Photoshop VS Lighthouse VS Aperature VS Nikon Software: The setup: I have a MacBook Pro with Retina, Nikon D7100 and have started to shoot in Raw and want to really bring out all I can...

pasiuk57 Loc: Apple Valley, Minnesota

The setup:
I have a MacBook Pro with Retina, Nikon D7100 and have started to shoot in Raw and want to really bring out all I can in certain photos but have not worked with any of the above programs. I know Aperature works with the Mac and is about $80.
Thought from everyone on a good (Not $600 good) program for editing?

JR1 Loc: Tavistock, Devon, UK

Please

Gimp perhaps

Db7423 Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

I use Lightroom only on 95% of my photos. The other 5% after any Lightroom adjustment made are sent to Elements for things like eliminating a power line or sign that couldn't be avoided when taking the shot. I use an iMac and tried Aperature but found LR more intuitive. The other benefit of LR and PSE is that there is so many tutorials and videos available on the web because there are so many users. ;)

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

Db7423 wrote:

I use Lightroom only on 95% of my photos. The other 5% after any Lightroom adjustment made are sent to Elements for things like eliminating a power line or sign that couldn't be avoided when taking the shot. I use an iMac and tried Aperature but found LR more intuitive. The other benefit of LR and PSE is that there is so many tutorials and videos available on the web because there are so many users. ;)

Ditto, but use Photoshop CC, not elements.

kvanhook Loc: Oriental, NC

Ditto again. I use lightroom just about all of the time and I have Elements 10 for those few times I need it for further editing. And there are so many good tutorials for these two programs, as has already been stated.

philb Loc: Benton, KY

I use a MAC also and just recently switched to using LR5. And I am glad and better for it. I did use just Photoshop CS6 but now I use it in conjunction with LR5.
If you intend to become serious about your photography why not make the plunge and go ahead and get what the pros use, LR. One really doesn't need more than Photoshop Elements to take your images further, only reason I have CS6 is because of being a Senior Student I got it real cheap. Of course that option will soon be disappearing.
I have used iPhoto, Aperture and a couple others before moving up.

neco Loc: Western Colorado Mountains

pasiuk57 wrote:

The setup:
I have a MacBook Pro with Retina, Nikon D7100 and have started to shoot in Raw and want to really bring out all I can in certain photos but have not worked with any of the above programs. I know Aperature works with the Mac and is about $80.
Thought from everyone on a good (Not $600 good) program for editing?

I have an iMac and currently, I use iPhoto. Probably go with Aperture because I can keep all my iPhoto files as they are now catalogued.

BigGWells Loc: Olympia, WA

Lightroom 5....

sbesaw Loc: Boston

BigGWells wrote:

Lightroom 5....

Agreed, Start with LR5 it may be all you ever need, if not then you make another decision then but it should cover 95% or more of what you need to do and it is a great cataloging program as well. BTW I am all MAC all the time

Gibar

philb wrote:

I use a MAC also and just recently switched to usi... (show quote)

Started out with Aperture then moved to LR 4, now using LR 5, very happy with it. If you take the time to master LR it is time well spent. Also got Photoshop CS6 for about 50% off from B+H on a 24 hr sale they had some time ago. Still trying to master it, as I don't use it that often, as I do 98% of my PP work in lightroom.

Samuraiz Loc: Central Florida

Db7423 wrote:

I use Lightroom only on 95% of my photos. The other 5% after any Lightroom adjustment made are sent to Elements for things like eliminating a power line or sign that couldn't be avoided when taking the shot. I use an iMac and tried Aperature but found LR more intuitive. The other benefit of LR and PSE is that there is so many tutorials and videos available on the web because there are so many users. ;)

Ditto, but in addition to Lightroom 5 I also use several Topaz,Nik and Photomatix plug ins. If I need to do layer based editing I use Photo Shop CS6. To be honest, for what I do Corel PSP X5 would do just fine for under $100.