What software do I buy?

I will be getting a new 40D soon, what is the best image software I should get for under $200? People on amazon say Adobe Photo shop Elements and Adobe Premiere® Elements as a bundle is more for video and not photos.

Any suggestions?

Photoshop Elements

Photoshop Elements is a great post processing program. Unless you plan to do some video work, Adobe Premier is not required.

Right now, after rebate, you can get Adobe Photoshop Elements 6 for about $60 through Amazon.com. That is a great price for a very powerful program.

There are other programs with which you can post process your images and some of them, like Picasa, are free.

http://picasa.google.c​om/download/

IMO the advantage of Photoshop Elements is not only that this is a great program but, that if you ever desire to make the full jump to Adobe Photoshop - much of what you learn in elements will be applicable.

Additionally, if you ever need to get advice on post processing through forums, you will be speaking the same language as most users if you are using Photoshop Elements.

RPCrowe wrote in post #5431457
Photoshop Elements is a great post processing program. Unless you plan to do some video work, Adobe Premier is not required.

Right now, after rebate, you can get Adobe Photoshop Elements 6 for about $60 through Amazon.com. That is a great price for a very powerful program.

There are other programs with which you can post process your images and some of them, like Picasa, are free.

http://picasa.google.c​om/download/

IMO the advantage of Photoshop Elements is not only that this is a great program but, that if you ever desire to make the full jump to Adobe Photoshop - much of what you learn in elements will be applicable.

Additionally, if you ever need to get advice on post processing through forums, you will be speaking the same language as most users if you are using Photoshop Elements.

The full blown photoshop is like $500 correct?

Get photoshop elements and Scott Kelby's book on it.

The software that comes with the camera is used by many to produce some good results.

Isn't going to cost you much more.

SteveBrown wrote in post #5431565
The full blown photoshop is like $500 correct?

Sometimes!

If you are enrolled in a college level course, you can purchase a full-blown "educational version" for a lot less than $500.

The San Diego Community College offers free Photoshop courses which would qualify you to get the educational version (which is the full program). Ienrolled in a course, attended one day and purchased CS3.

Elements 6 is the way to go - lot of flexibility, easy to use, and affordable.
Many of my friends use Elements 5 or 6 and see no need to upgrade to CS3.
Agree w/ Ty G - Scott Kelby's books are great.
Have fun with your new 40D!

Personally I think most people (unless seriously into post-processing) could do almost everything they need to with a combination of an "enhanced RAW converter" like Lightroom or Bibble AND Elements for less than the cost of CS3. The beauty of a program like Bibble for me (Lightroom similar with a lot more file management capabilities as well but more $$) is it lets me do all the non-retouching type of work like levels,curves, straightening, noise reduction, exposure adjustments, cropping, lens correction, white balance and basic sharpening all in one place that's easy to batch process, I then only rarely do detail editing in PS.