phovsho Posted May 19, 2007 Share #1 Posted May 19, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) What next? The camera has firmware 1.09, which i need to update I guess. I understand this requires a card reader which I don't have... Something to do Monday then. Now I need some software. My wife is a graphic designer by training (but currently doing the ful time mum thing), so was thinking PS, but is there a stronger recommendation? I want something which is easy to get started in, but lots of potential to grow. I bought here the Panasonic L1 today, so she has a new toy as well. maybe I should just load the software that comes with the camera? Already ordered my free filters and sent of a few lens to get coded. Must remember to register my guarantee. Any thoughts or recommendations appreciated. Must say I'm loving it. very intuitive so far. M Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted May 19, 2007 Posted May 19, 2007 Hi phovsho, Take a look here OK, so now I have my M8.... I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
hiphop Posted May 19, 2007 Share #2 Posted May 19, 2007 Lightroom is the answer. Make a search on the web and you will find easely various tutorials in order to have an idea about this fantastic product. Pierre-Olivier Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morten Grathe Posted May 19, 2007 Share #3 Posted May 19, 2007 I second Lightroom. It is an incredible powerfull tool. After getting Lightroom, I am using Photoshop a lot less. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ho_co Posted May 19, 2007 Share #4 Posted May 19, 2007 Murray--The instructor at the recent Texas M8 workshop also feels Lightroom will do most of what one needs, with only occasional forays into Photoshop. Problem with Photoshop is that it is likely to require attending a class to get anything out of it--intuitive it ain't. Advantage of Photoshop is that it can do almost anything, and in at least three ways. Or to put that another way, you're always discovering new capabilities. --HC Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
palmskov Posted May 19, 2007 Share #5 Posted May 19, 2007 I would go for lightroom, aperture (for mac) or photoshop. If money is an issuee google's picasa might be considered. Agree that you might need instruction if you choose photoshop but with a wife being a graphic designer is that a problem? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
phovsho Posted May 19, 2007 Author Share #6 Posted May 19, 2007 Hi Thanks for the advice. Is Lightroom a Microsoft product? I run an Apple, which means that Apeture might be the answer for me. Murray Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shootist Posted May 19, 2007 Share #7 Posted May 19, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) HiThanks for the advice. Is Lightroom a Microsoft product? I run an Apple, which means that Apeture might be the answer for me. Murray Lightroom is an Adobe product. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunsworth Posted May 19, 2007 Share #8 Posted May 19, 2007 Murray, Lightroom is an Adobe product available for Mac and PC. I'm not sure that Aperture supports the M8 raw files at this point in time. The main gripe I have with Lightroom is that it doesn't support layers and you can't perform actions on specific areas of the image - it's all or nothing - so if you want to say for example adjust the exposure of part of an image in a layer to simulate dodging or burning that isn't possible. Other than that it seems a fine product. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
phovsho Posted May 19, 2007 Author Share #9 Posted May 19, 2007 Thanks again folks. Just did a search on Lightroom. Interesting product. I've got a lot to learn. Perhaps I can rely on my wife to do the fancy stuff Lightroom can't. I'm going to give it a go. Best Murray Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
scott kirkpatrick Posted May 19, 2007 Share #10 Posted May 19, 2007 Whoa! C1 in a somewhat restricted edition comes free with the M8 and runs on both Mac and PC. Since I've used it (Pro version) for the last three years, I find it totally intuitive, but others may differ. It does have the best profiles, and the most choice of profiles, since it conforms to ICC standards in describing color. And there do seem to be some problems with Aperture support still. scott Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunsworth Posted May 19, 2007 Share #11 Posted May 19, 2007 Murray, you may want to consider Martin Evening's Lightroom book. Some people were recommending it here the other day - his Photoshop book is superb. Here's a link to the UK Amazon site. You'll probably want to buy it in NZ, but it'll give you a flavour of the book... Amazon.co.uk: The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Book: The Complete Guide for Photographers: Books: Martin Evening Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cocker Posted May 19, 2007 Share #12 Posted May 19, 2007 I second Scott's vote for Capture 1. It does take a little getting used to the interface but once mastered (and its not hard!) I find it produces the best results of all as a raw converter. I usually then move to Photoshop (CS3) to do further work. I have Lightroom but really don't like it and you still need Photoshop to do further work so Lightroom is very rarely used. My view would be use your free C1 and get Photoshop. Good Luck. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnwolf Posted May 19, 2007 Share #13 Posted May 19, 2007 Murray, I suggest PS, only because Lightroom doesn't do local editing, such as dodging and burining. PS gives you a complete, integrated package -- browser, raw converter, editor. You'll never need anything else. John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mreddington Posted May 19, 2007 Share #14 Posted May 19, 2007 Murray, Personal preference will play a big role. You can download a trial version of Lightroom from the Adobe site and play with it for 30 days. I like it a great deal. Previously I was using Photoshop and iView MediaPro for managing my images. My management needs are not so great that I need anything too sophisticated and I find the metadata handling in Lightroom to be quite adequate for my keywording needs. I work primarily from Lightroom, loading Photoshop CS3 from within Lightroom if I need it, which as others have already commented is necessary if you want to make adjustments to specific areas of your image. The advantage of the combination Lightroom/CS3 is that changes made in one, either to the image or the metadata, appear in the other. Another think I like about Lightroom is that I now keep all my files in DNG format and only convert to other formats like jpg when required, for instance, for sending files via email. This reduces the number of modified files I have on my hard disk. Personally I don't get on well with C1 but since it comes with the M8 you should try it and see. If you like it as a raw converter you could get Photoshop or any other similar program for your editing. Martin Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hiphop Posted May 19, 2007 Share #15 Posted May 19, 2007 HiThanks for the advice. Is Lightroom a Microsoft product? I run an Apple, which means that Apeture might be the answer for me. Murray Aperture has still a problem with DNG / M8. I was waiting for this to be settled by Apple and finally decided to test Lightroom. I bought it and have no regret. I am also a Mac addicted person but Lightroom is not that far from the Mac spirit... and it is a very good product indeed. Pierre-Olivier Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AGeoJO Posted May 19, 2007 Share #16 Posted May 19, 2007 I played around with Lightroom for a couple of weeks but I still prefer Capture 1 Pro, maybe it is a matter of comfort than anything else since I have been using C1 Pro for about 4 years. BTW, the camera comes with Capture One LE. I think it is a good start there.... Just make sure you get the most recent profiles though. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tashley Posted May 19, 2007 Share #17 Posted May 19, 2007 Hi Murray, and welcome to the 'hood! Aperture will work with the M8 files with a hack, and some very experienced people think it gives better results than Lightroom. The best results come from C1 but the improvement is marginal and C1 is a royal PITA. Lightroom DOES allow local area editing - you can do dust and scratches (which with some cunning you can use for many other purposes) and redeye. It is also as others have noted astonishingly intuitive and a great way of keeping track of your images. But one day you WILL need Photoshop too. You question 'what next'? has other implications than software though. My advice is 1) Get to know your camera. Shoot some JPEG + RAW and learn the differences between them: the BJP found that dynamic range is marginally higher in JPEG and it does often give images with more punch for web and smaller sized prints than you can get out of a RAW file, though there are odd edge artefacts as you enlarge more. 2) Get to know your glass. One of the great pleasures for me of coming to Leica has been learning the different visual signatures of each lens and aperture, and when to use which. One of the great frustrations has been learning that many lenses have mildly different focus behaviour which has to be learned, a process which, over time, will give you better results and more control. 3) Take a LOT of shots. RAW, JPEG, Leica lenses, Zeiss or CV, filters on, filters off, whatever. Just shoot shoot shoot. Take your M8 with you everywhere so you stop being nervous about how expensive it was. 4) Wait for a grey, wet day and go and shoot everything in sight. The M8 has a fantastic ability to suck colour out of flat light and to render slick surfaces beautifully. 5) Choose your best shot from the first thirty days and have a high quality pro print made, 40" wide. 6) Put your old gear on Ebay now, because you will eventually enyhoo, and time is of the financial essence. Use the proceeds to buy Photoshop. 7) Get a handgrip 8) Get a 1.25X magnifier. 9) Get a CV15 with a John Milich adaptor and bung a filter in it with sellotape 10) Start saving for the finest lens in Christendom (and any other faithendom): the 50 Lux. You have not lived until you open a well focussed and exposed M8/50 Lux shot in a good RAW developer and zoomed in. Trust me. Oh and .... 11) Enjoy! Best Tim Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minos Posted May 19, 2007 Share #18 Posted May 19, 2007 Hello to all! I'll have my M8 by the end of the month. Actually, I can't wait. Then again, I'm definitely not alone in my impatient predicament. In the mean time, browsing this great forum, I wish to thank Tim for his good advice. It's noted and will be taken into account once my jewel is in my hands. Enjoy your weekend. Christophe Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guy_mancuso Posted May 19, 2007 Share #19 Posted May 19, 2007 need to find my beginners list to the M8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
carstenw Posted May 19, 2007 Share #20 Posted May 19, 2007 Tim, 50 Lux Asph? The per-Asph is still meant to be very good, but hardly something which decides between having lived and not? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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