Best RAW workflow software - recommend one please

I am looking for a software that would let me ingest my Canon CR2 files, let me review them fast, mark the best shots and let me correct them in 16 bit space all in one place. There are so many options out there that it is not possible to try out every single software. Right now I have to use about five different pieces of software just to accomplish basic tasks I do every day. Here are my "requirements" and any suggestion would be greatly appreciated:
- ingest CR2 files from memory cards or external USB hard drive and rename in the process (YYYY_MM_DD_NUMBER_ISO​XXXX_FXX_SXX) plus geotag/geocode the images using standard GPX files.
- create sub-folders based on shoting date
- create thumbnails (with resolution and quality that can be adjusted) while copying, so I can start reviewing images while copying. It is important that database size should not have restrictions as I have close to half million pictures and my current software hit the 2GB database size limit even though it is set to really small thumbnail size)
- quick review capability, where I can view images full screen (JPGs stored in CR2) and delete them by hitting DEL key on keyboard without any confirmation dialogs popping up and it will advance when deleting or hitting SPACE or arrows to next image
- showing file name with all important imaging parameters in the corner of the screen while in full screen review mode (so when not sure which version to keep because both look OK - the decision can be made based on shooting settings without exiting the review mode),
- ability to play back sound and video captured and also ability to skip them easily if encountered
- one click rating images while reviewing
- easy stamp tool,
- easy horizon tool,
- all important RAW processing capabilities just like in Canon Photo Professional v3
- resampling to set pixel dimensions
- crop to maximize image area after rotation and crop to specific side ratios
- ability to save all processing options for the image in a separate file and ability to easily export/batch process based on my settings
- saving to JPG of specific file size
- saving to JPG of set quality
- slideshow and webpage export
- Google Earth locator capability and export to KML, KMZ files
- should properly handle UNC network path for network shares
- should be able to relink thumbnails if the location of image files changes
- fast image manipulations, low resource requirements
- support for multi-core processors and/or multiple processors
- Win XP compatible
- stable!

That is all I can think of right now. You suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Please feel free to add to the above list if you think I missed an important item. My needs may be different from yours, but in the future I may have to do things that you do now.

Thank you in advance,
Tibor Duliskovich

Wait, are we supposed to contribute to a list of wants for an future RAW tool,. a wish list if yoiu will,

Or are we supposed to recommend our current favs?

On the latter, my favorite was/is RawShooter Professional from Pixmantec, which is now discontinued. I would just keep using it, but it does not support my new camera and never will. It has the best balance of ease of use, total conversion flexibility, excellent tools and options, good organizing tools and the FASTEST RAW conversion I have used taking FULL advantage of all four CPU cores on y system.

It was replaced by Adobes' Lightroom, (who purchased the Pixamantec RSP tech and incorporated in into Lightroom.
I do not recommend Lightroom, as I hate it for a lot of reasons (I'll get flamed for this)
the ease of use and low resource overhead of the RSP are totally gone in Lightroom among other things. (buggy, crashes often etc )

The alternatives are Capture One by Phase One,.. always a favorite and still one of the best. I switched to RSP simply due to update lag, and then found I preferred the user interface of RSP, but C1 has always delivered superb results!

The color rendering engine in Canon's own Digital Photo Professional (DPP) can't be beat (except maybe by C1) and it just puts out amazing results, but it is very limited in it's tools and is particularly limited as an image browser IMHO.. but it does have all the in camera settings duplicated in the interface, so you can see any RAW files set to any of the out put "picture styles',.. pretty cool feature

Incorporating the same Canon converter engine and many of the Canon only options is BreezeBrowser. Based on the Canon RAW engine, it adds one of the best (and BY FAR the fastest RAW file viewers on the market. Open a folder filled with 8GB of RAW images and you can start viewing immediately, thumbnails will be generated for all images in about 1/5th the time it takes Lightroom, C1 or RSP to do the same. Excellent organizing tools as well.
the trade off?:
Limited conversion / editing tools similar in limitations to Canon's DPP, and a VERY slow converter that will only use one CPU core.

Also there is Bibbel.. I think Bibble is highly overlooked, it's fast, 64 bit compatible, will use as many CPUs as you can throw at it and more.

I won't flame ya for not liking Lightroom. You're entitled to that opinion. You obviously know a lot on this topic.

As for me, I recently took a Lightroom seminar. Coming from Bridge, I like Lightroom. It is a great tool that had many improvements made in 1.1

I was a Pixmantec customer, but didn't even remember that I bought something from them. That entitled me to Lightroom for free. I've been using it well. Though it is a bit slow, it works well.

mark

That is quite the list. I can't think of a single product that will do all of that. WHile I am no expert the best combination is Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop CS3.

Good luck with the list above, especially with the low resource reqirements one.

Mods: Perhpas this should be moved to the RAW processing forum.

Aperture....oops, see you need windows. Never mind

Thanks admin dork for your post. No, I need something that works now. It is not wish list, it is "requirements" list. I used Pixmantec as well and liked it, but it can not do some of the things I need. At this time I am fed up by having to switch back and forth between multiple apps, it is counter productive. If there is something out there that does what I need I don't mind paying for it few hundred bucks. But my recent software purchases, unrelated to photography, were so disappointing, that open source seems like a good place to stay. Unfortunately I can't find open source that would work for me. Linux is not an option, I don't want to learn another OS, no time.

Thanks,
Tibor

FWIW.....The Mac experience is way overrated.... I switched only to learn first hand what I was missing...it aint much. Aperture on the other hand has been a pleasant surprise.

I agree RSP Raw Shooter Premium was the best . I have LR because it was free and still use both with XT . LR has better color then RSP but the algorims (spl) that RSP has on default sharpening blow LR away.

Lately it seems that software is as varied as the number, and capability, of cameras on the market - and the fortunes of Adobe just keep growing. But all things considered I find it difficult to improve on CS3. After all, just how many tasks does a photographer need performed?
I know that all the teno-geeks out there will scoff at what I just said, but are we photographers or computer techies. I suggest taking a long, hard look at what you want to do, and to achieve, before spending your hard-earned bucks on all that software. What you pay for most of it can also purchase a new lens!
I also suggest something not to often found in digital photography today - moderation.

If you put platform prejudices aside, Aperture is the most elegant solution. I just spent 8 hours today at the first of the Aperture Professional Users Network and was quite impressed with the knowlege level. I'm going to do a full review of the event but if anyone has a chance to attend they will learn to get the most out of Aperture or humble the most diehard Lightroom user.

I've gone back and read your original post a few times. 500,000 images is not all that big in the digital world. Is it 500,000 keepers or is that just the number of CR2 files that you have. I go back through alot of my images but only the ones that I have tagged as good. There is a percentage that I keep but never ever look at.

I don't think that you are going to find the one application that you want that will facilitate absolutely everything that you have listed. CDS covered the RAW conversions very good. Why does your RAW converter have to be the same app that you are going to edit them in. I have been using Lightroom to a certain degree but my converter of choice is still C1 Pro. I convert in 16 bit and as they are processing I can open them in photoshop and continue editing. Some of the things are your list could be accomplished by photoshop and additional plug-ins. Things that you have listed like exporting to specific JPG size, specific side ratios, etc. can all be done in photoshop and in fact you can write an action or a script to facilitate a faster workflow.

In the perfect world someone will give us software that we can do everything, but we are not quite there. Things like the google earth locator may have a plug in but I am not aware of one. It is certainly becoming a popular option. You have to find some of your own solutions for GPS data. Have you looked at the GPS input options that are available with the MKIII body.

I use a number of different software applications in my workflow. Is my workflow slower because I do this. I doubt it. I can turn out images pretty fast and I have it refined so that I do use apps that will try and talk to each other. Lightroom to Photoshop, iView Media Pro and C1. It took me awhile to get my workflow to where it is. It is a process of trial and change. No one on here is going to be able to give you the ultimate workflow. Only you can come up with the one that works for you.

Boy, are you going to rack your brains with this. There are all different people who like different softwares because of what they are..

1. Either accustomed to.
2. What specific feature is more important to them that is not available or does it better on another.

So the bottom line is, toss a coin in the air and once you find one that is restricting you with something you do (either your workflow, or not attaining the results you want), then post that specific limitation and move on to the next suggested software.

PhotoMechanic, iView, DPP, Photoshop, and something for the GPS data.

How come nobody mentioned RawMagick? I do not have it but am considering trying it because I have read a number of articles that say although it is virtually unknown, it produces very good images.

Cause we never heard of it..
.... and you've not even tried it, so how can you recommend it?

Seriously,. let us know what you think. Now I'm curious.