CS5 VS. Lightroom 3 Question

If you had the choice to get either or which one would it?
I am hobbits in photography and have played around for a week now with lightroom 3 and like it so far. But watching some YouTube videos the CS5 looks pretty cool. But then again I would say the learning curve is much more difficult for a new user.

What are you gonna use it for? Do you need management of your photos and probably wanna to do quick edits on JUST photographs? Probably lightroom is for you.

There's pretty much nothing Photoshop can't do. Mind you im bias. I use Photoshop for photographs and graphic design, and I have to need to batch 1000s of photos. Photoshop does have a steeper learning curve which most dont have the patience for or desire for.

Step is the right word. I would guess a couple hundred hours to be passable, much more to be good, and thousands of hours to master. If you the desire and time, cs is great. If not, enjoy LR.

Perhaps you should try Photoshop Elements first...

I love both CS5 and LR 3 but currently I used mostly LR3 and CS5 when a little more work is needed...

luckydawg wrote in post #12003635
If you had the choice to get either or which one would it?
I am hobbits in photography and have played around for a week now with lightroom 3 and like it so far. But watching some YouTube videos the CS5 looks pretty cool. But then again I would say the learning curve is much more difficult for a new user.

The learning curve is a lot more for CS5, because it's a lot more capable.
It has the same RAW engine as LR3 in ACR. If you're serious about digital photography, GET CS5.
If you just want a good, but limited photo editing package. LR3 is great.
I have both for different reasons, but CS5 is everything you'll ever need, IMO

drdiesel1 wrote in post #12005031
The learning curve is a lot more for CS5, because it's a lot more capable.
It has the same RAW engine as LR3 in ACR. If you're serious about digital photography, GET CS5.
If you just want a good, but limited photo editing package. LR3 is great.
I have both for different reasons, but CS5 is everything you'll ever need, IMO

+1. Good Answer.

Hello everyone, this is my 1st post on this forum..... This place is great!

to the OP....
I started with elements 9, mastered most of the basics, then moved on to CS5. CS requires much more patience and learning to get a very basic knowledge of the program.

In the end it was worth it, much more powerful program with limitless options