By Dani Diamond
There is an issue many traveling photographers and retouchers never knew they had. I have found the perfect fix for it. Photographers who have to travel to shoots, like myself, often need to carry an exorbitant amount of gear. Often, on remote shoots, we take laptops to retouch the images and tablets to tether a CamRanger to or to show potential fans and clients our portfolios. I have found a way to make our backpacks lighter with the Surface Pro 3.
The Surface Pro 3 is a completely functional hybrid of a computer and tablet. As someone who takes computers and technology very seriously, I don’t often praise devices. I love my current setup and mainly use a custom built PC running a dual graphics card and 4 monitors. However, this device is an amazing powerhouse.
Since I travel a lot, its rare to find me without my laptop. I use it to tether my camera and to retouch images while on the go. With the invention of the CamRanger, clients loved the idea of holding an iPad to see the images I was capturing. I also found myself showing off my portfolio on my phone. But when I realized buying a tablet like an iPad would provide a unique experience for my clients and also allow me to show off my work on a bigger screen, I bought one to add to my equipment. My backpack was heavy enough as it is between my camera body and lenses, my laptop, my Intuos tablet and now an iPad, I was practically lugging around my entire office on my back. Not only was it stressful to remember to pack every single item, it was also a stress on my back. The new Surface Pro 3 series has changed that for me.
After considering all my options, I chose Microsoft’s most powerful model and I couldn’t be happier. I’m able to use my CamRanger with it and retouch images as well. After bringing it along with me on my last shoot, here’s my review of the device as both a photographer and retoucher.
Because I am a computer geek at heart and I feel as though I need maximum power on my computers, I went with the i7 Intel core processor, 8Gb RAM and a 256 GB hard drive. All versions of the device come with a 12″ 2160×1440 display (that’s higher resolution than the monitors I have at home). I really enjoyed the screen, because, unlike my MacBook Pro Retina, the screen is not overly bright and full of contrast. Just by using this screen alone, I am getting more accurate results than what I get using my laptop. Lastly, the integrated Intel HD Graphics 5000 card is an amazing tool. All the flick and zooming motions of Photoshop worked flawlessly!
In terms of built-in specs, the device has one 3.0 USB port, a Micro SD card, a mini Display Port, Bluetooth 4.0 capabilities and the latest WiFi A/C. I am particularly a fan of the Micro SD card slot and mini Display Port. After each shoot, I can pop in my GoPro Micro SD card and download the footage quickly. And most importantly, the mini Display Port lets me add a second monitor and connect a projector for my future workshops. The camera in the front and back are both 5MP. There is also a mic and a built-in speaker that is surprisingly good. The devices battery can last for up to 9 hours but because I am constantly retouching, I only managed to get 2.5 hours.
This device can undoubtedly replace both a laptop and tablet. I didn’t experience any sort of lag while retouching the tremendous RAW files my D800 produces. And while the screen is smaller than most laptops, that is the beauty of having such a powerful device be so portable. It only weighs 1.76 LBS as opposed to an iPad, which weighs 1.8 LBS. And since the device runs on a Windows 8.1 OS, the Surface Pro 3 is far more useful than any tablet or iPad currently on the market.
I do wish the Surface Pro 3. had more USB ports but that is easily fixed with a splitter. That can get annoying to remember to bring along the extra accessories. And lastly, the device gets pretty easily under heavy use. However, given the portability of the device, I can’t say I find it shocking in the slightest.
While on my latest shoot, I outfitted the Surface Pro 3 with the Otterbox Latch II (I was using that on my iPad). My clients loved that the screen was slightly larger and they loved that they were able to see and rate the images as the shoot was progressing. It definitely helped when it came to culling the photos later on as I was able to see what they liked and din;t like. It saved me about a days worth of emailing since I already knew which images my client wanted me to work with.
I loved the customizability the Surface Pro 3 provided when retouching the images. I used both, the optional key board and the pen the device came with. I have yet to map the shortcut buttons on the pen, but it is exceptionally precise. As soon as I brought my hand near the screen while holding the pen; the touch deactivates itself so you won’t mistakingly hit things with your hand and fingers.
With prices ranging from $799 to $1,949, the Surface Pro 3 allows the buyer to choose their own processor type and hard drive. The flexible price range also makes it more accessible for more people looking to invest in a solid piece.
It goes without say that the Surface Pro 3 shouldn’t be the first choice for photographers or retouchers looking to invest in a computer. It is important to remember that the device wasn’t made for that. It is the perfect hybrid of a computer and tablet for anyone on the go. I know I will love using the Surface Pro 3 on all my shoots and travels.
