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cheap compact + good photo editing software vs expensive dslr + free editing software like gimp

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yonsarh

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Ok, you were about to given 1K$ to spend on new camera. problem is if you buy dslr with lenses, you don't have money to buy on software thus ended up using free software like gimp.

you could go for a cheap 300$ cheap compact and use an expensive photo editing software.

what will you choose?
 
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I have an ancient old version of Paintshop Pro from back before Corel bought it from Jasc, and I love it very much-- I use it for everything from coloring comics to editing black and white graphics to simple page layout to cropping and resizing photographs. If the new version is half as good, it's a bargain. I also use the GIMP, which is probably even more powerful.

I have no need whatsoever for Photoshop and would therefore save the money.
 
When purchased new most DSLR come with a RAW developer on a disk, so no need for GIMP. With a used DSLR that may or may not include the software disk. But I see no benefit from not getting the DSLR in the first place. And for everyday photography the new mirrorless cameras are about as good as DSLR (easily better than a compact). New prices on the latest mirrorless can be silly, but models a couple of years old are reasonable.

Kelly Cook
 
I'd put as much money as I could in the lens and get the cheapest camera that works with it. PP using Linux with GIMP, darktable, and/or Rawtherapee.
 
RawTherapee and LightTable are two very competent open-source RAW converters, and GIMP is a quite good image editor. Sure, they may only do 95% of what Lightroom and Photoshop does (although that's debatable), but they're free instead of $200+ (depending on where you live and your circumstances).
 
yonsarh said:
problem is if you buy dslr with lenses, you don't have money to buy on software thus ended up using free software like gimp.
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I do not see a "problem".

I use GIMP, LightZone, Darktable and other free (open source) applications all the time. There's no problem at all.

The problem is that, like hardware, people assume that by the more they spend on software the better their editing will be.

The reality is that the open source tools are perfectly capable of doing the job for most people.

Like using a camera well, using software well does not get easier because you spend more.

On a particular point, some people don't like GIMP's interface. Well GIMP isn't the only game in town. Try LightZone ( and try Darktable if you're a mac or linux user ).
 
yonsarh said:
what will you choose?
Click to expand...
"Expensive" DSLR:
  • Used FinePix S5 Pro = $410.
DSCF4192ka.jpg


DSCF0907ka.jpg


Lenses:
  • New Samyang 14mm F/2.8 = $430.
  • Used Tamron 28-105mm F/2.8 = $80-200.
  • Used Tamron 24mm F/2.5 = $125.
Example Photos from the Samyang 14mm F/2.8 Lens:

_DSF5295k%20HDR3.jpg


_DSF0391.jpg


DSCF0561_1.jpg


Example Photos from the Tamron 28-105mm F/2.8 Lens:

DSCF5878k.jpg


DSCF0541k.jpg


DSCF5853k.jpg


Example Photos from the Tamron 24mm F/2.5 Lens:

Sugar.

Sugar.

Full open Aperture.

Full open Aperture.

Free Software:
If a bit Money left:
  • Wacom Intous Pen & Touch.
 
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yardcoyote said:
I have an ancient old version of Paintshop Pro from back before Corel bought it from Jasc, and I love it very much-- I use it for everything from coloring comics to editing black and white graphics to simple page layout to cropping and resizing photographs. If the new version is half as good, it's a bargain. I also use the GIMP, which is probably even more powerful.
Click to expand...
You will find that the later (Corel) versions of PaintShop Pro are a lot more photographically oriented than the early versions, which are more of a graphics editor.
I still use PSP v7 for technical drawing restoration, but sometimes use PSP X5 for photographic work, although for most of my photographic work is done using Lightroom.
yardcoyote said:
I have no need whatsoever for Photoshop and would therefore save the money.
Click to expand...
Same here.
 
yonsarh said:
Ok, you were about to given 1K$ to spend on new camera. problem is if you buy dslr with lenses, you don't have money to buy on software thus ended up using free software like gimp.

you could go for a cheap 300$ cheap compact and use an expensive photo editing software.

what will you choose?
Click to expand...
No amount of editing and processing will turn a poor original photograph into a great one.
 
yonsarh said:
Ok, you were about to given 1K$ to spend on new camera. problem is if you buy dslr with lenses, you don't have money to buy on software thus ended up using free software like gimp.

you could go for a cheap 300$ cheap compact and use an expensive photo editing software.

what will you choose?
Click to expand...
Buy Lightroom for around $100 American, or do the monthly Photoshop and Lightroom deal for $10. The cheaper software is cheap for a reason.

Someone else recommended PSP X6. I say don't bother. You'll be able to do the vast majority of your edits much better, easier and faster in Lightroom for not much more in price.
 
True. There's an old saying about making a silk purse out of a sow's ear. :-)

Anyway, the whole premise of this thread is miles off. You can buy state of the art commercial PP software for about 100-150 beer tokens leaving 850-900 for the camera.
 
Carsten Pauer 2 said:
If a bit Money left:
  • Wacom Intous Pen & Touch.
Click to expand...
I just bought a Wacom Intous tablet for € 79,00 with Lightroom 5 bundled in with it.

Here in Germany.

I tested a couple of RAW converters (ACDSee, Corel, RawTherapee, and Lightroom) I liked Lightroom best but I was too stingy at list price. What with that offer it was a no brainer, especially as I wanted a Wacom tablet anyway. And Lightroom works with Datacolor's SpyderCheckr.
 
Good to know. Does the new version maintain all the excellent graphics editing functions? I am getting ready to set up a new desktop and am considering upgrading to a newer PSP. Of course, there's no reason I can't run a new version alongside my much loved old one.
 
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The GIMP runs nicely under Windows as well. No need to go Linux if you don't want to, though there are definitely advantages to doing so.
 
I would (and did) get Lightroom (£70 at the moment, cheaper with the Student Discount), leaving me ~£500 to spend on a decent camera/lens. For any "advanced" editing beyond Lightroom's capabilities I'd be perfectly happy using freeware.
 
yardcoyote said:
Good to know. Does the new version maintain all the excellent graphics editing functions? I am getting ready to set up a new desktop and am considering upgrading to a newer PSP. Of course, there's no reason I can't run a new version alongside my much loved old one.
Click to expand...
Part of what I do professionally is scanning and restoring old engineering drawings, and for that I use PSP 7, which has excellent graphic (bitmap) editing abilities.

I also have PSP X5 installed alongside the earlier version for occasional jpg editing, although these days most of my work is in Lightroom.
I don't find some of the tools as easy to use in X5 as they are in v7, I think the tools are there, but I simply prefer to use the older version, which I'm familiar with and has a simpler user interface.
There are no issues (that I've found) having both installed side by side.
I'm using Windows 7 64-bit.
 
yonsarh said:
Ok, you were about to given 1K$ to spend on new camera. problem is if you buy dslr with lenses, you don't have money to buy on software thus ended up using free software like gimp.

you could go for a cheap 300$ cheap compact and use an expensive photo editing software.
Click to expand...
A couple of years ago I was researching free software for a friend. I tried every one I could find (after asking advice here) including the one that came free with the camera. I found problems with all of them that ruled them out of play for me (which mattered because I'd have had to teach the chosen one to my friend).

The faults were various: too slow, awkward interface, limited capability etc. Some were poor across the board, some were good in some respects. If I lost all my photographic hardware and software and had to start again with $1,000 I'd get the latest version of LR (I don't really like the LR interface either but it's OK and LR does a lot of what I want).

Then I'd buy a crop sensor DSLR (probably Pentax K-5II if buying today) and standard prime (probably Pentax DA35/2). That would pretty wee use all the $1,000; so next I'd start saving for more lenses.
 
no question about it the dslr you get skilled enough with it you only have to do basic editing anyway , top notch software does not improve your photography just makes it easier to hide the mistakes.get it right in camera and there is no need for fancy complicated editing to fix the shot.

the raw editor that comes with the camera is good enough for starters ,get LR when you can afford it next that's if you want both management and a powerful basic editor combined which will make your workflow easier in the long run

creative cameras are impressive little beasts but before long you will run into limitations that software is just not going to improve no matter how expensive, and you will be kicking yourself for not getting the dslr in the first place if you get serious about photography .
 
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