Hi all. I need the collective wisdom and advice. I have a couple new computers 64 bit, so I HAVE to upgrade to CS5 on these. No problem, but the 30% off lightroom is calling my name. I like it, but the $$$ sheesh. I have lived without this long, bridge works ok but what do you all say?

Someone must have these both?

I have them both and still use CS5 and Bridge 90% of the time. Probably because that is what I'm most familiar with and I just haven't gotten past the learning curve with LR. I just haven't found a LR workflow that satisfies my needs.

That is interesting. I would like to hear from others- are you using another program for catolog? Are you using LR for anything?
Thank you.

Honestly, I was a huge LR fan, but lately have been using it less and less.

I only use it now for pulling several images at once to burn to disc or make a collage.

It's just to slow for the volume of images I have to be of much use in any other way for me.

Marty,
I've been using PhotoShop since version 2.0 for the Mac came out in 1991. But every time a new solution is invented I try it. I've tried versions of Aperture and of Lightroom and, for my workflow and creative needs, PS is the right answer. It's just so much more powerful than the other programs which were developed for cataloging, sorting and database management rather than image processing which is PhotoShop's forte.

I admit that, like Preston, the learning curve might have something to do with sticking with PS/CS5 but ultimately, that's where I do my final processing so that's where I start. Bridge ain't great but it works fine for me. For portrait shoots, it's plenty fast enough and for big shows like National Specialties, it's adequate. But mostly, it's integrated more closely than LR and so it works better for my workflow.

Folks have said they can do everything I do in PS in LR. I'm willing to accept that possibility but I can't do everything I do in PS in LR. And that's the key for me.

Jim

Thank you Jim! I have been reading your posts here, for a long time and I appreciate your thoughts.

My heading should have been Lightroom plus CS5, not VS CS5,
I could not do without CS5, since CS3 won't work with obvious computer upgrades, and photoshop is the bomb. Lightroom is the question- it IS a cool program, but Bridge is a cool program too, really. I would like to hear from more users PLEASE !!!

What is it that you are wanting to do? Bridge does an awful lot.

Good question-
You don't know, what you don't know. I like sorting through the images in Lightroom, for those to develop further.
(from my trials with it). I have liked being able to quickly crop and "loupe" them also. Quick, ez adjustments are good there to.
I think LR is a good solution for keeping track of various catologs, or sets of images, on a long term high volume basis. It also seems like a good solution for ez web publishing, to my Smugmug sight, but that is the question? Is it better than Bridge? Worth the money? Or just another toy?
For down to the pixel adjustment, Photoshop is definitly the bomb. Could not go without. LR, I like, but almost a duplicate to Bridge, with different templates.....????/

If I had to choose one...Photoshop would be is. Period...zip...done. With that said I have both on my computer and while LightRoom is getting easier to use, my only use for it is cataloging. Photoshop is the only tool that has ALL the tools I need. Actions are a great way to make repetitive tasks super simple.

Roman