The new version is certainly not a revolution - more of an evolution. As a new main features LR6 offers the following features.
- Merge HDR images
- Assembling panoramas
- Face Recognition
- Performance improvements
HDR:
The HDR-Module processes the (RAW) images directly into Lightroom. This means that (if available) eliminates a transfer to an external program. The results are quite good and the HDR images have a very natural character. The finished result is stored as DNG and can be edited afterwards with the known development settings of LR.
Conclusion HDR: For fast HDR image in between the function is well managed. The natural-looking result pleases me well personally. The options are limited however, so that HDR fans will probably continue to rely on external tools.
Panorama:
The panorama tool works flawlessly. I have tested several series recordings that I had been put together with other tools. I think these external tools I can do without in the future.
Conclusion Panorama: Also here, the real panorama fans will probably continue to rely on external tools. For me, this new feature, however, is really interesting and for my purposes (simple panoramas) perfectly adequate.
Face Detection:
I've been waiting a long time to be honest. What the competitors have long been able, finally finding its way into LR 6. The first race on my LR catalog I have to run overnight. Nearly 10,000 photos were indexed the next morning. Then I started to assign the names. This is of course the first place, some work, but I think it was worth it for me.
Conclusion Face Detection:
The detection works quite well so far. Room for improvement here, but still. Profiles (ie photographs of the page) are often not recognized. Depending on the picture, it's enough when the head is tilted on the image left or right. LR recognizes this then not always as face and it must be reworked manually. But this is actually relatively quickly if you have internalized the workflow for once. Nevertheless, it must be reworked here.
Performance improvements:
Yes of course, everyone would like. The new GPU acceleration is, the processor relieved and the work to be significantly better performance, as long as the graphics card is supported. My graphics card (iMac mid 2011 with an AMD Radeon HD 6750M) is recognized and supported. So far so good ... but I notice no real speed advantage over LR5.
Conclusion Performance:
I would argue that neither LR6 faster, but not slower than LR5. As you can read in various forums, there are probably still some problems that are hopefully solved.
Should we now update necessarily Version 5?
Here I answer times with a clear "yes and no". Who has external tools for HDR and panoramas, can certainly do without the LR functions. The same applies if one does not wish to face recognition. If you do not need these features, you can safely remain in Version 5. The performance improvements are at least for me (if at all) and minimal justify a switch. When looking from version 4 is making the update then even more sense, because then you also get all the new features of LR5 ...
As for me, the innovations were interesting I have ordered the update and am satisfied. If face detection and the now "improved" performance with the next updates will be adjusted, it is also the fifth star.
Speaking update, even if Adobe would like to sell the full version of us: There is for owners of older versions of the update also correspondingly favorable conditions. I downloaded it for just under 74 euros directly from Adobe. It is there, however, a bit hidden: In Adobe access the site to Lightroom and put the full version to your shopping cart. Call the cart and select "Modify". Then instead of full version "upgrade" and the existing version select (as upgradable versions LR are offered 1-5). This "save changes" to confirm only with.
