GXR A12-M, f8.0, 1/2, ISO 200, RAW, 22mm (Voigtlander Heliar f4.5 15mm L)
Took this on my way to get dinner, I liked the light and colours.
I processed the picture and posted this from my new toy, the Microsoft Surface Pro, that is posed to replace my Macbook Pro. So far it works very well and the screen is very nice, a huge improvement over the Macbook Pro. One thing that is obvious early on is that Windows 8 still does not really work well without a physical keyboard and at times I wish for the small row of keys on either side of the screen like on my Samsung Q1 Ultra.
While having a full Windows computer in tablet format is great, I feel that for most tasks that require a touchscreen Android is actually nicer and more fluid to use. I also can't go back to any other on-screen keyboard after getting used to Swiftkey.
Still, it's early days and I only received it yesterday so need some time to set it up and make the most out of it. I believe the Surface Pro will make a great combination with my Nexus 7 and cover all my travel and computing needs.
Hi Cristian,
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to hearing more about how the Surface Pro works out as a photographer's tablet. It would be interesting to see if it can run Lightroom, although with what Adobe is up to these days, that program's days may be numbered as far as I'm concerned.
For my uses, the Surface Pro is a little too heavy, but with these devices there's always some sort of compromise. In any case the little NEXUS 7 is an amazing device, especially when you consider its miniscule dimensions. Still, a slightly larger screen would be nice.
Hi Björn,
DeleteI'm also wondering where Adobe is going. I need to work out the ins and outs of their cloud subscription service before I can make a decision.
I'm still not entirely happy with what I'm seeing out of the X100s RAW files either and part of this may be down to Adobe's RAW convertor.
How's the colour accuracy on the NEXUS 7?
What's it like on the Surface Pro?
I definitely like the Apple screens for their colour rendition and accuracy, though what you can do on their tablets is limiting.
Hi Kesh,
DeleteWe have both the iPad and the NEXUS 7. Sure, the screen and the colors are nicer on the iPad although probably not more accurate than on the NEXUS 7. For its part the NEXUS is much lighter and more flexible than the full size iPad - both important when I'm on the road. I could get the equally light iPad Mini, but then I'd lose some of the flexibility that Android offers. So I'm quite happy with the NEXUS 7.
I understand the need to make compromises in how I review, edit and post photos in order to have an ultra-light tablet that won't add too much bulk and weight to my usually very light luggage (cabin luggage even on long haul flights).
Achieving Color accuracy versus obtaining pleasing colors is a tricky issue. From what I've seen, I don't find the colors & balance from Fuji's APS-C cameras that appealing. Don't take this the wrong way; that's purely subjective. Some say exactly the same thing about my Sony camera(s). I do like the color response from the Sony cameras though, a lot better than the Panasonic sensors I used to rely on. Sony's output seems richer with warmer, more saturated colors. The files from the RX1 require almost no tweaking to get them the way I want to look. Again, that's how "I" want it to look, not somebody else.
Like you say, we don't know whether you not being entirely satisfied with the files may be down to the RAW converter. For me that's Lightroom, although I'm worried about the direction Adobe is taking with its products. Hopefully Lightroom will remain outside the subscription model for a while longer while I keep an eye open for viable alternatives - just in case.
Hi Christian,
ReplyDeleteOh, a Surface Pro, huh!? I've been considering one, but there's no release date scheduled here for Japan. One of the biggest draws for me, is the built-in wacom digitiser. Much nicer to use than poking fingers around on a photo, I'd wager.
In theory it can run Lightroom, as Björn's suggested, right? Also, I am concerned about the future of lightroom given Adobe's new direction. I ditched Aperture because I wasn't happy with Apple's direction.
The NEXUS 7 is a fantastic little device, but I don't do much photowork on mine. Do you guys plug the camera in directly, or use a card reader?
Thanks for your comments guys!
ReplyDeleteBjörn, while I don't use Lightroom or Photoshop, I don't doubt the Surface Pro can handle them without Problems. Being a full Windows 8 Computer with a Core i5, it is powerfull enough to run any application you throw at it.
It handled RAW Therapee and Faststone without Problems and is very fast at dealing with the RAW files from the GXR.
The Nexus 7 is a much smaller and lighter device so for day to day and short trips it's the better tool. Where the Surface Comes in is forlonger journeys or trips where you Need a full fledged Computer with you, given it's actually not a huge deal heavier than a new Ipad but you get a proper PC to work with te tradeoff in weight is worthwhile.
Soin other words having both a Nexus 7 and a Surface Pro gives you the best of both world and the Surface Pro can actually replace your Computer at home once you connect it to a biger Screen.
Kesh, the colour accuracy on the Surface pro seems better than the Nexus 7 and also better than on my old Macbook Pro but acording to Anandtech it's not as good as on the new iPads out of the box, still it's a quick thing to calibrate in Windows or load a profile.
Björn and Kesh, I know you guys are fans of using lightroom and certainly the workflow is not bad for some but I would give RAW Therapee a good look as I find the results with it better than what I see from Lightroom and it's free so no Need to worry about any changes in subscription.
Martin, as you know I was seriously looking at the Asus Transformer Book but since the 11" model is still MIA, I decided to try the Surface Pro and had a friend bring me one from the US. So far I am very happy with it and think it works great, a proper Keyboard dock would be nice but the Touch Cover is pretty cool and works well.
The Surface Pro can run anything a normal Windows 8 PC with Core i5 CPU can run so shold not have any issues with Lightroom and Photoshop.
I have used the Nexus 7 with both a USBcard Reader and by plugging the camera in directly and in both cases it works well but I prefer Card Readers if possible.
Hi Cristian,
DeleteI've experimented with RAW Therapee in the past and liked the output a lot. The reason I stick with Lightroom is the ability to both post process and perform all the cataloging functions from within one application. I move back and forth between the two and even produce books all from within the same application. Still, the way things are going, at some point Adobe may force me to look elsewhere.
Björn, you're right that Lightroom does offer more than pure RAW development in one application. For me, I might be a bit old School but prefer to have separate applications for everything and disliked the database approach in Lightroom.
ReplyDeleteHope Adobe won't make any changes that would force people to move somewhere else.