Elements 10 or Lightroom 3.0?

[damian82]

Hi everyone.

As everyone has always been such a great help to all my prior questions, I thought who better to ask about my latest dilemma.

I have a MacBook pro laptop which I would like to use for my photo editing, but have no software for it. I have been using my old windows laptop but as it takes 5 hours for it to boot and often says " oops, I have experienced a problem and need to close' " I want to retire it. It did have installed on it a copy of paint shop pro 12 and photoshop cs4 which a friend installed for me, so not really a legit install.

I want to buy software for my Mac but unsure which one. I do not want to spend much, as I am only an hobbiest, and do not take post processing to the max. I like to do the usual color, sharpening, noise, dodge and burn, and use the magic want etc, black and white conversion, tidying as well.

I use a Nikon d90 and shoot in Raw.

Are elements or Lightroom good choices and if so which one would suit me best? I would Mac programs such as aperture be better still?

Thank you so much for any advice that you can give me.

Kind regards

Damian

[Niresangwa]

Originally Posted by damian82

Hi everyone.

As everyone has always been such a great help to all my prior questions, I thought who better to ask about my latest dilemma.

I have a MacBook pro laptop which I would like to use for my photo editing, but have no software for it. I have been using my old windows laptop but as it takes 5 hours for it to boot and often says " oops, I have experienced a problem and need to close' " I want to retire it. It did have installed on it a copy of paint shop pro 12 and photoshop cs4 which a friend installed for me, so not really a legit install.

I want to buy software for my Mac but unsure which one. I do not want to spend much, as I am only an hobbiest, and do not take post processing to the max. I like to do the usual color, sharpening, noise, dodge and burn, and use the magic want etc, black and white conversion, tidying as well.

I use a Nikon d90 and shoot in Raw.

Are elements or Lightroom good choices and if so which one would suit me best? I would Mac programs such as aperture be better still?

Thank you so much for any advice that you can give me.

Kind regards

Damian

I'd respectfully suggest that LR3 might be a great option for you. Especially as they have a 30-day trial you can poke around in.

[Optikal iLLusion]

I use Elements8 right now. It took me a bit to learn it. Watched lots of youtube videos lol. But ive been pretty happy with it.
Next program i buy will be LR3 though. Elements8, as far as I've been able to see thus far, doesnt support my camera's RAW file(CR2). I tried the plugin from Adobe and it still wont so i guess im out of luck. Its irritating. I know LR will open RAW. Elements might even open your camera's RAW file. be Id also like to be able to get a bit more in depth with some of the editing and it seems LR will let me do that.

[audiman90]

Lightroom 4 will be out soon should ship in April. You can download the Beta now

[brianxlt]

Elements and Lightroom are 2 total different programs (options) LR will do RAW files very well and has a great set of developing sets, but it cannot do layers, content aware healing and a veriety of other funtions that elements includes. On the other hand the RAW processing in elements is far limited form what you had with CS4 or will get with LR. If you spend the money for LR and a bit extra on elements you will have the best of both worlds. Then again another $200 and CS5 has both a great RAW processing and image manipulation abillitys in one.

[kirbinster]

LR4 should do just about everything you will need.

[doctorjames]

like others have said, the two are like chalk and cheese. There are many old threads with a similar question.

LR = workflow (import, tag, organise, 'developing' printing exporting to web e.t.c.)
PS= powerful image manipulation

I have and use both. LR gets >90% of my time, so I would start with that. It wont do everything that you asked for however.

Dont believe anyone that says one is better than the other..... they are different beasts!

[kirbinster]

They are not as much "chalk and cheese" as was the case in the past. There have been some local adjustments added in the past and LR4 is adding even more local adjustments - such as local noise reduction. For many people LR4 will be a much better product. While LR could at one point do 80% of what photoshop did now that number might be closer to 95% for photographers. There will always be some things that you need photoshop for, but for most of your photo needs for most people they will be better served with LR4 if they are only going to buy one of the two products.

[brianxlt]

I have LR 3 and Elements 9, saving for CS5 for the advantage of 16 bit, photo merge mainly panoramic, and having an outstanding all in one software package. I know there are several other software packages out there for specific functions like HDR, and photo merge, but with the price point of LR, plus all the add ons/plug-ins needed to get all the function of CS5 is an all in one better option. I will still maintain LR, but elements 9 will be removed (not needed). LR4 is still lacking in those areas and require plugins.

[gturner]

LR3 at the 50% less price is an EXCELLENT deal. No brainer!