Lightroom 3 represents the most significant update to Adobe’s photo management and processing tool. Although the list of updates appears to be a set of incremental improvements, Lightroom 3 is much improved offering than it’s predecessors.
The updates includes the new and improved features:
- New RAW conversion engine (same as ACR 6 for Photoshop)
- Incredible Noise Reduction features
- Improved Non-destructive editing
- 64-bit compatibility
- Lens corrections
- Flickr integration
- Improved Image watermarking
- Improved curves tool
- Tethered shooting (currently limited to selected Canon and Nikon DSLRs)
- Support for video files (organization and tagging only – not editing)
- Perspective correction adjustments
- Film grain simulation filter
- Comprehensive importing, organization and exporting, with multiple output options (DNG, TIFF, JPEG)
- Easy synchronization of adjustments across multiple images
- Offline library management (i.e. if your images are stored on an offline external drive)
- Photoshop integration
Noise Reduction
The new RAW conversion engine combined with user controllable noise reduction sliders allow for a level of noise reduction that I’ve never seen possible from an Adobe package out-of-the-box. Lightroom 3 has introduced an incredible new noise reduction regime that justifies the purchase price on it’s own in my opinion.
To prove my point, the image below shows an out-of-camera RAW file shot using a Nikon D300 at base ISO 200 with the out of date Lightroom 2 RAW process applied.
The next image below shows off the noise reduction possible, without losing the finer details when using Lightroom 3.
Lightroom 3 image noise reduction is very impressive
The shots above show what an outstanding leap forward Adobe’s latest Lightroom has taken when compared against it’s older sibling. For me this is the single best reason to go ahead and purchase Lightroom 3.
You can purchase Lightroom at Adobe’s Site for the very reasonable $299.
Further Reviews: Stephen Shankland over at CNET has another good review here. CrunchGear has a review here. Kerry Garrison interviews Senior Lightroom Product Manager Tom Hogarty for the cameradojo Podcast about Lightroom 3 here. John Nack has a post here. A good link roundup from the Lightroom Blog here. My favourite post is at Thomas Hawk’s Site
