Which photo management/editing software for Windows 10

I have friends who are just getting into photography. They are pretty committed to it and have purchased a Canon 80D with two "kit" lenses and purchased a pretty extensive yet basic class online.

They are asking me which software they should use on their Windows 10 computer. I use Lightroom on a Mac and so have mentioned LR to them but I am hesitant to recommend that they subscribe to LR/PS at this early point in their exploration of photography even though I am pretty sure it would be the right thing fo them to learn.

Do you guys have suggestions for a Lightroom type program that works well on Windows 10 and that they could purchase with a one-time fee or should I just have them subscribe?

Thanks for your help.

https://havecamerawill​travel.com …r/lightroom-alternatives/

XNView is a nice little program.
http://www.xnview.com/​en/xnviewmp/

Nothing is going to be as robust as Lightroom.

Your question depends strongly on the dreams your friends have for their photography. As for learning and improving their skills I really do think that a global picture manipulation software such as LR or Capture one pro is very helpful. It gives you almost immediate feedback about (slight amounts) of over- or underexposure, dynamic range, white balance, .... and what happens to the look and feel of the picture if you change it. I personally would now choose Capture one pro to start with - as Adobe is going down the wrong path for me and LR is painfully slow on older machines - but there are always cheap introduction sales for LR and there is always the option to get a standalone version of LR.

Affinity Photo and ON1 Raw are pretty good, though I believe On1 has better catalog features.

Both have lots of video tutorials.

Thanks all. I appreciate the information and will take a look at all the options you have mentioned.

I'm wishing there was an application like Apple Photos for them to start with. When I started with digital photography I used Picasa for a while until I was ready for a more professional package.

I only use the free PSCS2, but if I were starting out again, the cataloging features of Adobe LightRoom would get serious consideration, so I'd highly recommend something that has those features.
Sometimes, trying to find an image from 40 years ago can be a PITA! ; )

I started with Photoshop Elements before moving to Lightroom. It isn't as good if you shoot RAW as it only has the basic RAW processing tools (none of the adjustment brushes), but it does also include a cut down Photoshop pixel editor. Plus it has an image management system which is similar but not as comprehensive as LR. A decent introductory package and I still use the pixel editor in conjunction with LR on the rare occasion I want to do something that LR can't do.

Afinity Photo is like photoshop and camera raw but slightly better combined and easier to use. Also under $50 to own.

Capture One is better than LR as a RAW processor and could be the only program they need. There is a free trial for download. It is a powerful, professional level tool, works better and faster than LR and is probably about as easy to learn.

Capture One and Affinity have decent instructional videos available for free.

LR and PS have, of course, countless free videos all over YouTube .

F2Bthere wrote in post #18357602
Capture One is better than LR as a RAW processor ....

That is a matter of opinion. An opinion many, many thousands of people don't agree with.

bpalermini wrote in post #18357283
I have friends who are just getting into photography. They are pretty committed to it and have purchased a Canon 80D with two "kit" lenses and purchased a pretty extensive yet basic class online.

They are asking me which software they should use on their Windows 10 computer. I use Lightroom on a Mac and so have mentioned LR to them but I am hesitant to recommend that they subscribe to LR/PS at this early point in their exploration of photography even though I am pretty sure it would be the right thing fo them to learn.

Do you guys have suggestions for a Lightroom type program that works well on Windows 10 and that they could purchase with a one-time fee or should I just have them subscribe?

Thanks for your help.

Why don't you get your "friends" to join POTN, that way we can give them a direct answer to a direct question.

Given the cost of the Photography bundle I would say just bite the bullet and go with it. Your experience will transfer directly, so you can give them good advice. If they do decide that photography is not for them, well even without paying the sub you keep pretty much all the functionality that is needed by a casual photographer. Everything bar the Develop and Map modules continue to operate. So you can export and print etc. You can even import new images, and using the quick edit option apply basic panel corrections, and presets. SO you would just want to have some presets for sharpening and NR etc, and you could do pretty much what anyone might need. You can even keep updating it!

Alan

Dan Marchant wrote in post #18357593
I started with Photoshop Elements before moving to Lightroom. It isn't as good if you shoot RAW as it only has the basic RAW processing tools (none of the adjustment brushes), but it does also include a cut down Photoshop pixel editor. Plus it has an image management system which is similar but not as comprehensive as LR. A decent introductory package and I still use the pixel editor in conjunction with LR on the rare occasion I want to do something that LR can't do.

"It" = Elements or Lightroom?

lacogada wrote in post #18357509
Affinity Photo and ON1 Raw are pretty good, though I believe On1 has better catalog features.

Both have lots of video tutorials.

The On1 learning curve is certainly no flatter than LR's.

BigAl007 wrote in post #18357742
Given the cost of the Photography bundle I would say just bite the bullet and go with it. Your experience will transfer directly, so you can give them good advice. If they do decide that photography is not for them, well even without paying the sub you keep pretty much all the functionality that is needed by a casual photographer. Everything bar the Develop and Map modules continue to operate. So you can export and print etc. You can even import new images, and using the quick edit option apply basic panel corrections, and presets. SO you would just want to have some presets for sharpening and NR etc, and you could do pretty much what anyone might need. You can even keep updating it!

Alan

Thanks Alan. I didn't know about how it works if you stop subscribing. This is good information.

bpalermini wrote in post #18358373
Thanks Alan. I didn't know about how it works if you stop subscribing. This is good information.

Yes it is really useful. If you set up a load of presets for your most common sharpening NR Dehaze, and even things like Level/Upright/Full Perspective correction, you can cover almost all of the basic global edits and apply them from the Library module.. About the only really useful function you seem to completely lose is the ability to crop or rotate the image, outside of using the automated perspective controls as a preset. It certainly makes the plans seem less problematical, since you don't lose access to all of your images. Actually if like me you save your master RGB edits as 16 bit PSD's, with layers intact, you still even have a way to export those via LR, so solves that PS problem to an extent too.

Alan