I figure this is the place to ask. What is the best overall post processing software for still photos. I don't want to make calendars, or photo albums. I just want to make the most of the photos I work so hard to get. Any information will be appreciated.
Does everything a processing program can do: Photoshop
Reasoably priced place to start: Photoshop Elements.
Great organizing tools, intuitive processing without every possilbe professional retouching feaature and my fav: Lightroom.
Others can comment on Lightzone, Aperture, etc. I dont have experience with them.
I've tested and compared 7 or 8 apps extensively and repeatedly plus another 5 or 6 apps fairly extensively but not so repeatedly. In every category (esthetics, speed, functionality, ease of use, and the biggest IMO - the end result) Capture One either matches or surpasses all others - especially in the end result category. There are demos of just about every app so you can do you're own comparisons and tests if you'd like. Here's some links for you: Aperture, SilverFast, PhotoLine, LightRoom, CaptureONE, Photon, RAW Developer, Bible PRO, LightZone, Photo Mechanic, Pixelmator, DXO-Optics, Helicon Filter, Picasa, RAW Therapee, PhotoStudio, SilkyPix. And there's probably a few I'm forgetting too. Keep in mind you're probably going to get a different opinion from everyone. I would assume most people have used only one or two apps and probably chose the 1st one that made sense to them without reading the docs and/or by user recommendation. That's usually the way for most software. I guess not many others purposely process a specific set of troubled and typical images through each app and compare as they go. At least I would be a little surprised to find another like myself in that regard. Photoshop+ACR+Bridge is also in the test Que. but not included here as it's already popularly known and I dunno why but I place it outside the "photo-processor app" category. If I included it my tests would become very complicated but PS+B+ACR would win just like USC is saying below - except maybe for esthetics and ease of use that is.
Overall, the answer is easy ... Bridge/Photoshop/ACR (Adobe Camera RAW) in CS4 ... ie, Photoshop. IF you are willing to do the training to get up to speed on the package. Try lynda.com to for Photoshop training.
I also own Lightroom, Capture One PRO and DXO Optics PRO. But, you are better off just going with one package and mastering it. I want to like Lightroom, but just can't warm up to it. Capture One is great, fast and easy. DXO Optics PRO for me is not an everyday package, but one that I will use when I need it to correct optics problems (distortion, etc.). I also own SilkyPics, but am not going to be using it anymore. It came bundled with a camera I purchased and I really don't like it.
I wish that Adobe would just make ACR a little nicer. Maybe a nicer look and interface with all of the little tool features of LR. They could add a few of the LR features like the ability to make a variant to Bridge.
I hope to upgrade my computer this spring to an Intel i7 based system and I will take another run at LR again then.
My favorite is Lightzone 3.6.1. Unfortunately, it's not really supported anymore (nor has it been supported over that past year). It feels like there's only one person in the whole company, and he/she only works on it out of their basement once a year, if that much.
I've tried most of the editors out there, and Lightzone is by far, the best. It's easy, intuitive, fast (not for batch, though), has a few minor bugs, has a very basic asset management/browser function, but does an excellent job in raw conversion. If you've ever spent time in the darkroom, you'll find its workflow familiar.
If you're looking for something that's well supported, LightRoom and Photoshop are at the top of the class. Just go to a bookstore and you'll see that most of the books on photo editing are about LR or PS.
If you're looking for something that's well supported, LightRoom and Photoshop are at the top of the class. Just go to a bookstore and you'll see that most of the books on photo editing are about LR or PS.
If you don't want to spend a lot of time re-inventing wheels while others zoom past you, this is a very important factor. I used to use other editors that certainly had the capabilities I needed, but I had to figure out how to do everything myself.
One day I picked up a $30 Photoshop "cookbook" and saw everything I'd spent scores of hours figuring out in my editor explained directly and simply. If I have a question or a new task in Photoshop, I can get help literally in minutes through any number of web forums.
I realized that the problem with taking "the road less traveled" is that if you need help, it could be a long time before anyone else comes by.
I've been a lightroom fan ever since it came out. I find the workflow straight forward and intuitive. I use photoshop only for things lightroom can't handle, like layers. However, I've recently tried Capture One by Phase One. I keep reading how their RAW converter is superior to Lightroom and ACR so I've been playing with the demo version of Capture One. I have to say, I agree with the post above that said it's tops in the results department. I've never seen a program nail the exposure with the auto everything button the way Capture One can. The controls are awesome and the results even better. I haven't purchased it yet, but I'm well on my way.
Photoshop+ACR+Bridge is also in the test Que. but not included here as it's already popularly known and I dunno why but I place it outside the "photo-processor app" category. If I included it my tests would become very complicated but PS+B+ACR would win just like USC is saying below - except maybe for esthetics and ease of use that is. 
