Originally posted by BarryE My problem with not using Adobe PS and/or LR (I do also think its subscription is good value) is for long term continuity. I have old RAW files processed in old versions of ACR, when I bring them into the current version I can seamlessly pick up the processing by either using the old process model or switching to the latest one. As each version improves in its abilities this gives me continuing support that I believe will continue as long as I pay for a monthly subscription - only equal to the value of three cups of coffee per month. I don't have to worry about post processing support and as Pentax also supports native DNG the whole process just rolls on nicely. It is this not having to worry about my post processing software that means Starbucks goes without :-)
This is a very good point, and one I struggled with before finally making the jump to Darktable (as part of an overall move to Linux Mint 18.3).
However...
For some years, my Lightroom workflow has involved developing my raw files, exporting to full size TIFF (admittedly, 8 bit rather than 16 bit), and then exporting to resized JPEG as the need arises. So I have full size TIFF files with all of my processing baked in. Whilst there's a small chance I may want to revisit my edits, it's only small, and only on a few files (it's highly unlikely I'd want to re-edit every single raw photo I've taken). Moving to Darktable, I lost the ability to go back to those original raw edits, but I've yet to find that particularly limiting since switching some months ago. After all, I can still work on the TIFF files (albeit with my raw edits baked in), and I can still export to a variety of different JPEG sizes as necessary.
For me personally, I liken the desire to stay with Lightroom
for convenience and continuity alone to holding onto a big helium-filled balloon. The longer you hold on, the higher it gets - and the worse the impact of letting go. Whatever point I decided to leave Lightroom, I knew I'd have to accept some frustrations and difficulties, including the loss of access to my original raw file edits on fully-developed photos. I finally let go of the balloon, and yes - there have been some frustrations and difficulties - but honestly, not that many, and I'm out the other side now (mostly
).
My Pentax DNG files load straight into Darktable without any problems. I have some problems with other manufacturer-specific raw formats, but for those I can either convert to DNG during import using digiKam (which I use for library management), or where that doesn't work, I can run the files through AdobeDNGConverter (so I still have to thank Adobe for something
).