Move from Aperture?

Since my last post in this thread I have uninstalled Aperture from both of my machines and am now only using Capture One. After running it alongside Aperture for several weeks I have come to the conclusion that Aperture didn't even come close. Photo's is installed on my Macbook Pro but apart from an initial look at it, will not get used again. If their was an option to uninstall it I would do so.

CaptureOne image quality is really good. I notice that for images where I struggled in Aperture to get good colorbalance and dynamic range, CaptureOne often gets it right automatically, sometimes it requires minimal manual adjustment.

Not not only that, Phase One has released four or five updates since last August, and they are really active on their forum helping customers.

That being said, Capture One isn't really effective at handling a library (catalog) of more than 5000 images, but I think I can break my image collection into sections of about that size - and I think this will improve.

Also Aperture masks have significantly better edge finding properties than Capture One Pro, and spot and patch is better done in Aperture.

But really good image quality trumps really good image management.

To Kawalin, Filippo, RedRobin and others,

I'm in the same boat as you guys. For some years I used iPhotos. In 2010 I bought a Leica M9 with Summilux-M lenses.

Unfortunately Lightroom comes bundled with Leica M9 for free. This ought to have been Aperture. Twice I tried to befriend

LR, but I gave up. Being a SW engineer I don't understand how they can make such a lousy user interface in LR.

So Aperture was a life saviour and I do not understand Apple's strategy of dumping it on the graveyard. Apple can't seriously

mean that Photos or iPhoto is a substitute.

I have only ca. 3.000 photos in Aperture, but thanks to ericnepean and RedRobin I've cast my eyes on Capture One Pro 8, it

looks promising and the price is approx. the same as I paid for Aperture in 2010 DKR. 1500 (200 $).

I don't want to create controversy because I am sure there is no "correct" answer. I would, however, like to add my comments for those that are still considering Lightroom.

I made the switch to Lightroom 3 mos ago . I wanted an application that was widely used, had lots of tutorials and help online, and was known and understood by my friends so that I could get personal help if needed. I signed up for LR CC and couldn't be happier. There is a learning curve, but it has lots of similarities to Aperture, so the curve was not terribly steep. The online tutorials are great. Adobe has also helped when needed. Many of the editing tools are superior to Aperture, specifically brushing, gradient tool, auto lens correction. Not only do I get LR, I also get Photoshop and LR mobile which I find very useful.

There is no point complaining about the demise of Aperture. Pick an alternative and enjoy the benefits it may bring.

Well, well, I'm only en enthusiastic amateur photographer with approx.. 3.000 photos in Aperture, but if I were a professional photographer

with 100.000 photos in Aperture and an income (and a reputation) depending on my photos I would be scared and not so cavalier about a

transition to a new SW package. How can I be sure that all my changes to all my photos in all my Aperture libraries will be transported

unscathed etc. etc.

But as you say Maddogjohn if has to be done it must be done and the experiences from you guys indicate for me that Capture One Pro 8

seems to be a good choice.

gsf1 wrote:

Well, well, I'm only en enthusiastic amateur photographer with approx.. 3.000 photos in Aperture, but if I were a professional photographer

with 100.000 photos in Aperture and an income (and a reputation) depending on my photos I would be scared and not so cavalier about a

transition to a new SW package. How can I be sure that all my changes to all my photos in all my Aperture libraries will be transported

unscathed etc. etc.

Unfortunately, for people with years of work invested in 100,000 images (and the rest of us), Apple has not left us with an exit strategy that ensures that any changes to all photos in all Aperture libraries will be transported - all you get is the original and the final product if you move from Aperture to Photos. Keywords and other Metadata are kept, and most parts of the image organization - but stacks are lost (except stack picks) and some smart smart albums.

Not a pretty picture, and one I had hoped to avoid by buying "professional" software. Except that I made the mistake of buying Aperture. A great tool, but it was supported by Apple.

The exit path to Lightroom is about the same, you loose the changes, all you keep is the initial and final product, Metadata, and some of the organization.

The exit path to CaptureOnePro is better, it keeps many of the adjustments, and of the adjustments which are not kept, it seems that the CaptureOnePro default adjustments give superior results to the Aperture adjustments.

Thanks to ericnepean and others for useful comments.

I will try out Capture One Pro 8, which seems to receive more praise than other tools and rather important,

it retains most of the Aperture features or even improve some of the feautures.

Before you make the leap over to Lightroom, you might want to look at Capture One Pro 8.

So far I am finding C1 to be far more interesting then Lightroom.

Me too.

I have given my opinion on various other posts; I'll repeat myself...

I really really regret Apple's decision.

I have gotten Capture One and frankly, am astounded by the quality of the RAW conversions, so much that I am now fidling with old shots, which Aperture was never able to get quite right.

However, what I dearly miss are:

1) Smart Albums; Capture One can't convert them. I use tons of them as my library is composed of over 180,000 frames and I use keywords very extensively

2) Slideshows. There is none in Capture One. I use Apertures' capability to interface with iTunes to do major shows (my pictures are all travel related and with books, slideshows are the best way to share).

So, instead of having one major Catalogue in Capture One (the replica of having one major Aperture Library - which I have), I have catalogues for individual countries or events which are referenced on my external hard drives by continents/events. I then export my Capture One images back to my main Aperture Library (yes, the pictures are way better than Aperture was capable of doing - but I am repeating myself).

Next steps: once I have numerous Catalogues replicating my Aperture Main Library, I'll wait and see what happens in the market. Either Capture One will improve its offering by working on its library management system and introduce Smart Albums and Slideshows, or something will happen with Photos now that Apple is going open architecture; there appears to be some noise comming from Macphun. In the meantime I'll stay away from El Capitan until I get confirmation Aperture can still work with it...

Let me be another one here recommending Capture One Pro 8 over Lightroom

Here is my problem with Capture One. After spending two hours on their website I cannot figure out how to join the user discussion group. They do have a discussion group, but I can find no way to sign up and join it.

and I use keywords very extensively

Are you able to show Keywords under thumbnails the way Aperture CAN do, and the way iPhoto WAS able to do?

Try registering at this URL https://www.phaseone.com/en/GlobalMenu/ProfileDetailsPage.aspx?source=mypages

If my memory serves correctly, if you download and install the free trial, somewhere along the way it kicks you into a URL where you signup as a user.

CaptureOne only offers three choices for showing stuff below thumbnails, and the choice is much more limited than Aperture.

No other tool has Aperture's feature set, but CaptureOne comes closest.

There are important things that PhaseOne and CaptureOne do that Apple and Aperture don't do.

1) Capture one does better quality RAW conversions

2) Phase One technical representatives are active on the user forums and communicate with real users EVERY DAY

3) PhaseOne technical representatives respond to request for technical assistance with a day or two

4) PhaseOne supports their product. Version 8.0 was out last September, since then we've had 4 more versions and last week version 8.3.

Every day you spend working with aperture is more wasted effort - you will have to redo some part of it, no matter which tool you transition too. And what is the point of working with a tool with substandard color conversion?

CaptureOne only offers three choices for showing stuff below thumbnails, and the choice is much more limited than Aperture.

Is one of those three choices, keywords ?

Every day you spend working with aperture is more wasted effort - you will have to redo some part of it, no matter which tool you transition too.

Well, I can just keep using Aperture and never make a transition at all.

The ability to display keywords under thumbnails is an absolute requirement for my work. Until about two years ago iPhoto had this capability. As part of Apple's drive towards minimalism, they eliminated that feature, hence my change to Aperture which does have the ability to show keywords under thumbnails.

Lyn, has this capability, and is a good candidate for its organizational capabilities, but it does not have the editing power of capture one.

<Link Edited By Host>

Try registering at this URL https://www.phaseone.com/en/GlobalMenu/ProfileDetailsPage.aspx?source=mypages

If my memory serves correctly, if you download and install the free trial, somewhere along the way it kicks you into a URL where you signup as a user.

Thanks !! Your link got it working for me.

Incidentally, I left a link to the photo application "Lyn". Apple deleted it. I would love to know what I did wrong. 😕