AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire

Makes sense. I can understand how that might simplify your workflow.

I don't know Capture One except through advertising and reviews. But, since Adobe also allows exporting in TIFF format, I don't think there's any difference in the processing of the RAW data between these programs, which is what I understand the post I was quoting to have said.

Andy

Selene03

Lightroom CC is not as feature rich, maybe because it is designed for mobile devices--tablets and phones, but Lightroom Classic CC is continually adding new features. This is confusing and I wish Adobe would make these distinctions clearer. Depending on what you are doing, it may not pay to upgrade from the stand alone version, but for other things in might.

Selene03

I have used a variety of new cameras of different brands and helped others with their cameras too. If a new camera is produced by a manufacturer (doesn't matter which one) and chooses to change the file format of its image files, then no piece of software will be able to open those files successfully unless the camera manufacturer has chosen to share file information with the company that makes the post processing software before the software is released. Once the camera is in production and being sold, the companies that produce post processing software like adobe can then engineer the ability to open the file. This may take a couple of weeks. Having bought new Canon cameras and new Sonys in the last couple of years since Adobe went to the subscription model, I have been pleasantly surprised how quickly they have upgraded Adobe Camera Raw for the new cameras. This may be true of other software too, but it is not a particular issue with Adobe. It is true that Adobe (and a lot of other software too) can't take full advantage of special features in some cameras. You can do some things with Canon's software DPP4 and Sony's version of Capture One that you can't do in Photoshop, but DPP4 is pretty clunky software. Capture One is not bad. But that is a different issue with specific Camera brand software.

selmslie Loc: Fernandina Beach, FL, USA

It's not as though the camera companies are keeping anything secret from Adobe. After all, the new models are in the hands of reviewers well ahead of the release date. Any changes to the raw specs will have been cast in stone months earlier. That should give Adobe plenty of time to react before the camera is available for purchase by the general public.

Surely Adobe can manage to secure the specs and some sample raw files from a new model before the camera is shipped to the retail market. They don't actually need to be in physical possession of the camera. They don't have to buy each new camera model. At worst they might need to borrow one long enough to produce some raw files.

Yet other software suppliers seem to be able to provide seamless updates to their stand-alone programs in a timely fashion. Adobe seems to be the only one holding the customer's raw files hostage to force them to upgrade their Adobe product on their computer.

photogeneralist Loc: Lopez Island Washington State

There are other post processing apps out there. An Adobe based subscription model is not necessary. (I was going to buy Lighroom, then Adobe made us rent it. That raised my Hackles and I found that Apple photo library has all the cataloging power I need. and Skylum's apps user interface is much more intuitive.

foxfirerodandgun Loc: Stony Creek, VA

With all of the other PP software available, some of which is either free or at a cost that is extremely affordable, I feel that each person would need to consider how much, and to what depths, their PP needs and requirements would extend too. Unless a persons photography interests are their bread & butter, or they are aspiring to produce their absolute best results for self satisfaction, contests, etc., personally I see no real need to invest a lot of money into something that they could replace with a less expensive option. True, updates are important, but software like Luminar Libraries, (currently available @ $49.00 with discount code), which I understand from watching a couple You Tube videos, will have free updates available as the software is improved with future additions, features, etc. But as with most choices, to each their own. Just my 2¢

jaxpics Loc: NNJ

My guess ... some people considered color photos, color television, and even indoor plumbing as a frivolous expense while the early adopters embraced a better way of life. I wonder how many refused the keyed ignition as an upgrade to getting out of the car and cranking the engine. Clearly, the Adobe subscription is not for everyone; but there comes a time when standing on principal turns to spite and you spend more time and effort on workarounds, with cumulative cost being more than the $10.00 monthly service fee. If you can't afford the cost, thankfully there are free alternatives. If you can ... maybe you should give it another thought.

photogeneralist Loc: Lopez Island Washington State

Adobe's outstanding revenue growth since they went to a " subscription " model was probably realized at the expense of their customers. It is interesting to see that other software providers (IE Microsoft Office) are now also changing to a subscription model, presumably to also similarly enhance their own bottom line. I understand that for a heavy user, rental may be the best financial deal. But for me, I can get a more usable, more intuitive software package that will be mine forever for the same cost as the first 5 months of adobe. I like to own "my" tools. It gives me the illusion of being in control.

f8lee Loc: New Mexico

Illusion indeed, because your $50 bought you the license to the right to use that software on your computer, not the software itself.

Read the book "The End of Ownership: Personal Property in the Digital Economy" to see just how little rights we have as tech allows providers to own the IP (Intellectual property).

In 2008 or so, when Amazon had a problem with the licensing of the book "1984" it singlehandedly recalled all copies of the book that were purchased for use on the Kindle platform. That is, had you paid your $8 (or whatever) the month or year earlier and were reading the book, on that fateful day ou would have found the money refunded to your account and the electronic book itself missing. Of course, they could not do this with the hard-copy books that were sold, but the point is that software is ephemeral - and it is not technically impossible for the vendor to decide you broke the EULA (as if anyone reads those) and decide with the next "free upgrade" they offer you will simply disable the software altogether. We do not wod the software we "buy" but instead rent it.

In addition, I believe Adobe's revenue stream jumped more thanks to things it does that have nothing to do with the image-related offerings, like web analytics and services provided to vendors. So don't get your panties ina bunch because they have higher income; it's not all about the produts of which you are aware.

selmslie Loc: Fernandina Beach, FL, USA

That’s a distinction without a difference. Once it’s on your computer you can use at no additional cost it until you decide to replace it.

f8lee Loc: New Mexico

Until you take in an "upgrade" that may have undesirable consequences. But of course if you don't buy any new cameras (thus no new raw file formats) and don't care about new features (when was "dehaze" introduced - a year ago?) then you would have no need to upgrade and indeed can keep humming along.

hassighedgehog Loc: Corona, CA

I have used PSE since version 1, however only update occasionally. Ex. from 9 to 11 then 15.

tschuler

This post is not to argue the whether subscription or one time purchase is the better choice. As for me, I find the Adobe subscription a reasonably priced offer. However, I do not denigrate those who don't, they have their valid reasons. My purpose is to point out some misconceptions.

When you purchase software, you do own the right to use the software under the terms of the software license. It is similar to a book or a record or a music score. When you buy a book, you own that book, but the book comes with a copyright (same with the record and the music score). The copyright has restrictions. You can't copy several pages out of the book and use it in your own novel, i.e. you can't plagiarize. When you purchase software, you own the CD it came on or the file you downloaded.

The license isn't necessarily for a limited number of computers. It can be for any number of computers or not have any restrictions on the number. Not all software purchases require payments for upgrades. Some software comes with free upgrades, or maybe a limited number of free upgrades. Basically, when you get Microsoft Windows, you get free upgrades for the your version until they stop supporting it. Each version of Windows is in essence a different software program.

The comparison of the Adobe subscription to a magazine or a newspaper is a false simile. The M-W dictionary defines 'subscription' as "an arrangement for providing, receiving, or making use of something of a continuing or periodic nature on a prepayment plan". The Adobe subscription refers to the 'making use of something of a continuing nature' part of the definition. Magazine and newspaper subscriptions refer to the 'receiving something of a periodic nature'. So both are subscriptions. With Adobe, you are getting updates and upgrades that complement and add to an existing product. However, with magazines and newspapers, you are getting a new product with each issue. You are not getting a magazine with last month's articles repeated with new articles added on. Even if a new version of the Adobe product comes out, the basic purpose and function of the software is the same, even if the interface is new.

The intellectual property paradigm is similar between software and books, music, movies, etc. As a software engineer, there is one particular thing in the paradigm not shared with the software industry. For any of the software that I produce and then is marketed by my company, I do not get any royalties for each copy of the software program sold or for each time the software is used.

mikeroetex Loc: Lafayette, LA

Enjoy that upgrade or should I say update, for $70, or $120 if you get the Premiere Elements. I keep my LR up to date every month with no extra charge, just $10 a month or $120 a year. Adobe throws in Bridge and Photoshop for free and no charge for those updates either!

Just curious, when gasoline goes up $0.30 a gallon, that equals $180 over a 12,000 mile year. Do you quit driving and never leave the house? For that matter, how do you even get to this board? My internet costs $59 a month. And when Cox/TimeWarner/Verizon/AT&T goes up $20 a month, does one quit having internet and go back to dial up modem?

Come to think of it, my wife is on Medicare and her supplemental drug insurance goes up $12 after NYE. I think I will tell her to go without blood pressure meds next year. Should make life a lot of around round here!

mikeroetex Loc: Lafayette, LA

Your post makes no sense. Files from a D7200 won't be read by a 2008 version of LR, so you must have been paying for upgrades and not saving that $600. Why are you using Elements 14 and not Elements 9? Oops, won't read D7200 files? had to upgrade? That $600 disappeared a long time ago.