Canon, iPhoto, and Photoshop questions

10/23/2004 10:57:23 AM · #1

Hey. I just plunked down the cash for an Apple iBook. I'm a total noob when it comes to Apple (never had a Mac before) and was wondering a few things:

1. Is iPhoto any good?
2. Does it support Canon RAW?
3. I have Photoshop CS for Windows; does Adobe have a low-cost platform upgrade version of CS for OS X?

Thanks in advance,
Ara

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

10/23/2004 11:50:34 AM · #2

After 15 minutes on hold, I answered #3 -- Adobe isn't offering any kind of platform upgrade for PS CS. :(

agwright

Canon EOS-20D

10/23/2004 12:01:43 PM · #3

I think iPhoto is ok to quickly look at photos and it's great for removing red eye.

Support raw ? don't think so but not 100% sure.

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED

10/23/2004 12:02:11 PM · #4

Love iPhoto, fantastic for slide shows, creating hardcover photo books and for organizing your photo collection. However it's only for JPG's no RAW.

waterlilies

Nikon D70

10/23/2004 12:05:50 PM · #5

I have an older version of iPhoto, which I very much like, except that it is incredibly slow in loading and processing when it gets a large number of photographs. I've got about 5,500 photos in iPhoto (yes, I do need to clean some out, obviously) and my version of the program slows to a crawl. Supposedly the newer versions deal well with lots of pictures, but I can't speak of that knowledgeably.

dustin03

Canon EOS-20D

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

10/23/2004 12:07:11 PM · #6

Hello and welcome to the world of MAC.

Hope to answer some questions here.

1. iphoto is only good for those grandmas out there who like take photos and send them to her family. I personally wouldn't reprehend it for professional use. I have used it or tried to use it. One, it stores your photos and thumbnails in many folders which takes a lot of valuable hard drive space. I have had a hard time finding the original files (quickly). Also, I have had problems where iphoto doesnâ��t support Photoshop CS. However, it may depend on how you want to use it might just fit you fine. As for myself, it's just easier to make a folder (name it) and download my files from my camera and use Photoshop to find my shot I love the most.

2. I'm not sure about support for RAW...I probably would say it doesnâ��t since it's not a professional level application. I have certainly havenâ��t found "yet" that it does. I would say in IMO. Forget iPhoto, and lean towards Photoshop CS with searchable folders. Or even some other application to organize your photos.

3. Photoshop CS, YES....it has an upgrade for the MAC. There are many places online to purchase the upgrade. Apple.com, macconection.com.....to start. Upgrade cost 150 US dollars. But, be sure to have a previous version of Photoshop on the Mac at least 5.0 so you can install Photoshop CS...You can not just install the upgrade alone into the your Mac. If no previous version...call adobe support and tell them that you do own a copy of PhotoshopCS and they will verify with your serial number, ect. Once they have proof that you are not copying software...They will give you a password code to "unlock" the new upgrade software...They should go step by step with you. There is a way to get your new upgrade for the Mac to your ibook without having a previous copy. Once that is done....be sure to backup your new upgrade and it's preferences. If ever you should have to wipe out your hard drive, you still a functional copy of Photoshop to use without going through adobe support again. Those "unlocking' codes are only good once.

dustin03

Canon EOS-20D

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

10/23/2004 12:21:53 PM · #7

Originally posted by BikeRacer:

After 15 minutes on hold, I answered #3 -- Adobe isn't offering any kind of platform upgrade for PS CS. :(

Check here.
adobe.com
apple.com

Opps, the upgrade is about 170....it seemed to have gone up....I got my upgrade at around 150 US.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

10/23/2004 12:35:48 PM · #8

Originally posted by dustin03:

Originally posted by BikeRacer:
After 15 minutes on hold, I answered #3 -- Adobe isn't offering any kind of platform upgrade for PS CS. :(

Check here.
adobe.com
apple.com

Opps, the upgrade is about 170....it seemed to have gone up....I got my upgrade at around 150 US.

Thanks. But, I checked those and I think the upgrade won't work for me. I have CS for Windows, they seem to mention an older version for the platform you're buying for. So, if I had Photoshop 7 for the Mac, I could upgrade for $170, but not from a Windows version.

zeuszen

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II

10/23/2004 04:27:05 PM · #9

Originally posted by dustin03:

Hello and welcome to the world of MAC...

1. iphoto is only good for those grandmas out there who like take photos and send them to her family. I personally wouldn't reprehend it for professional use. I have used it or tried to use it. One, it stores your photos and thumbnails in many folders which takes a lot of valuable hard drive space. I have had a hard time finding the original files (quickly). Also, I have had problems where iphoto doesnâ��t support Photoshop CS. However, it may depend on how you want to use it might just fit you fine. As for myself, it's just easier to make a folder (name it) and download my files from my camera and use Photoshop to find my shot I love the most....

I'm one of those grandmas. ;-) I really like iPhoto and rely on it to organize all of my photos. I have no trouble at all finding my originals, and quickly too. They're all organized and sitting right there in the Library. Albums, organized into catagories and genres, hold the copies. Both Library and Albums are a click away from one another, as part of the interface.

I do, however, keep fully processed and resampled images in seperate folders outside of iPhoto and don't mix the two.

The current version of iPhoto is designed to hold up to 25.000 photos. I think this may be true for images below 4mp. If you load 6mp (or higher), I find 5.000 about the maximum number it can handle without displaying signs of struggling and slowing down.

If you're organized, you'll likely back up your library before this number is reached.

iPhoto is beautifully integrated with iDisk, iDVD, iTunes, publishing and so on. I do most of my crops here, make rudimentary editing adjustments, access EXIFs or export slideshows into QuickTime movies, all within seconds and without contortions.

It's an extremely versatile app, IMO, and very simple to use.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

10/23/2004 05:01:37 PM · #10

Thanks. I didn't realize iPhoto had a limit. I've been really bad about going through my old shots and deleting the crap (+/- 80%). Maybe I'll try now...

scalvert

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

10/23/2004 05:45:20 PM · #11

1. I agree with Zeus- iPhoto is very useful. I especially like that I can archive a few thousand photos to DVD by clicking one button (and they stay organized). You can also crop a photo for prints or remove redeye and your original remains intact.

2. No it doesn't. If you shoot a lot in RAW, you might want to take a look at iView Media Pro. It's faster and more extensive than iPhoto and it handles RAW files just fine.

3. Only Adobe knows for sure. I suppose you could always sell your existing copy and use the proceeds to upgrade to a Mac version.

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

10/23/2004 05:49:15 PM · #12

I'm one of the grandmas too! :) LOve how you can archive it directly to DVD or even create a slide show you can play on your DVD player. :)

dacrazyrn

Nikon D300

10/23/2004 06:24:23 PM · #13

Go with scalvert's suggestion. I have used this since version 1.3 and it ROCKS! DOes ANYTHING you can think of.
I tried iPhoto, but just did not do what iView can. (and I am a Mac Fanatic also)

Message edited by author 2004-10-23 18:24:48.

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM

10/23/2004 06:49:24 PM · #14

Originally posted by scalvert:

....2. No it doesn't. If you shoot a lot in RAW, you might want to take a look at iView Media Pro. It's faster and more extensive than iPhoto and it handles RAW files just fine.....

iView Media Pro is US$199...a bit stiff for a Photo Organizer. The File Browser of Photoshop CS is just as good.

mrorange002

Canon EOS-5D

10/23/2004 07:02:09 PM · #15

I use iPhoto version 4.
I only use it for browsing though. It not good because it doesn't support RAW, and it hides the files deep in your harddrive.
It's good (IMO better than using Photoshop CS browse function) because you can make the preview so big. and the new version (4) is pretty fast even at the largest sized preview.
I'm gonna look into what scalvert suggested though. I really would like a browser that can handle RAW (I use Nikon View for RAW and it totally sucks!)

Message edited by author 2004-10-23 19:02:19.

10/24/2004 08:47:02 AM · #16

Ok, thanks for all the info and replies!

One more question: Does the Canon supplied software work well on the Mac?

Thanks,
Ara