Aperture/Lightroom: I'm a Mac user, and I'm ready to use something more sophisticated than iPhoto. It seems that a number of people use Lightroom, but I don't see Aperture discussion...

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

I'm a Mac user, and I'm ready to use something more sophisticated than iPhoto. It seems that a number of people use Lightroom, but I don't see Aperture discussion, a Mac product.

Are there any Aperture users out there who can tell me about it? Anyone who has used both and can speak to both of them?

Any advice will be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

If you are looking at Lightroom you might want to check out LightZone for free. http://www.lightzoneproject.org

Rongnongno Loc: FL

jaymatt wrote:

I'm a Mac user, and I'm ready to use something more sophisticated than iPhoto. It seems that a number of people use Lightroom, but I don't see Aperture discussion, a Mac product.

Are there any Aperture users out there who can tell me about it? Anyone who has used both and can speak to both of them?

Any advice will be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Aperture is an excellent product but in a world dominated by windows you will not find many mac users, especially on this board where folks are kind of the older generation and getting long on the tooth (If they still have one that is)...

As to Lightroom... If you look for a DBase/simple editor, that is the ticket. If you look at more editing and still some file management look at Photo Elements (both adobe products)

If you look at heavy duty photo editing Photoshop is still king on both Apple and Windows platforms. It comes with a decent photo organizer (Bridge).

All in all, for Apple, I do not really know what is good or better as I am kind of really repulsed by the business model promoted by Apple.

Cameoblue Loc: British Columbia Canada

jaymatt wrote:

I'm a Mac user, and I'm ready to use something more sophisticated than iPhoto. It seems that a number of people use Lightroom, but I don't see Aperture discussion, a Mac product.

Are there any Aperture users out there who can tell me about it? Anyone who has used both and can speak to both of them?

Any advice will be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Hi Jaymatt, and welcome to the HOG. I would say Aperture is not quite as powerful as Light Room but, it is half the price. Aperture is iPhoto on steroids and then some also much more refined. iPhoto has 10 sliders in their 'Adjustments'. Aperture has 24 categories of adjustments with a couple of adjustment sliders to a couple dozens adjustment sliders depending in the category you choose. It also has "Curves" which is adjusting you photo highlights, shadows, contrast and channels by using a graph. It is very similar to LR Curves. Aperture will process RAW and or JPEG. Also in Aperture you can use filters such as NIK filters. Apple is regularly upgrading (free) Aperture with features.

It is very easy to use and if you are comfortable using iPhoto you should easily adapt to Aperture. May I suggest Googling "youtube apple aperture" and you will get some fine videos on the subject such as http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTI02PaQoXg

Db7423 Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

Jaymatt, awhile back I left the world of PC's leaving my last Windows based, tangled mess of an operating system behind and moved with great trepidation to an iMac. At that time I had some decisions to make about PP software. I really wanted to to use Aperature since I figured it would be better on a iMac. I found it inferior in every way to Lightroom. You can download Lightroon for a free 30-day trial, try it, you will life it. I believe you will find LR is superior to Aperature. ;)

sbesaw Loc: Boston

St3v3M wrote:

If you are looking at Lightroom you might want to check out LightZone for free. http://www.lightzoneproject.org

Light zone looks interesting and I may get it to play with it can check out interface. note it does not currently support RAW for Nikon D600/610, D800/D800E, D7100, D5200, D5300, Canon 70D, 6D, T5i

Db7423 Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

sbesaw wrote:

Light zone looks interesting and I may get it to play with it can check out interface. note it does not currently support RAW for Nikon D600/610, D800/D800E, D7100, D5200, D5300, Canon 70D, 6D, T5i

If they don't support Nikon they are of no use to me, thanks for saving me the trouble of even looking at them. ;)

sbesaw Loc: Boston

Db7423 wrote:

If they don't support Nikon they are of no use to me, thanks for saving me the trouble of even looking at them. ;)

They do support Nikon just appears no RAW support "yet" for models mentioned. They will probably get there just don't have the resources of Adobe

Db7423 Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

Thanks for the update, Skip. Still holds little interest for me at least for now since nearly 100% of what I do is in RAW.

Gary Truchelut Loc: Coldspring, TX

I've been a Mac user for about 8 years and would never go back. I bought LR and it is excellent for anything I have needed and then some. Have used it for three years and still learning all the things it can do. You won't be disappointed.

Kombiguy Loc: Cedar Rapids, IA

I use aperture all the time. It's powerful, and has the ease of use one expects from Mac stuff. For anything more that Aperture or Lightroom can do, I go to Gimp.

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

Thanks to all of you for your comments; I'll take them into consideration when I make the jump into something more sophisticated than I have now.

TennisCoach Loc: Saginaw, MI

I use both. Aperture is my main editor. It is very easy to use and does a great job. I also use Elements 12. It some things that Aperture does not, like cut and paste.

barkeypf Loc: Clifton Park, NY

TennisCoach wrote:

I use both. Aperture is my main editor. It is very easy to use and does a great job. I also use Elements 12. It some things that Aperture does not, like cut and paste.

I use Aperture3 an PSE11. I'm happy with both, using PSE11 for layers and lens distortion. What know one has mentioned that a new Aperture is about to be introduced in December. I'm sure it will catch up and hopefully surpass the more expensive (but good LR).
Paul

SueMac Loc: Box Elder, SD

I've been a Mac user for 10 years and prefer Lightroom over Aperture. I've tried both, but I find I prefer LR. I guess I like the way it works better. Both are good and one benefit of Ap. is the photos coordinate easier with all the other Mac programs. But even with that, I'll take LR first.