Hello Hoggers:
I work on a Mac and had been using Lightroom 5 for years, first for cataloging and organizing as well as editing. For the last couple of years I've been using it mainly as a DAM while using Luminar 4 for editing. I recently upgraded my OS to Catalina which disabled some of the functions on my old version of LR. I have uninstalled LR and figured I'd use Luminar 4 as my cataloging program. It leaves a lot to be desired in that respect. So, I'm looking for an alternative. I do not want to go to the subscription for Adobe creative cloud as I have never used and don't wish to learn Photoshop and you can't get LR alone. I've been doing some internet research and have looked at Capture One (rather expensive) and ON1 Photo Raw (a little more reasonable). Both of these also have editing capabilites - not necessary for me but a nice bonus. Reading about various programs on the internet is one thing but hearing real photographers experience with these programs is better. The ability to use keywords is important to me. Any advice and suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

As semiconductor devices, sensors would be expected to either work or not. They don't "wear out" in the traditional sense, although it is possible that sensor elements (or groups of them) could stop working. They could either fail dark or fail "hot."

It is also possible that some sort of film might have formed on the sensor or on the metering elements, causing the meter to think more light is needed than really necessary.

All that said, you mentioned that your grandson was "playing" with the camera a year ago. I'd go through and make sure nothing is set amiss in the camera.

Google is your friend ......but here is my story. ( NOT much on the internet after now looking ! - only us old timers know about this stuff 8-(

Back in the day, when I was young and foolish and doing weddings/portraits, I used the Larson Soff shoulder bracket/reflector system quite extensively/successfully. At the time, it was being promoted by the glamour photographer Peter Gowland (now deceased) who had a flair for designing photographic tools/equipment for his glamour niche.

The Soff shoulder was manufactured by Larson Enterprises also known for their "Refectasol" line of umbrella fabrics/systems. As stock, the Soff Shoulder (SS) came with a 15 inch foldable square reflector that was suspended by a 20 inch arm attached to the camera body. The beauty of this arm was that you could swing it in an arc around the camera thereby changing the lighting angle in both landscape and portrait camera orientations ! You could use it with the fabric reflector or as a direct flash/light. Using the reflector you lost 3 stops of light - the reflector fabric was called "super silver". It could leave diamond shaped catch lights in the eyes .....

There are a couple similar systems today if you look hard but none have the arm that can swing in an arc AFAIK. I have adapted mine to accept the current efficient LED continuous light sources available. If you want one you have to look on ebay. AFAIK.

Gee, I HOPE this is "useful" .........you're welcome
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