viewing pics in field?

[rockvillage]

What do you do for looking at your pictures while in out taking pictures? Do you stick with the small display on your camera, or put them on to a device with a larger screen? (Obviously, this question is for owners of digital cameras.)

For editing, I have my desktop, and will stick with that. But that is rather hard to bring along on a trip. My dream fieldwork display doesn't exist (a large foldable light display with perfect graphics). So I'll have to look at what does exist.

I am thinking a large laptop will be what I end up doing. The large version has the advantage of more screen real estate, but the disadvantage of weight. Some laptops have awful rendering of pictures, which makes me a little nervous. Perhaps the LED screens would solve that problem, although that controls the brightness not the resolution.


So: what do you do? Any recommendations or opinions?

[Rense]

Ï use my trusty old EPSON P2000 image viewer for checking contstrast/sharpness.

[Gna]

A 17" MacBook Pro and an Eye-Fi card (for wireless data transfer).

[icuttl]

I use my Epson P-3000 to check photos in the field and to do a quick back-up at the end of the shoot.

[LibertyHeir]

I use an Azus Eee netbook with an old version of Lightroom that I use in the field, and it's only to satisfy that I've got a decent image before I leave the area. I wait until I'm home and use my desktop to try any editing.

When I was searching for a solution, I went in to Best Buy, explained to the clerk what I wanted, and asked if I could bring my camera in to test out different portable solutions. The store was happy to let me 'have at it'.

Depending on your camera-computer connection, you may have to first download the images, or you may be able to recognize the card (while it's in the camera) and browse like any other folder. Or you may be able to make a video connection (provided your equipment is capable of it) and simply scroll through the images via the camera controls while viewing on the larger screen. I have a Sony A200 that I can plug into a video-in port on a PC or TV and the camera switches the view to that device (and the images on TV can look awfully grainy unless you've got an HDTV).

My choice was based primarily on price/physical size since I wanted to keep space requirements to a minimum.

Hope this helps...

[rockvillage]

Thank you for the input. I hadn't looked at those Epson viewers. Those might have some possibilities.

Bringing the camera to the store & testing laptops is probably a smart thing to do.

[ronjon]

I'm curious and hopeful that the upcoming applet tablet (Q1 2010 supposedly) will be able to be used for this function. That thing could be a fantastic tool for photographers to keep journals electronically, preview photos in the field etc. If not, I'll probably get one of those sub 500 netbooks.

[Gna]

Originally Posted by ronjon

I'm curious and hopeful that the upcoming applet tablet (Q1 2010 supposedly) will be able to be used for this function. That thing could be a fantastic tool for photographers to keep journals electronically, preview photos in the field etc. If not, I'll probably get one of those sub 500 netbooks.

Keep your money in your pocket, ronjon. Netbooks suck bigtime at graphics. Performance-wise and real-estate-wise. They haven't got the horsepower it takes. Not the CPU, nor the GPU, or videocard. And the screen quality is very iffy as well. That's why they stink at gaming too.

[ronjon]

I hear ya Gna. I'd definitely be testing any netbooks for these capabilities prior to purchase.

I don't really need a lot of performance from it, certainly no editing or anything like that. When I shoot raw, I shoot raw + jpeg, and I'm hoping these things can handle jpegs. I can tell if the composition is good from the lcd display on the camera, and use the histogram to check the exposure. The thing I have the hardest time with is focus, depth of field focus, and focus at night. I just can't tell that sort of thing from the camera lcd. I do also like to keep notes.

I think I could justify a few hundred dollars for a netbook if it could at least get the jpeg display working acceptably.

Who knows though. I won't be getting anything this year, so I'll have lots of time to peruse the market.

[Beffie]

The Epson viewers will display the RAW image. They also have the ability to zoom in on the picture to check focus and DOF. They also are useful to do a backup of your files in the field.

[Gna]

Originally Posted by ronjon

I hear ya Gna. I'd definitely be testing any netbooks for these capabilities prior to purchase.

I don't really need a lot of performance from it, certainly no editing or anything like that. When I shoot raw, I shoot raw + jpeg, and I'm hoping these things can handle jpegs. I can tell if the composition is good from the lcd display on the camera, and use the histogram to check the exposure. The thing I have the hardest time with is focus, depth of field focus, and focus at night. I just can't tell that sort of thing from the camera lcd. I do also like to keep notes.

I think I could justify a few hundred dollars for a netbook if it could at least get the jpeg display working acceptably.

Who knows though. I won't be getting anything this year, so I'll have lots of time to peruse the market.

Here's an idea: how about preparing a good sized USB stick, or one or two DVDs, with a couple dozen photos, and a couple videos (full-sized files! various formats!) on it that you know well from your current machine and screen, stick it/them in your pocket and go see for yourself how they perform on netbooks... in a store that sells them? With your data, IRL.

The proof of the pudding is in the eating, isn't it?

[Gna]

Oops! Netbooks don't read DVDs, or do they?

[ronjon]

The epson viewer costs as much as a netbook.

[ronjon]

That's a good call.

Originally Posted by Gna

Here's an idea: how about preparing a good sized USB stick, or one or two DVDs, with a couple dozen photos, and a couple videos (full-sized files! various formats!) on it that you know well from your current machine and screen, stick it/them in your pocket and go see for yourself how they perform on netbooks... in a store that sells them? With your data, IRL.

The proof of the pudding is in the eating, isn't it?

[Gna]

Originally Posted by ronjon

The epson viewer costs as much as a netbook.

With the same capacity and display, and up and download 'speed'? Is this apples to apples...?

[rockvillage]

From what I'm gathering (haven't been to the store yet for the actual viewing) the Epson viewer has a small (4") screen, light weight (1 pound), and very good graphics. The netbooks have a medium sized (10") screen, are heavier (2.5 to 3 pounds), and the graphics are not as good (check before you buy). Both cost in the range of $350 or $600 depending on drive size. Then you have full size laptops which are a larger screen (15 to 17"), are much heavier (anywhere from 6 to 10 pounds), graphics quality varies (again, check before you buy), and the cost is higher ($700 up to $2k or more).

[moxi1]

Hi there,
I am afraid I am still hanging on to my "film-style" habits. Take only a limited amount of careful planned shots, and only look at them when I am back home.

But I suppose it depends where and what you are shooting. I live on a small island and can easy go back another day. If it birds I photograph there are no second shots they are gone anyway.

Cheers Moxi1

[Wilade]

Another solution would be to use a cheap portable DVD player. Just hook up your camera to the input to view and use the camera controls to zoom, etc.

Here's an example from B&H: Audiovox | D1788PK Portable 7" DVD Player Kit | D1788PK

I saw where a photographer was using something simular to preview shots while he was shooting a group of corporate head shots. He was able to quickly show the subject their image and check for closed eyes, etc.

Len