I too am a full on Mac Fanatic and hear your concerns. I'v been adding the MacMini's to my arsenal and love them. Using a loaded MacMini for my workstation and server, with less expensive basic models for viewing stations. They are extremely light and easy to travel with.
Still searching for the perfect monitors... currently using 17" viewsonics purchased around $120 each through ebay. I use my 23" apple cinema display for my main workstation which brings lots of attention to my setup.
I've been slowly weeding out PCs and each time I run an event on the Macs, It's that much easier and less headaches. I am still looking for a printing solution and just downloaded Image Buddy to check it out.
woj
__________________ VAST::vastaction.com
White Balance so easy, even our 5 year old can do it.- Melissa Strickland
You may have noticed I've been around this "Event" business for a while now and I come in to contact with people who try and cut corners on a weekly basis.
They all either dissapear after a few events or wake and smell the coffee and make the investments that are really needed to succeed and present a professional image.
Cutting corners on software and printers will not only give you a bad name but in general give event photographers a bad name, we so often get asked at events "Is this digital?" You answer "Yes" and the y leave saying "I won't bother, they go yellow after a few weeks." You just know that guys are out there trying to use ink-jets.
The P-400 / 440 and the Kodak are pretty good printers but are way too slow, print times are around 2.30 from send to complete, add to this if you need to offer 7x5's you can only print when you have equal orders or you either have to wait until you have another order or waste half a sheet of paper.
Tri-Prism is good software and has good productivity added to this the guys offer great back up, much better than the other main player in the event software market.
I have a few older Mitsubishi printers for sale and PC event software (not Mac) drop me a line if you are interested but in the mean while, do yourself and for that matter the rest of us a favour, either do the job right or leave it alone!
Come on Ian ! we buy our equipment to suit our customer base, i see no point in buying 10 grands worth of gear when in the first two years you have no idea what your turnover is going to be,many of the old guard here started off with P440s and migrated upwards as demand increased. Norbert Bissinger does not use the event packages, he uses photoshop, are you saying he his bringing event photography into disrepute.Before you invest large amount of cash into a project you have to have an idea how the turnover is projected and you do that with a modes outlay
Robert
White Balance so easy, even our 5 year old can do it.- Melissa Strickland
My reply was very specific, buy what is needed to do the job right and dont cut corners.
If you are as active in the event field as myself and many others on this forum, you too will have come accross the problems caused by the weekend warrior using inferior equipment and supplying inferior products, they not only give themselves a bad name but the industry in general.
There are many who look at eventing as an easy option, its not, just like any business it needs planning, investment and hard work.
As to your comment about Photoshop, this costs £600 + more than it would cost to buy Expressdigitals 'Core' for example.
If you knew me better, you would know I do not wear equipment as jewlery, I dont judge people by their equipment but I do my research and testing, what I said about the P400 / Kodak is correct. If you want any kind of productivity you have to look to dedicated printers. BTW I use a couple of P400's for my 10x8 output on site.
Robert, I understand the comment about buying equipment to suit your customer base, but in the event field customers have wised up to what their demands are. Which in a nutshell is a good image that will last. IMO, you will not build a customer base if you try and cut corners and costs.
In the social market of studios and weddings, you have companies like Epson selling (admittedly high end) inkjet equipement to studios who then produce their clients prints on it. But they have the luxury of time to let these prints dry, and they are protected by frames etc.
However, for eventing dye sub is king. You can buy machines from Kodak, Mistubishi and others new for £1500 ish. You speak as tho' you already work in some field of photography, so I guess you already have a laptop/CS2/camera etc. Even if you havent a complete capture to print set up can be put together for half the amount you talk about.
Ian is right when he says "either do the job right or leave it alone". Thats twice I've agreed with him recently - must be going soft
Gary I did not advocate inkjets (Where that came from I do not know) In 1998 I bought my first Kodak 8650 and in 2002 bought a 8660.These print as good as anything out there today, but not as fast, I Do have a complete capture to print set up have had now for 3 years but do to the limited number of people that go to events here in Ireland it was not viable for me to set up a trailor with viewing stations, just contact sheets with injets and then print with dye subs.As my posts will show I have been thinking of buying a trailor for some time now (quite some time) and then the viewing side of things I am slowly putting together . Just because your equipment is not the fastest or latest does not mean you are doing things badly. just suiting your customer base at the time
Robert
White Balance so easy, even our 5 year old can do it.- Melissa Strickland
John-
I have used Tri-Prism for 8 years now. Best customer service in the software business I have ever encountered. Their software has Green Screen built right in that is using the industry best knock out software. $1995 may seam pricey but in the world of production software it is a steal. Kodak wants over $6000 a YEAR for their production software. Trust me you will not go wrong with Tim and Serge at Triprism. Tell them I sent you and ask for the trade show special. After all Photokina is coming soon and maybe they will have a deal.
White Balance so easy, even our 5 year old can do it.- Melissa Strickland
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