User profile for user: wdunn
wdunn Author
User level: Level 1
19 points

iPhoto vs Canon's Digital Photo Professional for RAW

Greetings,

Quick question after not finding much while searching the forums:

I’m currently using a MBP C2D, 2.33/2G ram, all updated software. Just got a Canon Rebel XTi, finally putting aside my Canon 35mm (for now anyway).

Can someone offer feedback on iPhoto vs Canon's Digital Photo Professional for RAW editing for someone with limited experience with RAW editing?

I understand there are also other options out there but I'm trying to compare what is basically free/already provided, perhaps upgrading once I become more experienced with Digital/RAW editing.

Thanks in advance...


MBP C2D Mac OS X (10.4.8)

MBP C2D, Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Posted on Jan 11, 2007 6:39 PM

Reply
11 replies
User profile for user: Smtr
Smtr
User level: Level 5
5,450 points

Jan 11, 2007 9:00 PM in response to wdunn

iPhoto is an image organizer with lightweight editing capabilities and version control. When you import RAW files they will be kept safe in the Originals folder and iPhoto will place a jpeg version into the Modified folder. There is no way to avoid this.

While I don't use RAW, I find iPhoto's editing abilities to be limited. If all I need to do is correct red-eye and crop I'll use iPhoto, but for other image corrections I use PhotoShop Elements 4 (which BTW has very a cool RAW editing functionality that I just played with in a tutorial). Since iPhoto is for the average consumer and RAW is more for professionals, I think you will find it too limiting.
Reply
User profile for user: wdunn
wdunn Author
User level: Level 1
19 points

Jan 12, 2007 6:28 AM in response to PhillyPhan

<<I'm personally down on RAW but, before I get on my soap-box, why do you want to do this?>>

Fair question, I just want to learn what's out there. I'm not looking to make $ on my pictures but just have fun with them, post, etc. and I love to experiment with this stuff.

Good suggestion on PhotoShop Elements 4, I've played around with it for JPGs, etc. and it probably would be part of my Phase II, but for Phase I, I wanted to play around with the free stuff (Canon's DPP) before handing over more cash. Canon's DPP seems to let me do that. You’re right, iPhoto is decent with the quick/easy fix stuff…think I’ll follow your lead but use Canon’s DPP for RAW experimentation.

Cheers…
Reply
User profile for user: Old Toad
Old Toad
User level: Level 10
215,718 points

Jan 12, 2007 3:38 PM in response to wdunn

wdunn:

Welcome to the Apple Discussions. Nearly all, if not all, professionals use RAW in their shooting. There are a lot of advantages to that if you know what you're doing and need the extreme control over the image that pros usually do. I hang out in the iView MediaPro forum. Over there it's nearly all RAW users and I've learned a little of what they can do with fine tuning a photo. It is considerable. But for amateurs like us, jpgs are more than enough.

I've edited and saved a jpg file many times to see if I could detect the "degradation" and couldn't. If one was going to make a very, very large sized print then you might see something after a number of saves. Personally I use Photoshop for my editing and on "special" photos I create a psd file, duplicate the base layer and do my edits on the duplicate layer. That way I can easily compare to the original, and keep the resolution quality the same throughout. But, only on special projects.
User uploaded file Do you Twango?

TIP: For insurance against the iPhoto database corruption that many users have experienced I recommend making a backup copy of the Library6.iPhoto database file and keep it current. If problems crop up where iPhoto suddenly can't see any photos or thinks there are no photos in the library, replacing the working Library6.iPhoto file with the backup will often get the library back. By keeping it current I mean backup after each import and/or any serious editing or work on books, slideshows, calendars, cards, etc. That insures that if a problem pops up and you do need to replace the database file, you'll retain all those efforts. It doesn't take long to make the backup and it's good insurance.
I've written an Automator workflow application (requires Tiger), iPhoto dB file backup, that will copy the selected Library6.iPhoto file from your iPhoto Library folder to the Pictures folder, replacing any previous version of it. You can download it at Toad's Cellar. Be sure to read the Read Me pdf file.
Reply
User profile for user: PhillyPhan
PhillyPhan
User level: Level 5
5,440 points

Jan 13, 2007 5:44 AM in response to Old Toad

Actually, I didn't think that it was all that noisy but that could have been because I was expeccting it to be deafening. Also, years ago I had many hours as a passenger in the commercial DC-3 and other lesser piston engine props. The flight was also surprisingly smooth but, again, it could have felt that way because of my expectations.

There are fewer than ten flyable B-17s in the world. I'm hoping to fly on a B-29 next but as of right now there are NONE that are flyable. The CAF has one that flew about two years ago but it blew an engine and, so far, they don't have the cash to replace it.
Reply
User profile for user: Old Toad
Old Toad
User level: Level 10
215,718 points

Jan 13, 2007 9:54 AM in response to PhillyPhan

The only warbird I've flown in is a T4 Navy trainer. My wife gave me the ride as a birthday present. Since I had a pilots license years ago I was looking forward to some aerobatics, etc. I wasn't disappointed. They had video cameras mounted on the top of the rudder and in the cockpit. Got a copy of the ride. Really a trip.

My brother is in the process, like you, of getting rides on numerous warbirds. He rode in a P51 last year or the year before and a B17 I think. We're not close so I get this via my kids who are. Wish I could afford a P51 ride but it's pretty pricey. I remember flying DC-3s years ago when traveling for my job to New Mexico and Nevada. What I remember most is the long climb uphill to the seats in the front. Really strange.

Some of my compatriots at work missed their plane (it was taxing out to take off). So the put them in a pickup truck and ran them out to the runway where they opened the door on the plane and let them climb in. Now there's service you don't see anymore. Think it was Frontier Airlines. Traveling was fun in those days.
Reply
User profile for user: PhillyPhan
PhillyPhan
User level: Level 5
5,440 points

Jan 13, 2007 12:32 PM in response to Old Toad

The B-17 flight wasn't exactly inexpensive ($450) and I couldn't cover it. However, I had toured through it the previous year and couldn't stop talking about it. My sons got together and bought me the flight for last year's Christmas present.

I've never been licensed but I have thousands and thousands of hours as a passenger.

The DC-3 is probably the safest aircraft ever built but it didn't give the feeling of safety. I've been in some that had doors that rattled! (Don't sit near the door because you'll feel a draft.) I heard a story about the military version (C-47) in WW-II that was shot up in Germany. Half a wing was completely gone. It flew 500 miles back to England for a safe landing!

My favorite personal story about the old days was a flight in a Martin 404 from Massena (upstate New York) to Newark, NJ. We took off, circled, and landed immediately. Took off again with the same result. I walked to the cockpit to talk to the pilot and he told me that he couldn't get enough altitude to clear the mountain range. He said that he would fly to Pittsburgh instead because he could get there at a lower altitude! In Pittsburgh, I was put on another plane for my return to Newark.
Reply

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

iPhoto vs Canon's Digital Photo Professional for RAW

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.
Learn more Sign up