Christmas Returns: Should I return my copy of Photoshop

[justalive]

I currently shoot a Canon 30d and only have a 50mm 1.8 lens. I recently received Photoshop Extended (Student Edition $189) for Christmas. I work with lightroom and am super thrilled with getting new features with photoshop. But before I open it I begin to think that the extra $200 dollars could be used for a new lens (I'm eyeing you Tamron 28-75mm). Should I return my copy of photoshop in order to get the lens. Any advice?

[Tzetsin]

absolutely not. That new lens will not do what ps can do for you. Your creative options are limitless with PS. that crappy tamron will only love you when you go outside. And even then when the other lens isn't in your arms. PS will love you always. when you've a camera in your hand, when you don't have time to shoot... I spend 70% of all my "photography" time in PS. Its not that I spend time in PS when I could be shooting, its the opposite, I spend all the time I CANT be shooting, in PS. And I shoot A LOT.

All kidding aside. PS is the god of all photo editors. I wouldn't give mine up for all the lenses in the world. This is your chance to own a product that every imaging professional in the world either owns, or is saving to own. No professional in the world uses a 400 dollar Tamron.

[Bruce A]

Well it's a hard for us to advise you as we do not know how far you want to take your photography processing. Some will say put the money to a new lens others, like me, will say keep it. No many of us get the opportunity to buy this software at such a cheap price. Go to the Adobe Photoshop web site see what features it offers and make your decision. There is only so much you can do in Lightroom and they are designed to compliment each other.

[SwissJon]

Hmm.

Tough one. I tend to do most of my photo editing in Lightroom. Photoshop, as has been pointed out, is a very very very powerful photo editing program, and it's the one all the pros use, and I have a copy that I use occasionally.

But it can't do magic. If all you have is a 50mm 1.8 then you'd be better off getting your cash back and getting another lens. Even if it's a crappy Tamron.

[katia]

i would for sure keep it

[zona5101]

i'd be leaning towards keeping it especially since the cost is low. If you can't get the student version at a later date it will be 3x as much.

[NathanFranke]

Keep photoshop. Lr is nice, but there are some things it can't do. And while there are free options for photoshop, like GIMP, 98% of tutorials on the web are for photoshop, you'll more easily get questions answered, and it's just easier to use. Lenses won't change in price all that much--you wait for photoshop and when you really really need it, it'll be a lot more expensive.

[SwissJon]

I think you're all missing the elephant in the room.. They only have ONE LENS... And they already have Lightroom.

Sure, Photoshop does some special stuff, but if you only have one lens, you're going to be pretty limited in what you can actually produce that is Photoshop worthy.

Get rid of Photoshop. Buy a lens, take some picures. Get Photoshop again at a later date.

[NathanFranke]

Originally Posted by SwissJon

I think you're all missing the elephant in the room.. They only have ONE LENS... And they already have Lightroom.

Sure, Photoshop does some special stuff, but if you only have one lens, you're going to be pretty limited in what you can actually produce that is Photoshop worthy.

Get rid of Photoshop. Buy a lens, take some picures. Get Photoshop again at a later date.

But it's a good lens. When I had my 50mm, I didn't use ANY of my other lenses. (Admittedly, they were the kit lens and 70-300mm f/4-5.6. If I ever find who stole that camera, there will be some serious bloodshed.) And for a 28-70mm, the ends of the range are close enough to 50mm to be able to zoom with your feet. Unless there's a specific purpose to needing that new lens other than onlyhaveonelensitis, like being unable to physically zoom with feet due to traffic, tigers, etc; my opinion is that photoshop is the better deal.

[justalive]

Thanks for the responses. I'm thinking about keeping it. Maybe I should just get a a cheap kit lens. Any recommendations for a second lens? Or should I save my money for something special?