The MacBook Air: A professional photographer's best friend

I also use an Air (13" 2.3Ghz/4GB) to edit M9 photo files using Aperture and it is fine whereas certainly the last Air with almost the same specs (incl. SSD) was not at all suitable. Astonishing frankly that an improved SSD subsystem would have such an effect. Can't wait for the Sandy Bridge update mid-year and hopefully the return of the backlit keyboard!

Isn't the lack of firewire 800 on MBA's a complete pain, especially for photographers that use CF (which would be most of them)?

This makes sense but it doesn't have a card reader!!

I run the latest version of Aperture on my MBA but my main library is on my iMac. I think for many professional photographers it's becoming more common to have two computers. A MBA is no good for a main editing machine but then again my MBP couldn't touch my imac for editing either. Once I made the move to having two computers I had to keep all my editing on one machine or I would misplaced things. I tried a number of ways to sync files and folder but in the end all edits live on the imac, all "business" lives on the laptop. If I'm traveling or at a coffee shop or reviewing and doing light editing in the field the MBA is a great way to go. I have a 13inch, 256GB HD, 2GB ram.

Jon B.: In part one he indicates that he is using the 13-inch 2.13GHz MBA.

http://www.macworld.com/article/158047/2011/02/mbaforphotographers.html

In part two he details his Aperture workflow:

"Basic Aperture workflow: Create a new Aperture Library on the MacBook Air (File -> Switch To Library -> Other/New). While you're on the road, import all of your masters into the new library, edit the images, add metadata, build slideshows, and do whatever else you need to do. Once you return home, copy the travel library container to an external hard drive. Connect the hard drive to your home computer, open Aperture, and merge the travel library with your master library (File -> Import -> Library/Project). All of your work, and your master files, will be neatly organized in the master library."

http://www.macworld.com/article/158048/2011/02/photography_workflows_mba.html#lsrc.rss_main

Using aperture with a 1.6gHz processor? Absolutely no way. My 2.2 core duo MBP can slow to a stop with Aperture. That sounds like a horrible idea. From what it sounds like, he's not actually USING Aperture for anything more than getting your photos off the camera. So why not just use a larger CF or SD card in your camera?

I went from a 15inch MBP to a 13inch MBA. I shoot tethered to it and transfer files once I get back to the office. I love the size, battery life and weight. Other then location shooting I use my laptop for all "business stuff" like quotes, emails things like that. I now store all non photo files on dropbox. My editing machine is a 27inch imac with a 1TB HD. I also run a second monitor off the MBA in the office.

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Dean Casavechia
Photographer
http://www.deancasavechia.com

The problem with the MacBook Air for photos is the semi-gloss TN screen.

Tilt the screen slightly off-angle and you get color shift. Keep the brightness at a normal level and you get reflections. Increase the brightness to overpower the reflections and the image is inaccurate (too bright, whites blown).

I do photo processing with my MacBook Air 13", but it's not the best tool for the job. Now, if Apple offered an IPS screen with a matte finish, THAT would be the perfect photographer's laptop.

I use my 13" to work on M9 18mpx files and it runs great. Better than my 8 core desktop due to the SSD speed. It's perfect for image editing on the move. Lightroom 3 and PS CS4 run smoothly. If you don't agree and it runs slowly then you are doing too much to the photo!