Is Lightroom dead?

Is Lightroom Dead?

  • Yes, Adobe can't make enough money from a bunch of old shutterbugs...

    Votes: 3 16.7%

  • No, Adobe will keep supporting us and continue to bring us new releases...

    Votes: 5 27.8%

  • Calm down rookie, it's only been a few years, they'll get around to us eventually...

    Votes: 10 55.6%
  • Total voters
    18
Status
Not open for further replies.
1361 said:
That's hard for me to know, I'm still on 5.7. Had I bought 6, I would still be money ahead over the cost of the subscription. Doesn't that kind of defeat the whole reason for subscribing?
Click to expand...
"The food tasted horrible, and the portions were small!"

You have not tried out version 6 (which can be purchased outright) and its new features to see what it offers you over your current version, and yet you seem upset enough to want to start looking for something else to replace LR. Have you considered approaching this from the point of what LR cannot specifically do for you right now (assuming you had purchased v.6) that you need, rather than worrying about your belief that Adobe is not interested in LR? It just seems somewhat odd to be complaining about a lack of features when you are not even using what has been offered to you?

--Ken
 
Replytoken said:
You have not tried out version 6... and its new features
Click to expand...

Which does specifically include improvements in Fuji image quality. I agree there is a speed problem with Fuji files - my estimate is they're about 25% slower.
 
Replytoken said:
"The food tasted horrible, and the portions were small!"

You have not tried out version 6 (which can be purchased outright) and its new features to see what it offers you over your current version, and yet you seem upset enough to want to start looking for something else to replace LR. Have you considered approaching this from the point of what LR cannot specifically do for you right now (assuming you had purchased v.6) that you need, rather than worrying about your belief that Adobe is not interested in LR? It just seems somewhat odd to be complaining about a lack of features when you are not even using what has been offered to you?

--Ken
Click to expand...
First and foremost, you'll never hear me complaining about a lack of features. Most Adobe software, including Lightroom, is so robust, I'll never learn enough about it to fully utilize all that it offers. I just don't have that kind of time to invest in this. That's the true benefit of forums like this. It helps me to learn. Personally, I'd rather see them perfect and improve the features they already have. But that's not the reason for this post. I enjoy using LIghtroom and want to see it continue to mature and grow. My point was rather to question if Adobe sees it this way as well. I admit, that as an aging photographer, I see the fiscal limitations of my contributions to Adobe. I understand the need to continually bring in a new customer base. I accept that these new customers will not have the same wants and needs as my own. I openly admit that it must be difficult for an organization like Adobe to support existing customers and cater to and/or attract the new at the same time.

Finally, in the end I also brought the subscription business model into the discussion. As a "Perpetual" license holder, I make a one time investment and can use the product for the rest of my life. This is perfect for me, and is my preferred method. When I upgrade, I can share the older copies with family members and bring new interest into Adobe products. I just upgraded my computer. I'd like to give my old computer to my nephew so he can learn to use Lightroom as well. This only works if I install the newest, latest and greatest version of Lightroom on my new computer. Right now, that offering is a product that is over two years old and at the end of it's life cycle. Buying it right now does not make sense. Last night, I had to install 5.7 on the new machine. I'll continue to use it. I've always said, Lightroom is a wonderful tool.

As a "Subscription" license holder, it's my understanding that I can only use the product as long as I continue to pay. I stop paying, I have to stop using. This makes good sense if I always need the latest and greatest features and updates. Or perhaps as a business to get a better handle on my expenses. As an individual, imho, not so much. If I joined the "CC" when 6 first came out, what would I have as the results of that investment? Perhaps a few more features. Certainly not anything I could use if I didn't continue to pay. That model only seems reasonable if new development continues and new releases stay forthcoming. That doesn't seem to be the case here.

I sill like and regularly use Lightroom. But if it's done, I'll need to find something else to fill the void.
 
Last edited:
1361 said:
As a "Subscription" license holder, it's my understanding that I can only use the product as long as I continue to pay. I stop paying, I have to stop using.
Click to expand...

No, after you stop paying you can't go into Develop and Map or use Mobile, but everything else will work as it does now.

Why are you still with 5.7 when Adobe improved Fuji processing since then?
 
@1361 Actually, if you purchase an upgrade, you cannot pass the old copy on to your grandson. Only if you purchase a new perpetual copy can you pass on the old one.

Tim
 
johnbeardy said:
...after you stop paying you can't go into Develop...
Click to expand...
Develop is the reason I use Lightroom. If I can't use that feature, it is of no use.
johnbeardy said:
Why are you still with 5.7 when Adobe improved Fuji processing since then?
Click to expand...
Because that's what I have. I only move forward with every other version release.
 
Last edited:
tspear said:
@1361 Only if you purchase a new perpetual copy can you pass on the old one.

Tim
Click to expand...
I buy the new version every other release. 1, 3, 5 and now I'm waiting on 7... A full copy of Lightroom isn't unreasonably expensive.
 
1361 said:
I buy the new version every other release. 1, 3, 5 and now I'm waiting on 7...
Click to expand...

So far there are no signs that there's going to be a 7, although there hasn't been an announcement either way.



Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
1361 said:
First and foremost, you'll never hear me complaining about a lack of features. Most Adobe software, including Lightroom, is so robust, I'll never learn enough about it to fully utilize all that it offers. I just don't have that kind of time to invest in this. That's the true benefit of forums like this. It helps me to learn. Personally, I'd rather see them perfect and improve the features they already have. But that's not the reason for this post. I enjoy using LIghtroom and want to see it continue to mature and grow. My point was rather to question if Adobe sees it this way as well. I admit, that as an aging photographer, I see the fiscal limitations of my contributions to Adobe. I understand the need to continually bring in a new customer base. I accept that these new customers will not have the same wants and needs as my own. I openly admit that it must be difficult for an organization like Adobe to support existing customers and cater to and/or attract the new at the same time.

Finally, in the end I also brought the subscription business model into the discussion. As a "Perpetual" license holder, I make a one time investment and can use the product for the rest of my life. This is perfect for me, and is my preferred method. When I upgrade, I can share the older copies with family members and bring new interest into Adobe products. I just upgraded my computer. I'd like to give my old computer to my nephew so he can learn to use Lightroom as well. This only works if I install the newest, latest and greatest version of Lightroom on my new computer. Right now, that offering is a product that is over two years old and at the end of it's life cycle. Buying it right now does not make sense. Last night, I had to install 5.7 on the new machine. I'll continue to use it. I've always said, Lightroom is a wonderful tool.

As a "Subscription" license holder, it's my understanding that I can only use the product as long as I continue to pay. I stop paying, I have to stop using. This makes good sense if I always need the latest and greatest features and updates. Or perhaps as a business to get a better handle on my expenses. As an individual, imho, not so much. If I joined the "CC" when 6 first came out, what would I have as the results of that investment? Perhaps a few more features. Certainly not anything I could use if I didn't continue to pay. That model only seems reasonable if new development continues and new releases stay forthcoming. That doesn't seem to be the case here.

I sill like and regularly use Lightroom. But if it's done, I'll need to find something else to fill the void.
Click to expand...
I appreciate the detailed reply. It provides me with a different understanding that your OP did. I can understand your situation, and I believe that you are correct that Adobe will continue to add features to bring in new customers. It seems it is that way will almost all software and hardware. And while I am not fan of subscription models, the release of v.6 with "phone home" technology was almost equally annoying, so the cost part is not really as big of an issue as I tend to purchase every upgrade (albeit late in the cycle). I wish you well as LR continues to develop. It is hard to be a base user in a world where every one wants the latest bell and whistles.

Good luck,

--Ken
 
Victoria Bampton said:
So far there are no signs that there's going to be a 7, although there hasn't been an announcement either way.



Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
I realize that no announcement has been made, but this was disappointing news (no signs to date) to hear from you. IIRC, I thought that Thomas Knoll had lent support, via some statements, to keeping both versions available a few years ago.

--Ken
 
Victoria Bampton said:
So far there are no signs that there's going to be a 7, although there hasn't been an announcement either way.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

This would be truly disappointing. Like the OP I am on 5.7 and happy with it. Seems 6 would offer me nothing in terms of stuff I'd want to add to my workflow and is more buggy and slow. I also agree with OP, it would be nice to see Adobe strengthen what it has, but sounds like they are going to force users to the subscription model. I personally hate that. Like with most of my hobbies, I am off and on again with my interests, and having to continually pay for a subscription when I haven't been using the product for months just annoys the heck out of me. If I stopped, when I want to start back up again I'll have to go through the annoying process of signing up again, and I don't know if they have any rules about how long you have to wait to re-subscribe. Whereas, with the standalone, I don't have to continually pay for it, and it's there when I am ready to come back to it, whenever. Very sad... Maybe I should look into this competitor software? The way the consumer market is going, I'm going to wind up getting stuck with having to subscribe to a bunch of stuff I may not be using all the time.. that's just a lot of wasted money .. very annoying.
 
Thank you everyone for keeping this conversation fairly positive. It's greatly appreciated.

NJHeart2Heart said:
Maybe I should look into this competitor software?
Click to expand...

All of this is pure speculation at this point. Even if they did announce no LR7, your current version won't stop working. I'd suggest waiting until we actually have an official answer, and THEN make your decision, whether that's to look around at competitors or whatever. You've just said you're happy with 5.7, so it seems a little hasty to throw the baby out with the bath water!
 
True enough :) More of an emotional response. I'm not looking or planning to make any big moves. I've invested too much time into learning and using LR!
 
I wonder if we have to wait to wait for MAX in November? I hope not.
 
Victoria Bampton said:
Thank you everyone for keeping this conversation fairly positive. It's greatly appreciated.



All of this is pure speculation at this point. Even if they did announce no LR7, your current version won't stop working. I'd suggest waiting until we actually have an official answer, and THEN make your decision, whether that's to look around at competitors or whatever. You've just said you're happy with 5.7, so it seems a little hasty to throw the baby out with the bath water!
Click to expand...

You are a gem, Victoria, and even if you know something you of course cannot say.
I hope Adobe come through, but even if they do, there's a bad taste about this. They are making piles of money from us after all. There's no reason not to communicate in some way with us. Make some hype, just say there's something coming! Keep us in the loop, we're customers.
 
Mike-Photos said:
There's no reason not to communicate in some way with us.
Click to expand...

There's a crazy amount of red tape involved in a big company like that. They will make an announcement, but it's a matter of time.
 
NJHeart2Heart said:
and having to continually pay for a subscription when I haven't been using the product for months just annoys the heck out of me. If I stopped, when I want to start back up again I'll have to go through the annoying process of signing up again, and I don't know if they have any rules about how long you have to wait to re-subscribe.
Click to expand...
My understanding from chatting with an Adobe rep is: The $9.99 photographer CC package, with Lr and PS, can be handled on a month to month, as needed basis.
Once installed, it can be used on Home computers and mobile devices, completely off-line if need be, with only the need to get online once a month to "check-in and pay" to keep it active.
So, if you stop paying, what happens? Well, Lightroom is not removed from your devices! Just "castrated". You still have Lightroom to use, with the Develop Module turned off.
You can still use Lightroom's Library module to view all of your images, (Which stay on whatever storage "drive" you keep them on), and to export those images to whatever sizes you need for printing or producing jpegs, etc. I don't know how they "turn-off" Photoshop.
In a couple of months, or whenever you need, you can re-subscribe, and continue using the full Lightroom and Photoshop programs.
I particularly asked the rep about this several times, to reaffirm, and they said you can subscribe and stop, and start, stop and start, indefinitely, they don't care!
My real concern was the ability to also subscribe as needed to an add-on program like After Effects.
Perhaps subscribing for a few months to learn the program, then stopping and only subscribe when I had a job that needed After Effects.
And YES! This can be done also, no problem! But, the cost of AE month to month is $29. vs yearly subscription of $19.99 monthly.
Sidenote: Adobe's single program/App plan ( for instance, for Photoshop only ) is $29.99 a month.
BUT, The Photography plan (Photoshop AND Lightroom), is not double that, or a "two-for" at $29.00, not even $19.99, but $9.99 a month. That's less than 35 cents a day.
Still, I stay with the stand-alone Lr 6.
 
HawaiianEye said:
My understanding from chatting with an Adobe rep is: The $9.99 photographer CC package, with Lr and PS, can be handled on a month to month, as needed basis.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, support staff have been known to be wrong (or misunderstood). Photography Plan an annual plan, paid monthly or annually. 12 month minimum term. Only single-app or full CC are available on a month-to-month basis.
 
Sorry, I am wrong! Victoria, you are correct!
Should I edit or delete the incorrect info posts, I left in this and another thread?

Photography plan only has 2 flavors: Annual prepaid, and Annual pay monthly! There is no month to month in the drop down menu, like other added apps have.
I was presumptuous in assuming what they actually told me, applied to the Photography plan also. It doesn't.
They were explaining that an additional single CC app could be added and subtracted to the annual photography plan as many times as I wanted/needed.

So, the question of what's the difference between a prepaid annual vs monthly annual subscription, came to mind.
Cancelling charges are one difference.
Quotations are pasted from Adobe subscription page.
PREPAID: "If you cancel within 14 days of your order, you’ll be fully refunded. Should you cancel after 14 days, your payment is non-refundable and your service will continue until the end of your contracted term. Cancellations can be made any time by contacting Customer Support."
MONTHLY: "If you cancel within 14 days of your order, you’ll be fully refunded. Should you cancel after 14 days, you’ll be charged 50% of your remaining contract obligation and your service will continue until the end of that month’s billing period. Cancellations can be made any time by contacting Customer Support."
 
speaking as a weekend happy snapper
because adobe can add smaller 'upgrades' to CC at any time there is no need for them to bring out a LR7. As for buying LR7; imo that might be a dream unfortunately. There is no doubt adobe prefer the cash flow subscriptions and many against it at the start are now happily using it.
In australia CC is $12 a month and for those using it all the time it's great value; however Dawn has made a good point about happy snappers not needing/using CC ALL the time so I'm not sure Adobe seems too interested with weekend happy snappers
I would also make the point again that many weekend happy snappers often don't have the time to learn lr AND ps as both are quite a head full. LR is still #1 for filing/finding photos/above basic editing, however there are other editing programs and easier to use editing programs starting to surface that would suit WHS (that's a new one) far more than ps imo.
I'm slowly learning the better we can get the photo in the camera the less we need all the whiz bang time consuming powerful programs and when we [whs] get it right in the camera we don't really need the harder to edit raw files . [:eek: that will shake hornet's nest :)]
 
HawaiianEye said:
Should I edit or delete the incorrect info posts, I left in this and another thread?"
Click to expand...

Oh, no, we can leave it. It's sure to help someone else.
 
not about LR but still an interesting read; especial for those using Google's Nik a lot
Another Nail in the Coffin of Photography Software

I have also seen a newish mac editing program is going to be released for windows in the near future -- sorry forgotten name and the source --- anyone ??

Still leaves LR at the top for filing/finding pics thought
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top