, my screen time slowly increased.

Recently I sold this computer and a 2017, 13" low end MacBook Pro to combine their applications and functionalities on a 2020 loaded 13" MacBook Pro. I can use this to drive my 27" Apple Cinema Display and 24" Asus display for post-production work. I also use it as a portable computer. LR performance is much higher.

For the first time I have my massive Lightroom Catalogs and LR Image Library (340 GB) on a portable computer. This provides more opportunities do image selection and staging - even with its small 13" screen. I leave rendering to the desktop as those monitors are calibrated for the lighting in my office.

I also acquired a faster USB 3.1 Gen 2 external drive (~7.2 Gbit/S). I also repurposed some older USB 3.0 external drives to have independent 2- 4 backups for photography related work.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

People are using AVID and After Effects for decades now. Doesn’t mean they are old, but good software. So is the Lightroom.

 

[maigo]

Developmental Issues

My iMac is from early 2009 running El Capitan (10.11). (24inch, Core2Duo 3Ghz) The most recent OS it can run is four (soon to be five) generations old. Browsers won';t update any more. Sophos AV does not support this OS any more.
I am using LR 5.7 since 2014 and LR since ver 2 in 2008.
Updated to a SSD years back but my external drive for LR storage is running low on space. Cannot upgrade the ram past 8GB.
LR catalogue has 200K images and videos and takes almost 3TB.
Cannot display HEVC images or high-res videos from the iPhone 11XS.
The computer is a tired, old, insecure and end of life. After 11 years it does not owe me a thing however it is about 5 years past its prime.

Yesterday I bought a new iMac 2020 (3rd tier) that was released earlier this month.

27-inch iMac with Retina 5K display
With the following configuration:
Standard glass
3.8GHz 8-core 10th-generation Intel Core i7 processor, Turbo Boost up to 5.0GHz
Radeon Pro 5500 XT with 8GB of GDDR6 memory
10 Gbe
1TB SSD
External Lacie 6TB

Will upgrade to LR+PS CC so that I can also use NegativeLab scanning tools.

Next year will I upgrade my 6 year old NAS so I can migrate my catalog off external HD and onto network storage.

If I can get 6-8 years out of this Mac (at least until they stop supporting Intel CPU) then I will be satisfied.

Michael.