Digital Drawing Tablet?

[eddieb]

I am considering purchasing a drawing tablet mainly to edit photos and to experiment with sketching, drawing etc.
Any suggestions on a tablet $500 or less?

[grygon]

Prices have down a lot over the years: http://www.wacom.com/  The intuos and bamboo are the most popular among graphic artists it seems.  Bamboo is def for the artist on a budget.

[eddieb]

Prices have down a lot over the years: http://www.wacom.com/  The intuos and bamboo are the most popular among graphic artists it seems.  Bamboo is def for the artist on a budget.

Thanks for the information.

[Alex B.]

 I have a bamboo fun tablet that I got for under $100 new. It also came in a kit with a few different art programs.

[thus-sung]

Go for a Wacom for sure.  They're the standard for artists.  I have an intuos3 and a bamboo and they are both fantastic.

[CrabCrazy]

i have a wacom intous 4...its great.....but there is a new thing out that clips to a paper pad and digitizes what you draw on the pad...i use mine for photoshp,illustrator and after effects

[InuRyoko]

CrazyCrab I would recommend a tablet first. As you are not able to use it for other applications other than just sketching.  You cant use it on the computer for photo editing.
 
I have an intuos 4 large and I love it! The small wasn't big enough so I skipped it and the medium entirely. A small or Medium would probably work very nice with what you will be doing. I highly recommend that if you plan on getting more into it after you get better at digital work. A bamboo would also do well. Both from Wacom.

[CrabCrazy]

@InuRyoko....i do have a tablet ...a intuos 4 medium....and you can use it for other then skeching....the pen is still a mouse of sorts....watch some wacom video tutes and listen to what some of the artist say...it has replaced there mouse....actually its faster than using a mouse

[EbonFeline]

I've had a wacom for close to 7 years now, I currently have a large intuos 3, I've had it for 3 maybe 4 years now and use it not just for art but instead of a mouse. I have found I have better control and greater freedom with the pen tool than I do with a mouse. It takes time to adjust, but I would never go back. A wacom is definately the way to go, doesnt matter what size or model, they are fantastic.

A small example of whats achieveable. Frontcover for a yet to be published fantasy novel. http://www.natureofangels.com/Gdwork.html

[InuRyoko]

@Crab Crazy - I meant the Inkling can only be used for sketches. The Intuos 4 is multi purpose. I just didn't specify.

I love my Intuos 4 and would Highly recommend it.

[CrabCrazy]

I plan to get a Inkling later on this year....its a whole lot cheaper then a cintique....instead of scanning drawings..I can have them all ready to go...i will still use my Intuos 4...in fact it is my mouse...i'll never go back to using a mouse again

[mfierce]

I have to go with Wacom on this as well.  I have this very simple bamboo tablet with me for years now and it still works great.  Though there are far more other options with superior functionalities you might want to check out. But for casual hobbling, this would already suffice.

And it seems that there are very good reviews of it from the users here so might as well, right.

[InuRyoko]

Crazy Crab - The Inkling is great if you sketch frequently on paper. But if you don't I would not recommend it. You cant color drawings with it or edit photos. The Cintique is better than the Inutos because its a highly sensitive touch screen monitor with a pen basically. If I could afford one I would buy a Cintique hands down.  There is no comparison. I draw sketches often from scratch on the computer as well as taking Photo's of my artwork with my smart phone. With a little touch up in Adobe they are fine. And since I frequently draw on 9x12 paper and above I skip scanning entirely.

If you can afford an Intuos EddieB I would get it rather than one of the other Wacom brands. The small and Medium aren't too much. 

[CrabCrazy]

even taking pictures with a camera is still the same as scanning one in.....as for sketcking...all i want is a line drawing anyway....then to photoshop for color...if i want a clean line drawing from paper i take it in illustrator and do a trace or even in after effects

[InuRyoko]

I don't want to buy the Inkling until I can see the quality of Line art it can produce.  I generally need to edit things anyways after I sketch them. So the line art needs to be redone anyways. The inkling is still cool!