Lightroom or not?

[russellsnr]

Hi, just a quick question about the purchase or not of LR.
I have CS4 and of course comes with bridge and ACR so as an individual who just likes photography as a hobby rather than work do I really need LR?
What can I get from LR that I cannot do in the apps within CS4
I no two questions
Thank you

[jiro]

Just my personal opinion, Russell - Lightroom's workflow is very intuitive to editing a photo whereas ACR (Adobe Camera RAW) seems to be more technical and dull for me. Though I have ACR also in CS5, I seem to prefer LR when I want to immediately edit my images and then export it to Photoshop CS5 if I still want to add some edit in it. It's a bit funny how Adobe chose to make this 2 product work differently though they are generally the same. Just my 2 cents, Sir.

[Snarkbyte]

LR does have a built-in database for organizing and finding your photos that is lacking in PS ACR. Other than that, LR is really just ACR in a friendlier wrapper. I like LR, and use it in preference to ACR, but it certainly isn't essential if you already have PS.

[Clactonian]

Just my personal opinion, Russell - Lightroom's workflow is very intuitive to editing a photo whereas ACR (Adobe Camera RAW) seems to be more technical and dull for me. Though I have ACR also in CS5, I seem to prefer LR when I want to immediately edit my images and then export it to Photoshop CS5 if I still want to add some edit in it. It's a bit funny how Adobe chose to make this 2 product work differently though they are generally the same. Just my 2 cents, Sir.

My view entirely, and I have both.

[Geoff F]

So some people are able to purchase both CS5 and Lightroom? Wow!

[ktuli]

I am in the highly embarrassed group of people who own both and have no clue how to use either...

- Bill

[abhi]

I also have both, and can not use either . Yay for educational discounts!

[dogald]

As a real amateur, i got Lightroom and love it. This with elements 9, i think will do all the average amateur needs

[inkista]

I am in the highly embarrassed group of people who own both and have no clue how to use either...

Hey, unless you buy them first, how you gonna learn?

Here try this Adobe TV set of video tutorials: Getting Started With Adobe Lightroom 3

[BeckyM]

kyhli and dbhi,
I got both with my online courses last August and am just learning to use them both.
Becky

[Danielk62]

Perhaps somewhat off topic, but the "academic versions" are a great way to learn how to use the software. When one gets a 30 days trial, how many hours can one really spend learning to use and understand the software?

On topic again: if one shoots almost everything in RAW and needs the results pretty fast, then LR is the way to go (see the link by Gavin Hoey). LR in fact is a database with pretty good (Adobe) photo editing tools, where CS4 has massive power in editing photos, but doesn't bother how you store the photos. I'm currently looking for reviews on Aperture3 vs Lightroom3 as I want to get organised as well

[russellsnr]

Hi, Thank you for the replies, birthday is gone this year, christmas is to far away, wonder what I could buy the wife to show I care?
Answers on a postcard please

[Dave Humphries]

Hi, Thank you for the replies, birthday is gone this year, christmas is too far away, wonder what I could buy the wife to show I care?
Answers on a postcard please

A camera perhaps?