Best software to edit Panasonic RAW files

[PartsMonkey]

I have to confess that though I always shoot RAW, I nearly always end up editing the jpg files on snapseed. Having just returned form a trip to New York, I decided that I would go to the effort of editing the RAWS using Affinity Pro which I've had for a couple of years but hardly use. (I realise this is more of a photoshop alternative instead of a lightroom alternative)

I'm noticing the results are quite disappointing given I was expecting to see an improvment over editing jpgs with Snapseed. I'm finding when I adjust highlights, if I go up at all, it just overexposes and when I go down, it becomes a grey mushy mess. Shadows are better but still tricky compared to using snapseed. Another problem is saturation seems too sensitive, I only need to go up 10% and the yellow taxis look like they are glowing.

My question is, will I get better results by investing in Lightroom/Luminar/ON1/Darktable/Capture One etc or am I just crap at editing photos?

[Simpo Two]

With my pragmatic head on, I'd say use what works. You find that Snapseed works for you but Affinity Pro doesn't.

Software is a very personal thing; I use a very old version of Capture One because I hate everything else!

[Sparkov]

No harm in giving the free packages a go, it won't have cost you anything if you don't like them. I didn't get on with Darktable, but find RawTherapee works well for me.

[steveatesh]

Got to say Affinity Photo RAW develop persona does exactly the same with my Sony raw files. I do raw editing in Capture One Pro Sony and take a photo to AP only if it needs any special work doing. I don’t think AP is a good raw tool, it’s a pixel peeper like Photoshop really and is very good for composites, layers, object removal etc.

As others have said, use what works, if snapped does the trick then that’s your answer

[PartsMonkey]

Thanks for your help guys. I'll give some of the free options a whirl and see how I get on. Failing that I just found out that Snapseed is adding support for camera specific RAW files so I dare say I might be able to edit the RAW's in Snapseed anyway. Either way I can put off splashing out on Lightroom for now.

[Simpo Two]

How did you get from RAW to JPG before that?

[StevieBee]

PartsMonkey said:

My question is, will I get better results by investing in Lightroom/Luminar/ON1/Darktable/Capture One etc or am I just crap at editing photos?

I can only speak for Lightroom which I find to be excellent.

Editing RAW isn't particularly difficult from a technical perspective (once you get your head around some of the terminology). The skill comes in not overdoing it....unless that's the effect you're after.

The things I find most useful are the ability to knock back highlights, pull out shadows and sort out noise on high ISO shots. You can do those things with a JPEG but RAW affords a far greater degree of refinement.

[Beggarall]

I would put in another vote for Adobe LR. I have used lots of others though and they all do a reasonable job. I have Affinity, DxO and an old version of Luminar. In the end it all depends what you like and what you are used to using. It also depends on your budget - LR requires a subscription and I am not sure you can get a free-standing version - and certainly not one with Camera Raw.