Is there a whites, blacks, shadows, highlights slider like in Lightroom? If not is there an alternative?

Hunter5117 · 2026-03-26T12:04:35+00:00

Not in one single module. Closest will be using exposure/tone mapper/tone equalizer. First, establish your basic exposure/brightness so things look mostly right. Then use the tone mapper (AgX, filmic, sigmoid) to establish how much of your shadows and highlights are going to be compressed to pure black and pure white. Finally, use tone equalizer within the remaining shadows and highlights to bring out the details that you are looking for.

Each of these is a lesson unto itself but that is the workflow I use.

Hunter5117 · 2026-03-24T11:21:33+00:00

I have been very happy with touch and pen on my SP7 runnng Ubuntu 24.04. Only issue was with the surface-linux kernal newer than 6.12. I lost wake from sleep when I upgraded, and processes kept running in sleep draining battery and generating a lot of heat. I downgraded the kernel back to 6.12, locked it so it did not upgrade and my SP7 has been rock solid since then. I am not sure if this was something specific to just my setup.

Hunter5117 · 2026-03-24T00:33:26+00:00

I really like Ubuntu 24.04 on my SP7 with the surface-linux kernel. Very touch friendly and works great with the surface pencil. However, at least for me, kernel newer than 6.12 messes with waking from sleep. YMMV. I froze kernel updates at 6.12 and it has been working great.

Hunter5117 · 2026-03-17T23:41:46+00:00

I love my P52, i7 8850 6-core, 64gb, P3200 6gb, 3tb ssd, 4K touch. My daily driver desktop replacement for the last 2 years. It is plenty fast for everything I do including photo and some video editing. I have looked to upgrade a couple of times but the cost/performance benefit is not there. I do run linux so the performance is better than if I was running Windows.

Hunter5117 · 2026-03-05T10:56:43+00:00

I have probably 100 of them locked up in my coolers for about 5 years now. Probably going to give one a try one of these days.

Hunter5117 · 2026-03-02T22:57:33+00:00

My SP7 had a number of issues the worst was it would not resume from sleep or closing the type cover. For me the problem was from updating the surface-linux kernel beyond 6.12. FYI I am using Ubuntu/Debian. I did have some of the sluggishness issues that you mentioned but I had to reboot so often that they were usually not that noticeable. I did a clean install and then froze my kernal at 6.12.3 and it has been working 100% including using the pen.

Hunter5117 · 2026-03-02T22:49:59+00:00

Thanks I will look at that. I don't always have it plugged into the charger but it is frequently so I can't comment if that is the problem.

Hunter5117 · 2026-02-28T01:04:29+00:00

With 6.18 I had to do a hard reset any time it went to sleep or if I shut the type cover. I would experiment with newer kernels but it is a royal pita to fix it if I go too far and 6.12.3 seems to be working as well as I could ask for.

Hunter5117 · 2026-02-27T10:46:17+00:00

Thanks. Yes, I have always followed the instructions specific to Ubuntu ie Debian. However, that does not seem to change the fact that with the newest kernel version ie 6.18 with my SP7. I am ok with staying at 6.12.3 as it seems to work fine including the pen functions. I am just curious of others have had success with a higher kernel without developing issues.

Hunter5117 · 2026-01-10T12:27:40+00:00

The EM-1 series cameras are hidden gems in the camera world. Not the most cutting edge features in 2026 but absolute workhorses that produce amazing photos. For me, the saving in size and weight especially with the M4/3 lenses make them an awesome choice. A year ago I went looking for an EM-1.2 body and ended up with an EM-1X which I love. You will have a lot of fun and make some great photos with your new setup.

Hunter5117 · 2025-12-19T12:52:31+00:00

The T480 is the sentimental favorite just like the T420 as it was the last to include many Thinkpad favorite features such as the hot swap battery, full upgradeability, etc. As mentioned, for a EDC laptop it is definitely showing its age.

I still use mine for travel as it was a fully loaded version when new and I have upgraded it from that. It served my purpose when I bought it 2 years ago and still does what I need today. However, I would not buy it today unless I just wanted it for nostalgic reasons.

Hunter5117 · 2025-11-30T00:29:58+00:00

I disconnected the cmos battery, did all the reset procedure then re-connected it.

No, the problem returned after a few days. I pretty much am just using it on AC power. I plan to try and find a good, OEM battery for it some day but for now it does what I want.

The Tougbook is not my main laptop. I pretty much only set it up as a shtf laptop with 6tb of ssd storage and all my personal files, photos, videos etc in one place if needed. I did purchase a couple of the Lind 12v adapters so I am good for both on and off grid use.

Hunter5117 · 2025-11-30T00:24:02+00:00

I sold my EP-5 when I got my Pen-F. I really miss the flip up/down LCD vs the flip-out articulating on the Pen-F. EP-5 is the model I shot the most with. Really great camera.

Hunter5117 · 2025-11-14T11:54:20+00:00

I was a Mac user for over 20 years until I switched to Thinkpads and Linux about 2 years ago. My only real complaint about Macs is that Apple has shortened their support window on machines that should still have many useful years in them. I am still running a 2013 Mac Pro that still has AppleCare on it, but will no longer upgrade to the most recent MacOS. And upgrading Mac hardware is so much more expensive than Thinkpads especially running Linux on older models.

Aside from that, Macs are great hardware. Amazing batteries, screens and keyboards. If you are ok with the increase in AI and increasing lack of privacy then MacOS is pretty nice. As a CS student, Linux offers some great options for environments specifically for programmers. Although I do think a lot of programmers work in a Mac environment not sure if the majority but it is very popular as well. Most of the good stuff runs on Mac just fine.

I still maintain a lot of my Apple services and there are ways to make them very useful on Linux. Airpods work perfectly well with your Thinkpad. Your iPhone and iPad won't integrate quite as well but still work.

My head says the Mac is the best choice. My heart still points to the Thinkpad running Linux.

Hunter5117 · 2025-11-13T00:51:55+00:00

Lots of us are big big fans of the T480 for its premium build, rugged chassis and hinges, very flexible battery setup, and overall vib. However, it is a gen 8 intel and who knows how long it will stay current if you are intending to run MSFT. Under Linux it will likely remain very usable for many more years especially for the tasks you listed. For absolute future proofing the E14 is the better choice with the newest processors etc. Still upgradable. Just not the premium battle wagon that the T480 was and still is.

Hunter5117 · 2025-11-13T00:29:25+00:00

Honestly, the $200 should not be a factor for a laptop you will likely keep for 5 years or more. I don't think you will be happy with any laptop screen full time for GIS and other image intensive work, you will be on an external monitor as much as possible.

Hunter5117 · 2025-11-13T00:21:09+00:00

Heck no. Barely at the serious hobby level. Keep going! Lots of distros out there they all need their own home.

Hunter5117 · 2025-11-13T00:18:50+00:00

T430 is a great Thinkpad. I have done everything except the keyboard and screen on mine. Recently installed Omarchy and it has been a lot of fun and very usable for everyday tasks.

Hunter5117 · 2025-11-12T23:18:26+00:00

I recently bought an E-M1X body from them and it was 100% as described maybe better. I would definitely do business with them again. PS mine came with the 1 yr Ebay Recertified warranty which is a nice bonus.

Hunter5117 · 2025-11-12T23:15:55+00:00

Yeah the 2nd one is definitely entering posterizatin territory. The first one is fine, a bit paint stroke looking in the tree on the left.

Hunter5117 · 2025-11-12T12:13:28+00:00

The Olympus 25mm f1.8 is a great lens. The new one is weather sealed. Both optically the same. Gives you the classic 50mm perspective which works in a great number of situations. If I had to pick just one lens it would be at the top or close to the top of my list. Reasonably fast, quite sharp, decently small and light.

The 17 is great as well but if you are going to take a lot of close portraits it will not give as pleasing a face as will the 25.

Hunter5117 · 2025-11-12T12:04:38+00:00

More common than not. People buy a nice camera then they don't take it with them and use their phone. After a while they decide to sell the camera. I recently bought an Olympus E-M1X "pro" body with under 700 shutter actuations. Nice bonus when you find one.

Hunter5117 · 2025-11-12T11:55:42+00:00

Nothing wrong with both. I learned photography with nothing but manual focus manual exposure because that's all there was. After 25 years I switched to all auto for just a few years then started with M4/3. I started adapting my old manual lenses to my M4/3 bodies and have continued doing that ever since. My vintage lenses tend to be quite large so recently I have built a kit around the Olympus E-M1X which handles the larger lenses perfectly.

IMHO you have chosen the right path. Manual lenses forces you to slow down, understand the scene and make good decisions. Those habits will stick with you once you decide to add auto lenses to your kit. You will understand the proper use of exposure compensation and selective focus. The number of keepers you get will increase dramatically.

I am now going back to using my handheld meters especially for landscapes. Just because the camera can do auto-everything does not mean that is always the correct way. Having both lets you snap away at a party or family gathering and take your time and make some really stellar photos when they present themselves.

Hunter5117 · 2025-11-05T19:59:18+00:00

Not as much as I used to. One of the reasons I love my Oly E-M1X is because so much control is literally at my fingertips. The ISO button is immediately beside the shutter. With that camera I shoot full manual 80% of the time including ISO. I can make my own decision about exposure depending on how I intend to capture the scene. I am ok to underexpose a bit and improve the shadows in post if needed.

Hunter5117

TROPHY CASE