So if we are done with LR, whats our choices?

Does Adobe still do a free DNG convertor? if so those who are happy with their version of LR could convert to DNG, file original raws away and open the DNG in the older LR. The big downside of this being DNG's seem a lot bigger than the original Raw files. Having tried the alternatives to LR and using PS a lot I am fine with the pay as you go but if only LR was used then I would look at others. One I found really good was photo mechanic and it was fast at rendering previews, downside when tried was it lacking in a lot of manipulation abilities, Darketable also was not bad as well. Its always worth trying others out sometimes they are able to do things or work with files more to your taste/vision than others. If you use Sony you can get free Capture One also.

if you're a sony shooter, capture one pro is only $50

express version is free

alex66 wrote in post #18479784
Does Adobe still do a free DNG convertor? if so those who are happy with their version of LR could convert to DNG, file original raws away and open the DNG in the older LR. The big downside of this being DNG's seem a lot bigger than the original Raw files. Having tried the alternatives to LR and using PS a lot I am fine with the pay as you go but if only LR was used then I would look at others. One I found really good was photo mechanic and it was fast at rendering previews, downside when tried was it lacking in a lot of manipulation abilities, Darketable also was not bad as well. Its always worth trying others out sometimes they are able to do things or work with files more to your taste/vision than others. If you use Sony you can get free Capture One also.

1.) DNG Converter is still available.
2.) DNG files are about the same size as original raw if you don't include the original raw in the DNG.
3.) Adobe can stop supporting DNG, just like they've done with LR stand alone.
4.) DNG is still mostly a waste of time.

Some times, it's better to be a drone, I guess. I can't get all upset about $10 a month..... and all the math telling me how much I'm losing over 50 years if I would just set that $10 a month aside leaves me cold.

You can't buy a drink and a snack at a gas station when you're on a trip for less than $10. Netflix is $25 a month because we still like watching Blu Ray movies. HBO is $10... I could go on and on. What about the snacks people buy at the grocery store? How many boxes of crackers or chips can you buy for $10? How about avoiding those every month for the rest of your life? We make choices.. all of us. Available resources determine some of those choices for us.

I will take the advice offered here and keep my CR2 files instead of converting to .dng on upload. That will future proof me.... but will leave the thousands of photographs I currently have on my external drives in jeopardy should I have to take another route. I'm sure I will be able to find something that will read them or reconvert them back into another readable format at that time. My best photos are already in .tif and .jpg files.

Bassat wrote in post #18479610
I downloaded and installed this program. It can read DNG Converter files (CR2->DNG) from my 80D/6D. It can make DNG files from my 80D/6D raws. It CANNOT see the DNG files that it creates. Odd.

EDIT, Screen shots:
First shows Optics Pro folder open. Note 9 files.
Second is same folder, in Explorer, showing DNG files that Optics Pro created, but cannot see.

DxO produces linear DNG files that are demosaic'ed and have the DxO corrections applied to them. If you read about the how and why of this in DxO's info, it is because this permits the user to apply things like DxO's PRIME noise reduction and optical corrections to a raw file that is destined for another program (like Lightroom) for image editing, retouching, etc. This way, folks whose workflow is centered around, say, Lightroom can use DxO tools to do very specific tasks (like optical correction and noise reduction) and then use Lightroom to do the rest of the edit.

If the raw data were not demosaic'ed, then the corrections would not be applied/preserved outside of the DxO interface.

Presumably, DxO does not support opening these files because the program assumes that if you created it in DxO, you have the original (raw) file.

From DxO help:

kirk

Question for the CC users: What happens if for some reason you miss a monthly payment or more? Can you still use the LR program on your computer and access any files on the cloud?

Currently I have LR6 standalone and have no plans to change as long as it works with all my various cameras' RAWs. I just tried updating it to LR6 latest version and it failed, so I'm not going to risk trying again in case I lose what I have.

Phoenixkh wrote in post #18479799
Some times, it's better to be a drone, I guess. I can't get all upset about $10 a month..... and all the math telling me how much I'm losing over 50 years if I would just set that $10 a month aside leaves me cold.

You can't buy a drink and a snack at a gas station when you're on a trip for less than $10. Netflix is $25 a month because we still like watching Blu Ray movies. HBO is $10... I could go on and on. What about the snacks people buy at the grocery store? How many boxes of crackers or chips can you buy for $10? How about avoiding those every month for the rest of your life? We make choices.. all of us. Available resources determine some of those choices for us.

The phone companies must love you.

Phoenixkh wrote in post #18479799
Some times, it's better to be a drone, I guess. I can't get all upset about $10 a month..... and all the math telling me how much I'm losing over 50 years if I would just set that $10 a month aside leaves me cold.

You can't buy a drink and a snack at a gas station when you're on a trip for less than $10. Netflix is $25 a month because we still like watching Blu Ray movies. HBO is $10... I could go on and on. What about the snacks people buy at the grocery store? How many boxes of crackers or chips can you buy for $10? How about avoiding those every month for the rest of your life? We make choices.. all of us. Available resources determine some of those choices for us.

I will take the advice offered here and keep my CR2 files instead of converting to .dng on upload. That will future proof me.... but will leave the thousands of photographs I currently have on my external drives in jeopardy should I have to take another route. I'm sure I will be able to find something that will read them or reconvert them back into another readable format at that time. My best photos are already in .tif and .jpg files.

you're using older cameras, you're not going to have issues with any software, and in that respect, you're current collection is basically future proof. Converting to DNG would only make your state of the art camera backwards compatible.

I dont like the subscription model because there are other things that follow that model already, and the stack can get thick. Insurance, property tax, phone, internet, youtube red, tv, it really can get out of hand. It's kind of like accruing debt, some folks are fine with it, others see it as flushing money down the toilet.

I kind of run the latest cameras and latest lenses, so a subscription is highly beneficial for me, however, I'm kind of in the safe zone in that I shoot sony and I get bailed out by them with cheap/free software. My old canon images would need to go through LR, which is OK as long as I never switch back. Tapering my gear lust ways will help, and that's what I'm constantly trying to do

You can drop your Sub for a good long while and then pick it up again, a friend did this for a year whilst they went traveling just started again when they got back no you owe us for 12 months etc.

alex66 wrote in post #18479820
You can drop your Sub for a good long while and then pick it up again, a friend did this for a year whilst they went traveling just started again when they got back no you owe us for 12 months etc.

What? You can opt to pay the monthly fee only once a year?

Bassat wrote in post #18479791
1.) DNG Converter is still available.
2.) DNG files are about the same size as original raw if you don't include the original raw in the DNG.
3.) Adobe can stop supporting DNG, just like they've done with LR stand alone.
4.) DNG is still mostly a waste of time.

OK, not tried DNG, just thought it could be a workaround for some if they were to get a new cam that was not supported and did not want to go perpetual payment. If I was in that situation then I would get an alternative software or use Apple Photo to organise and something else to process.

No but you can stop for a good while then start again, not sure if you have to keep it up for a set period of time though, is it a 12 month contract, I would think so. At one point you could still use the DAM side if you dropped the payments, not sure if it still does though.

Archibald wrote in post #18479823
What? You can opt to pay the monthly fee only once a year?

alex66 wrote in post #18479820
You can drop your Sub for a good long while and then pick it up again, a friend did this for a year whilst they went traveling just started again when they got back no you owe us for 12 months etc.

Yes, you have a choice between one annual payment or monthly payments. I let my payments lapse for a period of time when I moved a year ago, and I reactivated my account opting for the classic cc without any negative repercussions.

I never could understand the hate for Adobe people express in conversations like these. They'll gladly use their products but get all wound up when discussing money.

Adobe is the industry standard. It has been since the nineties. I remember at the turn of the century this very same argument, "what if Adobe.... They haven't. Instead they have not only gotten better, but are forging new grounds by advancing their software to be cloud compatible. This scares people but yet those same people aren't beyond uploading their images to a non Adobe cloud based storage or using cloud based software on their tablets or cell phones.

I remember when Adobe's creative suite was $1800 to purchase off the shelf. I thank my lucky stars it's dropped to $10/month for the Photographer's bundle. I don't have to worry about updating old software for another $XXXX in today's dollar. Everyone b1tch3s about the price of a McDonald's meal a month without taking into account the size of the company and the incredible products they develop and maintain. To add insult to injury most photographers here b1tch and complain when a client wants to pay $10 for one of your images when you feel you should be getting $100. There's a disconnect here.

Look at all the free software Adobe makes available (DNG converter, PDF reader, and who knows what else). Adobe doesn't hold anything hostage. Adobe isn't out to rape people. They are moving forward. Imagine, you can now edit cross-platform, from any computer (or tablet), anywhere in the world! FOR THE PRICE OF A MACMEAL!

I can see switching because you aren't getting the productivity you need from an Adobe product, but to bail out just because they are progressive and you don't understand the technology...? That's like b1tch1ng at Ford for coming out with the Model T when the horse and buggy you've been using works just fine. I bet the people complaining are the same people who refused to leave film behind too.

Rant over!

PineBomb wrote in post #18479834
Yes, you have a choice between one annual payment or monthly payments. I let my payments lapse for a period of time when I moved a year ago, and I reactivated my account opting for the classic cc without any negative repercussions.

Well! Ten bucks a year doesn't sound bad!