Image organisation software.

P1505 · Sep 10, 2023

Hi.

After many years of using Lightroom I can no longer put up with the performance issues. Adobe software is far too laggy so I’m off - subscription will auto end once it ends.

I’m looking for an alternative not for editing, but for the catalogue. I am used to Lightroom’s catalogue and am looking for something similar. Tagging, keywords, smart albums etc. I am Windows based but likely to move to Mac, so not fussed on OS.

What I want is a solid, reliable, and fast tool. Subscription or not I don’t care, I just want something that isn’t bloated.

Googling gives me endless listicles suggesting Apple Photos or Google cloud storage. That’s not going to cut it, I want a proper catalogue.

What are you all using, besides Lightroom

Alan Edward Klein · Sep 10, 2023

Aren't there two types of Lightroom subscriptions. One uses the internet a lot with its connection issues and the other runs from within your computer? Which one are you using?

RalphLambrecht · Sep 10, 2023

P1505 said:
Hi.

After many years of using Lightroom I can no longer put up with the performance issues. Adobe software is far too laggy so I’m off - subscription will auto end once it ends.

I’m looking for an alternative not for editing, but for the catalogue. I am used to Lightroom’s catalogue and am looking for something similar. Tagging, keywords, smart albums etc. I am Windows based but likely to move to Mac, so not fussed on OS.

What I want is a solid, reliable, and fast tool. Subscription or not I don’t care, I just want something that isn’t bloated.

Googling gives me endless listicles suggesting Apple Photos or Google cloud storage. That’s not going to cut it, I want a proper catalogue.

What are you all using, besides Lightroom

Isn't Adobe Bridge doing it for you?

P1505 · Sep 10, 2023

Alan Edward Klein said:
Aren't there two types of Lightroom subscriptions. One uses the internet a lot with its connection issues and the other runs from within your computer? Which one are you using?

I’m using Classic, which runs locally.

P1505 · Sep 10, 2023

No. Maybe I need to give it a few weeks but I’m not seeing what I’m looking for. DXO is looking promising and a bonus is the RAW conversion is miles better than Lightroom. I’m quite shocked at the difference.

runswithsizzers · Sep 10, 2023

I am surprised to hear you are giving up on Lightroom due to performance issues. I have not noticed any "laggy" performance problems running Lightroom Classic on my 2020 iMac. I have seen one or two "bugs" but nothing to make me abandon Lightroom altogether.

As I understand it, recent versions of Lightroom work best when used with certain graphics processors. so I wonder if a new graphics card (or a new computer) might solve your performance problem? While Adobe does give some guidance about which GPUs work best with their products <here> and <here> -- unfortunately, I think the information is difficult to understand and apply.

I am afraid there is a reason why Lightroom Classic is the one all the others are compared to. As a total, one-solution package: catalog, RAW editor, the plugins for publishing and Negative Lab Pro, printing and book modules -- Lightroom is going to be hard to match. But if you don't mind replacing Lightroom with several different applications, then you can probably do that.

For me, it would be worth spending some time and money trying to get Lightroom Classic to work properly, compared to the effort it would take for me to start over, trying to learn how to use several new software applications.

sruddy · Sep 10, 2023

I gave up LR years ago for the same reasons. I use Capture One Pro now.

P1505 · Sep 10, 2023

runswithsizzers said:
I am surprised to hear you are giving up on Lightroom due to performance issues. I have not noticed any "laggy" performance problems running Lightroom Classic on my 2020 iMac. I have seen one or two "bugs" but nothing to make me abandon Lightroom altogether.

As I understand it, recent versions of Lightroom work best when used with certain graphics processors. so I wonder if a new graphics card (or a new computer) might solve your performance problem? While Adobe does give some guidance about which GPUs work best with their products <here> and <here> -- unfortunately, I think the information is difficult to understand and apply.

I am afraid there is a reason why Lightroom Classic is the one all the others are compared to. As a total, one-solution package: catalog, RAW editor, the plugins for publishing and Negative Lab Pro, printing and book modules -- Lightroom is going to be hard to match. But if you don't mind replacing Lightroom with several different applications, then you can probably do that.

For me, it would be worth spending some time and money trying to get Lightroom Classic to work properly, compared to the effort it would take for me to start over, trying to learn how to use several new software applications.

The change has what’s kept me from moving - it’s a faff. However on a system that runs 3D software fast Lightroom is very laggy. My PC is faster in every way than a Mac Studio base model but just runs so poorly with Adobe software. Adobe stuff is in need of an overhaul I think.

I also noticed while trying other software that its RAW conversion is awful compared to DXO and Capture One. I’m looking at DXO now and will trial it for a few weeks and see how I like it. In terms of editing it beats Lightroom, so it’s down to the catalogue.

I am about to build a new PC and will trial Lightroom on that also, I still own it for a long time while I wait for the subscription to end.

MattKing · Sep 10, 2023

Corel's Aftershot Pro is usable on Windows, Mac and Linux platforms: https://www.aftershotpro.com/en/#overview

P1505 · Dec 20, 2023

Update: went with DXO. Haven’t looked back.

RalphLambrecht · Jan 3, 2024

P1505 said:
Hi.

After many years of using Lightroom I can no longer put up with the performance issues. Adobe software is far too laggy so I’m off - subscription will auto end once it ends.

I’m looking for an alternative not for editing, but for the catalogue. I am used to Lightroom’s catalogue and am looking for something similar. Tagging, keywords, smart albums etc. I am Windows based but likely to move to Mac, so not fussed on OS.

What I want is a solid, reliable, and fast tool. Subscription or not I don’t care, I just want something that isn’t bloated.

Googling gives me endless listicles suggesting Apple Photos or Google cloud storage. That’s not going to cut it, I want a proper catalogue.

What are you all using, besides Lightroom

Adobe Bridge?

TomR55 · Jan 3, 2024

I mostly work with analogue film but also (to a lesser extent) digital (DNG, etc.) files. I PhotoMechanic Plus (as this includes a relational DB)) for the front-end processing, i.e., metadata, tagging, etc.I have found this a fairly reliable and robust product, but it is NOT free. I have read (somewhere) that Camera Bits (who make and market PM) will be offering a subscription model for those who prefer to "rent" their tools.

Image organisation software.

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