Luminar 4 vs Lightroom: My daughter has a new A7ii Sony Camera. She is just getting into photography. She wants to do editing, but does not like the monthly subscription idea. She is...

Carlosu

My daughter has a new A7ii Sony Camera. She is just getting into photography. She wants to do editing, but does not like the monthly subscription idea. She is looking at Luminar 4, which is on sale currently. Any suggestions, pro or con?

Ysarex Loc: St. Louis

Carlosu wrote:

My daughter has a new A7ii Sony Camera. She is just getting into photography. She wants to do editing, but does not like the monthly subscription idea. She is looking at Luminar 4, which is on sale currently. Any suggestions, pro or con?

Sony cameras come with a free copy of Capture One Express which is much better software than Luminar. So free and better versus $$$ and worse.

Joe

Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

I looked at Capture One and did not find it to my liking. I use Luminar 4 on a regular basis. I think Luminar is a perfect starting editor. Just my opinion.

photogeneralist Loc: Lopez Island Washington State

I.ve been in the Luminar camp since it first came out so my preference/prejudice is well established. I think that LR is too complex and uses arcane terminology,
Luminar on the other hand has semi automated their post processing and has layers capabilities that are missing in LR. There are things that LR, in a several step process, does that Luminar does not do. I've never found a need for those LR capabilities. There would be a learning curve with Luminar but still not so difficult to learn as LR .
I started with the photo editing capabilities inherent in Apples Photos APP and still use that as my Library/ Asset Manager.

DavidPine Loc: Fredericksburg, TX

If you haven't used Lightroom CC (not classic) you are missing the boat. CC puts every file you wish in the cloud. It is n awesome application. I still use other applications as plugins. I am super impressed with CC.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Carlosu wrote:

My daughter has a new A7ii Sony Camera. She is just getting into photography. She wants to do editing, but does not like the monthly subscription idea. She is looking at Luminar 4, which is on sale currently. Any suggestions, pro or con?

Most all of the commercial software have a download trial period, some a week, others as long as a month. She should download the various candidates and experiment with just that software for the entire free trial period. Use the free u-tube videos for training on 'getting started' topics as well as any free training the software vendor provides.

Ysarex Loc: St. Louis

Luminar like Lightroom and Capture One is a parametric editor. One of the big advantages of parametric editors is an ability to edit entirely non-destructively. In other words a parametric editor should not apply adjustments that can't be further edited or that prevent you from making changes to other aspects of an image edit. Luminar fails in this regard. Lightroom and Capture One implement a fully non-destructive raw workflow. Luminar's raw workflow is destructive and can bite you badly because of it.

Joe

Fredrick Loc: Former NYC, now San Francisco Bay Area

Curmudgeon wrote:

I looked at Capture One and did not find it to my liking. I use Luminar 4 on a regular basis. I think Luminar is a perfect starting editor. Just my opinion.

miked46 Loc: Winter Springs, Florida

I have Luminar 4 and I love it. it is easy to understand and comes with a load of helpful video's.

ejrmaine Loc: South Carolina

I use Luminar 4 exclusively now, have given up on Lightroom, but still use Photoshop. Luminar 4 is easy to use and very powerful.

yssirk123 Loc: New Jersey

For your daughter, I would recommend either Photoshop Elements or Luminar 4. Elements will get her into the Adobe universe, which will be helpful if she ever wants to use Photoshop. Luminar has good basic adjustments, powerful filters, and is available as a free trial.

There are youtube videos on just about any Photoshop Elements question you can have. JimNix and Anthony Morgante have good Luminar videos.

ronichas Loc: Long Island

Carlosu wrote:

My daughter has a new A7ii Sony Camera. She is just getting into photography. She wants to do editing, but does not like the monthly subscription idea. She is looking at Luminar 4, which is on sale currently. Any suggestions, pro or con?

I have a discount link and code for Luminar 4
PM me if interested.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I have a lot of links for processing comparisons and reviews.

Affinity
https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/software-review-affinity-photo-1-5-2
http://www.shutterbug.com/content/affinity-photo-software-review-has-photoshop-met-its-match#d1c5lY5EQ03QoLjh.97
http://www.diyphotography.net/affinity-photo-can-give-adobe-run-money/
https://www.tomsguide.com/us/affinity-photo-1.5,review-4257.html

Others
http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/best-lightroom-alternatives
http://digital-photography-school.com/a-beginners-guide-to-choosing-the-right-post-production-software/
https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/photo-editing
https://www.reviews.com/photo-editing-software/
https://www.tomsguide.com/us/best-photo-editing-software,review-1972.html
http://www.redmondpie.com/best-adobe-photoshop-alternatives-for-windows-and-mac-list Affinity
http://www.shutterbug.com/content/affinity-photo-software-review-has-photoshop-met-its-match#d1c5lY5EQ03QoLjh.97
http://www.diyphotography.net/affinity-photo-can-give-adobe-run-money/
https://photographypro.com/photo-editing/

eadler

You are wrong saying that Luminar is a destructive editor. You can reset the image that you're working on. If you're not happy later on if you've saved the original image as I do you always start fresh even years later

Jackie_Thomas

I have used Elements and Lightroom before switching over to Luminar. First 3 and now 4. Luminar 4 is to my liking and I would strongly recommend for your daughter. You purchase it, you own it, no monthly fees.