Lightroom v Breezebrowser

I need to decide between these two RAW processors to run alongside PShop CS3 on a new work laptop. I use Apple's Aperture for my personal work but this needs to be a PC laptop to integrate with the rest of our network. Cameras are all Canon (10D, 400D and 1D2n).

Cost is not an issue but if all things are equal I may as well go for the cheapest. My main consideration is:

speed of use - I hate to admit it but image quality is secondary to the ability to edit, batch process and deliver lots of images quickly. Crucial in this is the ability to automatically re-name files - setting a seven digit start number and asking the processor to calculate the next sequential number (this doesn't sound like a big issue but accurately re-typing 150 file names with 7 digits ain't fun). As long as images look okay up to A3 I'm happy...

Has anyone with experience of both got an opinion either way?

Thanks

Andrew

I use lightroom and i must say its great, not used it in the way you want to but i think youll find it does what you need.

Hi Andrew

I love BB for it's batch processing capabilities (format conversion, proofing, watermarking etc) but I wouldn't consider using it for RAW conversion (when judged against Lightroom) simply because it lacks the level of control afforded by LR

I have both C1 and LR and whilst I understand we all have our own likes and dislikes, my personal preference is for LR (at least it is this week )

Barrie

Doesn't matter what you go for, they're all going to feel really clunky against Aperture Andrew

Breeze would win hands down on the renumbering - I've not come across anything else Mac or PC that has such flexible renumbering. But from my limited use of Lightroom, it'll win over BB for processing/adjusting.

If I had to pick from the ones available on PC, I'd probably still go for C1 V3.7 or C1LE V3.7 as being the very quickest to do adjustments to and then batch process. While you can develop with sequential numbering in C1, I'd probably prefer to use BB to renumber the exported images into the required number sequence.

If you're looking to download/import images and renumber, then again Breeze's Downloader Pro is the 'Mutz Nutz' - nothing else comes close. Once you've used it to renumber them then you can use whatever you like to process them. DLPro is the one bit of my workflow I haven't been able to replicate on the Mac, so I still download on a PC before moving the images onto the Mac. You can also use DLPro to 'rename' images if you want - simply by 'redownloading' them .

Unfortunately the access to exif & iptc metadata in the renaming sections of Aperture & Lightroom is very poor.

Hope that helps increase the confusion

Have used both for years. I always use BB for the first dirty edit because it is sooooo fast at skimming through the embedded JPEGs on raw files. Its batch rename it very quick. But its RAW processing is a dog! I have not used anything better on a PC than Lightroom. It is fast and powerful and I would gladly recommend it to anyone wanting serious control over conversion. It has a very tidy catalogue system and in the Library mode, it can batch rename using various templates that you can create from scratch and customise. Agree with Nick on the Downloader Pro - a very handy tool for batch downloading and renaming files from multiple sources.

Hi Andrew

I use both Breezebrowser and Lightroom.

I agree with the above comments about Breezebrowser. It is still the fastest, easiest, browsing and editting program with excellent batch capabilities for renumbering, sorting, proofing, quick web page generation, etc.

The RAW converter is fine in BB but looks clunky and out of date now compared to Aperture, LR, etc. It does a good job but Lightroom is a far more advanced and powerful RAW conversion tool and much better at large batches of images.

So if you mainly intend to proof and edit on your laptop, with the occasional RAW conversion then BB is fine. If you want to process lots of RAW files on your laptop then LR is the way to go.

regards

Sean

I have both for the above reasons. I only use BB for the initial edit and it is the only program installed on my laptop, the next two are desktop (home) conversion tools only as they require a decent screen to get the most out of a 21MP file. Of the two RAW converters C14 is better for speed and initial colours, but lightroom is the best for manipulation of the raw file to produce the cobverted file- C3 is then used for the final product..

If I had to choose I would choose quality over speed and therefore choose lightroom..

Hi,

I won't join the discussion re which prog will suit your needs best apart from I believe LR would be your best choice...

I will add that there is an alternative to Downloader Pro with a version for Mac and a version that will run for free....

ImageIngester

http://www.basepath.com/ImageIngester/

Might be worth a look, I am about to try it out...

Phil

Having tried it over a few different versions, ImageIngester & IIPro are OK, but nowhere near as nice as DLPro - it's not as flexible nor as mature a product (I wish it was as it would solve a headache on the Mac!). Still, worth a play with for free

Thanks one and all, I'll probably go for DLPro and LR as a combi.

Much appreciated

Andrew

No-one using Photo Mechanic for downloading and editing?

Only as a means of previewing and selection prior to editing in PS (for on the spot press work)