Wacom Bamboo Small?

[notamondayfan]

Hey guys,

 

I'm looking to try my hand at using a graphic tablet. I've used ones in other studios, and like them. I also had a old Trust tablet, but it wasn't very accurate and was a pain in the ass to get to work properly on a dual monitor set-up.

 

I don't really want to spend a lot, not until I know I know if it's something that's going to be useful or not, so I've been looking at the Wacom Bamboo Small tablet.

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B005TYVS4Y/ref=s9_simh_gw_p147_d0_i4?pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=1R06WX06WYCBD4BJH8GY&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=358549767&pf_rd_i=468294

 

I'm just wondering if anyone has any experience using it for photoshop, zbrush, mudbox work?

 

I think Wacom is still really the only graphic tablet I'd choose, as other lower brands seem to have trouble, especially with dual screens, where as Wacom is programmable, and the software is way better.

 

Anyway, any experience let me know!

 

Cheers,

Dean

[javierseger]

I have a bamboo pen small and I love it. It certainly didn´t replace my mouse for general use, but it works absolutely fine in mudbox and photoshop.

 

Before switching to a wacom, I made the huge mistake of buying a Genius tablet just because it was a lot cheaper. However, it only brought me troubles and was practically unusable. I think that wacom is the way to go, but unless you are using it all day long or that you need features such as pen tilting, the bamboo is more than capable to handle sculpting and texturing tasks.

[Tommy L]

I have both an Intuos (12" wacom) and a bamboo touch. The bamboo stays in my laptop bag and rarely comes out, but its good for on the road for sure. Once you start using a decent stylus its difficult to go back to using a mouse for anything really. Personal preference though. My wife is a graphic designer and does everything with fingertips on a 15" macbook trackpad...ugh(shivers).

[Umesh Raut]

does everything with fingertips on a 15" macbook trackpad...ugh(shivers).

 

That is really amazing. I would never even dream of using trackpad (single or multi touch, no diff.) for graphic design. Salutes to her.

[Scott Schroeder]

If you are just looking into it, I'd suggest getting a Monoprice tablet to test the waters.

http://www.monoprice.com/products/subdepartment.asp?c_id=108&cp_id=10841

 

The 8x6 is roughly 50 bucks and works just as well as most Wacoms. In fact, if PS gives you an error with the Monoprice you can just install the Wacom drivers and it'll work perfectly. I've got one and it works flawlessly with Mudbox, Max, and Photoshop and works both on my dual screens at work and my 27" at home.

 

Then if you decided a tablet is what you'd like, you can get the most expensive Wacoms with more features and such. But honestly, for what I use the tablet for, the Monoprice seems to fit for me right now.

[Francisco Penaloza]

I been using Wacom tablets for more than 10 years, I use for everything, work with mouse is a pain for me now, the cheap bamboo still better than most of the tablets that you can find in the market, I also tried other brands from time to time, but honestly there is not comparison. at home and at the office I use intuos 3, months ago I bough the big bamboo 5 but I did returned, because it was not precise as the intuos 3 and the wireless system disconnect from time to time, plus the battery didn't last long enough for my use.

To be honest the latest release of Wacoms in quality is below to any previews release, between a brand new bamboo tablet or a old used small intuos 3 I'll go for the intuos. maybe you can find some good prices on ebay or something similar, still I'll recommend a bamboo before other brand.

[notamondayfan]

If you are just looking into it, I'd suggest getting a Monoprice tablet to test the waters.

http://www.monoprice.com/products/subdepartment.asp?c_id=108&cp_id=10841

 

The 8x6 is roughly 50 bucks and works just as well as most Wacoms. In fact, if PS gives you an error with the Monoprice you can just install the Wacom drivers and it'll work perfectly. I've got one and it works flawlessly with Mudbox, Max, and Photoshop and works both on my dual screens at work and my 27" at home.

 

Then if you decided a tablet is what you'd like, you can get the most expensive Wacoms with more features and such. But honestly, for what I use the tablet for, the Monoprice seems to fit for me right now.

 

Yea I'd looked at Monoprice, but I'm sceptical about non-wacom tablets, mainly down to reviews, and my past experience with a Trust tablet.

 

When you say it works well on dual screens, can you elaborate please? The function I like with wacom is the ability to choose which screen you're drawing on, and also wacom has a "mouse" feature so the pen acts in the same way as a mouse does and isn't relative to the position on the tablet, is this also true of the Monoprice tablets?

 

I been using Wacom tablets for more than 10 years, I use for everything, work with mouse is a pain for me now, the cheap bamboo still better than most of the tablets that you can find in the market, I also tried other brands from time to time, but honestly there is not comparison. at home and at the office I use intuos 3, months ago I bough the big bamboo 5 but I did returned, because it was not precise as the intuos 3 and the wireless system disconnect from time to time, plus the battery didn't last long enough for my use.

To be honest the latest release of Wacoms in quality is below to any previews release, between a brand new bamboo tablet or a old used small intuos 3 I'll go for the intuos. maybe you can find some good prices on ebay or something similar, still I'll recommend a bamboo before other brand.

 

I've used the Intuos 3 in the past too, A4 if I remember correctly. I loved the programmable buttons, but A4 was too large for me, so I might keep an eye out for an A3 if one comes up cheep enough. Other than that I might just buy the bamboo, see how I get on, and if I want more I can always sell it 2nd hand as they appear to hold their value pretty well so I'm not going to lose a lot of money on it.

 

 

Cheers guys!

[joelmcwilliam]

I have the Wacom Bamboo Pen. It's a great mouse alternative. And a great way to prevent rsi. It is good, but don't expect top of the line accuracy.

 

I also have the Wacom Intuos 3 A4. Now this thing is precise. I use this tablet to draw/sketch in Photoshop (and for everything else i do on my computer). This tablet also has programmable buttons. If you program them correctly you dont need the keyboard that often.

 

With the Wacom Bamboo Pen it is very difficult to draw/sketch in Photoshop, because it lacks accuracy.

 

If you are planning to use the tablet as a mouse replacement and do 3d modelling with the Wacom Bamboo Pen tablet it will work fine. If you're planning to draw/sketch in Photoshop you should consider spending more money and get something more professional.

Edited May 17, 2013 by joelmcwilliam

[Crazy Homeless Guy]

You should be looking for nothing less than an Intuos tablet. No other brand has the equivalent build quality and pressure sensitivity. Size is a personal choice but I actually find the small Intous to be very adequate.

 

http://www.amazon.com/Wacom-Intuos5-Touch-Tablet-PTH450/dp/B0076HMDQO

[Dimitris Tolios]

Size is a double edge decision. Larger digitizers allow for more precision, still are a huge pain over prolonged time for general pointing as your hand has to "travel" a lot to reach for tools etc in the edges of the screen. The 1st digitizer I had was 12 x 12...boy was that overkill.

 

I think for most of us a intuos touch small is more than enough. Still that's $200+. Don't know if you should go that way if you have no exp. The bamboo might be a nice entry level to make you decide

Edited May 18, 2013 by dtolios

[Noise]

I have used a few but the small Bamboo is by far the best - it fits between me and the keyboard whereas with the intuos I had to move everything out of the way and I only used a small portion of the pad. The location of the buttons on the stylus are not great but a small price to pay. I have one at work and one at home.

 

Actually, I would say that the Bamboo has revolutionised the way I work BUT, I have never used it with a dual monitor setup.

[Stephen Thomas]

I just picked up an almost new Bamboo Pen for £20 on ebay, looking forward to getting to grips with it!

[notamondayfan]

You'll have to let us know how you find it for photoshop, max and sculpting!