Tablet & Pen Questions

W

weebee

Senior Member
amayhem said:
Hi All,

So I have been told I should consider investing into a Tablet & Pen. Does anyone here use one? If so, which one?

I've been reading up on a few and have been told to consider investing into this one Wacom Intuos Pen and Touch Tablet - Medium - Apple Store (U.S.)

I work mostly on a MAC and was looking to use one that works on the OSX.


=) Thank you for your help!


- Jesse Nunez
Click to expand...


I've thought about getting one of these in the past as well. Just never pulled the trigger due to not knowing the true value of them. It will be interesting to hear what others will be saying about this.
 
J

Jonathan

Senior Member
I'm considering a wireless gizmo that allows me to tether my D7100 to my iPad. With that I can focus bracket, stack and, with a new tripod head, pan and tilt from the comfort of my chair all wirelessly. http://camranger.com/ (no association).
 
BackdoorArts

BackdoorArts

Senior Member
Jonathan said:
I'm considering a wireless gizmo that allows me to tether my D7100 to my iPad. With that I can focus bracket, stack and, with a new tripod head, pan and tilt from the comfort of my chair all wirelessly. http://camranger.com/ (no association).
Click to expand...

I have no experience with it, but the focus stacking intrigues me, only because I'm unaware of anything that will allow you to automate focus control. There's lots of software that will stack the images for you, and perhaps the added advantage here is that it will assure that you have everything you need before you finish, as opposed to loading them into Photoshop afterward and hoping for the best.

Wireless tethering can be expensive. I'd opt for cabling in to a USB port and testing the software first. I wanted to go wireless on the D800 but the cost was ridiculous - I bought a fisheye instead.
 
BackdoorArts

BackdoorArts

Senior Member
Didn't mean to derail your thread. I looked at tablets for my Mac and opted for a mouse instead. That lasted a week. Now I'm back to thinking about touch tablets again. Haven't done a lot of research yet. I need to get my office remodeling squared away first.
 
J

Jonathan

Senior Member
BackdoorHippie said:
I have no experience with it, but the focus stacking intrigues me, only because I'm unaware of anything that will allow you to automate focus control. There's lots of software that will stack the images for you, and perhaps the added advantage here is that it will assure that you have everything you need before you finish, as opposed to loading them into Photoshop afterward and hoping for the best.

Wireless tethering can be expensive. I'd opt for cabling in to a USB port and testing the software first. I wanted to go wireless on the D800 but the cost was ridiculous - I bought a fisheye instead.
Click to expand...

Helicon Remote for automated tethered focus bracketing. Helicon Focus for stacking the results. My first try was the close-up of the gold cufflinks I posted on here/my Flickr page recently. I bought a year's license of the two a few days ago. That, and the weight limitation on the head, is why I'm not jumping on the Camranger stuff right now. I reckon I couldn't have one without the other as I'm going to need to follow bugs around and there's no point in having wireless camera control if you have to be standing by the sodding thing manually panning and tilting!
 
RockyNH_RIP

RockyNH_RIP

Senior Member
BackdoorHippie said:
I have no experience with it, but the focus stacking intrigues me, only because I'm unaware of anything that will allow you to automate focus control. There's lots of software that will stack the images for you, and perhaps the added advantage here is that it will assure that you have everything you need before you finish, as opposed to loading them into Photoshop afterward and hoping for the best.

Wireless tethering can be expensive. I'd opt for cabling in to a USB port and testing the software first. I wanted to go wireless on the D800 but the cost was ridiculous - I bought a fisheye instead.
Click to expand...


the WU-1A when used with DSLRDashboard does allow focus stacking... I am not too sure how it works etc.. (mine crashes on my old tablet but works on my phone) It will take X pictures with a focus step of Y.. Not sure how to do the settings but I may try it later on my phone.... If I have any results, will add it to my WU-1A thread... (Note: Not for Iphones/pads, android app only)

Pat in NH
 
BackdoorArts

BackdoorArts

Senior Member
The Helicon software looks interesting, but I'm always a bit suspicious of s/w that has licensing structures like that - 3 version, yearly or lifetime licenses. Given that I already use CS6 I am not a fan of buying another piece of software to do the stacking (which I realize is not required). And given that my real interest in focus stacking plays with shooting snowflakes in extremely cold weather I suspect that I don't want to drag my Macbook Pro out with me as well, so I'll have to rely on manual rails.

That said, if you do a lot of indoor and/or normal weather macro work I can see this being a cool tool. I suspect I'll invest in something automated when the time lapse bug bites me. LOL
 
BackdoorArts

BackdoorArts

Senior Member
RockyNH said:
the WU-1A when used with DSLRDashboard does allow focus stacking... I am not too sure how it works etc.. (mine crashes on my old tablet but works on my phone) It will take X pictures with a focus step of Y.. Not sure how to do the settings but I may try it later on my phone.... If I have any results, will add it to my WU-1A thread... (Note: Not for Iphones/pads, android app only)

Pat in NH
Click to expand...

Alas, Nikon has made it such that while a WU-1B will work for my D600 at $53, I can't get something for my D800 for under $700, though apparently there is a hack to get the WU-1A to work with it. Seems Nikon thinks pro gear requires professional spending.
 
RockyNH_RIP

RockyNH_RIP

Senior Member
BackdoorHippie said:
Alas, Nikon has made it such that while a WU-1B will work for my D600 at $53, I can't get something for my D800 for under $700, though apparently there is a hack to get the WU-1A to work with it. Seems Nikon thinks pro gear requires professional spending.
Click to expand...

Jake, that is too funny, made me laugh!! :) I know it is not funny to you, but that is because it is likely all too true..

Pat in NH
 
RockyNH_RIP

RockyNH_RIP

Senior Member
BackdoorHippie said:
Alas, Nikon has made it such that while a WU-1B will work for my D600 at $53, I can't get something for my D800 for under $700, though apparently there is a hack to get the WU-1A to work with it. Seems Nikon thinks pro gear requires professional spending.
Click to expand...

Jake (and Jonathon & Weebee),
I am gonna get off this thread... but... WU1A with DSLRdashboard does focus stack... I will add an update to my WU-1A thread this afternoon with the details...

Pat in NH
 
D

Don Kuykendall_RIP

RIP :(
Well, most of you are off base entirely, The tablet and pen are mouse replacement pointing devices. My daughter uses them for art. I am not sure how much good they would do for photography unless you were doing an awful lot of post processing and I am not sure they would help then wither.

"The Wacom Intuos Digital Pen and Touch Pad lets you draw, create and edit designs on your computer as naturally as you would using a pen or brush and paper. The Wacom Intuos Creative Pen and Touch features a multi-touch surface, so you can use your fingers to zoom, scroll and position your work using intuitive gestures. Enjoy recommended shortcuts using Intuos' four ExpressKeys, or personalise the shortcuts you'd like to use. With an ergonomic, slim and slightly tilted design, the Intuos Digital Pen and Touch Pad acts as a digital canvas, making it easy for you create unique designs in your natural drawing style."
 
Browncoat

Browncoat

Senior Member
I have used a Wacom tablet and pen device for years. I write left-handed, and while I use a mouse with my right hand, I find it's often easier to do fine detail work with the pen in my left hand. Truth is, like a lot of lefties, I'm actually ambidextrous.

It feels wonky to me to select menu items and navigate with the pen. Even after using one for a long time, I still instinctively use the mouse. Anyone interested in buying a pen/tablet, I would suggest getting an El Cheapo first to see if you like it. It takes some getting used to.
 
B

Bill16

Senior Member
I'm not if is exactly what you mean, but I use a Motorola Xoom tablet that is a droid. I download my photos to it and then post process them using the Photoshop touch app. It works pretty well, though it is limited in comparison to a computer. I can't do raw and the post processing is more basic than what the computer version would be. Now you can get droid tablets that are equal to or better than mine, that should give you the same abilities as I do with mine. If this is what you meant that is. :D
 
R

Ruidoso Bill

Senior Member
amayhem said:
Hi All,

So I have been told I should consider investing into a Tablet & Pen. Does anyone here use one? If so, which one?

I've been reading up on a few and have been told to consider investing into this one Wacom Intuos Pen and Touch Tablet - Medium - Apple Store (U.S.)

I work mostly on a MAC and was looking to use one that works on the OSX.


=) Thank you for your help!


- Jesse Nunez
Click to expand...

I have a Wacom and use the pen all the time. I do a lot of post processing and can't imagine doing it without the pen. I also use it for select menu items pen sizes etc with no problems. It was a little awkward at first but it really grew on me and I use it extensively. It is the only way to do fine touch up and painting in photoshop.
 
A

amayhem

Senior Member
I am going to pick up a cheap one this week, might go to the pawn shops locally and see if I get lucky. I just been hearing that so many people use them for editing. I seriously have never tried it so not sure what all it will help with when it comes to workflow. However, anything that helps speed things up, all while letting me have more control when it comes to editing sounds like a worthy investment =)
 
D

Don Kuykendall_RIP

RIP :(
amayhem said:
I am going to pick up a cheap one this week, might go to the pawn shops locally and see if I get lucky. I just been hearing that so many people use them for editing. I seriously have never tried it so not sure what all it will help with when it comes to workflow. However, anything that helps speed things up, all while letting me have more control when it comes to editing sounds like a worthy investment =)
Click to expand...

I have tried my daughters and I think for photography it would slow me down. Most of the people that use them are artists and they do more drawing with them. I can't see how it would help a photographer that much.
 
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