Lightroom 6 or Monthly Subscription - Pros vs. Cons - HELP PLEASE: Looking for some advice on Lightroom. I can pick up a copy of 6 fairly inexpensively but should I? I shoot with an...

SteveG Loc: Norh Carolina

Looking for some advice on Lightroom. I can pick up a copy of 6 fairly inexpensively but should I? I shoot with an Olympus OMD EM5 MARK II and don't anticipate changing anytime soon. Does the latest subscription service provide much more than Lightroom 6? I guess just simply I'd like to know if presets work the same in both and in general what are all your opinions on the subject? I have never liked the idea of having to pay every month although it's omly basically $10 a month. Looking forward to hearing all your suggestions! Thanks so much!

rwilson1942 Loc: Houston, TX

The subscription service gets you the latest updates as the come out which you will never get with LR6.
You also get Photoshop, so if you think you will ever need to work with layers LR6 will not cut it.

SteveG Loc: Norh Carolina

rwilson1942 wrote:

The subscription service gets you the latest updates as the come out which you will never get with LR6.
You also get Photoshop, so if you think you will ever need to work with layers LR6 will not cut it.

I come from being a disappointed Luminar guy. I'm more into basic adjustments and presets. Going from that POV would you still recommend the subscription?

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Can you really get a version of LR6?

I spent the weekend rebuilding a laptop that had been put out of commission by a recent Win10 update. When re-installing LR6, I was reminded the software cannot be installed without first having an Adobe account and the software license key already installed into my online profile for the LR6 verification. These are things you can no longer do in April 2021 in that you can't "add" a purchase of the LR6 software into your profile.

Also, the LR6 software is limited to RAW processing for cameras through Dec 2017. You can convert new RAW files to DNGs and edit in LR6. My experience is the DNG is not the same as native RAW support. I'd consider the DNG as a temporary approach pending Adobe's release of native RAW support for new cameras, not an ongoing approach.

If you're not shooting in RAW, you have several newer and capable digital editors for one-time purchase that are not based on an ongoing subscription model.

rcorne001 Loc: Cary, NC

I was skeptical about moving to the subscription plan, but once there TOTALLY satisfied. With program updates, new features and new camera equipment it is nice to keep up to date. I found my old presets transferred just fine. (But do keep in mind that was a number of years ago!) Take a moment to look at what you get in the basic plan. In my opinion a good deal.

https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/photography/compare-plans.html

via the lens Loc: Northern California, near Yosemite NP

Go with the monthly payment plan for Adobe and get the best and brightest software available, no cost for updates and improvements ever. In addition to LrC classic desktop, you get a mobil version and tablet versions of both Lightroom and PS, access to portfolio (website) software, access to hundreds of fonts via Adobe Fonts, a web-based software program called Spark to create all kinds of graphic design pieces and videos to share with friends and family and limited access to a video editing program: it's a deal for $10 a month.

CamB Loc: Juneau, Alaska

SteveG wrote:

Looking for some advice on Lightroom. I can pick u... (show quote)

If you don’t like the idea of a monthly plan you can just pay it yearly. One payment and forget about it for a year.
...Cam

SteveG Loc: Norh Carolina

CHG_CANON wrote:

Can you i really /i get a version of LR6? br b... (show quote)

I knew you would be the best person to contact. (I tried earlier but you had me blocked for some reason..Something I said?) Anyway! I shoot in RAW. Just downsized my equipment to an Olympus OMD EM5 MARK II. Couldn't carry all those heavy lenses anymore. I had the same problem with Quickbooks myself when upgrading to Windows 10 with the older version. Luckily I was able to get access code. So if I shoot raw and want to use profiles then forgetthe Lightroom 6 us what I guess you're saying? My other software is Luminar 4 and AI but it's really quirky and the lessons I'm wstifrom Serge Remalli and Tim Shields are always working with Lightroom CC. I guess it's called?

SteveG Loc: Norh Carolina

There IS a copy of Lightroom 6 available on eBay

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

SteveG wrote:

I come from being a disappointed Luminar guy. I'm more into basic adjustments and presets. Going from that POV would you still recommend the subscription?

Expectations and skill are dynamic. What may fill your needs today may fall short in time. As you progress beyond the basic, it is probably a good thing to have a software suite that pretty much does it all. If you don't expect to ever go beyond your current skill level, then pretty much any current software will do - but not LR6, which has no support, probably can't be purchased legitimately, and is pretty outdated compared to the current version.

I've been a LR/PS user for a long time - PS since the mid-90s and LR since version 3. Unless Adobe goes out of business or decides to triple the subscription price, I am not likely to switch to something else. I do use other software pretty regularly - DXO/Nik, On1 Photo Raw, Capture One - each has something to offer that works a little better than LR/PS, but none provide the full range and scope of LR/PS.

SteveG Loc: Norh Carolina

Gene51 wrote:

Expectations and skill are dynamic. What may fill ... (show quote)

I think you have me convinced! I'll be going with the subscription. $10 a month, I spend that on lottery tickets. To put it towards a great up to date software program that goes along with the training I'm using is a no brainer when put in perspective. Thanks a lot for your help! Ever!

DWU2 Loc: Phoenix Arizona area

SteveG wrote:

I think you have me convinced! I'll be going with the subscription. $10 a month, I spend that on lottery tickets. To put it towards a great up to date software program that goes along with the training I'm using is a no brainer when put in perspective. Thanks a lot for your help! Ever!

I see you've made your decision, and I think it was the correct one. For the benefits of others, though, here is a list of the features that have been added since LR6:
https://www.lightroomqueen.com/whats-new-lightroom-classic-since-version-6/

SteveG Loc: Norh Carolina

DWU2 wrote:

I see you've made your decision, and I think it was the correct one. For the benefits of others, though, here is a list of the features that have been added since LR6:
https://www.lightroomqueen.com/whats-new-lightroom-classic-since-version-6/

THAT is quite a list at a brief glance! I guess I'll have to go through it but it's quite obvious that there's no contest.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

DWU2 wrote:

I see you've made your decision, and I think it was the correct one. For the benefits of others, though, here is a list of the features that have been added since LR6:
https://www.lightroomqueen.com/whats-new-lightroom-classic-since-version-6/

Interesting list, with an obvious 1 or 2 that are new features I could use, maybe 3 to 5 that would simplify the way I do the same things in LR6. At this point, I'm happier with the saved $360 total (and counting) given I haven't updated my cameras and haven't needed new software either.

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

SteveG wrote:

There IS a copy of Lightroom 6 available on eBay

I wouldn't be surprised if you could buy a copy of almost anything on ebay.

Whether you could actually use it is another subject. (See CHG_CANON's comments above)

Having used LR/PS for a decade I'm really into postprocessing but it sounds like you're on the lower edge of it at this time and LR will probably do more than you want right now. However, it's always good to be in danger of learning something new and hopefully you will eventually learn to use the package as a whole.