Nikon Capture NX2 vs Photoshop Lightroom 4 Student and Teacher Edition

Hello:

I'm about ready to buy software that allows me to do more*. What do YOU recommend between the two mentioned in the tittle of this thread?

more*
Besides basic editing for exposure, levels, contrast, etc, etc( what you can basically do with View NX2) ...
I need B/W conversions/tools and HDR capability if possible.

Thanks,

That's easy - Photoshop Lightroom, hands down. I would suggest that you also consider CS6 Photoshop, too. The combination of the two will allow you to do anything and everything. If you have a kid (son, daughter, grandkids, neighbors, friends, etc.,) anyone in school as a student or teacher you can purchase the student/teacher version and save a great deal of money on both CS-6 and LR-4

I've used NX2 for a very long time since I just wanted basic post processing. However, after using CS 5.5 for a while now, I like the features better. There are more things that you can do with Adobe than NX2.

You can't include a watermark on NX2, and if you do, then I probably didn't know about it.

The advantage of using NX2 is that you can view the settings from you camera with your computer monitor since you can export / import them to NX2.

Lightroom and CS6, best way to go in my opinion. I agree with trying to get the academic edition, quite a large savings.

I've used NX and Lightroom as well and would recommend LR hands-down. Aside from its great processing features Lightroom's strength is its workflow capability. Importing, viewing, rating, processing, cataloging, printing, and publishing are ALL done (and done VERY well) from a single interface. You can't do all that from CaptureNX.

As for getting CS, I agree in doing so if you have the means. But if not, Lightroom will do you just fine.

Great, thanks for the answers. LR academic version is $80; you can't beat that price. I'll start there, and if I ever need more, I can go to Phototshop(CS) but I doubt it since that is a monster

How about HDT, does LR support it?


Alex.
There is no place like 127.0.0.1

HDR*


Alex.
There is no place like 127.0.0.1

Lightroom can't create HDR images but supports external apps (Photoshop, Photomatix, etc.) that do.

I bought LR4.1; I'm impressed; however I still haven't figured out how to pull EXIF information from the shots :/


Alex.
There is no place like 127.0.0.1