I’m looking to get a tablet that I can use the full version of zbrush r7 64. The brush sensitivity is the same on the surface pro 4 and the companion 2. Has anyone used both? Which would you recommend? What did you like better?
Any help/ suggestions would be a huge help.
Thanks
Earlier this year, I looked at the Cintiq Companion 2 as a possible self-reward if I progressed in my ZBrush training. No doubt it’s been well-praised, but still… $2500+ pricetag… I’d need a lot more justification to put it ahead of many other toys in the same price range.
Months later and ZBrush is finally starting to feel approachable so the idea of unencumbered sculpting on the move came up again. The (then) upcoming Surface Pro 4 might be something to keep an eye on. Knowing that Surface Pro 3s were being used by ZBrushers and were vaguely in the $1400 territory, this path might be worth pursuing.
Present day, present thread. With the i7 Surface Pro 4 models now trickling out, I think many would agree the 16gig/512ssd model looks like the sweet-spot for serious ZBrush use. Full screech on the stickershock MSRP: $2199.
For giggles, this post had me revisiting Wacom’s site to check if they had any changes to answer the Surface Pro 4. On hardware, they didn’t. But on price? Something interesting… as of Dec 8, Wacom is knocking their Companion 2 price down to $2299.
This begs the question, at the relative same price range, how do they measure up?
| Surface Pro 4 SIZE=2 | Cintiq Companion 2 SIZE=2 |
|---|---|
| 12.3" display 2736x1824 | 13.3" display 2560x1440 |
| i7-6650u 2.2ghz (6th Gen, Skylake 15w) | i7-5557u 3.1Ghz (5th Gen, Broadwell 28w) |
| Iris Graphics 540 (GT3e GPU, 64MB eDRAM) | Iris Graphics 6100 (GT3 GPU) |
| 16GB RAM memory | 16GB RAM memory |
| 512GB SSD storage (1 terabyte avail) | 512GB SSD storage |
| Weighs 1.73lbs | Weighs 3.75lbs |
| Sculpting time: 4+ hours? | Sculpting time: 3 hours |
| 1024 levels of pressure | 2048 levels of pressure with tilt |
| 3rd party RadialMenu App | Integrated ExpressKeys/RockerRing |
| 802.11ac | 802.11n |
Slightly bigger screen on the Cintiq, but the SP4 screen packs more DPI (261 v 220). More efficient, next-gen i7 processor from the Surface Pro 4. Graphics systems on both seem within comparable range – GFLOPS numbers both in the 800 territory. Surface Pro 4 gives the ($500) option of a full terabyte of storage where Wacom has reached its limit. Weight difference between the two are huge. One reviewer pegs the Cintiq to last about 3 hours for sculpting. The i7 Surface Pro 4 is too new to do anything else but extrapolate that it might last 4 hours or more due to a CPU that sips 15 watts rather than 28. I don’t have any complaints about the SP4’s 1024 pressure over the Cintiq’s 2048 since I’ve been OK with 1024 on my Bamboo drawing tablet. The Cintiq’s dedicated ExpressKeys is the big thing that lords over an on-screen button app solution that Surface Pro users resort to. Here, I’d really wish Pixologic would give ZBrush a built-in dockable on-screen button palette for tablet users. And finally, the WiFi on the SP4 is more up-to-date for better futureproofing over the Wacom.
Without spending any time hammering ZBrush on either one, my own gut feeling is that the Cintiq probably has a slight edge when it comes to its pen-on-screen action… but that it’s a bit stale in the other hardware areas. With the heavier weight, huge stand, (likely) shorter battery time from a hungrier CPU (and more persistent fan noise?) it doesn’t exactly seem like a unit where I can truly spend a leisurely untethered sculpting session anywhere I want. I’d have to constantly keep an eye on the clock. Sculpting directly on-screen is unquestionably cool, but putting that aside, the Cintiq feels like a unit that would much prefer you set it down somewhere when truly using it. If I’m wanting a sit-down stationary ZBrush session, I’ll stick with my notebook/graphics-tablet and pocket the wad.
The Surface Pro 4 feels like a better fit for someone who puts mobility on a higher priority. If I’m aboard a flight or on my feet pacing at a counter, I can see cradling the lighter SP4 with more comfort and getting a longer session with it than the Companion 2. The Youtube clips and forum folk indicate that the 256-level pen of the Surface Pro 3 did a serviceable job in ZBrush.
The $1799 SP4 config with 16gb RAM and 256gb SSD is available, but with the Alphas, materials, HDRI and other high-rez files I’d expect to accumulate over the useable lifetime of the device, 256gb just seems too short-term. It’ll take a microSD card near the kickstand hinge, but those cards more or less top out at 128gb and I’d be concerned about a pokey write/read speed over what a PCIe SSD can do.
For my needs, I’m probably leaning toward the SP4 - but then, I’m in no huuuge rush for one. Wacom has long enjoyed their exclusive status as mobile ZBrush device up til now. With the Surface Pros elbowing their way in, I might exercise some further patience to see if Wacom might rise up to reclaim their dominant position with a refreshed Cintiq Companion 3. I’d want a real-life 5-hour sculpting session, lighter weight, brighter screen and a competitive price. If a flood of Surface Pro 4 users validate its suitability with ZBrush on Youtube, I might take action sooner.
I have a companion 1 and Zbrush works Ok on it as long you don’t try too high polycount. That is OK for me as it is only a secondary computer but I’m sure the new companion 2 goes beyond these limitations.
The main limitation is that it is a bit fiddly to use Zbrush complex interface that needs lots of keys and how it is compressed to a small screen. But in both areas surface is worse. I simply can not think how I could use Zbrush without the alt-ctrl-shift keys that companion allows.
Besides that the pen in surface seems ok but far from the customization of Wacom. From I can see in the reviews you have not too much freedom to configure the only button that the surface pen has.
Anders posted a YouTube clip in another thread showing the Surface Pro 4 with ZBrush:
[video=youtube_share;4jFAkHoiyT0]http://youtu.be/4jFAkHoiyT0[/video]