Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

I have recently switched from Aperture 3 to Photos For Mac and I am very disappointed. I have scheduled a One-To-One session at the Apple Store on how to use Photos just in case I'm missing something, but based on my experience with Photos so far I am not expecting much.
I hear a lot about LightRoom, and when Photos was first announced there were many people here on UHH recommending LightRoom. But also I see very many subject titles on Main Photography Discussion from people having problems with LightRoom. That makes me wonder if LightRoom is all it's cracked up to be and really as good as the people who use it say it is.
I would also like any recommendations about other editing programs. And I would like to hear from other former Aperture users on what they are using now.
Thank you
Mac

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

Lightroom is great. You just need to learn to use it, which is why there are many questions raised in the forums. I got a Lightroom book from Kelby before I installed it so as to start off on the right foot...I got my Photoshop/LR CC code yesterday & am getting ready to install it. I will be keeping my LR V 5.7 on my computer though... I think most Lightroom issues are operator error vs software glitch...

MtnMan Loc: ID

I have used several of the simple free programs such as Picasa and those that come with cameras and computers, Photoshop Elements, and gave Gimp an extensive try. Lightroom trumps them all by far.

It is most used by people in my camera club. It is a large and very skilled group of photographers.

I've only seen one or two people here on UHH who can't seem to grock Lightroom. I don't understand that because it seems pretty easy to learn and use and there are many resources available.

I also use Photoshop CS6 for layer work...but rarely. Lightroom does most of what I need most of the time.

warrior Loc: Paso Robles CA

jethro779 Loc: Tucson, AZ

I did not try aperture, but I have used iPhoto, Nikon's and Sony's programs that came with my cameras when I bought them, Photoshop Elements, & Lightroom 5 so far. Elements and Lightroom are close in the way they work, and are also close enough to iPhoto that there was not a step learning curve for the basics. I find that I still use either View NX2 or iPhoto to do most of my editing. The advantage to Elements & Lightroom is there is a larger swing in Exposure Compensation than View NX2 & iPhoto.

I just don't have enough time to sit and do a step by step learn on either Elements or Lightroom and work at the same time.

wisner Loc: The planet Twylo

Photos is good for people who want to do minimal post processing and wish to have their images available on all of their devices and want to share them on social media. Photos is a logical extension of the popularity of the iPhone and its competitors.
Lightroom is a data base software for those of us who want to catalog and process RAW files, a one-stop solution for serious photographers.
I had Aperture and Lightroom when they both were introduced and found Lightroom to be more intuitive and easier, at least for me, to use. I currently have Lightroom 6.
Other programs that you might consider is Capture One from Phase One or Phocus, a free program from Hasselblad. I have used both and can recommend them. I know others here use Picasa, so that is also a possibility.

dannac Loc: 60 miles SW of New Orleans

I've tried Lightroom, PSE 12, PSPX6, Serif Photo X7, Lightzone, Zoner Studio, Smart Photo Editor.
I keep coming back to Lightroom.

I shoot sports for local paper and often have a deadline to meet.

I can save presets for certain gym lighting and have that preset applied to the import.

Also save presets for export size, resolution, landscape, portrait, etc ....
Choose a batch of photo's, choose the export preset needed and done.

Not a fan of the catalog system but got use to it.

Lightroom is the quickest way for me to edit and export.
I've looked at a few and it suits my needs the best.

If I do other things with layers, etc .... I use PSE 12.

GTinSoCal Loc: Palmdale, CA

I come from the dark side (PC :-/)
:-)
Lightroom has been great, a bit of a learning curve to adjust my thinking from a file manipulating to a file cataloging mindset :-(
But, since then, I have been very happy with it.
Although it does do a great job of "manipulating" I can still think of it in terms of cataloging.
AND, it just gets more powerful with each new release!
:-) (and faster too - well for most of us...)

GT

lsimpkins Loc: SE Pennsylvania

Mac, I feel that LR is excellent, but may cause problems to those who think they can just open the program and go. I strongly suggest that you do two things in parallel - try the 30 day free download AND view some of the many LR training videos. I can recommend those by Laura Shoe (some free on her website, and two DVDs that go through the whole program in logical steps). The 30 day trial will help you decide if LR is for you. Almost forgot to mention that Jared Platt is giving a course on CreativeLive next week titled The Ultimate LR CC Workflow. Worth the watch if you have the time.

If you decide to use LR, you will probably also want a pixel editing program to complete some of your edits. PSE or full blown PSCC are two suggestions, along with OnOne's full suite. Best of luck moving forward.

Didereaux Loc: Swamps of E TX

Obviously Adobe farmed out the coding for LR....because it is smooth, and fairly intuitive. ;)

Racmanaz Loc: Sunny Tucson!

I don't care much for Lightroom, it just doesn't fit my style and it is limited because it does not do layers. You have to experience what fits your own style, I would not say Lightroom is horrible, because there are many people use it and love it. Try out the 30 day free trial to see if it's for you, other than that there are many other software programs like ACDsee pro 8 which I just love and you can also download a free trial as well. Test out different programs to see which you like the best.

http://www.acdsee.com/en/products/acdsee-pro-8?gclid=CPSg3-u1lMUCFQGTfgodIGMAIA

Or the ACDsee Pro 8 Ultimate which includes layers.

http://www.acdsee.com/en/products/acdsee-ultimate-8

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

If you were accustomed to Aperture, you will be fine with LR. To make it easier to migrate, there is now (in the LR6 version) a built in plugin that imports libraries from Aperture. I only used Aperture briefly when I was deciding between LR and Aperture, but they were similar enough that I had no real preference and decided on LR simply because it was on sale! Glad now that I did. For me, a good LR book was a better learning tool than all those darned videos, but that is probably because I'm old. You young folks learn differently:)

If you have other plugins that you used with Aperture, or have PS or something else for layers, they will play well with LR so that images you edit in them can be brought automatically back into LR aside their originals for safekeeping.

Most of the trouble people complain of in LR is self induced by the user. LR is not a self-teaching tool, and it does not do things automatically like iPhoto does, it is more like Aperture. One has to put forth a little effort to learn how the catalog system works, how to import/export images, and what the sliders in the different sections do - but it is all pretty similar to Aperture.

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

Thanks Scott.

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

Thank you MtnMan

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

Thanks for the link Warrior.