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After even the least research, it appears that Lightroom (Lr) is the way to go for the kind of photo editing many of us do. Yet, the nagging question many face is whether to purchase the single download/packaged disc (~$142 one time), or the Creative Cloud (CC) version which is the monthly subscription service (~$10/month), and includes Photoshop (Ps). If one were to keep the download version for two years or more, it would save at least $100 over the monthly subscription. Certainly, there are many pros and cons to doing either. But, does anyone know what happens some day down the road if you decide to end your monthly subscription? Are you left with no program with which to manage your photos?
Also, a big feature of Lr CC is the ability to sync photos over several different devices. Yet, Apple devices already do that. So,can I then save my Lr edited pictures to the Apple Photos app and thereby gain the ability to sync across several devices?
Maybe this is a difficult technical question, but continuing deeper into photography requires one purchasing method or the other, i.e. Lr Download or Lr CC. (Note: with Lr CC, you’re only “renting” the app, which is Web-based and doesn’t reside on your computer…just your files do. You don’t ever own it.) Advice/comments welcome.
I bought Lightroom 6 a while back and definitely think it is the way to go. As of now, I would see Photoshop as being nearly useless to me, as I have GIMP for things that Lightroom can’t do. (stacking, etc…) And I would tend to think that Lightroom will be good enough to edit pictures for years, so renting would be much more expensive. Just my two cents, interested in what others have to say.
I received the LR 5 (packaged disc) as a gift and it has worked great for my photography needs. Since photography is just a part of my main occupation the one time cost has been ideal. I have started to feel the need for Photoshop…but at present my hope is to either acquire it as a disc or check out something like GIMP for some of those extra features! 🙂 I tend to think it’s mainly what suits one’s photography work and budget best!
What would be those needs, @MelanieThomsen?
@austinvinar, currently my photography work centers on stock/blog and product photography. At this point I’m not shooting portraits regularly or shooting weddings, so having the newest version of Lr isn’t a high priority for me. 🙂
You mentioned GIMP in your post earlier! I’m curious to know if it layers pictures (multiple shots of the same set with varied exposures – is that what you meant?) and if it allows you to add words on top of pictures?
@MelanieThomsen If you mean Hdr stacking, it does not do it. I meant stacking as in star trails. And yes it does allow you to add text on pictures.
This firefly shot is an example of stacking. I shot 200 30-second exposures, and them stacked them all up.
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Melanie, I think you can only buy Photoshop via the Creative Cloud monthly subscription ($9.99). While Lr is still sold as a download/disc, the only way to get Ps now is the CC. There is concern that Lr may go the same way some day.
Fascinating photo, @austinvinar!
Check out Affinity Photo as an alternative to Photoshop, @melaniethomsen. It’s one-time $50 and @buddingphotographer has expressed how positively better it is than GIMP.
@vince, I’m going to research your initial questions and we can discuss it on the webinar tomorrow.Fun picture, @austinvinar! Thanks for the info.
@vince, Ouch! Thanks for the update on Photoshop. Good to know.And thanks for mentioning Affinity Photo, @jamesstaddon. The price sounds wonderful! 🙂 I will have to check it out.
One thing to keep in mind about buying Lightroom outright… You will have to pay for any future updates, for example, when Lightroom 7 comes out, you’ll have to pay something like $100 to upgrade to it. With the CC subscription, you’ll get all updates instantly, for the $10 a month fee.
RE: what happens to my photos after I end the subscription? See this blog post by Adobe: https://blogs.adobe.com/lightroomjournal/2014/07/what-happens-to-lightroom-after-my-membership-ends.html
Basically you’ll be able to see and “manage” your RAW photos, but you won’t be able to edit them using the Develop Module till you renew your subscription.I personally purchased Lightroom 5, and have been very happy with it, I much prefer paying outright for software than to have someone draining my account every month. 🙂 Eventually though, in a few years you’ll be forced to upgrade to a newer version if you buy a new camera, and want to be able to edit your RAW files. (Unless it shoots .DNG files, or you convert them to DNG before editing in LR.)
Is there rumor going around of LR 7? I’d be surprised….
I thought that was a very good question, @vince about what happens to your photos after the end of a subscription. Here are my detailed comments on the matter:
https://www.lenspiration.com/video/lightroom-end/Oh, @vince you also asked about the ability to sync photos over several different devices. In my understanding that feature is available as far back as LR 5. What version do you have?
Links and a comparison between LR 5, 6 and CC are in the following video from the webinar earlier this month:
https://www.lenspiration.com/video/lightroom-upgrade/I know just about everyone on the forum is going for Lightroom and Photoshop, so I may be an outsider once again (I have a mirrorless camera – thus the outsider status. Don’t take that seriously, my mirrorless has all the same functionality as the midrange Nikons and Canons.) Back to the subject. Before you take the leap to Lr or Ps, check out Affinity Photo – Professional Editing Software. Apple computers named it software program of the year! Some blogs say it’s passing up Ps in many ways, others say it already has. I won’t tout the capabilities of either s/w, but for a one-time cost of $50 (includes updates) it sure is worth taking a look.
@vince, have you used Affinity Photo? I’d love to hear your thoughts about it, I’ve had it for several months now, and I’m quite happy with it, but I’m just comparing it to GIMP, which is back in the dark ages in comparison. 🙂
I wouldn’t begin to make a comparison since both are extremely robust with lots of capabilities, which are well beyond my level of understanding. With so many Photoshop advocates, it is hard to find objective research. However, the following site makes perhaps the most objective assessment (Photoshop PRO vs Affinity) that I have found to date, without making your brain hurt: https://www.slant.co/versus/3818/3819/~photoshop_vs_affinity-photo. While Affinity is coming on strong, Ps is so entrenched it is going to be hard to unseat as the top photo editing s/w. (Note: being entrenched doesn’t necessarily make it better.) But, being #1 also makes you the target for everyone else. Photoshop’s added advantages are a vast array of plug-ins/add-ons and a huge selection of tutorials. Affinity is also building its own supply of tutorials and plug-ins. For what most of us do, or anticipate doing, both seem quite adequate. Along with its large set of capabilities, the main advantage of Affinity is cost…just $50 with future updates included for the one price. Obviously, the Affinity business strategy is to offer capabilities comparable to Ps at a fraction of the cost.
James, please weigh in.
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