best mouse for CS5

[Jo.T]

Hi all
Im starting to play a lot more with Photoshop but finding my simple laser mouse is not giving me the fine movement i would like. Is there better mouse that you would recommend or is it worth looking at a graphics tablet.

[zona5101]

You might first want to change your mouse sensitivity & speed settings and see if that helps but otherwise graphics tablet...wacom intous 4 medium.

[ArmySoldier777]

Jo.T

+1 Wacom Intuous 4 Tablet

I'm not sure what the prices of these things are now, I think it was a couple hundred when I got mine. But, this was the best decision I could have made when it comes to photo editing. The tablet is absolutely amazing with CS5 and gives me the fine control over my images that I need. You'll read a few "only a few" bad reviews about people that tried using it with Photoshop, but the fact is, they just didn't take the time to learn how to properly use the tablet. Once you do, it is an absolute asset when you're doing detailed editing.

I originally got mine just to play around with, I wasn't that big into photography back then. And I don't use mine all the time, because I generally only do generalized post processing to my images. But when I do need it, it's an amazing piece of equipment to have. There are even some people that completely replace their mouse with it, although I don't think I could do that. I'm too familiar with the feel of a mouse to completely get rid of it.

But as I said, the Intuous 4 tablet is definitely the way to go if you really need that fine control.
David

[Tzetsin]

A tablet will do a billion times more than a mouse will for you. I dont recomend the intuos 4 though, at least not untill you go pro with corel painter or something. The wacom bamboo is perfect for photography as its smaller ( which is BETTER ) and ony costs 50 bucks vs 400 for the intuos.

I just want to mention that there are a couple versions of the bamboo. The "pen" and the "pen and touch" dont bother with the pen and touch. The pen and touch is basically a big laptop touch pad and everyone knows how anoying those are. The "bamboo pen" also has 1024 levels of pressure, but no rotation. That would be no good for a painter, but no problem for a photographer. It also haz a bunch of programable buttons which is handy.

[Rentham]

Originally Posted by Tzetsin

A tablet will do a billion times more than a mouse will for you. I dont recomend the intuos 4 though, at least not untill you go pro with corel painter or something. The wacom bamboo is perfect for photography as its smaller ( which is BETTER )

Huh? In what way is the smaller surface better?

[ArmySoldier777]

If you prefer working on a smaller surface, you can always restrict the dimensions of the intuous 4 tablet to a smaller area. This allows you to still have a full size tablet when you need it. Although I do agree with Rentham, I personally wouldn't want a smaller surface area to work with

David

[zona5101]

I guess you'll need to qualify yourself, if you're not that serious, have a limited budget or need only limited functionality then the bamboo tablet maybe your choice. The Bamboo is a good product. It really is the same argument, pro & con, as the comparison of a dslr vs point & shoot.
In the intous line they also have a small size, I wouldn't go small size because more surface area is better and easier for solid control PLUS the radial button is a fantastic tool not available on the small (or earlier models like intous 2 or 3). You read about the bamboo and Intous tablets& compare features, levels of sensitivity, etc then decide.

[DanielLane]

I have the Intuos 4 Medium sized tablet. It's the perfect size. The Large is nice and all, but it does take up a lot of real estate on the desk. I dropped the $300 or so for the medium and have 0 regrets. absolutely love it. I can do things with it that I could never do with a mouse. The pressure sensitivity is the big key. Fantastic tool. get one and you will love it for ever

[Dave C.]

+1 on the Intous 4, either the small or the medium. if price is a deciding factor then the small is more than sufficient i have found.

i work with a track ball and an intous 4, and have no complaints.

[Jim Bryant]

Get a mouse with a track ball................cheaper than a tablet.