If you like free, then download the Nikon Capture NX-D beta. It is free and works beutifully for RAW.I've been hesitant to weigh in on this because I don't use any of the software in your posted question. I have Picasa and IrfanView. Out of these two, I have used IrfanView some and it is ok. It was fairly easy to use for JPG processing (used mostly to process for web pages). Picasa is, for me, just a program that in some ways confuses my workflow. Ha! I haven't been shooting RAW until just recently, but now that I have been, I am using RAW Therapee to fix the RAW images. Gimp is the other program I have been using for a little while now. For me the learning curve on it is a little steep, but as I learn more about it I like it. I guess you will notice a theme here: RAW Therapee and GIMP are both "Free" and I like free. Ha! I believe once I learn to use them, they will be just what I need. Having not used Lightroom or PS, I really can't compare with them, but I feel GIMP and RAW Therapee are good replacements for the price. Ha!
If you like free, then download the Nikon Capture NX-D beta. It is free and works beutifully for RAW.
Aroy, thanks. I just looked at the info on this software and find that because it is "Beta" it will be eliminated this summer when the official version is released. No mention of what the cost will be on the official version. Ha!
It will be free, and you can download the software from July 15th onwards.
Nikon | News | Nikon will release the official version of Capture NX-D, its new RAW image processing and adjustment software application, for free download beginning July 15, 2014
I am using this software ever since I bought the D3300 in March this year. Till date processed over 7,500 images. I am loving the software and as you have noticed, recovering images from under exposed regions is what makes my day.Oh great! I downloaded the "beta" and it is definitely fairly easy to use. RawTherapee on the other hand has/is still giving me some problems getting colors, etc to what I want. Using the Capture NX-D beta, I was able to fix a very underexposed photo so it was salvaged. Ha! Thanks.