jldodge

Despite others' experiences (and NOT to discount them), I avoid "subscription" revenue models. These models allow their purveyors MORE leeway on investment in their products to maintain the value since they benefit from their customer base who is so invested in their software that the switching costs are extremel high (sorry for the runon). I am evaluating Capture One and ON1 as alternatives. Not that they won't ultimately evolve to a subscription model BUT they don't have the customer base that Adobe has so that decision is down the road a number of years. I have already resigned myself to NOT purchasing ANY subscription products from Adobe. I have a similar issue with Quicken but that is for another discussion.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

I'm with Bill. Not everyone needs the top of the line product. Some (probably many) are satisfied with software that just does what they need or know.

In grad school we had a machinist whose motto was "Better is the enemy of good enough", meaning if you try for perfection you are likely to screw things up irretrievably.

Nevertheless, I still try for "better". I think it's always good to be in danger of learning something new.
Fortunately the software I use can be used nondestructively so when I screw up I can start over.

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

Subscription has so far proven cheaper in the long run. I started using CC 5 yrs ago in 2014, and I have not spent half of what the last so-called perpetual licenses for CS6 Extended and LR 4 cost - approximately $1300. Photoshop and Lightroom users are "invested" in the software because it is good stuff. Switching costs are a non-issue. You stop the subscription, you stop paying. Your images are yours. Your catalog is yours. LR remains functional enough to view your catalog and your edits, export your images to other applications if you wish, etc etc. You just can't use the develop module to edit images.

It's a little different in Photoshop, but you can still use Bridge I think. In any case, I don't understand your statement "switching costs are extremel high" and my experience tells a completely different story. Your objection is not based in math, nor is it based in any rational thought process. I am not saying you are wrong - I am just saying you aren't working with good facts. and a big NO - C1 and On1 are NOT replacements for LR and PS - I know this first hand because I use all of the above. C1 does offer the subscription alternative at the present, but it is not as good a deal as Adobe's. C1 perpetual license is more expensive to purchase than LR was, and the subscription is twice the cost of LR AND PS. You can't compare C1 to LR/PS - C1 is NOT a complete photo editing solution, LR/PS is. If you think C1 is complete, then I don't have the time to explain why they aren't, other than saying that C1 is like a great bushel of apples - and LR/PS is an apple pie with a scoop of ice cream.

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

Adobe has free upgrades - you pay just one price AND you get to use Actions. I started photo editing using PSP back in 1990 - I was avoiding the outrageously high cost of PS.

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

I love watching people who "never look back" get bit by the dog they left behind because they aren't looking back

spaceytracey Loc: East Glacier Park, MT

PSE with the Nik Collection works for me.

domcomm Loc: Denver, CO

I just noticed that Fuji is having a give-away on Luminar if you buy one of their lenses by the end of the year.

https://skylum.com/l/fujifilm?utm_source=Fujifilm&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=Bonus_software

bwana Loc: Bergen, Alberta, Canada

I've found Capture One very adequately replaces Lightroom w/ functionality to spare. Affinity Photo does everything I've ever used Photoshop for and has great Panorama, HDR, Stacking and Focus Merge/Stacking tools right up front on the menu.

Adobe's software is no longer the only kid on the block AND this is good for innovation and consumers.

bwa

cochese

I personally use GImp and darktable. Of course I also use Linux. The best bang for MY buck is free open source software. I prefer to spend my money on photo gear not software to support the gear.
And save your arguments against Linux, it is a robust OS that can do all and more than windows. As for OSX... it's unix based too.

dubyacee

I'm a Affinity fan. Does everything that I need done. PS might be better but I don't need better.

bwana Loc: Bergen, Alberta, Canada

Same here! And for my usage, Affinity Photo is better...

Sentinel4

You might want to try Alien Skin X4. 30 day free trial. Works with light room for easy downloading.
Tutorials from Anthony Morganti as well as in support on site.
Sentinel4

DVZ Loc: Littleton CO

I use ACDSee for organizing and raw developing and Affinity Photo. I'm happy with the combination but there are a lot of good alternatives out there. Cost isn't really the issue because the subscription fee is reasonable, I just got started down the road early on with ACDSee and really like it and there is nothing that comes close to Affinity for its price. I purchased it when it first came out and have been getting free upgrades ever since. I'm sure that will end at some point.

geodowns Loc: Yale, Michigan

That's really something, I'm still using good old CS3 Photoshop on Windows 10, sometime Nx-D and Luminar for the fun of it. But mostly CS3, I know its old but since I don't know what the newer versions are like, I don't know any better. But if I upgrade it will probably be CS4, from what I've been told it works better with my D300. I wont get any help from Adobe, but I done good with CS3 so should be ok with CS4. I'm sure there's better options that someone gonna tell me.