CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

7 upgrades x $80 = $560
Are you sure the subscription for more and better software isn't the better value?

Tronjo Loc: Canada, BC

Two years ago I replaced Lightroom with Capture One and never looked back.

dhk

LR with Luminar 2018 as "edit in" plug in. If Luminar 3 and Skylum ever get their catalog to work smoothly I will switch to Luminar

Dikdik Loc: Winnipeg, Canada

I use paint.net, a free Photoshop 'little brother'. I don't do photo enhancement, though and there may be a better program.

Dik

Bill_de Loc: US

The software is only better for those who take advantage of the increased capabilities. I would guess that a good number of subscribers never have gone, nor will ever go, beyond the basics. I dabble with different software for the fun of it. My day to day editing which is for posting and email is done in Elements 15. I still do most of my printing on a P800 using Photoshop CS5. After buying a half dozen or so versions of PS I realized I wasn't doing things much differently in the newer versions. I have reached my comfort level.

I do update 2 software programs that I play with. PSP only because they offer the update every year for $25 if you keep saying no to $69. I update On1 because I enjoy all the videos they and third parties produce.

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saxman71 Loc: Wenatchee

I am not a rich man. Nowhere near the top 1% bracket. But I don't have any serious trouble trying to cobble together $10/mo. to help me process the images I have taken with my well over $10,000 worth of camera equipment (and that's not counting all the equipment I have abandoned over the years when new and better equipment was purchased). I admit I fought the subscription model for several years before finally giving in. I will also admit I have not once regretted the decision to subscribe.

EdJ0307 Loc: out west someplace

That's over about a ten year period and some of those upgrades were on sale for less than $80 or I wouldn't have bought them. However, ten years at $10/month would be $1200. I don't even use all the features of PSE so more and better software won't be that much of an incentive for me.
As I said, I will probably go to Affinity, which is a one time $50.

photoman022 Loc: Manchester CT USA

I'm with Linda on this one. I'm a confirmed Elements user. I especially like using Adobe Camera RAW as I do shoot RAW. I have to admit that I don't use Elements to its fullest capacity, but it gets the job done for what I want (and the price is right as well!)

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Photoshop and Lightroom are not perfect, but together they do represent a complete solution. There is nothing you can't do with an image in Photoshop, and Lightroom is a vehicle for getting from memory card to excellent proof-quality images in the shortest amount of time, publish photobooks, tether a camera, export images, add geotagging to images, organize your images and workflow in dozens of different ways, etc. Oh, and the ability of both programs to work extremely well with third party plugins is legendary - no other program provides all of this.

Yes, there are alternatives that are quite good - but are lacking in one or more features/benefits/capabilities. I often hear that On1 Raw is a good alternative - and I use it a lot. But it is NOT a substitute for Photoshop. It works nicely with PS and LR, but it doesn't replace them. Capture One 12, another excellent raw converter - produces super quality proofs - but given it's nature as a raw converter/parametric editor, it lacks the precision masking and detail-level editing of PS. And so on. The same can be said for DXO+Nik - good stuff, but not quite ready for prime time. The biggest problem I see with the secondary market is the comparatively small user base, and the corresponding lack of support options/training/mentoring etc.

If you want value - LR/PS offers the best bang for the buck today. I can't promise such will be the case next year - but for today I don't think you can do better.

Fredrick Loc: Former NYC, now San Francisco Bay Area

Take a look at Luminar. I bought a license last fall for $49, with free upgrades for the next 18 months. Very powerful and easy to use.

vbhargava Loc: San Diego

You may want to try Darktable it is a free non-destructive image processing product that is capable of editing raw images!

dick ranez

try the free trial of onone. Does everything I needed in photoshop and is a single payment purchase. Uses favorite PS "additions" and is as quick as photoshop handling large files.
https://www.on1.com

SDigger

I have been happily using Corel's PaintShop for many years. It is much less than PS or LR and as far as I know, does all the same things. There is a free download available at Corel.com. If you do try it, I will be interested in knowing what you think about it.

Bill P

[quote=rmalarz]When a lot of companies are claiming their product is as good as the gold standard product, why not just go with the gold standard product?

Exactly! the same folks that will drop their 6 month old camera to get the new latest thing don't wnat to spend $10/month? Penny wise, Pound foolish.

And for most of the complainers, the comparison is not valid, as they will spend more making occasional upgrades.

Software doesn't last forever.

kstephens43

I have used Paint Shop Pro for a number of years and find that I can do almost anything that I would want to do in Photoshop. The exception is that Paint Shop Pro cannot use Photoshop Actions. PSP gives me high value for the dollar, and when a new version comes out, Corel lets existing user upgrade for a bargain. The customer support from Corel leaves something to be desired, but I don't have to use their services very often. I am using the latest version of PSP (2019 Ultimate), 64-bit version.