photoshop 5 or cs3....

Which one would be the best for beginning photographers to use to post process with. Just got 5d and starting to build up my equipment. Want to get the correct thing before i buy. thanks

wow thats like a disposable camera compared to an dslr. totally apples and oranges. both are over kill for a beginner, id get lightroom because way cheaper and easier to use.

Everyone has their own favorite. Elements 5 is a good entry level program and once you learn it, moving to CS3 is easier. Lightroom uses the same raw converter you find in CS3. Lightroom has a lot of organizing features that many like. But it does not have the editing features you will find in CS3 like layers, clone, heal, filters, etc. It really depends on what level of post processing you like in your photos and how much time you have to learn the program.

Get Lightroom, and learn how to use it. CS3 for doing major photo retouching (cloning out the telephone wires, etc). Photoshop Elements is okay, but I prefer CS3.

howzitboy wrote in post #3714159
wow thats like a disposable camera compared to an dslr. totally apples and oranges. both are over kill for a beginner, id get lightroom because way cheaper and easier to use.

I have to completely disagree with the whole disposable camera thing. I use Lightrrom and PSE5 and feel that my pictures come out great. I think that for the average person PSE5 will accomplish 90% of what they need at a fraction of the cost of CS3.

Also that last time I looked LR cost more than PSE5

Eric

well as far as i know you carnt open a raw in ps5 so if that's what you want to do cs2 or cs3.
i dont know what othere programs alow this i.e lightroom but someone will
Rob.

GyRob wrote in post #3714477
well as far as i know you carnt open a raw in ps5 so if that's what you want to do cs2 or cs3.
i dont know what othere programs alow this i.e lightroom but someone will
Rob.

I use DPP to convert my RAW to TIFF then edit in Photoshop 5. I also use Elements from time to time.

you can open raw in 5. a friend has it and i tryed it....

The 5 in 5D conflicts with 5 in 5E so go CS3 for sure.

Well I may not reason it right on Sunday but conclusion is surely accurate.

Eric&Susan wrote in post #3714231
I have to completely disagree with the whole disposable camera thing. I use Lightrrom and PSE5 and feel that my pictures come out great. I think that for the average person PSE5 will accomplish 90% of what they need at a fraction of the cost of CS3.

Also that last time I looked LR cost more than PSE5

Eric

I agree with Eric completely. If you don't know the kind of editing you will be doing, get Elements 5 to start. It has all the basics covered. Once you get that down the transition to Lightroom or CS3 will be much easier. I started with Elements 5 and it did just fine for quite a while. I have just added Lightroom because I needed greater batch processing abilities and better DAM functionality along with the greater power afforded in RAW editing.

If you have used image editing in the past you might want to consider Lightroom right away, but I would not do this as Lightroom does not do everything as I still find myself going into the editor in PSE on occasion to do somethings that Lightroom just can't. I wouldn't do Lightroom if it was not paired with something else. Either PSE or CS3, etc.

Just my 2 cents.

he didnt say ps element 5, he said photoshop 5. element yeah id say grab that but not ps 5

howzitboy wrote in post #3715966
he didnt say ps element 5, he said photoshop 5. element yeah id say grab that but not ps 5

I know, I was responding to Eric's recommendation of PSE5.

photography101 wrote in post #3714901
you can open raw in 5. a friend has it and i tryed it....

I guess what you meant to say, then, is Photoshop Elements 5 instead of just Photoshop 5. They're two different products.

yes...... sorry about the confusion. yes ps elements 5 or cs3.....