Nikon NEF solution? (NX2, LR2,3, DxO, ACR & PShop)

[greenlight]

With the coming of new software (LR3, DxO Optics Pro V6, etc.) what would you recommend for a novice user who is looking a best "bang for the buck" solution that's NOT $800?

I posted an inquiry to the DxO Optics Pro 30% off sale here
---> http://www.TexasPhotoForum.com/forum...able-sale.html

Basics are: D90 user who is looking for complete or semi-complete solution to a RAW workflow of either DxO + LR 2(or 3) or Capture NX 2.

I'd love to see what (if anything) the next version of Capture NX2 is going to be capable of, but DxO and Lightroom 3 seems like a winning combination for the ever-increasing NEFs I am collecting.

[srwatters]

I use both PS CS4 (ACR) and PhaseOne CaptureOne V5 for my D3 images. I seem to be able to produce acceptable images with either, although for the Nikon NEF images, I'm more experienced with ACR. I've tried NX2 and personally just don't see any advantage to it unless I'm dealing with a specific issue (moire' comes to mind). YMMV.

Jeff Kohn and Joe Lorenzini would be the guys I'd defer to on this subject.

[dixonduke]

I am using LR2 and love it. I too am a novice (well novice might be more advanced than I am), and after trying the trial, I found it intuitive, easy to learn, and basically a one stop does all I want it to do solution.

I am struggling to learn PS (CS4), and am not sure if I will ever be able to understand the user interface of it. But with light room, all the buttons and menus just make sense, and it is easy for me to use.

I don't know anything about DxO, and I only used the Nikon Software briefly when I first got my D90, so I can't really afford you a decent comparison.

I recommend downloading the beta trial of LR3 (free), and take it for a test drive and see if you like it.

[ggeen]

Originally Posted by greenlight

With the coming of new software (LR3, DxO Optics Pro V6, etc.) what would you recommend for a novice user who is looking a best "bang for the buck" solution that's NOT $800?

I posted an inquiry to the DxO Optics Pro 30% off sale here
---> http://www.TexasPhotoForum.com/forum...able-sale.html

Basics are: D90 user who is looking for complete or semi-complete solution to a RAW workflow of either DxO + LR 2(or 3) or Capture NX 2.

I'd love to see what (if anything) the next version of Capture NX2 is going to be capable of, but DxO and Lightroom 3 seems like a winning combination for the ever-increasing NEFs I am collecting.

I use two solutions. For editing the NEF/RAW files, I use Nikon CaptureNX2. This allow you to perform non-destructive edits on the raw image and save those edits without permanently altering the image in NEF format.

Then, if I want to do something artistic, or just add text, I use another application, pixelmator, to edit a copy of the JPG file.

[rwwright]

i have used all of those and still use lightroom for 90% or more of my work. (i use cs4 for the rest)

[greenlight]

Thanks for the feed back you all!

I've done a bit of research on the options the last 24 hrs and it's come down to NX2 (for the obvious NEF-supreme option), DxO V6 for the D90+lense correction & high-level ISO noise reduction solution, and Bibble 5 for an all around great editing solution.

FYI: Here's a great article I read for the difference comparison between LR3 (beta) vs. DxO V6 vs. Bibble 5 vs. Phase One.

RAW deathmatch - Lightroom 3 vs DXO 6 vs Capture One 5 vs Bibble 5

Mr. Armand's article was very timely & helpful.

Thanks for all the feedback, once again!!!

[srwatters]

I hate to tell you this, but an expert in any one of these programs would have produced much better results than the reviewer did. I know for a fact I can get much better color balance and performance using either ACR or CaptureOne. Any experienced portrait shooter knows that the 'whites' of someone's eye is a terrible place to derive white balance from. I'm surprised he got any decent results using that method. Other parts of the review show poor choices as well.

This 'deathmatch' isn't much of comparison and is horribly skewed IMHO. I wonder how much he got on the back side... $$$

YMMV.

[Joe_Lorenzini]

I agree with Scott. You can take any of those programs and, by becoming proficient with them, create outstanding images. I don't know that there's a wrong answer to your query, you've just got to find the one that suits you best.

For me, NX2 is the best Nikon RAW conversion option but I honestly believe that LR gives you the best bang for the buck especially with the custom camera profiles (very important) and plugins/presets available.

Joe