Aperture or Adobe LR?

Any help from Mac users would be great for my software dilemma.

I just got a new i-mac which has enough juice to run Aperture and/or Lightroom. Previously I had an old G4 i-mac and I was using DPP as a raw converter, CS3 as an editor and iphoto as a browser.

I now have trial versions of both Lightroom and Aperture and would like to give them a go (to basically see which one can replace iphoto/DPP as both a browser and RAW converter. I'll keep CS3 of course). However they are both quite large daunting applications. They both seem pretty good.............I've played around with both and am dithering about which one to choose. Lightroom seems a bit easier but I understand it's about to be replaced by a newer version.

Are there any compelling reasons for choosing one over the other? Has anyone used both extensively and ditched one in favour of the other? Any comments appreciated.........

How long have you messed with the trials? Give both a full 30 days and actually use them. Dig deep into both packages, not just play around with them. Run them at the same time and figure out what you can do in one that you can't do in the other, and then decide what you can live with now as both programs will continue to receive updates in features.

For example, I like the extensive import naming options for Lightroom and the updated IPTC information Lightroom works with, and Aperture is lacking in both of these areas. However, I like Aperture's approach to file management and editing (can edit any image from any screen), and the ability to have multiple projects open at the same time in a tabbed interface, both of which Lightroom can't do.

There are other differences, but it would be best for you to find them as you use and compare each program against the other.

HokkaidoStu wrote in post #5896968
Are there any compelling reasons for choosing one over the other?.........

I don't think so. I own both and prefer Aperture but only because it seems slightly more intuitive to me and I like the RAW conversion slightly better. In the end, it pretty much comes down to what you like.

I've had the trials about 3 or 4 days.

Thanks for your replies. Naturally I'll experiment more with them. Just looking for some opinions from others more knowledgeable at his stage.

I wouldn't buy LR at this moment, I'd wait for version 2.
No experience with Aperture (yet), since it won't run on my G4.

The only thing I liked more in LR was the ability to download presets to change the look of the image. I had a hundred or so which was really cool.

Aperture at this point does not have that

Presets in Lightroom is definitely a nice feature. Lightroom 2 has some very nice non-destructive editing (Dodge & Burn, for example) that Aperture 2 doesn't have, as well. To offer another perspective, though, Aperture 2 has vaults (integrated backup solution that can backup to as many hard drives as you wish) while Lightroom doesn't, and Aperture 2 has an excellent retouching tool that, in my opinion, rivals Lightroom's.

Aperture 2 is supposed to be getting true, non-destructive Dodge & Burn tools, much like Lightroom 2 will have, by the way.

Additionally, one difference that seems to stand out among others for so many users is that Lightroom has a curves tool while Aperture 2 has a levels tool. Both tools are used to achieve the same results, but each offers a very different method. People tend to prefer one style over the other.

Both applications are excellent products, and each has its shortcomings. This is why I suggest really digging into each application as deeply as possible to find out the differences between the two. Then, decide which feature set you can live with, because while each application is being updated, there is no particular time-table on when a "missing" feature in either application might show up, if ever.

Editing for both I found the same. Lightroom has the nifty presets that you could download from the web.

Workflow and interface I found to prefer Aperture largely--I got tired of Lightroom's different modules quick. One can make edits at any time in Aperture. The Quick Preview mode is very handy as well upon import to quickly delete the bad images.

Try them out.

good information ifonline.

I used lightroom at first and then moved to aperture. I love, and I mean love the vault feature! This is the best feature aperture has without a doubt. It is so nice to have that safety net like that if something bad happens.

Few other features I enjoy are all of the export plugins that are offered, ie. facebook, flickr, border, gmail, etc...

But just as ifonline said, you have to try both. At the end of the day our opinions are just that, ours not yours.

That's another good point that I didn't think about... the export plugins interface is significantly different in Aperture 2 than in Lightroom, and I find that it is much easier to manage exports via plugin (say to Gallery 2, or SmugMug) in Aperture 2 versus in Lightroom.

I have used both and find each had pros and cons. It was difficult for me to choose. I finally landed on LR because I did not like Aperture's inability to move around photos in projects. If I was not fussy Aperture would have been just as good for me as LR.

Bottom line: you have the trial version and use it extensively. And choose the one that fits your requirements better. You wont go wrong with either one.

csondagar wrote in post #5900244
I have used both and find each had pros and cons. It was difficult for me to choose. I finally landed on LR because I did not like Aperture's inability to move around photos in projects. If I was not fussy Aperture would have been just as good for me as LR.

Eh? You can move around photos in a project.

csondagar wrote in post #5900244
I have used both and find each had pros and cons. It was difficult for me to choose. I finally landed on LR because I did not like Aperture's inability to move around photos in projects. If I was not fussy Aperture would have been just as good for me as LR.

If you mean re-order photos with a project, you can. If you mean move photos from one project to another, again, you can. In both cases, it is click and drag (I believe).

What wasn't working in Aperture as you expected?

Aperture is definitely a lot more resource-intensive than LR. While it runs decently enough on a fully spec'd out current gen iMac, my recommendation for Aperture is a Mac Pro or bust.

I'm using a MBP w/ 3gb of RAM and have some friends w/ maxed out current-gen MBPs and Aperture just kills our systems. On top of that, Aperture (and Mac OS too) give me non-standard image dimensions for my 5D...

That said, it's a well organized app but LR is my choice!

Christian M wrote in post #5901040
Aperture is definitely a lot more resource-intensive than LR. While it runs decently enough on a fully spec'd out current gen iMac, my recommendation for Aperture is a Mac Pro or bust.

I have 4GB so Aperture runs pretty well.

Thanks for everyone's comments. They both seem pretty good, whichever one I end up using I'll be happy with I'm sure........