Edit and viewing software

[rickp1]

Hey guys,
On my computer I'm running PS CS2, Bridge, Image Ready, and Stock Photos. I also have some software that my Canon 50D had with it, for example, Digital Photo Professional, Photo Stitch, Picture Style Editor, and Zoom Browser.

Personally I have having all this on my computer and I would like to consolidate things. I will definitely keep PS, and PhotoStitch. But the rest, I would like some feedback from you guys. How is Adobe Photoshop Elements, is it better than Canon's ZoomBrowser?

What I'm looking for is a good picture viewing program and maybe 2 editing programs. Now, keep in mind that I'm not a professional, nowhere near that. I'm just someone that enjoys photography.

Thanks
R.

[Miss_Understood]

I keep Bridge for viewing, cataloging, organizing, etc. and Photoshop CS3 for editing. In my opinion, except for that program which edits RAWs, and maybe photostitch (which i've used once, because I don't really do panorama's), i've found that canon's software is difficult to navigate and makes life annoying by creating copies of all your files in odd locations.

If you have both Photoshop CS and Elements, in a decent version, I'd keep both. Elements generally has less capabilities for the fine tuned editor who understands everything and wants to do it himself, but they have all sorts of preset systems that can make photo editing much quicker in special cases as well.

[rickp1]

thanks Miss, i appreciate the reply and info.

R.

[flavio]

I hear that: Once you go lightroom you never go back!

[wal]

I use the bundled s/w more, i think it is easier and simpler, if you are doing basics. but still need GIMP to correct any distortions, or add some artistic effect to the photos, I myself, an amateur, prefer the photos as original as it can be. so i try my best to do less editing.

Oh, b.t.w, you can set preferences to where you want to save edited pictures, so i think it is easier as you can group them automatically, and do what ever you want to them, such as, uploading etc..