Mac users, what are you using for photo viewing?

Qwntm · 03-11-2012, 04:49 PM

Silkypix is deadly slow on Mac. I have used faststone image viewer on my PC and it's great, but they don't make a Mac vesion. What are Mac users doing to view their Pentax images? I use PSCS5 for development of raws, so that's not an issue... Thanks!

mtansley · 03-11-2012, 04:54 PM

Lightroom 3.6 with the trial of Lightroom 4 also installed.

It does what I require.

Schmidlapper · 03-11-2012, 05:04 PM

I use both Aperture 3 and PS Elelments 10 they are reasonably priced and work well together on a Mac. Aperture works with many plugins that add functionality as well.

Qwntm · 03-11-2012, 05:16 PM

You know the thing that annoys the bananas out of me with Lightroom and Aperture is the file management. I HATE programs that force me to IMPORT my files before I can see them. That's what I like about Nikon View and Image Browser from Nikon and Canon, and Faststone Image Browser, they use your existing file structure as is.

Maybe I'll just keep using the PC for my Pentax images... Thanks for the suggestions though!

**boriscleto** · 03-11-2012, 05:21 PM

Originally posted by Qwntm

You know the thing that annoys the bananas out of me with Lightroom and Aperture is the file management. I HATE programs that force me to IMPORT my files before I can see them. That's what I like about Nikon View and Image Browser from Nikon and Canon, and Faststone Image Browser, they use your existing file structure as is.

Maybe I'll just keep using the PC for my Pentax images... Thanks for the suggestions though!

You can use Aperture and Lightroom with referenced masters.

Aperture 3 User Manual

If you simply want a viewer use GraphicConverter or Sequential.

Sequential 2 - Main

mtansley · 03-11-2012, 06:03 PM

Originally posted by Qwntm

You know the thing that annoys the bananas out of me with Lightroom and Aperture is the file management. I HATE programs that force me to IMPORT my files before I can see them. That's what I like about Nikon View and Image Browser from Nikon and Canon, and Faststone Image Browser, they use your existing file structure as is.

Maybe I'll just keep using the PC for my Pentax images... Thanks for the suggestions though!

Lightroom doesn't do anything to your folder structure. It just imports the details about your photos into it's database and creates previews. Any changes to your photos are only recorded in it's database and the revised photo is only written out when you decide to export it. Your underlying structure and all your photos are left alone unless you export and replace the original photo.

Apple Aperture on the other hand can operate in either way, importing all your photos into it's own database or using it in referenced mode as Boriscleto mentions.

**Ash** · 03-11-2012, 06:25 PM

Just for viewing?
Adobe Bridge, which you should also have, is very useful for a browse, or simply use the innate QuickView feature of OSX that will expand your images to screen size and allow you to scroll through your images using the arrow buttons.

panoguy · 03-11-2012, 06:57 PM

Originally posted by Ash

Just for viewing?
Adobe Bridge, which you should also have, is very useful for a browse

+1 for Bridge, particularly if you already use ACR (in PSCS5) for raw processing, and +2 if you use Bridge for importing/sorting your images.

Try this:
1) Select a bunch of images you wish to view
2) Press Spacebar (to view them full screen)
3) Use arrow keys to go through them
4) Click on a point to zoom in/out to 100% pixels on screen
5) Press the number keys (1, 2, etc) to give them "stars," or Delete to move them to the trash!

This is essentially a bare-bones way of using Bridge's Review mode (Cmd-B) without the "carousel" effect. Pretty nice way to go through a day's photos. And there's also an automatic slideshow option in Bridge as well (Cmd-L)...

**felixkh** · 03-12-2012, 05:18 AM

Lightroom 3.6 and Aperture 3

Indria Djamil · 03-12-2012, 05:50 AM

For viewing only? I always did some color/contrast/white balance correction so I use Lightroom 3 then to view the finished picture I make a smaller version (JPEG - sRGB max 1000x1000 pixels) and put them into iPhoto for general viewing. The RAW (I use DNG for compatibility) files I keep in Lightroom for future modifications.

Indria.

pilgrimingvine · 03-12-2012, 07:12 AM

I use Xee for viewing only. Free.

Frogfish · 03-12-2012, 08:00 AM

Originally posted by pilgrimingvine

I use Xee for viewing only. Free.

Me too. Can display RAW and jpgs but I prefer 'Lyn' which works fine in the free version - for file management you need to stump up for the paid version.

filmamigo · 03-12-2012, 08:41 AM

Aperture 3. Very pleased with it.

mtansley · 03-12-2012, 09:18 AM

Originally posted by pilgrimingvine

I use Xee for viewing only. Free.

Thanks for mentioning this, I've just tried it and even though I use Lightroom 3.6 for most stuff, this Xee program replaces the Mac Preview app quite well for images.

disya2 · 03-12-2012, 01:26 PM

just another vote for Xee: a lightweight yet functional enough free software (though I don't see how it is K-5 related)

03-11-2012, 04:49 PM	#1
Qwntm Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Eastern Oregon Posts: 856	Mac users, what are you using for photo viewing? Silkypix is deadly slow on Mac. I have used faststone image viewer on my PC and it's great, but they don't make a Mac vesion. What are Mac users doing to view their Pentax images? I use PSCS5 for development of raws, so that's not an issue... Thanks!

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03-11-2012, 04:54 PM	#2
mtansley Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Ajax, Ontario, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,139	Lightroom 3.6 with the trial of Lightroom 4 also installed. It does what I require.

03-11-2012, 05:04 PM	#3
Schmidlapper Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Photos: Gallery Posts: 534	I use both Aperture 3 and PS Elelments 10 they are reasonably priced and work well together on a Mac. Aperture works with many plugins that add functionality as well.

03-11-2012, 05:16 PM	#4
Qwntm Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Eastern Oregon Posts: 856 Original Poster	You know the thing that annoys the bananas out of me with Lightroom and Aperture is the file management. I HATE programs that force me to IMPORT my files before I can see them. That's what I like about Nikon View and Image Browser from Nikon and Canon, and Faststone Image Browser, they use your existing file structure as is. Maybe I'll just keep using the PC for my Pentax images... Thanks for the suggestions though!

03-11-2012, 05:21 PM	#5
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,475	Originally posted by Qwntm You know the thing that annoys the bananas out of me with Lightroom and Aperture is the file management. I HATE programs that force me to IMPORT my files before I can see them. That's what I like about Nikon View and Image Browser from Nikon and Canon, and Faststone Image Browser, they use your existing file structure as is. Maybe I'll just keep using the PC for my Pentax images... Thanks for the suggestions though! You can use Aperture and Lightroom with referenced masters. Aperture 3 User Manual If you simply want a viewer use GraphicConverter or Sequential. Sequential 2 - Main

03-11-2012, 06:03 PM	#6
mtansley Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Ajax, Ontario, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,139	Originally posted by Qwntm You know the thing that annoys the bananas out of me with Lightroom and Aperture is the file management. I HATE programs that force me to IMPORT my files before I can see them. That's what I like about Nikon View and Image Browser from Nikon and Canon, and Faststone Image Browser, they use your existing file structure as is. Maybe I'll just keep using the PC for my Pentax images... Thanks for the suggestions though! Lightroom doesn't do anything to your folder structure. It just imports the details about your photos into it's database and creates previews. Any changes to your photos are only recorded in it's database and the revised photo is only written out when you decide to export it. Your underlying structure and all your photos are left alone unless you export and replace the original photo. Apple Aperture on the other hand can operate in either way, importing all your photos into it's own database or using it in referenced mode as Boriscleto mentions.

03-11-2012, 06:25 PM	#7
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920	Just for viewing? Adobe Bridge, which you should also have, is very useful for a browse, or simply use the innate QuickView feature of OSX that will expand your images to screen size and allow you to scroll through your images using the arrow buttons.

03-11-2012, 06:57 PM	#8
panoguy Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Washington, D.C. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,327	Originally posted by Ash Just for viewing? Adobe Bridge, which you should also have, is very useful for a browse +1 for Bridge, particularly if you already use ACR (in PSCS5) for raw processing, and +2 if you use Bridge for importing/sorting your images. Try this: 1) Select a bunch of images you wish to view 2) Press Spacebar (to view them full screen) 3) Use arrow keys to go through them 4) Click on a point to zoom in/out to 100% pixels on screen 5) Press the number keys (1, 2, etc) to give them "stars," or Delete to move them to the trash! This is essentially a bare-bones way of using Bridge's Review mode (Cmd-B) without the "carousel" effect. Pretty nice way to go through a day's photos. And there's also an automatic slideshow option in Bridge as well (Cmd-L)...

03-12-2012, 05:18 AM	#9
felixkh Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Singapore Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,201	Lightroom 3.6 and Aperture 3

03-12-2012, 05:50 AM	#10
Indria Djamil New Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Jakarta Photos: Gallery Posts: 13	For viewing only? I always did some color/contrast/white balance correction so I use Lightroom 3 then to view the finished picture I make a smaller version (JPEG - sRGB max 1000x1000 pixels) and put them into iPhoto for general viewing. The RAW (I use DNG for compatibility) files I keep in Lightroom for future modifications. Indria.

03-12-2012, 07:12 AM	#11
pilgrimingvine Forum Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Vancouver Photos: Gallery Posts: 54	I use Xee for viewing only. Free.

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03-12-2012, 08:00 AM	#12
Frogfish Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Shanghai Posts: 4,490	Originally posted by pilgrimingvine I use Xee for viewing only. Free. Me too. Can display RAW and jpgs but I prefer 'Lyn' which works fine in the free version - for file management you need to stump up for the paid version.

03-12-2012, 08:41 AM	#13
filmamigo Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 797	Aperture 3. Very pleased with it.

03-12-2012, 09:18 AM	#14
mtansley Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Ajax, Ontario, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,139	Originally posted by pilgrimingvine I use Xee for viewing only. Free. Thanks for mentioning this, I've just tried it and even though I use Lightroom 3.6 for most stuff, this Xee program replaces the Mac Preview app quite well for images.

03-12-2012, 01:26 PM	#15
disya2 Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Photos: Albums Posts: 91	just another vote for Xee: a lightweight yet functional enough free software (though I don't see how it is K-5 related)