Which photo management/editing software for Windows 10

I couple of weeks ago I realized that I have +30k photos unedited since 2011 and I finally need to go through the lot, establish a working & fast culling process and finally do some quick editing with the good ones with target to create a couple of photography books by the end of 2019.

With that target in mind and Black Friday approaching I went through several Lightroom alternatives without a subscription model (+ it's great to support the underdogs against Adobe ). I've installed earlier DPP 4, but lack of quick modifications and slight slowness lean towards finding an alternative.

I have a fairly fast computer with i7 processor, 16Gb RAM, SSD and 27" 4k monitor, but don't have a dedicated graphics card so some choices didn't make the cut for further investigation. My personal minithoughts in order of trials below:

1. ON1 Raw
-> nice looking UI, DAM, but slightly slow and develop functions don't seem super untuitive at first sight.
CONCLUSION: Try it out for a few days, but slight slowness gets annoying.

2. Luminar 4
-> choppy in usage, so didn't test out AI in more detail. Performance issues seem common based on feedback
CONCLUSION: Deleted after 1 hour usage.

3. Affinity
--> runs fast, good UI, but rather a PS alternative so not on top of list currently.
CONCLUSION: price is really low especially during sales (<40 €), so will most likely pick this if PS alternative is needed in the future.

4. DxO Photolab 3
--> good UI, modifications easy to implement, faster than ON1 and Luminar being nearly suitable for culling. No cataloging required.
CONCLUSION: Number one choice, but ponder between Essential and Elite for a few days. Decide for Elite thanks to Black Friday sale.

5. Exposure 5
--> after using above programs, UI has old flavor and don't have any interest to test this further.
CONCLUSION: quickly deleted due to lack of modern UI

6. FastRawViewer
--> really fast for culling, but doesn't provide in my case additional benefit towards DxO and e.g. XnView MP so deleted after a couple days of usage.

7. XnView MP
--> just for culling, but for that purpose initially really good: fast, able to combine RAW+JPG+XMP+DOP files under same picture which helps in quick deletion. UI has flexiblity + Blender theme on forum makes it generally nice looking. However might sound like nitpicking, but star rating icons too small (and displayed next to thumbnail only as one star with number inside) so quick rating look ups too slow and unintuitive.
CONCLUSION: I get annoyed by that design choice after a week and start looking for alternative.

8. RawTherapee & Darktable
--> free choices, but since UI and easy usage of DxO have won me over, these are quickly deleted.
CONCLUSION: combined with XnView MP suitable free choices.

9. DAM/Culling alternative for XnView MP
--> as said, abysmal choice of star icon makes me look for a free alternative (PhotoMechanic possibly a very viable choice among paid software). FastStone looks like a Windows XP app, Zoner (which I used ~3 years ago) doesn't have a free version anymore, Picasa doesn't exist anymore, digiKam looks good, but seems to force into cataloging, so first I feel stuck with XnView MP.
--> But then I come across Adobe Bridge 2020 which is - to my surprise - free. It has a good star system + UI for culling and seems as fast as XnView on my desktop.

So after trying out 10+ applications, my choice for fast & flexible culling, basic DAM (without need for huge catalog file) and non-destructive & easy editing workflow Adobe Bridge & DxO Photolab 3.

Tropicaltuna wrote in post #18970920
I couple of weeks ago I realized that I have +30k photos unedited since 2011 and I finally need to go through the lot, establish a working & fast culling process and finally do some quick editing with the good ones with target to create a couple of photography books by the end of 2019.

With that target in mind and Black Friday approaching I went through several Lightroom alternatives without a subscription model (+ it's great to support the underdogs against Adobe ). I've installed earlier DPP 4, but lack of quick modifications and slight slowness lean towards finding an alternative.

1. ON1 Raw
-> nice looking UI, DAM, but slightly slow and develop functions don't seem super untuitive at first sight.
CONCLUSION: Try it out for a few days, but slight slowness gets annoying.

2. Luminar 4
-> choppy in usage, so didn't test out AI in more detail. Performance issues seem common based on feedback
CONCLUSION: Deleted after 1 hour usage.

3. Affinity
--> runs fast, good UI, but rather a PS alternative so not on top of list currently.
CONCLUSION: price is really low especially during sales (<40 €), so will most likely pick this if PS alternative is needed in the future.

4. DxO Photolab 3
--> good UI, modifications easy to implement, faster than ON1 and Luminar being nearly suitable for culling. No cataloging required.
CONCLUSION: Number one choice, but ponder between Essential and Elite for a few days. Decide for Elite thanks to Black Friday sale.

So after trying out 10+ applications, my choice for fast & flexible culling, basic DAM (without need for huge catalog file) and non-destructive & easy editing workflow Adobe Bridge & DxO Photolab 3.

1. I've owned ON1 2019, upgraded to 2020 then went back to 2019. The speed improvement and other gimmicks just didn't make the upgrade price worth it (to me, personally). 2019 can't handle my cr2 high ISO files and, after being in touch with support, their solution was to install 2020 and (if it works) they gave me a discount code. The yearly "new version" is a poor mask for a subscription model IMHO.

2. Tried L3 back in July and L4 trials recently. They still don't have tooltips?! Wow... Also, my raw files took a minimum of 6 seconds to load (yes, I timed it). A quick Google search will show Luminar 4 is having performance complaints.

3. Affinity - Bought this because, when it's all said and done, AP does the job of photo editing and manipulation. The inpaint brush is amazing - for me, it's a 2-in-1 app. It's like all the photo editing apps want to do what AP does. It's fast with jpg and raw, no issues at all. The bonus was the discount price but even at full price it's less than the photo editors mentioned above.

4. I would have stayed with DxO but I'm going to be moving camera brand to Fujifilm and they have no plans to support x-trans.

I love your list and the way you tested everything out!

Thanks for the compliment and generally agree with your additional comments.

1. Let's see what new features will be in next versions, but based on current specs I shouldn't have any need for an upgrade at least not yet next year. So in my case it's cheaper to buy a lifelong license this year and have full control when to upgrade rather then have a subscription to even use the program.

2. Just based on marketing videos and site presentation Luminar 4 should be a clear winner, but those promises do not realize in the real product.

4. I have a Canon DSLR so no problems for me with support on the DXO, but unfortunately Fuji support is not in the pipeline.

Tropicaltuna wrote in post #18970920
.... My personal minithoughts in order of trials below:

1. ON1 Raw
-> nice looking UI, DAM, but slightly slow and develop functions don't seem super untuitive at first sight.
CONCLUSION: Try it out for a few days, but slight slowness gets annoying.

2. Luminar 4
-> choppy in usage, so didn't test out AI in more detail. Performance issues seem common based on feedback
CONCLUSION: Deleted after 1 hour usage.

3. Affinity
--> runs fast, good UI, but rather a PS alternative so not on top of list currently.
CONCLUSION: price is really low especially during sales (<40 €), so will most likely pick this if PS alternative is needed in the future.

4. DxO Photolab 3
--> good UI, modifications easy to implement, faster than ON1 and Luminar being nearly suitable for culling. No cataloging required.
CONCLUSION: Number one choice, but ponder between Essential and Elite for a few days. Decide for Elite thanks to Black Friday sale.

5. Exposure 5
--> after using above programs, UI has old flavor and don't have any interest to test this further.
CONCLUSION: quickly deleted due to lack of modern UI

6. FastRawViewer
--> really fast for culling, but doesn't provide in my case additional benefit towards DxO and e.g. XnView MP so deleted after a couple days of usage.

7. XnView MP
--> just for culling, but for that purpose initially really good: fast, able to combine RAW+JPG+XMP+DOP files under same picture which helps in quick deletion. UI has flexiblity + Blender theme on forum makes it generally nice looking. However might sound like nitpicking, but star rating icons too small (and displayed next to thumbnail only as one star with number inside) so quick rating look ups too slow and unintuitive.
CONCLUSION: I get annoyed by that design choice after a week and start looking for alternative.

8. RawTherapee & Darktable
--> free choices, but since UI and easy usage of DxO have won me over, these are quickly deleted.
CONCLUSION: combined with XnView MP suitable free choices.

9. DAM/Culling alternative for XnView MP
--> as said, abysmal choice of star icon makes me look for a free alternative (PhotoMechanic possibly a very viable choice among paid software). FastStone looks like a Windows XP app, Zoner (which I used ~3 years ago) doesn't have a free version anymore, Picasa doesn't exist anymore, digiKam looks good, but seems to force into cataloging, so first I feel stuck with XnView MP.
--> But then I come across Adobe Bridge 2020 which is - to my surprise - free. It has a good star system + UI for culling and seems as fast as XnView on my desktop.

So after trying out 10+ applications, my choice for fast & flexible culling, basic DAM (without need for huge catalog file) and non-destructive & easy editing workflow Adobe Bridge & DxO Photolab 3.

You might want to give Capture One a look. It's the best one I have tried. (and I have tried most)
To the best of my Knowlege, it is the most mature RAW converter etc. in existence (was around long before Adobe began to play nice with RAW)

CyberDyneSystems wrote in post #18971045
You might want to give Capture One a look. It's the best one I have tried. (and I have tried most)
To the best of my Knowlege, it is the most most mature RAW converter etc. in existence (was around long before Adobe began to play nice with RAW)

I’ll second that.

CyberDyneSystems wrote in post #18971045
You might want to give Capture One a look. It's the best one I have tried. (and I have tried most)
To the best of my Knowlege, it is the most mature RAW converter etc. in existence (was around long before Adobe began to play nice with RAW)

Thanks for the suggestion, but Capture One was out of my budget so I didn't try that although I am aware of its' capabilities. I am just a hobby photographer so - at least for the time being - DxO suits my needs perfectly.

Tropicaltuna wrote in post #18970920
I couple of weeks ago I realized that I have +30k photos unedited since 2011 ...

Before thinking about processing, I would ask yourself the question, "If I haven't even processed them for eight years, do I need to keep them?"

Even if the answer is yes, my guess would be that you could cull the majority of them - maybe 90%.

Spencerphoto wrote in post #18971132
Before thinking about processing, I would ask yourself the question, "If I haven't even processed them for eight years, do I need to keep them?"

Even if the answer is yes, my guess would be that you could cull the majority of them - maybe 90%.

Sure, I'll want to keep them as they are documenting mostly family life. But you're right, majority could be culled from technical quality pov, but sentimental part of me just rates the best as 5 stars, unfocused/lousy (unless unique) are deleted and rest is kept. Let's see how many will be processed in the end

Tropicaltuna wrote in post #18971148
Sure, I'll want to keep them as they are documenting mostly family life. But you're right, majority could be culled from technical quality pov, but sentimental part of me just rates the best as 5 stars, unfocused/lousy (unless unique) are deleted and rest is kept. Let's see how many will be processed in the end

Just be careful you don't become a 'photo hoarder' like my wife. She rarely deletes anything - photo or video. As we speak, she is once again wrestling with the mammoth task of freeing up space on her very crowded HDD. When I go through her files with her, I'm amazed at the cr*p she keeps - duplicates, missed focus, pictures of nondescript walls or roads from Wheretheheck? ...

It's weird, because she's the most organised person I know. I could mutter, "Now where's that box of pencils ... ?" and she'll say, "Wardrobe upstairs, top right drawer, blue box marked 'stationery'." Then I look at her computer and it's a mess - she can't find a thing

Hard drives are not super expensive, so keeping all images is an option. And it has advantages.

For example, I took a few pictures in a cafe while testing a lens which I then purchased from someone I met on Craigslist.

There was an interesting looking man in conversation with a woman, so I took a couple frames of him.

Months (or a year?) later, I go to a book release and slideshow presentation by a Magnum Photographer and it’s the same person!

I race home and make a couple prints and go to his next presentation. The woman also shows up. She tells me he had wanted to talk with me that day but hesitated to interrupt us. He and I have had several multi-hour conversations since then.

I’ve had a few similar experiences and have heard others from other photographers.

For example, a photojournalist I know had an image of the man shot by a Vice President in a hunting accident. It was the only image available of him and she got several days of prominent national exposure across media with one image.

So, keeping images is a good thing .

Having said that, I try to put star ratings on images within 24 hours of downloading them and I tend to ignore the images with no stars most of the time after that unless there is a reason to go back.

Spencerphoto wrote in post #18971168
Just be careful you don't become a 'photo hoarder' like my wife. She rarely deletes anything - photo or video. As we speak, she is once again wrestling with the mammoth task of freeing up space on her very crowded HDD. When I go through her files with her, I'm amazed at the cr*p she keeps - duplicates, missed focus, pictures of nondescript walls or roads from Wheretheheck? ...

Yep - I can hear you. That's why I'm doing the culling by myself . However it's freaking hard. Quite often I've shot at least five-to-ten pictures from the same pose. How do I choose the best one ; definitely I'm keeping too many photos, but at least I am rating the best ones so I'll have direct pics for the album. This will take a long time.. approx. I'll manage now 2-3 months/daily to delete the unfocused/blurry & crappy ones + rate the best for the album. Anyway good that I finally started.

F2Bthere wrote in post #18971469
Having said that, I try to put star ratings on images within 24 hours of downloading them and I tend to ignore the images with no stars most of the time after that unless there is a reason to go back.

I'll try to stick also to that rating process in the future. Will save a lot of pain several years later

Tropicaltuna wrote in post #18972701
Quite often I've shot at least five-to-ten pictures from the same pose. How do I choose the best one

You don't. You start by picking and deleting the worst 2 or 3 as they are usually more obvious. That then makes picking the best easier. With the remaining images flick quickly back and forth through them. You will notice the small differences that make one better than the other... delete the other.

If you get to the point where you have three images and can't see a problem with any of them then what you actually have are duplicates... so just flip a coin and delete one or two. What remains is your best image.

DXO appears to surface in this thread quite often as a good choice...
Be aware DXO is VERY slow to support new cameras (if at all...see above) and when they do, lens combos also lag. There is still NO SUPPORT for the Canon 90D. Buyer beware!

imm140.6 wrote in post #18970951
1. I've owned ON1 2019, upgraded to 2020 then went back to 2019. The speed improvement and other gimmicks just didn't make the upgrade price worth it (to me, personally). ..... .... .... The yearly "new version" is a poor mask for a subscription model IMHO.

I couldn't agree more - buying the yearly upgrade was a virtual subscription so, despite their "persistent" marketing, I'm opting out until I feel compelled (by the features/performance) that it is worth upgrading. That might be every third iteration.