The Nik filters are, bang for the buck, the best collection of stuff out there. I use them constantly. The greatest differentiators are the Control Points which allow you to pinpoint adjustments by color and light level. Amazingly effective and can reduce the time required over using layer masks exponentially.
What do you get in the box?
Dfine 2.0 - The best noise reduction tool available. If you shoot at any ISO that produces even the slightest amount of noise, this will remove it and preserve image quality. First step in my post-LR workflow for anything over ISO 200, regardless of camera.
Viveza 2.0 - Very much like other similar adjustment tools, but with control points.
HDR Efex Pro 2 - The best there is at ghost reduction. And with Control Point accuracy for other adjustments, just superb. Take a look at DaveW's threads and you'll have an idea of just how amazing an HDR tool it is. When you consider Photomatix Pro and its cost, it's worth paying for the Nik Collection just for this and getting everything else thrown in.
Color Efex Pro 4 - Amazing collection of filters. I rely on some for certain looks. While some would think this is the heart of the collection, for me this is the icing on the cake, but not what I use regularly.
Silver Efex Pro (can't remember the version) - The best B&W conversion tool out there, barre none. Amazing flexibility with Contrast, Brightness and Structure controls, even before control points. Extremely effective use of colored filters (my first step in the conversion process is this section). Great toning presets that are still infinitely tweakable. Borders, frames, you name it. Not worth the entire price of admission, but when coupled with HDR Efex Pro 2 it feels like a bargain. And with Control Points it makes Selective Color a piece of cake.
Sharpener Pro - Not something I've used a lot, but I'm starting to. A great too for both input and output sharpening (there are 2 halves to the package).
Analog Efex Pro - Something that the post-Google buyout has provided. In this Instagram era, the look of old, faded photos is a very effective way of showing emotion in an image, and this product is superb. The original purchasers of the suite did not get it, but it was a zero-cost throw-in on an update for those of us who had bought it even a year ago. This speaks well to what may become of the suite down the road, knowing that Google has not abandoned it. What I love is the ability to roll your own presets among the bevy of options the have. I have no use for light leaks, so in a click they're gone. The frames and vignetting presets are stellar, though buried within other presets. A couple weeks with this and you'll abandon their presets because you have your own
The biggest plus to the Nik collection is the amazing set of absolutely free educational tutorials there are - and that continue to develop. Through Google+ hangout sessions you can watch as pros guide you through products and answer your specific questions. I got up to speed in under a week, and am still experiencing "Wow!!" moments over a year later.
Go to my Flickr page and look at my stuff. There is nothing since January of last year that hasn't been "Nik'd" in some fashion. But don't blame them for my photography skills. LOL
