Personally, I use
Corel Aftershot Pro. It's similar to Adobe Lightroom with more features. For example, with AfterShot Pro, you can browse folders full of raw (and/or jpeg) files without importing them into a catalog first like Adobe Lightroom requires, with nice features like layers and edit regions.
I bought a license of ASP when it was on sale, but didn't use it much because I could never get very good results with it. I can get much better results using DxO Optics Pro and RawTherapee, and I'm not convinced ASP even produces better images than the in-camera JPEG's. If I recall I tested it using files from my Sony A77, KM 7D and Oly E330, and preferred the results from the camera. How does ASP fare quality-wise in your experience (compared to alternative applications and in-camera JPEG's)?
I use it for raw files from my Sony A700. I've also used it with RAW files from other Sony models like the A850 and NEX-5 that I've reviewed for another Digital Camera Review site; as well as for reconverting files from older KM models like a KM 5D that still have.
I just avoid using features like Auto Levels (as that feature leaves something to be desired).
The built in Perfectly Clear plugin included with ASP (AfterShot Pro) isn't bad for some types of photos, either.. That really depends on the exact shooting conditions, as for some shoots, it's great, and for others, it's best to leave it disabled (and make sure to play with the Perfectly Clear sliders for best results).
BTW, the Perfectly Clear plugin alone is going to cost you more than you probably paid for AfterShot Pro including that plugin. More about Perfectly Clear here:
http://www.athentech.com/
NR can also be an issue. I just make sure to balance the default raw level NR available in AfterShot Pro with the Noise Reduction available with the included Noise Ninja Plugin for best results (try using a combo of those two and figure out what works best for photos taken in a given setting).
Then, I tweak other settings to taste (and there are *MANY* available)
Adobe LIghtroom has a bit better Noise Reduction built into it by default. But, given the amount of detail you'll lose from Sony's default NR (either using JPEG, or using RAW and converting with Sony's Image Converter Software), I'd rather have a bit more noise versus too much smoothing of detail for most print sizes that I'd use.
AfterShot Pro also gives you the ability to tweak *many* other parameters at the raw level prior to conversion from RAW to another format; and you can also apply the same "tweaked" settings to other raw photos taken in the same conditions. IOW, you don't need to do the same thing for other photos in the same set, as it's very easy to copy the same applied settings to other photos you're converting.
You'll also find lots of third party plugins available for AfterShot Pro (including some for more advanced Noise Reduction that are available for no charge).
Frankly, the biggest disappointment I've seen with the newest versions of AfterShot Pro is that it's no longer compatible with the commercial version of Noise Ninja, which you could purchase as a plugin for Bibble Pro or AfterShot Pro and get separate sliders for different types of noise (chroma, luminous, etc.), making it as good as Lightroom in that area.
But, the developer of Noise Ninja has now discontinued their commercial plugin support for AFterShot Pro (as well as other platforms), and you're stuck with the "basic" Noise Ninja settings that AfterShot Pro still includes (without as much control over how it's applied for separate Chroma and Luminous problems).
In any event, I still prefer it over what Sony software provides in that area (again, you can easily "tweak" many AfterShot Pro settings and apply the same settings to other raw files taken in similar conditions, including the use of AfterShot Pro's built in raw level NR and basic Noise Ninja NR, with third party plugins that provide even more sophisticated NR).
That's the only major area I see that AfterShot Pro needs some improvement for supported cameras compared to Lightroom is better NR control. Basically, you'll need to find find the best combo of different Noise Reduction types (built in AfterShot Pro raw level NR, plus what's available with its' built in Noise Ninja basic NR) for the conditions you shot in; as sometimes, the defaults can leave something to be desired.
As you've noticed, AfterShot Pro is also *very* fast (especially with a multi-core CPU). So, that makes sorting and "culling' of images very simple, saving tons of time. I usually just use it's rating system (one star, two stars, etc.) for that purpose.
IOW, I may rate potential keepers as 2 stars, then filter by that rating. Then, rate the best ones from that set as 3 stars and filter by that rating, etc., until I come up with a final set from what may could be a thousand of more images from a shoot. It's a *HUGE* time saver in that area (similar to Lightroom, only faster), and it also works with other file types (not just raw).
Basically, IMO, it's metadata and image management features alone are worth it's cost, even if you prefer the results from other raw converters (as you could use other converters' output and still use AfterShot Pro's metadata related features for rating, culling, etc.). But, I'm perfectly fine with AfterShot Pro's raw conversion, too (it just needs a few "tweaks" from the defaults from time to time, depending on the conditions you were shooting in).
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JimC
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