Editing Software

I just gave up my F3 (had it for almost 45+ years) for a new D700 with NIKON 24-70mm and NIKON 80-400mm lenses. I loved the F3 and had all NIKON lenses but this new camera and lenses absolutely blow me away with the image quality.

I use Photoshop CS2 as part of my web design business and quite frankly, as good as it is, I have had enough of Photoshop. Just not cost effective as a company to upgrade to the latest all the time.

I AM NOT A PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER. Just been doing it for 50 years and love doing the landscape, nature and wildlife photography. Most of my digital editing (I used a standby Minolta digital) is to touch up travel pictures from our trips around the world for our own use and enjoyment.

What do some of you think of my using Adobe Lightbox 3 as the editing tool AND Nikon Capture NX 2. Is NX2 a good adjunct to Lightbox? Is getting both overkill and a waste of money?

Since this is personal and NOT business, I would have to buy a FULL version of PS CS5 for about $1,000 and the other 2 just seem like doing something a little different than what I do all the time using PS.

Your couple of references to "Lightbox" I assume refer to Lightroom.

That being said, I think you would be VERY happy with that combination! Lightroom does a wonderful job with managing your files as well as some great tools for adjusting things like exposure, white balance, noise, etc. And NX 2 is great for respecting all the settings of the camera for starters and has some wonderful tools like the color control point to selectively adjust portions of the photo.

Erik, it sounds like the original poster may not benefit from Capture NX2 most of the time since his editing needs tend to be modest. He does have Photoshop CS2 if he needs something more advanced.

To the original poster: you can download a 30 day time-limited but free (and fully functional) trial of Adobe Lightroom 3 and see if it's suitable for your needs. From what you described, I think it would.

My other tip would be to hold off on purchasing Capture NX2 at this time, given what your described needs are and what you already have. (You can always buy it later on if the need is really pressing; otherwise, you've just saved yourself some money that could be put to other use.)

PS Elements 8. All you need - and then some - for less than $100.
--
Steve Bingham
http://www.dustylens.com
http://www.ghost-town-photography.com

OldTimeUser ... If CS2 is doing everything you need then why are you looking to upgrade?

If you are choosing to upgrade from CS2, your cost going up to CS5 is only $199.00 for the upgrade. This will be your last chance for upgrading at this pricing structure. The next version of Photoshop will cost you the full amount.

If you are truly looking for a different software, Steve is right with his choice of Elements 8. It will do everything that you are looking for.

I have been along time user of Photoshop since version 3 and now find myself using NX2 for the majority of my editing of my Nikon NEF files. There is nothing better as far as I am concerned.

I would have to agree with you on these darn upgrades ...most of this stuff in these programs are never need and Adobe has gotten out of hand on their pricing structure.

Check out the below site of this professional photo journilist, he is still using version 7 of Photoshop. I think you will love his philosophy in regards to the creation of the photograph in the camera.

http://karlgrobl.com/EquipmentReviews/Software.htm

The best to you in what ever direction you choose to go and may the quality of light always be with you.

Gary

--

We suffer from so little individualism, we are so quick to replicate rather than innovate.

Thanks to everyone. As usual, a lot of GREAT information.

Think I will go with Lightroom just because it is a new approach and you feel it should do whatever I need.

I have a copy of Elements somewhere. Probably an older version, but worth playing with to see what it can do.

As to NX2, I am tending to hold off buying it until I see what Lightroom does / does not do.

Again
Thanks for all the valuable input.

The problem with CS2 is that, as I recall, the Camera Raw for that version does not support the D700. You need at least CS3 for that. (Adobe's way to make sure people upgrade by making new cameras only be supported in the latests version of the software).

As for HocusPocus's comments, you are probably right that for your needs Lightroom would probably be more than adequate. What Capture NX 2 brings to the table is some of the finer controls over in-camera settings as well as a very slightly better rendering engine of the RAW files. For most people, that slight difference isn't discernible. In any case, I agree with HocusPocus that you should try Lightroom first to see if that serves your needs before jumping into NX 2.

PS Elements 8 supports the latest ACR (version 6.2.0) which supports your D700. For $82 at Walmart. Now you have the latest Adobe Camera Raw converter AND an excellent photo editing software.

More importantly, Elements usually goes a LOT longer in accepting the latest ACR upgrades. This prevents the expensive upgrades needed in PS CS5 and earlier.
--
Steve Bingham
http://www.dustylens.com
http://www.ghost-town-photography.com

Isn't Photoshop Elements 9.0 due out before the end of this month?

Myself, I use Lightroom and it does almost everything I could want. Since switching to 64bit, my copy of Photoshop no longer works for me. I can not justify the cost of upgrading it again, and plan to get the newest Elements as soon as it comes out. I also am a big fan of GIMP and it is free.

I have installed GIMP. A little hard to understand at first, but Adobe has priced PS out of reach of most people IMHO

All raw converters can be downloaded in a trial version - LR3 for 30 days and NX2 for 60 days. So try them out before you purchase.

LR3 has the best interface of any converter and great output.

NX2 is also good but more buggy and slower to use. It reads camera settings very well - so if you like Nikon colours and the Nikon "look" you'll like NX2.

Capture One is nice as well - mainly because you can apply different camera profiles and make your photo look like the it was taken by a i.e. Fujifilm camera or a Phase One camera - if that is not important to you - don't bother...

Aperture - if you use Mac then Aperture is worth a look. Not a Mac guy myself but if you are - then you'll enjoy the interface and output. I have tried on my fathers iMac and was impressed with the simplicity and colors. But Aperture is not for me since you cannot run it on a decent OS

I use Photoshop less and less but for tricky graphics tasks I still use it.

--
Ronni

http://www.pbase.com/ronnihansen

OldTimeUser said:

I have installed GIMP. A little hard to understand at first, but Adobe has priced PS out of reach of most people IMHO

Click to expand...

Please, try the FREE Nikon's View NX2, a great improvement over the "old" View NX. It works with JPEG but ALSO with NEF's (Nikon's raw files) - although only with a very small set of Capture NX2's functionalities.

It's free (did I say that before? ) and very simple, unlike Lightroom (although you have already experience with Photoshop).

PS: By the way, I hate Elements.

--
Paulo Goulart
( http://goulart.zenfolio.com )

N/T

--
NPS Member

One's life is not measured by the two dates upon your tombstone, but how you lived the dash in between them

take a look on aperture if you are on mac, it's very easy to learn in my opinion

CNX2 does the best job of NEF display, editing, conversion.

There are a very few things it doesn't do (cloning), but all-in-all it's all you'll likely need.

Why don't you strat with ViewNX. It does a lot of things very well and it is free. The new versiosn allows crops and straightening et cetera. I am now using the trial period for Lightroom 3 but at the moment IQ wise I prefer ViewNX.

Cheers,

BAs