lightroom and CS3

Hi all, well have been reading the current debates about lightroom and cs3 and have a question.

Since these are both adobe products, should this mean that both raw processers that are being used in the different products are actually the same?

It would seem a bit silly to have different people at adobe working on different raw processers so surely (and that is probably a BIG surely) they would both use the same resources and cs3 would actually be the better purchase as you should theoretically have the same raw processer but also a whole lot more in the package. It then comes down to dollars you wish to spend.

However although i am a big assumer, I am also a realist and doubt that anything could be that simple so curious if anyone knows more facts about this.
Cheers, crackennz

Yes, both programs use the same RAW convertor, ACR 4 is the engine. However, ther has been an update for CS3 already which added a few new features that hasn't yet been released for LR. LR 1.1 is supposed to be available "soon" and will have these new features.

Also, Photoshop is a lot more expensive than Lightroom. I definitely think that you get more bang-for-the-buck with Lightroom as a photographer.

Comparing the two is not really fair to either program though. Lightroom is a lot easier to work, me thinks, yet as a raw converter a lot more advanced. PS is hands down the better overall image editing tool. I see a lot of people use PS for stuff that can be done just as easily with other programs that are cheaper or even free though.

But sure if you have the money but only want to buy ONE of them I guess PS gives you more "functions". I would rather buy Lightroom + Elements in that regard (and still have money to spend (preferably on lenses!).

thanks for the input guys, guess seeing as they are virtually the same (except layouts?) it does really come down to dollars or which you may find the easier program to use.

LR is by the easier to learn how to use. While ACR in PS is essentially the same as LR, LR offers more flexibility when making adjustments (i.e. virtual copies, snapshots).

lowcrust wrote in post #3431478
I would rather buy Lightroom + Elements in that regard (and still have money to spend).

I second that.
Of course, I recognize some may need/want the power and tools of CS3.
But I find myself going into Elements less and less now that I use Lightroom... I would find it hard to justify the cost of CS3 for using it so rarely (but that's just me; some don't care about $$ and just want everything that says Adobe.)

Now if Lightroom only had the same functionality as elements as far as searching for multiple keywords... that would be nice.

don't ya just wish that sometimes there wasn't so much choice, but what there was had everything you need. Fat chance lol