[JMitchell]

Just been having another play with Lightroom. I had it a while ago, but either uninstalled it for some reason or other, or something, but just updated to latest-but-one version (because of the purported bugs in 1.4).
All I can say is, very impressive indeed. I have very rarely encountered a program where I wish there was a tool or a shortcut for something, and I immediately find out there is. The library tools are excellent, and the flagging and ratings, and then filtering is very good (ask for more information, this is currently a reverence post ).
Editing is almost identical to Camera RAW, so no new learning for me, and it really has all the tools needed before doing drastic manipulations. I love the comparisons, and the light dimming tool. Everything about it seems very well thought out, often better and more accessible than Photoshop itself, but I guess it's meant for slightly less professional professionals, despite the hints that they should be used together on the Adobe website.

Basically, I like it. Oh and the web contact sheet generator is brilliant too.

Yay Now I can see what all the fuss was about.

[silkstone]

The original paradigm was that Lightroom would be an all-in-one converter/editor so you wouldn't need anything else. In fact, you wouldn't actually need to convert from RAW to another format - you could display, print, do slideshows, create web galleries and make a respectable cup of tea all from within LR. That's why 'Export' is almost an afterthought and there is no easy way to send an image to a conversion queue in background while you get on with editing something else. (I may be wrong there - haven't looked at the latest version. )

The reality is that LR is a decent converter/editor for many (but not all) RAW formats, and goes some way towards being a one-stop-shop. But it still has a way to go before replacing Photoshop (etc), and it's Adobe so you're locked into a proprietary database and have to pay whatever they can get away with charging for upgrades.

It is very much aimed at professionals (and amateurs too), but I'm not sure that Adobe have quite worked out how to fulfill their dreams without making PS redundant.

[j sotelo]

and the new Beta has a retouch tool and some little extra things you will love even more.

and check these out
Lightroom: Easy Way To Compose Images

[JMitchell]

Thanks Sotelo. Anyone got the new beta?

[tomu]

I have used both LR 1.3.1 and the new beta, but for converting the D300 NEF's I would use neither - the output quality is poor using ACR/LR - I have turned off all in camera adjustments (ie, no active d lighting, sharpening, etc.), so was expecting a similar results from all the RAW convertors - like when using my D100 files. The same cannot be said with the D300 - LR/ACR plays havoc with the colours, and looses lots of detail from the images! I have compared the same shots in LR and Bibble Pro and the results from Bibble are far far superior! If you want I can post up some examples. I much prefer the LR interface though, very easy and fast to use.

[JMitchell]

That's an interesting point, I wouldn't mind some examples if you would be so kind....

[silkstone]

Originally Posted by tomu

I have compared the same shots in LR and Bibble Pro and the results from Bibble are far far superior! If you want I can post up some examples. I much prefer the LR interface though, very easy and fast to use.

Yay! I'm glad someone else likes Bibble!

When - eventually - Bibble 5 is released, the interface will look rather like LR. There have been some screenshots on the Bibble forum.

[tomu]

Silkstone - I had a look at the screenshots of V5 on the Bibble forums, it looks ideal from what I can see - a LR like interface with Bibble quality images.

Jack, here's some samples. The process I followed was importing/opening the NEF's with Lightroom 1.3.1/Bibble Pro 4.9.9b, no post processing was undertaken (made sure sharpening, etc. were turned off in Bibble.. very unfair test if not!) then saved as 16bit full resolution TIFF's. Opened TIFF's in Photoshop CS3, scaled to size (1000px wide for the Coombe Abbey pictures and 800px for the others, also change to 72dpi) and then used the Save for Web tool - progressive JPG's at 75% quality.

Coombe Abbey - D300 with 10-20mm @ 10mm, f8, 1/320s at ISO640.

In camera JPG:


Lightroom:


Bibble Pro:


Flamingo - D300 - 18-200 VR @ 200mm, f5.6, 1/100s at ISO640

In camera JPG:


Lightroom:


Bibble Pro


Goose - D300 - 18-200 VR @ 105mm, f5.3, 1/2500s at ISO400

In camera JPG:


Lightroom:


Bibble Pro:

[JMitchell]

That is an interesting comparison, and you seem to be right. In LR's defence though, you could probably get the same results out if you did tweak them a little bit...