MacBook Pro for editing 7d footage

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ArtsnFartsNCrafts

Active member
Trying to figure out which MacbookPro would be best for editing video...Will an i5 processor be sufficient in editing the HD footage from my 7d? Or should I spring for the i7? I don't want to overdo it if I don't have to...Most of it is basic editing with minor color correction...I MIGHT do a bit of compositing here and there (we're talkin' muzzle flares, animated titles, etc). Will primarily use Premiere and AE (CS4) for editing.

I tried to get help from my friendly neighborhood Mac genius...but his demonstration of their "stability" was to open up every program on the demo machine and show how smooth everything still ran (?!)..

I think you guys could guide me with more wisdom, haha...I searched for a similar thread with little luck...:-/
 
How would the higher end i5 processor hold up, video wise? I'm mostly a short film kinda guy...nothing over the top...I just want something that doesn't look like I'm watchin the footage with a strobe light when it's on the timeline ;-D
 
Yeah, i5 can handle it. Especially if you have to transcode to ProRes first in order to use Final Cut. I assume if you are looking at a Mac it is because you want to use Final Cut, otherwise you'll get MUCH more computing speed for your money elsewhere.

If you are using Final Cut, don't expect to edit the h.264 directly out of the camera. Some NLE's support it natively (Sony Vegas, for example), but Final Cut HATES it. The general advice on the forum is to transcode everything first to a more editable file type. In which case, even a high end Core 2 Duo can handle it.

EDIT: Sorry, just re-read your post (where is my head tonight?). I see you are NOT using Final Cut, but rather CS4, which also does not natively support the DSLR files very well. I understand that some people really prefer the style of the Mac, and if you've got the money that's great. But if you are on a tight budget and not using Mac-only software (final cut), don't overlook the alternative. You can argue Mac vs. PC from here until tomorrow, but the bottom line is that if every Megahertz counts, you can likely buy an i7 PC for less than you're planning to spend on that Macbook.
 
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An i5 processor should quench your creative needs.

I'm still using my MBP machine from 2006, of the Core2Duo outfit. I've been using FCStudio 6, Adobe CS5, Lightroom, and After Effects.

At the time, my machine cost me a pretty penny...but here I am now nearly 5 years later, still talking (possible bragging), about it and how it handles HD computing decently. Maybe you might be doing the same 5 years from now with the i7....maybe.
 
I have the most basic Macbook Pro 13 Inch. I edit 7d footage transcoded to Prores 422 from an external harddrive with no big issues. Play back is pretty nice. Occasionally, Ill drop a frame or two on full screen playback. The main drawback is probably just the render times, which I imagine an i7 would improve drastically.
 
Have you looked into getting an Imac? You can save some money and have a faster computer. The cheapest iMac is faster than the fastest macbook pro. The MBP use laptop processors which are very different than their desktop counterparts.
 
life4eva said:
Have you looked into getting an Imac? You can save some money and have a faster computer. The cheapest iMac is faster than the fastest macbook pro. The MBP use laptop processors which are very different than their desktop counterparts.
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This is always good advice- if you don't need the portability of a laptop, you'll get more computer power for your money with a desktop. But there are plenty of reasons to also need a laptop- I sometimes have to meet with clients and make edits on location, so having an editing laptop is useful in addition to my desktop setup.

Again, if bang-for-buck is the most important thing, I just got myself a core i5 460 with 6GB Ram and a 650GB HD for about $423 after taxes from the Dell outlet. Its not a Mac, but my priority is which one will render videos faster at the end of the day. In fact, the closest thing I could find from Apple (and I considered Apple's refurbs) was close to $1800, and although having a similar class CPU it had LESS hard drive space, and I think less ram as well. Go figure. I could buy a bunch of laptops and set up a portable rendering farm for the same price as a macbook.

Don't get me wrong, I love macs, and I grew up with them exclusively in my house. But when it came time to buy editing equipment, my priority is efficiency so I became platform agnostic. And its never been worth the money to me to go back to Apple. Just my .02
 
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No. In both situations you'll need to transcode the video into something less compressed first. CS5 I think has more native support for dslr compressed video natively, which would be great for you, especially with an i5.

But once you are converting files aleady first, even a core2duo could handle it. Make sense?
 
I think I may jump to the 15" i7...wife just notified me
If her student discount...booya?

I think I'll stick with cs5...I'm just more familiar with it, out the door...
 
I would sit tight on the MBP purchase until end of the month.

The reports, albeit unsubstantiated, are that Apple is moving is MBP line to the Sandybridge processors.
 
ArtsnFartsNCrafts said:
I think I may jump to the 15" i7...wife just notified me
If her student discount...booya?

I think I'll stick with cs5...I'm just more familiar with it, out the door...
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nice. If you can afford an i7, I don't think you could really go wrong. But again, if cost is the largest deciding factor... well, I've already told you what I recommend. ;)

Also, you said you were using CS4. CS4 does not support native h.264 very well. So, you would need to upgrade to CS5, which is something you may need to factor into the price (Adobe isn't cheap on upgrades).
 
Only thing I regret about the 15inch i5 is that apple removed the expresscard slot, so you're limited to firewire800 instead of e-sata.
 
Have you looked into getting an Imac? You can save some money and have a faster computer.
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the way i describe an imac is: "all the drawbacks of both a laptop and a desktop. without the benefit of either"

pretty much the ONLY reason to get an imac is:
- you are cramped for desk space
- thats absolutely all you can afford
- youre more concerned with the decor of your office than machine performance

from a performance standpoint, an imac wont destroy a well equipped macbook pro. but a desktop macpro WILL destroy an imac
 
wgzn said:
the way i describe an imac is: "all the drawbacks of both a laptop and a desktop. without the benefit of either"

pretty much the ONLY reason to get an imac is:
- you are cramped for desk space
- thats absolutely all you can afford
- youre more concerned with the decor of your office than machine performance

from a performance standpoint, an imac wont destroy a well equipped macbook pro. but a desktop macpro WILL destroy an imac
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Actually you are incorrect, as an Imac is faster than any Macbook Pro currently out when this thread was made. The NEW MBP just came out today http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/shop_mac/family/macbook_pro?mco=MTM3NjU5MzU so lets see now how much better they truly are now when compared to the iMacs. They have a new thunderbolt connection which seems very interesting....

Regardless though one thing people fail to mention though is the life expectancy of Laptops are a lot less than their desktop counterparts, this is a proven fact. So be very careful when buying a laptop.
 
life4eva said:
Regardless though one thing people fail to mention though is the life expectancy of Laptops are a lot less than their desktop counterparts, this is a proven fact. So be very careful when buying a laptop.
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Weeellll... I'd say that has a lot to do with how you use it. People generally don't use laptops the way they use desktops (ie. leave it on a desk all day). If they did, I think the laptop might actually outlast a desktop because it is designed to take a bit more abuse and carrying around.
Before I could afford a decent laptop for work, I used to bring my tower home to finish projects (would plug into my home computer's monitor and keyboard, etc). I had luggage bag that was about the right size, and I padded it with foam, and shlepped it around.
That computer started to have problems, drive making clicking noises, loose internal connections, etc... One time it just stopped turning on.
I bought a laptop after that for travelling around.

If you treat any machine as portable, you will shorten its life. Treat any machine as a permanent fixture that dosn't move, it will last a LOOONG time. I currently have an IBM thinkpad that is 12 years old next to my desk, on 24/7 to run my phone system at home (magic jack). Those things are built like tanks, and easily outlasted my desktop that I dragged from location to location. Just FYI.
 
dishe said:
Weeellll... I'd say that has a lot to do with how you use it. People generally don't use laptops the way they use desktops (ie. leave it on a desk all day). If they did, I think the laptop might actually outlast a desktop because it is designed to take a bit more abuse and carrying around.
Before I could afford a decent laptop for work, I used to bring my tower home to finish projects (would plug into my home computer's monitor and keyboard, etc). I had luggage bag that was about the right size, and I padded it with foam, and shlepped it around.
That computer started to have problems, drive making clicking noises, loose internal connections, etc... One time it just stopped turning on.
I bought a laptop after that for travelling around.

If you treat any machine as portable, you will shorten its life. Treat any machine as a permanent fixture that dosn't move, it will last a LOOONG time. I currently have an IBM thinkpad that is 12 years old next to my desk, on 24/7 to run my phone system at home (magic jack). Those things are built like tanks, and easily outlasted my desktop that I dragged from location to location. Just FYI.
Click to expand...


Laptops generate more heat and have less ways of cooling, this alone is the main reason why their life is cut short. To many parts close to each other generating heat. Regardless though I own a laptop, and an iMac. A laptop is key and I will always have one if I can.

Just to switch gears here these new laptops apple has released seem very impressive!
 
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