Well at last I made up my mind and spent my money on a Nikon D80. I was first attracted to the Nikon D40, but felt I wanted more pixels. So, after purchasing the camera today, I am now left with another problem. Software. I would like to use Photoshop, but am thinking, t the current price, wouldn't I do just as well with Photoshop 7? After all it's got probably everything I want with only one major difference and that's the price.
It's easy to say well if you've just spent £700 on a camera why compromise on the software, but I bought the best I could possible afford, and would now really appreciate some feedback on which software to use. Please, I really would like some advice?
With such a great camera you wouldn't be compromising by going for Photoshop 7! Most people only use a few 'set' bits of the package and never touch anything else. It's a massive bit of software with loads of potential. Why not go for the cheaper Elements though? I bet it has everything you would ever need for a fraction of the price. Personally I use Paint Shop Pro X1 and I can't praise it enough. However, all the tutorials in magazines etc are mostly for Photoshop or Elements so if you are new to this sort of thing then you might be best off using one of them.
Most of the stuff you need to do to a picture can be done with previous versions of Photoshop. Most... but not all.
Camera Raw will not support the NEF files from your D80. You need a more modern version (CS2 or CS3) to do that.
You also miss out on Bridge and get the stunted File Browser, which means tagging and renaming and other batch operations get a whole lot harder.
You also miss out on lots of the history features, that allow you to roll back changes you have made to an image, you don't get as good a set of tools for increasing or reducing the size of an image, and things like the Shadow/Highlight control, spot healing, easy red eye correction, vanishing point and lens correction tools and a whole lot more.
So why the 'depends'? Because if you bought Lightroom, you might find you don't use Photoshop as much and PS 7 would be all you need. I still think the tool set in PS 7 might limit you ultimately, but nowhere near as much as if you used PS 7 exclusively.
Of course, plenty of people think Lightroom is the Devil's Spawn. I kind of include myself in that group. But those who like it, love it so much it becomes almost a religion to them.
PaintShop Pro X1 supports the Raw files from the D80 and costs around £70. It has a history palette, healing brush, Red Eye correction, lens correction etc etc. A lot cheaper than Photoshop and does almost as much.
I'm a professional photographer. I know a litle about Photoshop and have spent a lot of time using it. I love it.
Having said all that, I don't need Photoshop CS3. I like some of the stuff CS2 gave me, CS was a nice upgrade (mainly because of Bridge) but apart from raw processing I'd be happy with 7.
I also have a copy of Elements 4 (5 isn't out for the Mac yet). It's very cool. Apart from later masking (which is hackable) and actions it does everything I need from an image editor. £600 is a lot extra to pay for actions.
My absolute advice for anybody wanting to get a great editor for photograhy is buy Elements.
PSP has its fans and from what I've seen it's very good - but Elements is more transferrable (if you find you "need" CS3 then all the skills you learned in Ely will still work exactly the same way - oh and you get a discount for upgrading). Other people will push you towards Gimp - which is pretty much like Photoshop but, erm, FREE.
Oh and Alan you're gonna have to defend that "Devil's Spawn" thing - I'm one of the crew who would consider naming my firstborn "Lightroom"........
Yeah, Elements is probably the better bet. PS 7 has more control over the tools it has, but the latest Elements has more tools. And it has the transferrable skill set for future Photoshop migratory moves.
As to the Devil's Spawn thing, it may have been a bit harsh. But, every time I use LR, I still seem happy to go back to using individual programs as browser, RAW converter, pixel editor and asset manager.
I feel LR is the Swiss Army Knife of software. But there are times when you need to use a screwdriver, not a penknife with a screwdriver attachment. Although, in fairness, each time I get to know LR a little better, the longer I stay in LR. So, perhaps "Devil's Spawn, subject to conformation" might be more accurate.
Well I didn't anyone to take so much time and trouble to respond, and I want you to know I really appreaciate your all your help. It takes time to write a well written response and I feel I have had that from you guy and girls.
Looks like Elements 5 priced at £69.32 (First price I have found so will look around for cheaper.) UNLESS, anyone has a copy of either Elelments or Photoshop and are on the point of giving up due to age, eyesight ect, in which case please contact me.
I won't be buying it for abot two months or so, so please continue to keep this subject open. I will let you know what I buy in the end so that in itself will effectively close the thread anyway.
ps..Dear Jonathan Ryan - Editor,
If I am not supposed to 'advertise for second hand equipment' like I have above, please delete that part and accept my sincere apologies.
Sorry if I am boring you now but I have just come across this item for sale ELEMENTS 5, BRAND NEW FACTORY SEALED, NOT A COPY, NOT USED, FULL RETAIL VERSION $60 with free shipping.
well it is coming from the USA, free postage and packing BUT it is Photoshop 5 at (quick conversion) around £35. They are obviously an outlet as they have 81 available all at a 'Buy It Now' price. (Via ebay)
I really do appreciate your help, and if you want to have a look on ebay the item number is: 290123001357.
I eventually changed my mind and bought Phtotshop 6 from ebay, sealed disc, sealed manual. The manual was sealed but the disc wasn't. Contacted seller and told him I would complain to trading standards. Refund within 45 minutes asking me not to contact them. As he'd given me a refund he put me in a slightly difficult position. He HAD been fair with me, so would I be right to drop him in it?
Decided that as I'd received a full refund I wouldn't go any further. BUT, was I right to do that? What would YOU have done?
Thanks everyone who has responded to this thread... much appreciated and Nikon D80 BRILLIANT!!!!
If I'm honest with myself I think I would have done exactly the same as you in the circumstances. I never knowingly would buy pirated software but I know lots of people who do and it puts up the price of the legal software. I can't believe the number of people that have offered me Photoshop with a 'wink'. But I have my principles and I don't accept it. Then again I don't report them either.
But isn't this the same as just turning a blind eye? I like a bargain as much as the next bloke but, as you say, it puts the real price up. But if someone offered me a brand new Rolls Royce with all the paperwork, all legit, would I turn it down for £500? Of course not. Everything has it's price. It's down to our own consciousness as to what we do.
I would strongly recommend that you look at Capture NX 2 from Nik software. I use it with a D80 and find it a great program for under $200.00. I have both Photoshop CS3 and Lightroom and find Capture easier to use (and learn) than the Adobe products.
