articles/Software/extensisportfolio85-page4
by Mike McNamee Published
The Task in Hand
What we wanted at the outset was an assessment of how many of the files in the system were taken specifically with either a 100mm or 105mm lens. Once we had the catalogue this was trivial. We set up a Find field to look for 100 or 105 in the EXIF 'Focal Length Field'. It brought them up so fast that we failed to get the stopwatch started to time the operation. The analysis showed that the 100/105s were used for a quarter of the shots, half were shot at less than 50mm and about a quarter were shot at more than 120mm, the bulk of which were sports shots on 300-600mm lenses. So the 100/105, as we suspected, is our most commonly used lens at a discrete focal length. This analysis was then used to inform the article in this issue, extolling the virtues of 100mm shooting!
Who Needs Portfolio?
If all you shoot are weddings then it is likely that your needs will be satisfied by Adobe Bridge, Lightroom or, (for Mac), Aperture. However as soon as you need to access a variety of files from a large collection and to have order to your filing then Portfolio comes into its own. Although the setting up of a catalogue for a large, existing collection of files is a little tedious, it is at least automatic and with the setting up of 'watched' folders, onward updating can be automatic and in the background. It's a bit like spring cleaning the house (they tell me!), it's a pain while you are doing it but once complete you can sit back and enjoy the benefits and get more time to watch the football (or Corrie, or whatever!).
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