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Photoshop and D810 RAW files on base model rMB

doitdada

doitdada

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Original poster
Oct 14, 2013
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Just installed the latest version of Adobe Photoshop and moved a few sliders in the RAW processing utility. I can feel the lack of power adjusting the image, but this was also present in my rMBP 13 from 2014. The wait to process the file to be used in PS also took a bit longer than on my rMBP 13, but still it was a close call. I wouldn't recommend anything lighter than the rMBP 15 to do serious work in PS, at least with big RAW files.

Zooming and scrubbing is more than adequate. Even considering the photos are close to 80MB in file size. For the road and editing a dozen images a day, I would be a happy camper. My patience would run out pretty quickly if I was using the computer daily on a professional level, especially if you are editing between 100 -1000 shots per day. Right now the only option for this task is quad core CPUs, and they are yet to be found in smaller form factors.

When you are working with big files from pro SLRS, Leicas or Hasselblads, you may as well invest in a Mac Pro or at least a 15 inch Macbook Pro. Space will also be a problem for those using this type of equipment, and getting a dedicated workstation will be the only solution in the end.

If you use Photoshop or Lightroom with prosumer cameras or lighter, the new Macbook will be more than adequate, even the base model. Especially if you only do edits from trips, family and small business events. The only problem is the lack of SD card reader, which has nothing to do with the power of the processor.

Browsing through my edits with quicklook after I have saved them to JPGs is a breeze. No lag, almost instant and I don't miss my old and more "powerful" rMBP 13. I may miss the SD card reader from time to time, but I love the futuristic downgrading, making me change me workflow to something better. Ran out of battery early this morning, used my rMBP 13 for a while, and I can't find an argument for keeping it. Selling it this saturday.
 
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darngooddesign said:
Sounds like it would handle the Fuji RAWs then.
Click to expand...

I've used it to edit Fuji X-T1 RAW files. It's usable but it is slower than a 13" rMBP. If you are some who finds even a tiny bit of UI lag in adjustment sliders unusable, you won't like it. If you have reasonable expectations, then it's fine.
 
bcaslis said:
I've used it to edit Fuji X-T1 RAW files. It's usable but it is slower than a 13" rMBP. If you are some who finds even a tiny bit of UI lag in adjustment sliders unusable, you won't like it. If you have reasonable expectations, then it's fine.
Click to expand...

I sit through Iridient Developer on my 2008 MBP. LOL
 
Well, I don't own a Leica S, but have a Leica X2 and a Leica M9.

Leica M9 using the highest settings for RAW weighs in at 36,4MB.
The Nikon D810 is almost double in size, averaging around 75MB per file using optimal RAW settings.
Leica X2 is around 16,4MB at RAW.
 
I have turned off compression, and I have the M9. Still, I think editing M9 RAW files is a piece of cake compared to D810 files on the rMB. As long as I don't have multiple days of shooting to look through it's a sufficient machine to do mobile editing.

I only use my desktop for large and lengthy editing, everything else goes on my rMB. Miss the SD reader on the MBP 13, but the weight and bulky feel will make them instinct in a few years. Would never go back to any other form factor than the rMB.

If I only could buy one computer, I would probably go for the MBP 15, but then I would still need external drives or NAS. Cloud computing is still too slow at the moment, especially on the go and on mobile. Upload speed being the big drawback.
 
Great info. Which model do you have BTO 1.3?

I am looking to grab the rMB for a couple of reasons.

Like you I have a very nice home PC set up for editing with 2x synology nas and back up externals. This is my main editing station for editing after long trips or hundreds of photos. I am looking to fill a need when traveling, on the couch, around the house not in the office or feeling confined to the office. This seems like a good fit for that?

Besides using it around the house this will also be my travel companion on business trips and outings with the camera bag/ the family.
 
Base model 1.1. If you have a desktop, I wouldn't spend big on the upgrades. My typical rMB usage is editing the pictures I know are good, and I can't wait to have a closer look at. I upload all my edited pictures and sync them through my Creative Cloud account from Adobe, so the pictures I appreciate are available on all my computers.

After years of saving all the shots I take, I no longer care about the "misfires" and don't try to look back that much on pictures I didn't care about right away. I usually know right away what I want from the shots I take, and no longer try to be a preserver of mediocre shots. 256GB is usually more than enough for a month long trip, even without this philosophy.

My years behind the camera has also made me less trigger happy. If you can't frame stuff properly within the first few shots, It's probably not worth the exposure.

Bottom line.
It's the only laptop I would buy on the market today.
 
doitdada said:
Base model 1.1. If you have a desktop, I wouldn't spend big on the upgrades. My typical rMB usage is editing the pictures I know are good, and I can't wait to have a closer look at. I upload all my edited pictures and sync them through my Creative Cloud account from Adobe, so the pictures I appreciate are available on all my computers.

After years of saving all the shots I take, I no longer care about the "misfires" and don't try to look back that much on pictures I didn't care about right away. I usually know right away what I want from the shots I take, and no longer try to be a preserver of mediocre shots. 256GB is usually more than enough for a month long trip, even without this philosophy.

My years behind the camera has also made me less trigger happy. If you can't frame stuff properly within the first few shots, It's probably not worth the exposure.

Bottom line.
It's the only laptop I would buy on the market today.
Click to expand...

Good advise. Yeah, my switch to Leica almost two years ago made me far less trigger happy. I also no longer keep the files that I don't care about at first.

Yeah desktop is great. If only I could stuff it into a macbook size it would be even better Ha.

Nice to hear editing works fine on the base model. This should be just enough for what I need it to be and being small and compact is excellent. I have a baby on the way and need to be more mobile.

Seems like you cover what I would need it for a mobile editing station and storage until I return to the office. Or an around the house device. I traditionally don't take my camera with me when traveling for work no time to take photos but I would gladly take a rMB since I do keep personal and work separate I don't like to put anything on the work computer.
 
I'm a professional photographer, but my shooting set up is a little unconventional. I shoot mostly film on my Contax 645 medium format camera, and some digital using my Sony A7s digital camera.

The RAW files are not quite as large as the Nikons, Canons or medium format digital cameras. They average about 12-14mb each. Editing them on lightroom is quite a breeze. There is a little bit of buffering when I rate my photos by scrolling through the whole folder of pictures, but it's no big deal.

Actual editing of each RAW file is smooth and lag free. It's the exporting of all the edited photos out of Lightroom that is slow for me. Seems to take forever to export.

Film photos come out perfect straight out of the scanner, so I don't do much editing to them. Only some cropping here and there, and clone stamping out dust spots, so photoshop is hardly put to the test.

So all in all, the macbook is the perfect little machine for me. I wish i had a little more speed to get rid of the buffering in lightroom, but I got the same issue with my old retina 13 inch macbook pro, so maybe only a 15 inch macbook pro would solve that for me.

It's been my main editing machine for the past 4 weeks because my retina iMac is at the data recovery center. I initially thought that the small screen would be an issue, but it's more getting used to working on the small screen, than the small screen being an issue and impeding my work.
 
nawoo said:
I'm a professional photographer, but my shooting set up is a little unconventional. I shoot mostly film on my Contax 645 medium format camera, and some digital using my Sony A7s digital camera.

The RAW files are not quite as large as the Nikons, Canons or medium format digital cameras. They average about 12-14mb each. Editing them on lightroom is quite a breeze. There is a little bit of buffering when I rate my photos by scrolling through the whole folder of pictures, but it's no big deal.

Actual editing of each RAW file is smooth and lag free. It's the exporting of all the edited photos out of Lightroom that is slow for me. Seems to take forever to export.

Film photos come out perfect straight out of the scanner, so I don't do much editing to them. Only some cropping here and there, and clone stamping out dust spots, so photoshop is hardly put to the test.

So all in all, the macbook is the perfect little machine for me. I wish i had a little more speed to get rid of the buffering in lightroom, but I got the same issue with my old retina 13 inch macbook pro, so maybe only a 15 inch macbook pro would solve that for me.

It's been my main editing machine for the past 4 weeks because my retina iMac is at the data recovery center. I initially thought that the small screen would be an issue, but it's more getting used to working on the small screen, than the small screen being an issue and impeding my work.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tips. I will be sure to update my findings when mine gets here tomorrow. Went with the 1.3 and 512 version and have a handful of photos I want to try and edit on there.

Export times don't bother me. As long as I can browse webpages while I wait. Curious what anyone's experience with that. Is it that taxing on the entire system that you can't do anything else?
 
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