tomad Loc: North Carolina

Exactly! That's why I don't like Capture One. I have mostly Sony cameras and I really wanted to like the (free) Capture One program for Sony but I hate the catalog feature. I tried for hours to see if there was a way around importing to a catalog (session import?) but could not figure out how to do it. I too have my own folder structure and don't want to mess with importing 60,000 photos into a catalog. I just want to open and edit an image easily and fast.

Most of the complaints/questions I see on here about Lightroom (almost daily) are about the catalog feature.

aubreybogle Loc: Albuquerque, NM

Ultimately, the true cost of these products isn't the cost of the download, jewel box or subscription. To find the true cost of a program, it is necessary to factor in the amount of time invested to learn, stay current and use to use the program to process your photos. This total cost is balanced againt the program's functionality (ability) to achieve the photographic image you, as an individual, are seeking to create. For me, a "poor" product would be one with a high cost to functionality ratio. Conversely, a good program will have a low cost to functionality ratio. This ratio may vary widely from one person to another for any given program. All in all, this is a convoluted way to state the obvious: "the best program is the one you know, and are using, that you are satisfied by your results." This principle doesn't exclude experimenting and investigating new programs, but there is, on an individual level, no "best" program.

AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire

Perfectly put.

Yup. I found Elements and Organizer pretty easy, but GIMP took me a while, and I'm certainly not proficient at it. I'm getting there with Lightroom, but have done very little with full blown Photoshop since v 14. I know people who swear by several of the other products in this thread, but I did not find the trial versions easy to learn. As with most things photographic (actually most things in life...), what's best for me may not be best for you. Pick your program, learn it to the best of your ability, and then you can decide whether or not it's meeting your needs. At least until a salesperson comes along and convinces you that you have needs you didn't even know you had!

Andy

fjrwillie Loc: MA

I have gone thru all the posts and surprised no one has mentioned RawTherapee as a RAW converter. It is free, top notch and intergrates with Paintshop Pro very nicely. I also use NIK filters which also integrate nicely with Paintshop Pro. All work seemlessly with one another.

Link to RawTherapee >>> http://rawtherapee.com/downloads



Willie

JBGLADSTONE Loc: Oregon

I use 3 different editing software programs.
Oh, I guess I should explain how I use my processed photos.
1 For my walls in 8x10 or 11x14
2 Give 8x10 photos to family or friends once in a while.
3 Social media

PSE15, I like the ability to process in RAW then open in JPG for prints from Costco or for posting.
DDP4, Canon free software. I like to use for fast basic adjustments plus fast processing.. { that is if I had the right settings on my camera }
ON1 Photo 10, because I have an older laptop and can not use ON1 RAW 18.5. { I really like the extra capabilities }