Beginner Some newbie post processing questions

[pete s]

I am not new to photography, but I am a complete amateur when it comes to post processing. I am a casual photographer and the limits of my post processing skills is a little sharpening, maybe an adjustment to contrast or saturation and a crop using an old piece of software I received with one of my past Canon cameras. Occasionally I will use an old version of PS to clone out something small. I currently shoot JPEG only.

Now I don’t want to spend a load of time manipulating every image, but I would lie to be able to perhaps do a little more than I currently do. Would most people here suggest I should probably be shooting RAW? There is always a lot of talk about Lightroom, but is that likely to be the best or most appropriate package for what I want to do? How much is it and how do I go about obtaining it? Will an older version cost less yet do what I need it to? I have a sneaky suspicion that if I shoot RAW with my Fuji X-T20 I will need a very recent version to be compatible with my files. Is that the case?

Sorry for all the amateur questions. It’s just not something I have wanted to get involved with until now.

 

[Mintchocs]

Definitely shoot RAW for post processing! You will need the latest version of LR to be able to process the RAW files. Whilst currently you can purchase LR 6 as a standalone product this maybe the last one(I'm not sure if the RAW converter in LR 6 handles that particular model xt20) Adobe are heading towards a subscription only model which includes LR and PS. The advantage in my opinion for a beginner with LR is that there is a huge amount of free tutorials out there on the web. The downside to Adobe or (possibly for other software companies) is that the longer you use them the more difficult it becomes to switch (especially in regard to your library of photos and edits on them) There are alternatives to Lightroom. The best would be to download trials and give them a go, very time consuming I know.

 

[Retune]

Take a look at Fuji's own free Raw File Converter, which is based on the respected Silkypix package and does an excellent job with X-Trans files: http://www.fujifilm.com/support/digital_cameras/software/myfinepix_studio/rfc/ I would shoot raw+jpeg initially so you can make direct comparisons. If you want to spend money, Iridient Developer often comes out better than LR for processing Fuji files in head to head comparisons. All raw developers (including Fuji RFC) can export as tiff, so you can still use that old copy of PS, and enhance it by downloading the (excellent and now free) Google Nik plugin collection: https://www.google.com/nikcollection/

 

[KIPAX]

Now I don’t want to spend a load of time manipulating every image, but I would lie to be able to perhaps do a little more than I currently do.

If you shoot RAW you will end up having to do MORE than you currently do..the camera already did some work for you when producing the JPG so you will ahve to replicate that before you even start... I think for the level your at and what you want to do then RAW is overkill.. better software with more options would be my advice at this stage.. walk then run

 

[pete s]

I think for the level your at and what you want to do then RAW is overkill.. better software with more options would be my advice at this stage.. walk then run

Walking is good. Any software in particular you would recommend?

 

[KIPAX]

Walking is good. Any software in particular you would recommend?

I have only ever used Photoshop myself..so I can't compare I am afraid.. I do a s much general processing as yourself with time being a constraint and if i need to do extra then photoshop has all the tools required for me and I have never edited a picture and wished I had RAW... I am not knocking raw.. it has its uses.. but its a bit like people telling you to shoot in manual ..it just sounds like the best idea but isnt always IMHO