Tablet suggestions

[manicxartist]

Hey,
I want to get into Digital Painting with PS and I was wondering if I had to get one of those really expensive tablets to produce good work. Does anyone know the least expensive tablet I can get that will produce nice looking work?

I'm into painting, comic book art, and animation. Thanks guys!

[Leukeh]

They're very worth it. I bought mine off eBay (best option, especially if you're just beginning) for $162.50AUD. Very cheap. It's an A5 Wacom Graphire 3, and apart from my Mac, it has been the wisest buy I have made.
This is the first thing I did with it: http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/54831445
The lineart and vector stuff I did in Illustrator but all the rendering I did in Photoshop.

I personally find the A5 easier to work with than the A4, but it is a personal preference thing. A5 is also cheaper!

[ButterFingers]

I myself was interested in buying a wacom intuos3, but since wacom tends to come out with a new line every 3 years it may be wiser to wait.

So does anyone know if Wacom will come out with a new intuos this year?
Any rumors?
I also would like to know how much the intuos 3 lags, from working a little bit with the intuos2 I saw that it lags a bit, how is it with the intuos3.

[Arshes Nei]

Intuos 3 doesn't lag for me at all, the smaller tablet 4x5(6) actually works really fast. I have an intuos 6x8 and a 4x5 and I use my smaller one for inking because of how I'm able to make the strokes.

[bumskee]

I've never had lagging issue... with my intuos 2 or 3.. more on my tablet laptop tho..
haven't heard any rumours about a new line of them coming out and grapphire isn't all that bad I don't think.

[ButterFingers]

Is there and option to halve the workspace.
or example if I get an A4 size tablet, can i set it to only use an area the size of A5 when I need to. Because the A4 seems better for drawing and coloring, while the A5 size seems better for Zbrush.

[bumskee]

yeap! u can map it to use a portion of the tablet.. I have a 12x12 a square size.. awkard size and I have a widescreen laptop but it's mapped so it's same ratio. :D

[smugbug]

Intuos 3 doesn't lag for me at all, the smaller tablet 4x5(6) actually works really fast. I have an intuos 6x8 and a 4x5 and I use my smaller one for inking because of how I'm able to make the strokes.

I have the 6x8, but this is a good idea - to get the 4x5. Sometimes, even the 6x8 is too big for detailed work. :)

(and no lagging issues for me, too)

[ButterFingers]

Wouldn't it be better to get a 6x8 and when I only need a 4x5 workspace to set that on my 6x8 tablet.

[manicxartist]

Thanks so much guys!
My screen size is 15" (laptop) so do you think I'd be fine getting the Intuos 3 4x5?

[Arshes Nei]

I have the 6x8, but this is a good idea - to get the 4x5. Sometimes, even the 6x8 is too big for detailed work. :)

(and no lagging issues for me, too)

As others have suggested you can map the tablet too. I just happen to use the 4x5 for travel and inking. I only wish that the smaller one came with the two sets of buttons like the 6x8. Some reason it's easier to just plug in the other tablet and ink with the preferences already set than doing the mapping thing. (Plus it can get confusing if you don't remember the area you mapped and go "outside the range")

The thing is the smaller tablet is just easier for my workspace sometimes too. A 6x8 can feel clunky, and a larger tablet moreso if I don't have the workspace for it. Someday I'll have a nice studio, a husband and I can be barefoot and pregnant drawing art ;)