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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
Apples Aperture 1.5
Jim Bounds, Photographer
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Raleigh | NC | usa | Posted: 12:53 PM on 05.02.07 |
| ->> Is Apples Aperture 1.5 worth $150 new? |
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Kirby Yau, Photographer, Assistant
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San Diego | CA | USA | Posted: 2:00 PM on 05.02.07 |
->> Jim,
I love Aperture and its worth $150 and more. Its improved my workflow, organization, and my ability to upload to PhotoShelter straight from the program (via downloadable utility.). Non-distructive editing is the best thing since sliced bread.
I hate Aperture because some processes take a LOOOOONNNGGG time. For instance deleting a large library or a couple hundred photos, can take a few minutes (5 or so). I have a MacBook Pro and sometimes it runs like a dog.
But the benefits outweighs the negative. I've used Lightroom at work and I feel the UI in Aperture is better layed out and looks nicer.
my 2 cents |
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Jim Leary, Photographer
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| NY | USA | Posted: 7:11 PM on 05.02.07 |
->> Jim,
You should also look into Lightroom before making a final decision.
Great program. |
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Kent Miller, Photographer
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Peekskill | NY | USA | Posted: 9:38 PM on 05.02.07 |
->> Sure. If you dont want it have them contact me.
K |
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Steven Mullensky, Photographer
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Port Townsend | WA. | USA | Posted: 10:02 PM on 05.02.07 |
->> I've been using Aperture since the first version and I know I don't use it to its full potential. What I like, more than any other application, is that I can e-mail from within the application. This, for me, has consolidated having to use several applications to just one whereas before I used 3 different programs to process images before I could e-mail them. Also, I can open images with my dedicated external editor (Photoshop) if I choose. I have not used PM in a long time (nothing against them), I still have it on my desktop but the need, at least for me, is not there. So, is it worth $150.00? I think so.
Steve |
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Vincent Johnson, Photo Editor, Photographer
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Chicago | IL | USA | Posted: 2:43 PM on 05.03.07 |
->> About 3 weeks ago I finally narrowed down my choice after using up almost all of the 30 day trials each offers. I suggest everyone do this and to it's fullest, to get a true idea of what you'll run into when you actually start using the application on an assignment to assignment basis.
I'm mean truly beat the programs up. Put your entire collection in there. Use the keywords function for the majority of your images as well as caption and other metadata.
Do printing, web galleries & even play around with the book option.
Watch the Quicktime tutorial videos for Aperture. Apple did a much better job than Adobe did when it comes to training people how to use the software. My guess is Adobe will be working on selling books or online training.
I made about 5 pages of notes on legal sized paper and debated for 3 days before buying Lightroom.
My biggest Pluses for Aperture was the full screen mode, the light box editing area (only good for 20" or bigger monitors) & the book making option. Although iPhoto has more options in final book sizes, Aperture did allow for greater page layout editing. It has the ability to link to DVDs or CDs and track burned images you now store offline. Two words, Smart-albums. Most likely the best features of Aperture are the smart albums which change as you change images outside of them and the search functionality. Very similar to iTunes, but just an incredible way to find things on the fly. These I think work good for stock photographers or on going photo stories or best of photo collections.
Cons of Aperture.
Even with a Dual Core Mac Pro it was a dog. Plan on spending another $500 in RAM alone, which I look at as increase in the price of Aperture. Click on the wrong album or search and you might not make deadline. The zoom function should be a quick click of the mouse or the space bar, like Lightroom. Aperture uses the "~" Tidle key???? Also, in a very Microsoft effort to stop you from messing your own stuff up, writing over caption or other metadata, you can't just shift click a large group of images and change all the caption info, you have to use their lift & stamp feature or batch change. Once again, forget about a deadline. Although I will say it comes in handy when you want to append info to metadata as it won't overwrite old captions, so you can have a group of captions that read "New Orleans after hurricane Katrina" and then shift select a set and add "Lower ninth ward" to the original caption.
Lightroom pros,
Lightroom was $199 until 4/30, so that helped a little in my choice. We'll see if they can keep selling at the same price as Aperture. Lightroom's black border helped me view my images better and while it's buttons and knobs aren't as flashy as Aperture, I've never felt that it was in anyway made for retired hobbyist or suburban house wifes, which was a my big complaint I had about Aperture. LR was leaps and bounds faster than Aperture when it comes to viewing, changing albums & views. Also, while both have a library function allowing for images to be stored in their original folders, Aperture keeps all the images not stored in their original location in a giant file that can't be reached unless you use Aperture. LR allows for a direct upload to a web site with it's gallery function, Aperture only allows for uploads to .MAC (like I said very mom & Grandma orientated). I can zoom in on my image with a single click. Changing metadata in a pinch is no mystery. I liked the Compare function better on LR. Over all both have intuitive functions in some places, but LR seemed more so than Aperture, maybe it's becaus eof years of using PS.
Cons for LR,
No option to track offline images. Sometimes feels a little to technical. Not $199 any more. If you buy CS3, Bridge feels light "Lightroom lite", so why spend an extra $300 dollars?
There are about two more pages of notes I still have, but I'm not getting paid for any of this so I need to go make money now.
Best options for everybody, get both apps, abuse them during the 30 day trail using them in your normal work flow. Spend the first week following tutorials on line on how to use them, then spend week 2 uploading or linking all your images on your hard drive to both of them. Then incorporate them into your work flow and see which you like better ove rthe last 2 weeks.
It will take some time, but unless you've got the money to drop on one & then change your mind and buy the other, it's worth it. Use the time you'd normally spend reading messages on Sportshooter and you'll have plenty of time. |
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Vincent Johnson, Photo Editor, Photographer
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Chicago | IL | USA | Posted: 2:44 PM on 05.03.07 |
| ->> Also, Jim Aperture is not $150 unless you buy it on the black market. Apple lists it at $299. |
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John Green, Photo Editor
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Cool City | Ca | USA | Posted: 2:50 PM on 05.03.07 |
| ->> LR |
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Cameron Davidson, Photographer
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Arlington | VA | USA | Posted: 3:46 PM on 05.03.07 |
->> I own both. Aperture is pretty amazing - once you start digging into the program. LR makes some pretty sweet conversions.
I like them both and am using Aperture more and more. It makes the sweetest looking web galleries for clients.
Even though LR and Aperture do a very good job of keywording, I still prefer Photo Mechanic with the new controlled vocabulary option.
LR is easy to use. Aperture appears to have more depth.
Remember when Apple purchased Final Cut and Adobe Premier was "the" program to use for video work? Apple kept making Final Cut better, stronger and listened to their customers. They are doing that with Aperture as is Adobe with LR. Final Cut is "the" first choice for many video shooters.
As photographers, we could go with either program and end up with a workflow that makes life much easier for us. |
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