Lightroom 4 is out at half the price!

Ever since trying out Lightroom 2, I've been a big fan of it.

Pros:

- Easy to import pictures from camera card
- No extra steps to work with RAW files (which I highly recommend everyone too)
- Organizing your database, with keywords, u can find any picture easily
- Post processing - with built in "presets" or 3rd party free ones, it allows you to give your picture that extra oomph, processing to B&W. You can also then fine-tune using the various controls, to how you like it, if you want. It's very powerful, easy to use, all-in-one package.

Cons: 
- No Video. LR2 doesn't hand any video files.  So if you took any video, you have to separately import them in with Windows Media Player or others.
- No frames or collages. A bit of hassle, I do export the pictures first as JPEG, then open it again with Photoscape if I wanted to put simple frames or make a collage of images into one. So far, it's the best (IMHO) free photo software out there.
- IT"S NOT FREE!

Well, after releasing Lightroom4 beta out earlier this year, Lightroom 4 is finally out!
There are lots of websites out there, with reviews (see DP Review; Fro Knows Photo) check it out - but I think the developments are well worth the $$$ - and the best thing is, it is now US$149 as opposed to US$299 for previous versions - HALF PRICE!!!

The advantages over LR2 are

- Video. It now imports video, and you can sort them in a catalog.
- Simplified controls - like now Fill Light and Brightness, are combined. Easier to use.
- Geo-tagging, if that's your thing
- Photobooks - havn't tried it, but if you are into making photobooks, getting to do it within the same software is very useful & friendly
- Direct export to Web - this, I didn't quite like as much. Prefer to export as Jpeg into a folder, then upload how I like to wherever. 
- Improved software ability - I like B&W images, and I do find that I like how LR4 processes them better. Well, it's supposed to be obvious, since LR4 is 2 generations ahead of LR2.

Who is it for?

This is a great software for serious amateurs, people who have tons of photographs, who like to do some post processing/conversion to B&W, etc.
For those who are still using LR2 (like me), or never used it before, I would highly recommend checking it out. Often, you can do a trial version.

Get it, you won't regret it. I'm going to get my hands on one.