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September 9, 2025
Radovan Uhliar
How to choose a laptop for a photographer?
Anyone who is even slightly serious about digital photography will sooner or later find themselves having to edit their photos on a computer. No digital camera, SLR or mirrorless camera can edit a photo like a focused photographer sitting behind their computer or laptop monitor. What do you need to consider when choosing the right device if you want to have the best possible photos?
For a quicker orientation, you can skip straight to:
operating system selection
laptop screen selection
external monitor selection
choosing a suitable processor
RAM memory selection
choosing a graphics card
storage selection
port selection
tips on how to save money when shopping
Be clear about where you will primarily edit your photos
It may sound like a small thing, but it really depends on whether you will be editing your photos in the comfort of your home or on the go, or in the places where you will be taking photos. In the first case, you can save significantly on equipment, and in the second, you will have to buy mobility with devices with high performance and, what is even more important, with a long battery life for every occasion.
Photo editing laptops are all the rage
Modern laptops for photographers in today's world are not only winning due to their mobility and storage space - the top pieces often offer brutal Ultra HD 4K resolution, excellent viewing angles, contrast and beautiful colors. In short, they have everything that desktops can offer and a lot more.
Our tip: If you decide on a laptop, give yourself a minimum screen resolution of 1920x1080 pixels and prefer a matte surface (eliminates glare).
Laptop for photographers - ITZOO.SK
Classic PCs for photographers still have something to say, but...
The days when you could recognize a good photographer (editor) by the humming machine on his desk are gone forever. New laptop models offer comparable performance, sufficient data storage options, and fast SSD drives.
Our tip: If you choose a PC for photo editing, you can save a lot of money and gradually replace its hardware over the years of use. On the other hand, you will reduce your mobility to practically zero.
Tablets for photo editing
Some photographers take tablets with them on shoots - they are the easiest option for editing photos on the spot. However, tablets almost always come with limited connectivity and editing options. Many tablets only support JPEG and PNG formats, and you can forget about RAW.
Mac or Windows?
The answer depends heavily on your budget and user preferences. If you can afford it and using MacOS is not a problem for you, you will definitely not go wrong with this choice. The bonus for the high purchase price will be high-end design, trouble-free operation without compromises and an excellent residual value if you want to say goodbye to your Mac.
Windows is a great choice for photographers who prefer to invest their money in quality photography equipment while still owning devices that offer comparable performance to Macs, for half the price or even less.
TABLE - add
Laptop screen
If you will be using your laptop screen and not an external monitor to edit photos, don't make any compromises and choose models with an LED monitor, IPS technology and a matte screen. Size - ideally 15" or more. The resolution should be at least Full HD - i.e. 1920x1080 pixels. If you have decided on a laptop with Windows OS, be careful - even today, pieces with a resolution lower than Full HD are still being sold.
External monitor
Everything that applies to a laptop screen applies - look for pieces with a diagonal size of 27" and more - a compromise could be two external 24" monitors for multitasking (especially if you use a desktop and not a laptop to edit photos).
Dell UltraSharp U2415B - B
Dell U2415B - B photographer monitor for 89 Eur >>
Processor
The processor is responsible for all the computational tasks that the computer does. In practice, it is responsible for the speed at which you apply filters in Lightroom or how quickly you can adjust sliders. To avoid slowing you down unnecessarily, we recommend at least an Intel Core i5 processor, ideally an Intel Core i7. For comparable AMD processors, look for the A10 (comparable to Intel's i5) or FX (comparable to Intel's i7) type.
Our tip: AMD processors are not as powerful, but they tend to be available at a better price. They also produce a little more heat and consume a little more electricity.
RAM memory
You should not underestimate the size of the RAM - the larger the files you will be working with, the more memory you should equip yourself with. With today's resolution of digital cameras (in combination with RAW format), we recommend at least 8GB, ideally 16GB of RAM. The manufacturer of each laptop states the maximum size of supported RAM - check it. If your chosen model does not currently have sufficient RAM, it is possible that it will be enough to purchase modules of the corresponding size for a reasonable price.
Our tip: 16GB of memory will also give you enough space to run other programs in the background - if you're editing photos, for example, on an external monitor connected to your laptop, you can keep a browser open with multiple tabs on one screen and Photoshop or Lightroom open on the other.
Graphics card
Not all laptops come with a dedicated graphics card - most have one integrated. And that definitely doesn't help with serious photo editing. Look for models with separate graphics - you'll be rewarded with much more comfortable working with Photoshop and Lightroom (e.g., nothing will lag when moving and zooming).
Our tip: Not all older graphics cards will work with the latest versions of Adobe products. Make sure your graphics are not made before 2014. For example, Photoshop no longer supports:
graphics AMD / ATI series 100, 200, 3000 and 4000
nVidia GeForce 7000, 8000, 9000, 100, 200, 300 graphics
older Intel® HD graphics (2000, 3000, 4000)
Our tip 2: Look for graphics cards designed for workstation computers/notebooks, not gaming graphics. For Nvidia, these cards are called Quadro and for AMD, Firepro.
Storage
The guarantee of faster work (not only) when editing photos is the use of fast SSD drives. This will allow the computer to boot extremely quickly, getting rid of the annoying humming noise while working (which can only be interrupted by the fan when editing photos and other serious work).
Our tip: An SSD drive also offers some protection for your data if your laptop falls to the ground. A classic hard drive might not survive a fall from a table onto a hard surface, and your data, including photos, could be irreversibly damaged.
Recommended ports/peripherals
Focus on two things - options for connecting a camera and options for connecting anything else (monitors, external hard drives, printers, mouse, tablet, etc.). Definitely check if your device has:
enough USB ports (ideally standard 3.0, for all devices such as mouse, keyboard, USB cable, etc.)
HDMI, VGA, DVI-D, Thunderbolt (for connecting an external monitor)
card readers (SD is the minimum, for other cards (e.g. CF type) we recommend an external reader)
Final summary
In the following table, we have clearly summarized all the important parameters that you should consider when choosing a laptop or computer for a photographer.
TABLE
Want to save money when buying a laptop for a photographer?
When choosing a suitable device for photo editing, we recommend considering refurbished laptops or computers. With a budget of, for example, 1500 Euros for a new device, you can easily save 900 Euros, which you can invest in a new lens, flash or other accessories - and you will have a much larger arsenal at your disposal.
Notebook for photographer Dell Precision M4800 i7
Notebook for photographers Dell Precision M4800 i7 for 399 Euro >>
Benefits of buying laptops at ITzoo.sk
In addition, at ITzoo you have free shipping and a 1-year warranty on all goods. If you are not sure whether we have the device you want, we will gladly help you with your choice and it may happen that we will find an undercounter unit exclusively for you :)
For the current offer, follow our categories laptops for photographers, computers for photographers and monitors for photographers.
For a quicker orientation, you can skip straight to:
operating system selection
laptop screen selection
external monitor selection
choosing a suitable processor
RAM memory selection
choosing a graphics card
storage selection
port selection
tips on how to save money when shopping
Be clear about where you will primarily edit your photos
It may sound like a small thing, but it really depends on whether you will be editing your photos in the comfort of your home or on the go, or in the places where you will be taking photos. In the first case, you can save significantly on equipment, and in the second, you will have to buy mobility with devices with high performance and, what is even more important, with a long battery life for every occasion.
Photo editing laptops are all the rage
Modern laptops for photographers in today's world are not only winning due to their mobility and storage space - the top pieces often offer brutal Ultra HD 4K resolution, excellent viewing angles, contrast and beautiful colors. In short, they have everything that desktops can offer and a lot more.
Our tip: If you decide on a laptop, give yourself a minimum screen resolution of 1920x1080 pixels and prefer a matte surface (eliminates glare).
Laptop for photographers - ITZOO.SK
Classic PCs for photographers still have something to say, but...
The days when you could recognize a good photographer (editor) by the humming machine on his desk are gone forever. New laptop models offer comparable performance, sufficient data storage options, and fast SSD drives.
Our tip: If you choose a PC for photo editing, you can save a lot of money and gradually replace its hardware over the years of use. On the other hand, you will reduce your mobility to practically zero.
Tablets for photo editing
Some photographers take tablets with them on shoots - they are the easiest option for editing photos on the spot. However, tablets almost always come with limited connectivity and editing options. Many tablets only support JPEG and PNG formats, and you can forget about RAW.
Mac or Windows?
The answer depends heavily on your budget and user preferences. If you can afford it and using MacOS is not a problem for you, you will definitely not go wrong with this choice. The bonus for the high purchase price will be high-end design, trouble-free operation without compromises and an excellent residual value if you want to say goodbye to your Mac.
Windows is a great choice for photographers who prefer to invest their money in quality photography equipment while still owning devices that offer comparable performance to Macs, for half the price or even less.
TABLE - add
Laptop screen
If you will be using your laptop screen and not an external monitor to edit photos, don't make any compromises and choose models with an LED monitor, IPS technology and a matte screen. Size - ideally 15" or more. The resolution should be at least Full HD - i.e. 1920x1080 pixels. If you have decided on a laptop with Windows OS, be careful - even today, pieces with a resolution lower than Full HD are still being sold.
External monitor
Everything that applies to a laptop screen applies - look for pieces with a diagonal size of 27" and more - a compromise could be two external 24" monitors for multitasking (especially if you use a desktop and not a laptop to edit photos).
Dell UltraSharp U2415B - B
Dell U2415B - B photographer monitor for 89 Eur >>
Processor
The processor is responsible for all the computational tasks that the computer does. In practice, it is responsible for the speed at which you apply filters in Lightroom or how quickly you can adjust sliders. To avoid slowing you down unnecessarily, we recommend at least an Intel Core i5 processor, ideally an Intel Core i7. For comparable AMD processors, look for the A10 (comparable to Intel's i5) or FX (comparable to Intel's i7) type.
Our tip: AMD processors are not as powerful, but they tend to be available at a better price. They also produce a little more heat and consume a little more electricity.
RAM memory
You should not underestimate the size of the RAM - the larger the files you will be working with, the more memory you should equip yourself with. With today's resolution of digital cameras (in combination with RAW format), we recommend at least 8GB, ideally 16GB of RAM. The manufacturer of each laptop states the maximum size of supported RAM - check it. If your chosen model does not currently have sufficient RAM, it is possible that it will be enough to purchase modules of the corresponding size for a reasonable price.
Our tip: 16GB of memory will also give you enough space to run other programs in the background - if you're editing photos, for example, on an external monitor connected to your laptop, you can keep a browser open with multiple tabs on one screen and Photoshop or Lightroom open on the other.
Graphics card
Not all laptops come with a dedicated graphics card - most have one integrated. And that definitely doesn't help with serious photo editing. Look for models with separate graphics - you'll be rewarded with much more comfortable working with Photoshop and Lightroom (e.g., nothing will lag when moving and zooming).
Our tip: Not all older graphics cards will work with the latest versions of Adobe products. Make sure your graphics are not made before 2014. For example, Photoshop no longer supports:
graphics AMD / ATI series 100, 200, 3000 and 4000
nVidia GeForce 7000, 8000, 9000, 100, 200, 300 graphics
older Intel® HD graphics (2000, 3000, 4000)
Our tip 2: Look for graphics cards designed for workstation computers/notebooks, not gaming graphics. For Nvidia, these cards are called Quadro and for AMD, Firepro.
Storage
The guarantee of faster work (not only) when editing photos is the use of fast SSD drives. This will allow the computer to boot extremely quickly, getting rid of the annoying humming noise while working (which can only be interrupted by the fan when editing photos and other serious work).
Our tip: An SSD drive also offers some protection for your data if your laptop falls to the ground. A classic hard drive might not survive a fall from a table onto a hard surface, and your data, including photos, could be irreversibly damaged.
Recommended ports/peripherals
Focus on two things - options for connecting a camera and options for connecting anything else (monitors, external hard drives, printers, mouse, tablet, etc.). Definitely check if your device has:
enough USB ports (ideally standard 3.0, for all devices such as mouse, keyboard, USB cable, etc.)
HDMI, VGA, DVI-D, Thunderbolt (for connecting an external monitor)
card readers (SD is the minimum, for other cards (e.g. CF type) we recommend an external reader)
Final summary
In the following table, we have clearly summarized all the important parameters that you should consider when choosing a laptop or computer for a photographer.
TABLE
Want to save money when buying a laptop for a photographer?
When choosing a suitable device for photo editing, we recommend considering refurbished laptops or computers. With a budget of, for example, 1500 Euros for a new device, you can easily save 900 Euros, which you can invest in a new lens, flash or other accessories - and you will have a much larger arsenal at your disposal.
Notebook for photographer Dell Precision M4800 i7
Notebook for photographers Dell Precision M4800 i7 for 399 Euro >>
Benefits of buying laptops at ITzoo.sk
In addition, at ITzoo you have free shipping and a 1-year warranty on all goods. If you are not sure whether we have the device you want, we will gladly help you with your choice and it may happen that we will find an undercounter unit exclusively for you :)
For the current offer, follow our categories laptops for photographers, computers for photographers and monitors for photographers.
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