Graphics tablets - educated opinions needed

[Sinathor]

You really can't go wrong with a Wacom Bamboo for hobby purposes. I bought one less than a year ago and I'm more than happy with it. Works brilliantly. The size is A5 and it seems small at first but is more than enough.

 

[Zenode]

Sup guys. If you don't know anything about graphics tablets then sorry but, please exit to your left - as the title says, I need experienced opinions here.

So I want to invest in a graphics tablet, nothing major, just for hobbying purposes. In light of this fact, coupled with the fact that I'm a student surviving mostly off loans, I'm not looking for something expensive and heavily professional. Right now I'm trying to decide between a Wacom Bamboo Pen Tablet (this 'un):
http://graphicssoft.about.com/od/hardware/gr/bamboo.htm

or an ODYS Multi Graphic (this 'un):
http://www.odys.de/web/multi-graphic-board_en.html

Not to say those are the sole two options. If anyone else can suggest something that is better than either yet still keeping under, let's say, 60 pounds (97 US dollars) then that'd be great too.
So, halp?

Hey there.

Personally, I WOULDN'T go for the "bamboo" tablets as they are what I call the "noobtabs" basically they aren't very good.

I would recommend the genius tablets http://www.geniustablet.com/index.aspx they aren't as "good" as the wacom ones (since Wacom literally own the tablet industry) but they are quite cheaper and still do a damn good job (I use the G-Pen 712x for all my digital painting and texturing and it works amazing), but they don't have the "pen tilt sensor" like the wacom does.

(I work for a web design company doing all their graphics and vector work and do my own freelance 3D work and am a design student as well)

That's my recommendation

 

[somonels]

Everyone professional will reccommend a Wacom. However, the Odys has one thing going for it - size. If you use large strokes and find small areas restrictive then you might be better off geting a Odys MultiTablet before commiting to a fairly expensive large Wacom tablet. It works quite decently as a mouse pad, but would you really use it as such, mouse pads don't exactly stay clean.

Otherwise it's Wacom All the way, loss of some pressure sensitivity does not compare to the axial tilt monitoring and a battery-less pen and all the other stuff Wacom has.

I got an Odys because I can draw for shit and no more.

 

[A Weakgeek]

I own the bamboo touch, used it mostly for animation in flash. So didn't use the fancy pressure functions or anything like that. But as for basic functions it was more than capable (affordable too). I do recommend.

 

[Vidiot]

You don't need anything extravagant for hobby work, or even school work. I used a refurbished Bamboo tablet (the cheap one) that I got online for just under $50(US) for my last 2 years at game design college.

I have since used it for a few contract jobs, and I honestly can't justify spending any more on a tablet when the one I have is perfect for the jobs I've used it for. Look online for a refurbished model. You won't regret it if you get it from a reputable source.

 

[Sovvolf]

Honestly, if its your first graphics tablet and your just using it for hobby purposes. I'd get a reasonably cheap one, nothing too fancy. I've got a nice one from Trust that handles quite well. I imagine that your getting one of these things to draw with (I used mine for making texture maps) and as an hobbiest your not going to need something too advanced. Honestly the bottom one looks okay for the job, I read the top one and while that circle thing at the top looks fancy, apparently its next to useless.

That being said it seems you've got a more in depth look at the top one. The bottom one however the info is pretty vague. So at least with the top one you know what your getting.

As said though, if you live in Briton (sort of assume you do given how you mention British pounds first then translated it to usd) just pop into your local PC world and get a cheap one for now, I reckon you could get one for around £20. Also, may I suggest finding one that's sturdy. That thin one at the bottom said that it was thin and light weight which may look cool but I can't imagine it being very durable.

 

[faspxina]

Buy the cheapest Wacom (it's something around 50$, I think), if you just want to draw some stuff.