RAW editing - Use Canon software or LR (or no difference)?

[theantiquetiger]

I have always just loaded my RAW images into Lightroom and use it to adjust the color, Hue, Saturation, etc. does it make a difference whether I use the camera software or Lightroom/Photoshop?

I've seen people say use the software before moving the images to any PP programs.

[Marko]

I don't believe i know of many people that use the canon/nikon/etc Raw editing software.

I've never once even looked at the software.

Since you have both...does the canon software offer the same functionality as Lightroom?

To me....seems like a waste of time....as Lightroom does both basic editing and cataloguing very very well.

[Runmonty]

Firstly, I am not all that familiar with Lightroom, but I understand it is using the same engine as Adobe Camera Raw (ACR).

I used to prefer Canon's Digital Photo Professional (DPP) to ACR. I like the control it gave and preferred the overall result.

However with ACR's update to "process 2012" last year, I now much prefer ACR. Therefore if your version of lightroom uses process 2012 (i think LR4 does) I would say stick with lightroom. If you have an earlier version give DPP a try and see what you think.

[Marko]

thanks for that RM - does DPP catalogue as well?

[Runmonty]

No DPP doesnt catalogue but does act as a browser to access the raw files.

Canon has Zoom Browser that will let you "classify" an image and manage exporting etc but I think it is pretty basic. I havent ever used it.

[Realist]

I also use the DPP for Canon, and I like it. I have CS3, but not lightroom. It's fairly easy of a program to use, and if I need to do more extensive editing I can export it to Photoshop through DPP. It imports it as a TIFF. The program is easy to use, and works well, that's why I use it.