Just ordered a 5d4

[ScottyP]

The two big camera houses were in a pre-black-Friday price war and I finally couldn't resist. In 5-7 business days I will have the camera, a battery grip, an extra Canon battery, a Pixima printer, a couple reams of photo paper, a 64gig SD card. 

Now of course this forces me into a distasteful dilemma. I have Lightroom 5, and never upgraded to version 5.7.  I don't want to fiddle around with a separate RAW converter or TIFF files or anything. I either need to buy the soon-to-be-discontinued LR 6 stand-alone or else I need the stupid Adobe everything subscription just to rent Lightroom, since I don't use a single one of the other programs in their bundle. 

[ebiggs1]

Tim said,

"...I looked at what they now call “Lightroom CC” and I think Apple’s “Photos” app is serious competition (and Apple “Photos” is free).  This isn’t to say how great I think Photos is... it’s to say how limited I think Lightroom CC is.  I cannot imagine any serious photographer using it."  

I don't really understand this statement. "I cannot imagine any serious photographer using it."  Any serious photographer that doesn't use LR CC Classic or will use Photos?   There is no top quality, pro shop, I have ever been in, been in a lot, that didn't use Adobe products.  PS and/or LR.  These two are the standards of the industry.

“Lightroom Classic CC” is what everyone is using."  Absolutely, like it or not. It's a fact. If I were still in full time business I would be right there.  The ability of LR CC is blurring the line between it and PS CC. The new range mask for instance. The need to go to PS is becoming less and less.  Most of the time LR CC is going to produce a fine finished print.  I wonder how far Adobe wants to take that?

[jrhoffman75]

Lightroom CC and Lightroom Classic CC are two entirely different programs. Thanks to Adobe for confusion. Lightroom CC is not a pro tool.

[ScottyP]

If they had a Lightroom-only subscription it wouldn't be so bad. Instead of $120/year for LR + PS+ 4 other things why can't I just give them $60/year and they can keep all the other stuff?

[jrhoffman75]

Because it isn’t the cost as much as the aversion some people have to the subscription model. “I don’t rent software “ mantra.

[TCampbell]

Ernie, they introduced a new product with the old name and the old product got another name.

Lightroom CC is now called Lightroom Classic CC

Lightroom Mobile is now called Lightroom CC

There’s also a version of “Lightroom CC” for use on desktop/laptop — but that’s not to be confused with “Lightroom Classic CC”

There were a lot of comments about their whole renaming and the confusion it created.

[ebiggs1]

Oh, I did not understand correctly. Getting more common these days.  

You didn't mean pros were avoiding LR altogether.  You just meant the new LR CC.  Yeah it is pretty much a waste of time.  But the new LR CC Classic is very good.  It has some good new features and it is way faster.  It will still be King of the Hill and rule the industry.  I just wish I needed it.  I don't !

Truth of the matter everybody compares to PS or LR.  No matter what they claim it always ends up with them saying, "It's almost as good as LR/PS."  "Does almost as much as LR/PS."  "I can do everything that LR/PS does except ...x..."

Now guys that 'hobby' at photography can get by with almost.  And they can say, "I don't rent software."  But when your job, your livelihood is on the line, you don't want the one that is almost as good.

[Waddizzle]

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@ScottyP wrote:

If they had a Lightroom-only subscription it wouldn't be so bad. Instead of $120/year for LR + PS+ 4 other things why can't I just give them $60/year and they can keep all the other stuff?

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AFAIK, the “new” Lightroom CC product is available by itself through a subscription.  I am shopping, actually keeping an open eye and just observing, for future alternatives.  

[jrhoffman75]

Lightroom CC is currently a limited capability product.

[StanNH]

“Luminar 2018 is looking like a good option to Lightroom. Its releasing a DAM system in 2018.
John Hoffman
Conway, NH”

I just got the Luminar 2018 download a couple of days ago.  I'm using an iMac and the installation went well, and it did set up as a Photos extension.  My initial reaction is that it is a flexible and potent editing app, with tons of presets as well as a very complete editing feature set.  It's also a lot of fun to use.  It has any easy layers and masks function, and a variety of brushes and clone/touch up tools.

There have been reports of some issues with the Windows version, and some minor bugs even with the Mac one.  I haven’t had any problems yet so, so far all is well.  It seems like quite the bargain for its $59 price.

[ScottyP]

Adobe let me upgrade from LR5 to LR6 for $79.00 so I did. I figure that buys me years of use as I don't see myself pawning the 5d4 when 5d5 comes out, and my lens collection is fairly complete now.  

Maybe Adobe's competition will continue to improve in the interim and either get my next bit of business or else pressure Adobe into offering LR alone.