Re: Mac-compatible DSLRs?

John McWilliams wrote
(in article <HdSdnat_MtsDwtjZnZ2dneKdnZydnZ2d@xxxxxxxxxxx>):

Randy Howard wrote:
Dr. Boggis wrote
(in article
<boggissimoron-43C0A3.14304418042006@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>):


I'm about to buy an entry-level DSLR (haven't quite decided which yet),
and have found it difficult to find out whether the bundled software
with the cameras is Mac (OSX) compatible. Does anyone know about these:

Canon EOS350D
Nikon D50/D70s
Olympus E-500
Pentax *ist-DL or DS


Does anyone actually use the bundled software?

If you're using a Mac, you need a CF or SD reader (depending on
camera) and Photoshop CS2. You might also spring for a
third-party RAW converter depending upon your needs.

Speaking only re the Canon, you don't *need* a reader, however useful
they may be for 20 bucks or so. You can connect the cable to any USB
port and download that way. I use Image Capture, comes with all osX Macs.

Using a dedicated reader (which are dirt cheap) is MUCH faster
and easier than connecting the camera to the computer via USB.
Well worth it, imho.

You certainly don't need PS, nor the Adobe Creative Suite, again,
however useful they are. Updated Mac OSes handle RAW files well,

That hasn't been my experience, manipulating Nikon .NEF raw
files will *frequently* crash finder and/or iPhoto. It seems to
do okay with small folders with a limited number of files in
them. Try to drag a few hundred raw files from a CF drive to
the hard drive using finder (or import via iPhoto) will crash
and lock up (or restart finder) more often than not.

It may be different with Canon's raw format, but I find raw file
handling to be rather fragile using built-in OS X tools. Bridge
never has any trouble at all however, so it's on Apple's side.

and you
can do your conversions in iPhoto, or buy PS Elements- or use the Canon
software; your choice.

iPhoto isn't a serious tool. It's a toy, useful for soccer moms
and point and shoot users, but since this is an SLR newsgroup,
you may want to aim higher.

Certainly Elements is a way to find out you wish you had
purchased CS2 over time. :-)


--
Randy Howard (2reply remove FOOBAR)
"The power of accurate observation is called cynicism by those
who have not got it." - George Bernard Shaw





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