RixPix Loc: Miami, Florida

I ask only because the Lightroom product is on sale today on Amazon for $90 and I have seen many references to it here on the Hog. What if anything will lightroom add to my post production arsenal?

RaydancePhoto

I got Lightroom 3 about 2 weeks ago. It has speeded up my processing greatly. With many images to process, it cut my time by 80% or more. I can not speak for CS4, I have CS5 but I dont use it much.

gledor42 Loc: Folsom California

How big a difference is iPhoto to Lightroom?

steve_stoneblossom Loc: Rhode Island, USA

I find LR very useful. I do 95% of editing there, plus it has cataloging and keywording features CS does not.

I wouldn't worry about missing the sale. I've seen lower prices mentioned here recently. Download the 30 day trial version and give it a spin. I'll bet you can determine in less than a week if you like it.

shopnascar Loc: San Luis Obispo, CA

I have PSE9, Photoshop CS5, Lightroom, and Iphoto. For elementary stuff, Iphoto really works easily and does a fair job of improving your images.
PSE works very nicely to compliment Iphoto. It is a reasonably simple and easy workflow.

However, since I bought LR3 and CS5, I have migrated over to LR3 and then finish up with CS5. There is a lot more flexibility and control to match the learning curve. LR3 is very powerful. You can manipulate almost everything and I find very little use anymore for my HD Program, Photomatix.

You didn't specify which camera you have. I have heard that Nikon users are better off with CaptureNX than LR3. I don't know for sure. I haven't purchased Capture and won't until my D800 arrives.

It depends of course on what you want to do and how much time you want to invest. If you are interested in really pro-quality image enhancement, I think you need to try LR3 and CS5 or their alternatives.

IMHO anyway . . .

ziggykor Loc: East Texas

Just somethings to consider: the beta to Lightroom 4 expires at the end of March which means the release version will be out very soon. If you aren't a current registered user I'd say wait to purchase 4 rather than buying now. You can download both the Beta to 4 and a 30 day trial of 3 at no cost just to test drive the program.

Additionally, soon after the release of Lightroom 4, if Adobe follows their previous methods, Photoshop CS6 will be released. With that in mind, waiting for 6 rather than updating to 5 may be a better way to go.

I use both Lightroom and Photoshop in my workflow. My RAW edits are done using Lightroom then fine tuning is done in Photoshop. I also use Lightroom as my image library and database. Currently there are over 70,000 images that are available in the database which can be found by using keywords.

Only you can decide if you need both, but I can say that doing so works for me.

Ziggy

Dun1 Loc: Atlanta, GA

Lightroom will allow you to quickly catalog your images, or photos. It will allow you to quickly make changes to a set of photos, once you get the lighting, color balance, as you want it you can cut and paste that setting to the next image or like images. You can use Photoshop CS4 as your external editor and toggle easily between CS4 and Lightroom.
Yes, Lightroom 4 is available in beta form, however, you need to be aware that those images you edit in Lightroom 4 Beta will not remain in your Lightroom catalog after the Beta testing is completed.
Also, unless Adobe changes, in order to upgrade to the newer versions of Photoshop you will need to upgrade now to CS5 or suffer the cost of paying the full price for CS5, the new version of Photoshop CS will not allow you to purchase the upgrade as in the past. For instance if you have CS4 you can purchase the upgrade to CS5 at a reduced price, and most instances as long as you had a version of Photoshop CS2, CS3, CS4 your were eligible to pay the upgrade price.

ziggykor Loc: East Texas

After Scott Kelby and the NAPP raised a stink, Adobe has gone back to their previous upgrade plan. That means that if you have CS3 or newer you will be able to upgrade when CS6 is released.

Dun1 Loc: Atlanta, GA

A tip of the hat to Scott Kelby and NAPP. Thank goodness Adobe came to some sensible decision rather than a totally economic decision.

cgchief Loc: Jarrettsville

No. Invest in something good; wish I had.

MWAC Loc: Somewhere East Of Crazy

I use LR to cull my images quickly, apply keywords and catalogue my images, I also use it to correct my W/B and exposure.

Do you NEED LR? Nope, it's a nice have and it speeds up my workflow but I don't need it. I wouldn't die without it.