Each user should use the software that best suits their needs. If the software you currently use doesn't meet your needs then it's definitely time to switch to a solution that does. However, if it does meet your needs but you still have "gear envy" over another option then obviously you have to weigh up the benefit vs the cost&effort of switching.
Yeah, it's a hard place to be. I much prefer using Aperture from a workflow and interface perspective but the reality is that I just cannot get the results I want with it vs. Lightroom. At least not without several plug-ins and constantly using TIFF files.
- I've had situations where the noise reduction literally does nothing other than making the image slightly blurry. Huge deal now that I'm on a noisier m43 sensor.
- Lack of output sharpening means that my web JPEGs always look worse than when done with Lightroom.
- No lens corrections means what can be done with one click in Lightroom (when Upright works, it is absolutely amazing) takes a bunch of manual fussing about in Photoshop unless I purchase a plug-in. Either way, a massive TIFF file in the end.
- Weak vignette tool just doesn't do enough, period.
On a lesser scale and mostly due to personal tastes:
- Separation of crop and straighten isn't the best way to do things.
- Having replicate/redraw brushed in adjustments one by one instead of doing it once and tweaking the sliders for the desired effect.
- Spoiled by the fact that all Lightroom sliders now all move in the same way, from light to dark.
There are some other things that I can't fault Aperture for because it's expected that Lightroom would integrate with Photoshop much more smoothly. But merging to TIFF and tone mapping back in Lightroom is a little known yet amazing feature. And pano stitching with Photoshop. Even with plug-ins in Aperture, none of them seem to integrate well enough to the point that I can just highlight multiple files and click stitch. I would not be surprised if the next version of Aperture has HDR and stitching built in. That would be most excellent.
On the flipside, I can't stand Lightroom's interface:
- Too many lines and boxes everywhere. Images don't need to be in squares, just let them float. Not everything needs its own little cubby hole inset into the interface.
- Both left and right panels. We don't need both. Tabs work fine in Aperture. Choose right or left, please. With 4 different panels on a small screen, things get crowded fast. Even when collapsed, too much space is give to the bar with the arrow on it for expanding.
- Modular approach. Not a huge issue, but the fact that hotkeys work differently in each module drives me mad.
- When working in a smart collection, if you have one setup as "Has Adjustments" for example and you're in develop and decided to reset all adjustments and start over, the image immediately disappears from your screen because it no longer meets the criteria for the collection. Then you have to find it somewhere in your library. Why? Just take the image out of the collection. Maybe do this in the Library module, but don't change the image I'm working on while in Develop. If you're going to force a modular approach, stick to it. Library-type activities shouldn't be happening in the Develop module.
- Lightroom 5 finally introduces a fullscreen preview, but I would absolutely love the floating HUD that Aperture provides. There's still no way to edit while in a true fullscreen view.
And I'm done!
