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Known Participant
December 15, 2025
Answered

Lightroom Classic vs. Lightroom "ecosystem"

  • December 15, 2025
  • 2 replies
  • 276 views

My agency is considering a switch from Classic to the cloud-based LIghtroom, which Adobe appears to call Lightroom ecosystem.

 

For those who have made the switch, what are the pros and cons? Is performance better in the ecosystem version? Do you lose anything by abandoning Classic? Anything else we should consider for the decision?

 

I've posted here many times about our performance issues. Last month, we moved all of our original photos from a server destination to a hard drive connected via USB-C. One day last week, performance problems previously experienced on the server resurfaced, including:

  • make an edit, several minutes before the change appears in History
  • export a photo via keyboard shortcut or menu command, several minutes before the Export dialog window appeared
  • exporting would take longer than normal (I know duration depends on quantity, but a batch of 10 photos would take several minutes whereas it typically takes a few seconds)

 

We don't store any video files in Lightroom. We backup the catalog at least once a week (with optimization).

 

We thought our server connection could've been the culprit. That's ruled out since we're now on a hard drive. We thought the local computer could be a problem. We installed a brand new computer with Lightroom Classic and Illustrator the only software installed (other than Mac OS stuff). I've wondered if our 375,000+ photo library was excessive, but other users report much larger libraries.

 

So, in short, would it help to switch to Ecosystem? Or can you help solve any of the above issues?

 

Tech report: 2023 Mac Studio, Apple M2 Ultra, 128GB RAM, Sonoma 14.8.2, Lightroom 15.0.1, Use Graphics Processor and Use GPU for Preview Generation - both set to Auto, Camera Raw Cache - 5GB maximum size, catalog size - 9.87 GB, catalog preview - 12GB, standard preview size - 1024 pixels

Correct answer John Waller

More food for thought here:

Lightroom cloud ecosystem vs. Lightroom Classic - which do I need? | The Lightroom Queen

 

Have you considered upgrading to Tahoe to see if there are any performance improvements?

2 replies

dj_paige
Legend
December 15, 2025

My agency is considering a switch from Classic to the cloud-based LIghtroom, which Adobe appears to call Lightroom ecosystem.

 

The software is named Lightroom, not Lightroom Ecosystem. 

 

There is an "ecosystem" that connects with Lightroom (the software), which you can use if you want. This ecosystem includes Lightroom (Mobile) and Lightroom Classic. So the forum is named Lightroom ecosystem.

mattwattAuthor
Known Participant
December 16, 2025

I understand, and appreciate, your point. I was looking for a word to distinguish the Classic interface

classic.jpg

from this interface

cloud.jpg

and Adobe's forum selection page uses the word ecosystem

ecosystem.jpg

so that's what I chose. What is the correct terminology for the second photo?

 

Do you have input on the Classic vs other? Or suggestions for our performance issues? Thank you!

 

 

John Waller
Community Expert
John WallerCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
December 16, 2025

More food for thought here:

Lightroom cloud ecosystem vs. Lightroom Classic - which do I need? | The Lightroom Queen

 

Have you considered upgrading to Tahoe to see if there are any performance improvements?

Sameer K
Community Manager
Community Manager
December 15, 2025

Hey, @mattwatt. Welcome to the Lightroom Community. I'll help you decide if you'd like to switch. 

 

Although the gap between Lightroom Classic & Lightroom desktop is getting closer with every release. You can review the list of differences: https://adobe.ly/49cF2aQ;

 

Realistically, it depends on what your workflow requires. If it requires extensive organization tools, multiple catalogs, and a variety of modules, you can stick with Lightroom Classic, and we'll help you troubleshoot the performance issues. Check is recent conversation: https://adobe.ly/3MDRVSC

 

On the other hand, Automatic cloud backup, Intelligent search, Multi-Device Access, and a modern UI are a few of the many pros.

 

Or you can continue to use both in tandem until you decide to stick with one. Here is an FAQ related to Lightroom Sync that can help: https://adobe.ly/3KIMCAT;

 

I'll still wait for experts to add their experiences. 

Thanks!

Sameer K
(Type '@' and type my name to mention me when you reply)