M8 and Aperture vs Lightroom

[Likaleica]

Does anyone have any experience or bias regarding Aperture and/or Lightroom with M8 files?

 

[paulhart]

I use Lightroom exclusively for M8 shots, which I almost always take in RAW format. For me it works perfectly. I tried Aperture briefly, but just didn't find it as intuitive.

 

[H.M.T]

Hi,
I am just comparing Lightroom vs. Aperture. I have used Aperture with my Canon EOS-Mk II (raw format) and I am very happy, but with Leica M8 (also allways with raw format) pictures has little bit too much red. I have tested other setups (hacking aperture raw.plist) but still I am not happy. With lightroom same pictures looks like more "glow" and same time natural.
When I have finnish (during next week or so) my tests I will write someting here.
Meantime all best
Kari K

 

[Joe Mondello]

Tim,

Both programs are available for free 30-day trials and both are worthy of consideration.

I prefer many things about each over the other and have and use both.

 

[etrigan63]

You want to have a look at Bibble Pro from http://www.bibblelabs.com. It comes in Windows, Mac and Linux versions and does a wonderful job with M8 DNG files. Uses Noise Ninja for clean up and the results are very good.

 

[Likaleica]

Thanks, guys. I have owned Aperture for a while and used it on my Nikon files, but noticed since joining this forum that most people are using Lightroom. So, I was wondering if I should trial it.

 

[simondsch]

Aperture with M8 files

Aperture with M8 files

I am satisfied with the Aperture processing of the M8 DNG files. My principal use of Aperture is for sports photography (Canon 1DMark IIn) where I have to work through hundreds of images from a single volleyball match or basketball game. Aperture seems optimized for that sort of shooting.

For the much more selective shooting of the M8, Aperture seems to be able to extract high quality image data from DNG files. I am pleased that Aperture can pull usable pixels out of right side of the histogram. The only negitive I have run into is a barely noticeable bit of posterization of particularly bright blue sky taken in high altitude desert scenes. I attribute the posterization to the rather big jumps in brighter regions of Leica's Look Up Table that collapses the 71.5 Db dynamic range of the KAF 10500 sensor (equals a factor of 3,758 requiring roughly 14 bits to capture completely) down to 8 bits (256 steps).

 

[jbf]

I absolutely hate aperature!

I've been using photoshop for at least 7-8 years. I'm used to knowing what I'm actually changing. I dont like the way the aperature interface is or how it 'saves' your files. I'll stick with photoshop as I know every little trick and hack for it. I get exactly what I want out of photoshop to the exact detail.

I havn't tried adobe lightroom so I cant comment on it. But honestly I cant stand aperature to be honest.

 

[Joe Mondello]

I absolutely hate aperature!

I've been using photoshop for at least 7-8 years. I'm used to knowing what I'm actually changing. I dont like the way the aperature interface is or how it 'saves' your files. I'll stick with photoshop as I know every little trick and hack for it. I get exactly what I want out of photoshop to the exact detail.

I havn't tried adobe lightroom so I cant comment on it. But honestly I cant stand aperature to be honest.

Aperture and Lightroom are not Photoshop replacements they are digital asset management (DAM) and image development tools that both work seamlessly with Photoshop when its tool set is needed -- which in my case is quite rarely!

You might want to revisit both programs (they are free trials) since each can manage files where you want them. Aperture no longer requires you put your files into the Aperture Library -- and hasn't for nearly a year.

 

[MartinL]

Aperture and Lightroom are not Photoshop replacements they are digital asset management (DAM) and image development tools that both work seamlessly with Photoshop when its tool set is needed -- which in my case is quite rarely!.

I'd add that PS, CS3 Bridge makes modest-to-heavy file management very easy. Unless you are into multiple tagging, rating, and storing of your files, it's hard to see the point of Lightroom IF you have current version of PS.

(I can't speak to what would happen in LR to up the red in M8 files, but I also shoot 1D MkII, and it seems that both its reds and the M8's reds are true: but the M8's reds are redder. I think it's the camera. Go figure. 😀

 

[jbf]

Aperture and Lightroom are not Photoshop replacements they are digital asset management (DAM) and image development tools that both work seamlessly with Photoshop when its tool set is needed -- which in my case is quite rarely!

You might want to revisit both programs (they are free trials) since each can manage files where you want them. Aperture no longer requires you put your files into the Aperture Library -- and hasn't for nearly a year.

Honestly, bridge and CS3 work great for me. I'll be checking out lightroom soon, but honestly I hate the way Aperature manages files. I might give it another try but I have a feeling if anything I'll end up using Lightroom over Aperature.

 

[Likaleica]

I took your advice Joe and downloaded Lightroom (I had Aperture). I can see the strengths and weaknesses of each. Glad that Aperture doesn't force you into saving files in its Library anymore, like iPhoto does. I must confess, I still am a pretty heavy Photoshop user and just ordered the CS3 upgrade.

 

[jbf]

I just tried lightroom. It definately has it's strengths as far as streamlining some processes. It can be quite nice. I still have a feeling that i'll be doing the majority of my work in CS3 though.

Interesting.... 🙂

 

[jdos2]

I came into the game with Aperture, and that's where I stand.

It's "all in one" solution is "good enough" for me- and my workflow, though I did try to use both the Capture stuff included with the M8 ("enh.") and Lightroom (nothing to gain...).

All software runs fine on the Dual G5.

 

[summilux]

the August edition of LFI has an article on aperture, lightroom and Capture One LE. it says the Capture One can pull most data out of M8's DNG.

 

[etrigan63]

Check out Bibble 4.9.8c from Bibble Labs. Does a bang up job on M8 files and is tri-platform (Windows/Mac/Linux). Also has Noise Ninja built-in. Here is a sample shot handheld at ISO 1250:

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