Is LR really the best option? - Basic RAW processing software

[Joe94]

Evening all, I'm just getting back into photography and am currently going through the rabbit hole of software research! So looking for some advice if that's okay.

I've been away from photography for over two years, where I previously used LL Classic to do my raw processing. I didn't and still won't do any editing or photo manipulation, I purely just used Lightroom to process the raw file into a JPEG I was happy with. This is what I would like to continue again now.

With this in mind, am I still better off signing up to a Lightroom subscription again (Classic or the new CC) or is there an alternative RAW processor I should consider for my use?

FYI I purely do photography as a weekend hobby, I'm no where near a professional

Thanks in advance. Joe.

 

[dj_paige]

If you are only interested in turning RAW into JPG, Lightroom Classic seems like overkill. There are free utility programs (Google will find them) to turn RAW into JPG, I cannot vouch for how good they are. Also RawTherapee and DarkTable are free.

Why not just shoot JPG instead of RAW and benefit from the in-camera processing, and save yourself a step? Win-win!

--
Paige Miller

 

[Zeee]

DXO users will tell you to use PhotoLab. Adobe users to use LrC and so on.

Did you like using LrC? Expand on manipulating files. I use it but will also never replace skies, remove objects, etc. However I will use its advanced masking to fine tune subject and background exposures. I use it a lot for B&W work.

Adobe added Denoise AI which was very good for the first release. Hoping to see improvements in fall release.

Did you use the personal websites that comes with the Adobe plan?



There are some free ones out there others are sure to mention. Good luck with you hunting.

 

[SoCalAngler]

Lightroom is an option. It may be the best for some folks and not for others.

If you are and Apple products user you can do basic processing and Apple Photos and export a jpeg, tiff, or png file provided the version of MacOS, iOS, iPadOS you are running supports raw files for the camera you are using.

I haven't used Microsoft products in a few years so don't know if Windows as a similar built in capability. Same for Android based tablets and phones.

Most, if not all of the camera companies offer free software applications that can process raw files from their cameras and export jpegs that match what the camera could produce. They typically also allow some basic adjustments. These applications are often a bit clunky but the price is right. I have Nikon cameras and use Nikon NX Studio for a lot of my raw processing. I also use Apple Photos sometimes.

 

[ishwanu]

I didn't and still won't do any editing or photo manipulation, I purely just used Lightroom to process the raw file into a JPEG I was happy with. This is what I would like to continue again now.

What caused you to choose Lightroom in the first place for such basic needs?

With this in mind, am I still better off signing up to a Lightroom subscription again (Classic or the new CC) or is there an alternative RAW processor I should consider for my use?

There must be at least a dozen alternatives for what you describe doing. Mac or Windows?

 

[Digital Nigel]

I didn't and still won't do any editing or photo manipulation, I purely just used Lightroom to process the raw file into a JPEG I was happy with. This is what I would like to continue again now.

What caused you to choose Lightroom in the first place for such basic needs?

I suppose it depends on what ‘to process the raw file into a JPEG I was happy with’ means. Does that just mean batch processing all raws using default settings, or individually tweaking the settings for each till the OP was happy with it?

 

[ishwanu]

I didn't and still won't do any editing or photo manipulation, I purely just used Lightroom to process the raw file into a JPEG I was happy with. This is what I would like to continue again now.

What caused you to choose Lightroom in the first place for such basic needs?

I suppose it depends on what ‘to process the raw file into a JPEG I was happy with’ means. Does that just mean batch processing all raws using default settings, or individually tweaking the settings for each till the OP was happy with it?

Either way, there have been many choices other than Lightroom to handle those operations.

 

[Joe94]

Lightroom is an option. It may be the best for some folks and not for others.

If you are and Apple products user you can do basic processing and Apple Photos and export a jpeg, tiff, or png file provided the version of MacOS, iOS, iPadOS you are running supports raw files for the camera you are using.

I haven't used Microsoft products in a few years so don't know if Windows as a similar built in capability. Same for Android based tablets and phones.

Most, if not all of the camera companies offer free software applications that can process raw files from their cameras and export jpegs that match what the camera could produce. They typically also allow some basic adjustments. These applications are often a bit clunky but the price is right. I have Nikon cameras and use Nikon NX Studio for a lot of my raw processing. I also use Apple Photos sometimes.

 

[Digital Nigel]

I didn't and still won't do any editing or photo manipulation, I purely just used Lightroom to process the raw file into a JPEG I was happy with. This is what I would like to continue again now.

What caused you to choose Lightroom in the first place for such basic needs?

I suppose it depends on what ‘to process the raw file into a JPEG I was happy with’ means. Does that just mean batch processing all raws using default settings, or individually tweaking the settings for each till the OP was happy with it?

Either way, there have been many choices other than Lightroom to handle those operations.

Yes, for sure.

 

[Joe94]

I didn't and still won't do any editing or photo manipulation, I purely just used Lightroom to process the raw file into a JPEG I was happy with. This is what I would like to continue again now.

What caused you to choose Lightroom in the first place for such basic needs?

When I first got into Photography about 5yrs ago, I went straight to the adobe plan and used Lightroom. Mainly because from what I could understand (bear in mind I was totally new to photography) it was the industry standard. And there was/is so much support material out there, I found it easy to learn using YouTube.

With this in mind, am I still better off signing up to a Lightroom subscription again (Classic or the new CC) or is there an alternative RAW processor I should consider for my use?

There must be at least a dozen alternatives for what you describe doing. Mac or Windows?

Yeah there does seem to be quite a few options, to be honest a bit overwhelming. I suppose it’s one of those things where you ask 5 photographers and you’ll get 5 different answers as to what is ‘best’.

 

[Joe94]

I didn't and still won't do any editing or photo manipulation, I purely just used Lightroom to process the raw file into a JPEG I was happy with. This is what I would like to continue again now.

What caused you to choose Lightroom in the first place for such basic needs?

I suppose it depends on what ‘to process the raw file into a JPEG I was happy with’ means. Does that just mean batch processing all raws using default settings, or individually tweaking the settings for each till the OP was happy with it?

For me it was individually tweaking each RAW file until I was happy with the image

 

[Digital Nigel]

I didn't and still won't do any editing or photo manipulation, I purely just used Lightroom to process the raw file into a JPEG I was happy with. This is what I would like to continue again now.

What caused you to choose Lightroom in the first place for such basic needs?

When I first got into Photography about 5yrs ago, I went straight to the adobe plan and used Lightroom. Mainly because from what I could understand (bear in mind I was totally new to photography) it was the industry standard. And there was/is so much support material out there, I found it easy to learn using YouTube.

With this in mind, am I still better off signing up to a Lightroom subscription again (Classic or the new CC) or is there an alternative RAW processor I should consider for my use?

There must be at least a dozen alternatives for what you describe doing. Mac or Windows?

Yeah there does seem to be quite a few options, to be honest a bit overwhelming. I suppose it’s one of those things where you ask 5 photographers and you’ll get 5 different answers as to what is ‘best’.

If you can be more specific about what sort of adjustments you do while processing individual raw files, it might help narrow down the options worth considering. For example, do you take ‘difficult’ (low light, astro, sports, etc) shots? Do you need a sophisticated cataloging function?

 

[Joe94]

I didn't and still won't do any editing or photo manipulation, I purely just used Lightroom to process the raw file into a JPEG I was happy with. This is what I would like to continue again now.

What caused you to choose Lightroom in the first place for such basic needs?

When I first got into Photography about 5yrs ago, I went straight to the adobe plan and used Lightroom. Mainly because from what I could understand (bear in mind I was totally new to photography) it was the industry standard. And there was/is so much support material out there, I found it easy to learn using YouTube.

With this in mind, am I still better off signing up to a Lightroom subscription again (Classic or the new CC) or is there an alternative RAW processor I should consider for my use?

There must be at least a dozen alternatives for what you describe doing. Mac or Windows?

Yeah there does seem to be quite a few options, to be honest a bit overwhelming. I suppose it’s one of those things where you ask 5 photographers and you’ll get 5 different answers as to what is ‘best’.

If you can be more specific about what sort of adjustments you do while processing individual raw files, it might help narrow down the options worth considering. For example, do you take ‘difficult’ (low light, astro, sports, etc) shots? Do you need a sophisticated cataloging function?

Umm if I’m honest I don’t do any specific photography really. It’s more have the camera with me and I enjoy taking wildlife or natures shots.

Then I would load them into LR put them into a date folder (sometime I’d add a label to a photo) and then just adjust the sliders found under the ‘basic’ tab, until I was happy. Mainly things like ‘shadows’, ‘highlights’ etc… nothing extravagant.

Thanks for you support, really appreciate it

 

[Digital Nigel]

I didn't and still won't do any editing or photo manipulation, I purely just used Lightroom to process the raw file into a JPEG I was happy with. This is what I would like to continue again now.

What caused you to choose Lightroom in the first place for such basic needs?

I suppose it depends on what ‘to process the raw file into a JPEG I was happy with’ means. Does that just mean batch processing all raws using default settings, or individually tweaking the settings for each till the OP was happy with it?

For me it was individually tweaking each RAW file until I was happy with the image

OK, that’s interesting to know. Like many of us, you need more than just a batch raw processor.

I suppose my use is similar, and I use DxO PhotoLab. I have it set up with my preferred default settings, but then always tweak them to a greater or lesser extent for each image. Some of that is geometry (straightening, cropping, perspective adjustment), some is relative brightness, WB, etc. I choose to render all photos from all cameras using Leica Q colours, and to apply appropriate NR, both set automatically by default.

 

[ishwanu]

I didn't and still won't do any editing or photo manipulation, I purely just used Lightroom to process the raw file into a JPEG I was happy with. This is what I would like to continue again now.

What caused you to choose Lightroom in the first place for such basic needs?

When I first got into Photography about 5yrs ago, I went straight to the adobe plan and used Lightroom. Mainly because from what I could understand (bear in mind I was totally new to photography) it was the industry standard. And there was/is so much support material out there, I found it easy to learn using YouTube.

With this in mind, am I still better off signing up to a Lightroom subscription again (Classic or the new CC) or is there an alternative RAW processor I should consider for my use?

There must be at least a dozen alternatives for what you describe doing. Mac or Windows?

Yeah there does seem to be quite a few options, to be honest a bit overwhelming. I suppose it’s one of those things where you ask 5 photographers and you’ll get 5 different answers as to what is ‘best’.

Well, since you're already familiar with Adobe, maybe Photoshop Elements would be best for you. It surely has the basic features you want, and it's a one time purchase for about the cost of a single year's use of Lightroom.

 

[Zeee]

You may find this interesting. This stuff is a lot of fun.

And an oder video when Denoise came out.

 

[Barleyman]

You dont say which camera you use. If it is a Nikon, you may want to check out Nikon NX Studio. I use it occasionally and it works well. A few pluses over a third party app (like DXO, LrC, C1, etc):

1. Will show you focus point if you are wondering about that

2. Applies the in camera "Picture controls", both standard and custom

3. Can be used for Pixel Shift if your camera supports that.

All in all, they have done a good job upgrading from previous versions. it's free, and allows you to do basic edits.

 

[Pixel8888]

You dont say which camera you use. If it is a Nikon, you may want to check out Nikon NX Studio. I use it occasionally and it works well. A few pluses over a third party app (like DXO, LrC, C1, etc):

1. Will show you focus point if you are wondering about that

2. Applies the in camera "Picture controls", both standard and custom

3. Can be used for Pixel Shift if your camera supports that.

All in all, they have done a good job upgrading from previous versions. it's free, and allows you to do basic edits.

- Good demosaic

- Good lens profiles

I always wondered why C1 and LR/PS don't show the focus point. The coordinates are in the exif (exif tool).

One plus for LR is, that it is relatively simple to use. But so is NX studio.

In case the Original Google (DXO) Nik collection is still free for download, it would be a nice additional app to manipulate images. But not necessarily for raw conversion.

 

[Zeee]

You dont say which camera you use. If it is a Nikon, you may want to check out Nikon NX Studio. I use it occasionally and it works well. A few pluses over a third party app (like DXO, LrC, C1, etc):

1. Will show you focus point if you are wondering about that

2. Applies the in camera "Picture controls", both standard and custom

3. Can be used for Pixel Shift if your camera supports that.

All in all, they have done a good job upgrading from previous versions. it's free, and allows you to do basic edits.

- Good demosaic

- Good lens profiles

I always wondered why C1 and LR/PS don't show the focus point. The coordinates are in the exif (exif tool).

You can get 3rd party apps for FP. If I need to see the focus point I just use Canon DDP.

One plus for LR is, that it is relatively simple to use. But so is NX studio.

In case the Original Google (DXO) Nik collection is still free for download, it would be a nice additional app to manipulate images. But not necessarily for raw conversion.

 

[Joe94]

You dont say which camera you use. If it is a Nikon, you may want to check out Nikon NX Studio. I use it occasionally and it works well. A few pluses over a third party app (like DXO, LrC, C1, etc):

1. Will show you focus point if you are wondering about that

2. Applies the in camera "Picture controls", both standard and custom

3. Can be used for Pixel Shift if your camera supports that.

All in all, they have done a good job upgrading from previous versions. it's free, and allows you to do basic edits.

Thank you. It is actually a Nikon z6ii that I’ve just got so this sounds like a good option for me to consider