[kenna]

Hi all!

So im soon going to have my first Mac!!! WOOO! haha now thats out the way; I will be going travelling in the next year and so I will likely invest in a very nice camera so that I can remember my memories when I return. Therefore im looking at the applications that Apple have to offer and I am really impressed by Aperture!

I have a few questions though:

1. Will Aperture run smoothly with 2GBs RAM? I hear heavy editing can take up a lot of memory? But I can't really afford the 4GBs.
2. Is it simple to use and THE best editing tool Apple has to offer for what I want to do? (i.e. edit pictures to look the best possible, professionally....i'd love to get my geek on!)
3. Is anyone here a Professional in Photography? And if so, how good is the field? I've just finished university and it looks intriguing as a career.
4. AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, is there really that big a step when using apples iPhoto software for photo editing, compared with Aperture? iPhoto also seems impressive!
5. Will a new version of Aperture come out soon? Or is it safe to buy now?
6. What Cameras are you using and what is your personal opinion of Aperture?

Thanks a lot for all responses! I CAN'T WAIT!

[slpdLoad]

I use Aperture for all my photography needs, but I'm no professional, and I'm just shooting JPEGs.

1. 2GB will probably be fine, since you're using a very new computer. If you're shooting RAW though, you'll probably want to increase the RAM in the future. 4GB is getting pretty cheap, and it might be worth it, especially if you're prepared to spend quite a few Ks on new computer, a nice camera (DSLR), and professional software.

2. Yes, it's very simple to use Aperture. Obviously it has a huge amount of professional features, but it has a very shallow learning curve to get a hang of basic work flow and image editing.

4. iPhoto has come a long way, but I've never looked back after getting Aperture. If you're considering photography as a career, you might as well start working with professional-grade software

5. I haven't heard any rumors about a new version. We're at 1.5.x right now. The jump from 1 to 1.5 was fairly significant, and it switched to being universal. That was a free upgrade, so I'd assume you'd at least get a discount if a new version comes out.

6. I've used a couple of Panasonic Lumix cameras (which are great for point-and-shoot by the way) with Aperture, and it really is a beautiful app. It will work well into your setup and can take full advantage of any hardware you have (layouts designed for multiple monitors, "Vault" storage if you have external drives, etc).

[OreoCookie]

(1) 2 GB is the minimum, but you can add more RAM later. Personally, I use it with 2 GB on my ProBook.
(2) It is `simple' to use, yes, most things will be clear right away. However, it is a Pro App, so more advanced things might have a steeper learning curve. It is simple, because Aperture makes things as easy as possible, but not easier.
(3) I'm not a professional, but it is used by professionals as their tool of choice.
(4) iPhoto and Aperture aren't even in the same category. It's like comparing iMovie and Final Cut Pro. Most people will prefer iMovie's simplicity, but you can edit Battlestar Galactica episodes on Final Cut Pro. Now translate that back into the realm of photography.

If you're not sure, then start with iPhoto, especially if you have little clue about professional media database apps such as iView Media Pro.
(5) No idea.
(6) Olympus C-4040, Olympus E-20, Nikon D70, Nikon D80 and a whole bunch of friends' cameras. It doesn't matter what you shoot with, it'll work. Keep in mind that you will need a serious camera if you want to harness the power of Aperture.

[Veltliner]

1. Aperture is very much dependent on an excellent graphics card. It is generally thought of to be an application very demanding in regard of hardware specs. I'd recommend having a MacPro for this software, even though many people run it on Macbook Pros.

You might want to take a look at Adobe Lightroom, which is less hardware demanding, especially regarding the graphics card.

2. Aperture versus Lightroom, there you have another civil war going on. Google this, and you will have a flood of websites and reviews coming up. Lightroom uses Adobe's Camera Raw, and since the 1.1 upgrade several features in linear editing are actually better than in Photoshop (which is still indispensable for certain work).

3. iPhoto to Aperture/Lightroom is like riding on a pig to town versus driving a good car. I could, under no circumstances, imagine using a hobby application like iPhoto. Not only for the lack of RAW capability, lack of editing tools, library with search engine...

5. Buy it when you need it. Otherwise you will just waste time. And for what? For 100$ upgrade fee, if worst comes to worst. The waiting game only works, when you have the tools to work with. If not, you lose.

6. Pentax SLRs. But I'd recommend you to not care too much what others use. Only, if you are serious about photography, you need an SLR, not featurewise, but qualitywise (larger sensors), faster and better lenses, changeable lenses,... etc. First you check out what kind of work you want to do and what you need for this work. Then you check out the prices, and compare to your budget. Never forget, SLR and software is not all you need. You need several SD cards or CF cards, reader, spare battery, and, nothing going without this, a screen calibrator, or you will never see in print what you adjust on the screen. You will need software books to learn all features of the software. Those small items can add up to seven, eight hundred dollars, so don't blow all your money on the SLR body. Don't forget: better have a simpler body, and less megapixel, but have great glass (lenses). The kit lenses that come with the SLR, are OK, but you'd be blown away to see what you get with really good lenses.

[pilotdude]

When you get your Mac download the Aperture trial version. Its 30 days and full featured. I can count on one hand the number of times I've opened iPhoto in the six months since I got Aperture and I used to use iPhoto all the time. I can't compare it to programs like Lightroom but one nice thing is that Aperture integrates with your other iLife apps if you find you use those. For instance if you want to make a calender you can only do that in iPhoto so you can open iPhoto and then access your Aperture content from within iPhoto. I only regret not buying it sooner. Same can be said for camera. Get an SLR and you will not be disappointed. My P&S has been relegated for video clips when I don't feel like carrying a real video camera.

[kenna]

Thanks a lot everybody!!!

I am going to be serious with my photo editing and so I really am considering an SLR IF I have the money!

Im actually looking at this model:

Amazon.co.uk: Samsung GX10 Digital SLR Camera (18-55mm + 50-200mm Lens Kit): Electronics & Photo: Samsung

Looks good, but its seriously down to my income nearer the time! What does everyone else think?

Thanks a lot for the tip to get the 30 day trial! I think i'll do just that.

sounds like a great piece of kit, I really really really want an iMac badd!!! Is my bday soon so will wait to see how much money I have then next time I get a job i'll be working towards getting one!!

Thanks a lot for peoples thoughts! If possible if people could check the camera and give feedback that would be great!

[Veltliner]

Originally Posted by kenna 

I am going to be serious with my photo editing and so I really am considering an SLR IF I have the money!

:

You can get a good DSLR for under 500$. Just be sure you don't fall for bait-and-switch companies in your search for a good price.

Check resellerratings to be sure it's not a crook dealer.

Recommended dealer: B&H.

A note: The Nikon D40 is good, but has no screen on top of the camera, which I find annoying, as you need to read the necessary info from the main LCD screen. For this, it has to be on, and that would be too bright for me. If you want a Nikon, the D80 is much better, but costs twice as much. But many like the D40, but the lack of the top screen is a real bummer.

The Canon Rebels come with the worst Kit Zoom lens. While the cameras are good, you would need to get a better lens, which makes it too expensive.

The Pentax K100D is very good, so is the cheaper K110, but I'd go for the image stablilization.

You might be able to get a Sony Alpha for cheaper, but they are slightly outdated.

[Juneappal]

Get a model from last year or the year before. The prices fall dramatically when there is an upgrade, but last year's models are still phenomenal cameras. I have a 20D and it is really, really wonderful - you can find it with a kit lens for under $600 - beats the $1300 I paid two years ago.

I agree with the advice about the lenses - it would be nice to save a few hundred and get a rebel, which is also a very good camera. That wasn't an option for me though, because the body was a little smaller, and I wasn't able to fit my hand all the way around the grip - I tried one out, and my palm started aching after holding it for ten minutes.

I use lightroom, and am delighted by it - it is very easy to use, and the file management is not so durned mac-like. I hate the iPhoto file management - if you ever use a non-mac application it is nearly impossible to find the files you want to find. I don't know what the aperture file database is like, but it if is like iPhoto, I wouldn't touch it.


By the way - if you are looking for an online photography peer group, I find the folks at photography-on-the.net to be very helpful and welcoming of beginners. There are a lot of true professionals hanging out in the forums there.

[Veltliner]

Originally Posted by Juneappal 

Get a model from last year or the year before. The prices fall dramatically when there is an upgrade, but last year's models are still phenomenal cameras. I have a 20D and it is really, really wonderful - you can find it with a kit lens for under $600 - beats the $1300 I paid two years ago.
.

If you do that, you have to really know your stuff and what you are buying, and really check on when that camera was first released, because this is the technology you are buying. Some of those last year's-models go back two, three, or four years.

Danger for newbies: there's a lot lot of outdated stuff out there that looks - to the naive eye - like a good deal. Some places even still offer Nikon D70s, which are absurdly outdated, and the cheapest available DSLR beats them by far.

Why isn't it - in general - a good idea to buy outdated models? Because DSLRs are a pretty new technology, and so there is considerable improvement (especially in NOISE LEVELS) from model to model. Noise levels are key if you want to shoot in more difficult light situations.