Lightroom Alternative for Mac.

Caporegime
Joined
9 May 2005
Posts
31,724
Location
Cambridge
I've always used LR with PC but I really don't take too many photographs these days. I used to hang on in there with LR5 and PS elements which was more than enough for my use. I even got LR5 to load on an M1 Mac which worked fine until recently.

I don't see the point of going to a monthly sub for the 200 photos I might take a year on my DSLR so I was thinking of just paying for the months I want to edit some photos and cancel it when I'm not using it. Or if anyone has any other suggestions of software to use instead?
 
Soldato
Joined
8 Aug 2010
Posts
6,453
Location
Oxfordshire
I've always used LR with PC but I really don't take too many photographs these days. I used to hang on in there with LR5 and PS elements which was more than enough for my use. I even got LR5 to load on an M1 Mac which worked fine until recently.

I don't see the point of going to a monthly sub for the 200 photos I might take a year on my DSLR so I was thinking of just paying for the months I want to edit some photos and cancel it when I'm not using it. Or if anyone has any other suggestions of software to use instead?
I use https://www.dxo.com/dxo-photolab/
DXO processes pictures better than LR imo. However I can process much faster in LR using VSCO keys (opensource).
So I use both..
 
Associate
Joined
22 Jun 2018
Posts
1,583
Location
Doon the watah ... Scotland
What camera do you have ? I have a Canon and still use Canon's DPP software from time to time. I like using it to organise / sort through pictures after shooting to get rid of the crap ones quickly. I also like that it doesn't create a huge catalogue file, or that you need to 'import' the images in first. Point it at a folder, and it'll display whats in it.

If you're looking for something to manage the files, then Adobe Bridge might be worth a look ?



I then have affinity photo which for a 1 off payment ( OK, 2 actually when going from versions 1 to 2, but acceptable upgrade costs ) has been good as well for RAW conversion and editing pictures in a manner similar to photoshop/LR... takes a bit of learning but gets things done. I have the universal license as I use the the other parts of the suite as well to create stuff for the wife's school. A downside is that its like a photoshop workflow where you feel you're editing 1 image at a time rather than a collection in the way that LR makes it feel. I do wish Serif would make a content manager for thier Affinity Suite ... it would tie the whole lot together well.


I've tried luminar Neo, but found it a bit meh / gimmicky, and trying to push templates and features at you for extra cost.
Not tried the others like DXO or ON1 much... felt the prices were a bit steep personally for my needs.

I've also tried Darktable ... I suppose I felt it was trying to be like LR, but is methods were just that bit different that to get the most out of it, I think you'd really need to spend time learning and using it, which in your circumstance I dont think would be what you want.
 
Last edited:
Back
Top Bottom