Why I am leaving CaptureOne despite loving it.
Hello All, I have been using CaptureOne as my main photo editing software for over a year now. I absolutely love the program and it has sped up and streamlined my workflow multiple times over. The program works flawlessly, and every update that comes out just keeps making it better.
I have run into a problem though.
As most of us know, CaptureOne changed their update schedule from a yearly release to a rolling release in February of 2023. The original announcement about this happened in December of 2022, one month after I purchased a perpetual license for the program. I was initially concerned because usually companies who do this are trying to move away from the perpetual licensing model all-together. After talking to multiple staff members to get clarification on updated terms of service, my worries were not quelled.
What is wrong with the new licensing model?
One thing I want everyone to know right off the bat. I am more then happy to write a fat check to a company for software I regularly use and love. My expectation though is said company doesn't get greedy and try to squeeze more out of me they haven't earned. That being said, here is what I am unhappy with in the new licensing model for CaptureOne.
CaptureOne says you can still buy a perpetual license, but you get the program exactly how it comes in the release (e.x. C1 16.3.6) even if this version is half-baked. What doesn't make sense is that if CaptureOne comes out with next years big version like CaptureOne 24, those Loyal Users of CaptureOne who are willing to pay the company in the first week Get Punished for spending money with the company early. If I buy a perpetual license for CaptureOne 17.1.0 I expect to get all updates and features released until CaptureOne 18.1.0 comes out. If I am not, I am being punished for being a loyal user. There are two reasons CaptureOne could have done this. 1, it was an oversight. If so, I'm not mad, but please clarify to your loyal users. 2, CaptureOne is strong-arming their users into a subscription model. This one is unforgivable and immoral as a company and I would hope you come to your senses. You should know better then that.
The Refill Analogy
I spoke with another CaptureOne user over the phone who I expressed my concern with in regards to how CaptureOne was handling perpetual licenses. He told me about how when you buy a cup of coffee in Europe, you don't get free refills. You have to buy another one. I Completely understand that sentiment. Nobody should be getting a really good thing without paying. That is NOT what this situation is though.
This situation is me, a user, paying for my cup of coffee. The server starts pouring it, I hand them my money, and they stop pouring my coffee before even filling the cup half-way. Anybody in that situation would wonder why in the world the server would be doing that.
I do not mind paying $300 every time CaptureOne comes out with the next big version number, but do not treat me like an idiot and do not screw me.
I am a professional photographer who uses your program and loves it. I care about the survival of this company, but I do not subscribe to the idea of software as a service. I will not be strong-armed into supporting it and will not support you as long as that is what you are doing. You still have time to make this right, and you have time to save a loyal customer.
-
This situation is me, a user, paying for my cup of coffee. The server starts pouring it, I hand them my money, and they stop pouring my coffee before even filling the cup half-way. Anybody in that situation would wonder why in the world the server would be doing that.
I don't find this comparison the same. With Capture one you pay for the specific version of the product and you get exactly the product you paid for.
1 -
Walter Rowe I disagree. How CaptureOne writes their advertising and release notes yes, that is true, but in practice it's not.
1 -
@... I may have to reevaluate what I mean when I say that. You bring up a good point. I'm just unhappy with how Capture One is handling perpetual licenses and it feels like I am being bullied into a subscription model. Your point about the bug fixes is something I agree with as well.
2 -
Bugs in new releases, not only in the new features but breaking existing features, and they don't fix all of them. This is my biggest issue.
I would pay for a perpetual software license if all regression bugs are getting fixed for me plus 6 months bug fixing starting with the date of my payment for bugs in the new functionality. Or even better, they reduce the number of new bugs considerably, because a bug fix/feature release with even newer bugs won't help me much.
The new license policy and deterioation for perpetual license customers might have been dictated by profit expecations but one thing it is not: It is not customer-centric/friendly. It is a slap in the face. When I started supporting the company (with version 8) to better compete against Adobe I never dreamed of this move in the company's mindset.
3 -
John, if I remember correctly, in one of the threads (in which you also contributed) they indicated that they are discussing an improvement for the bug fixing problem for perpetual license customers but then nothing happened.
0 -
> DCT Imagery LLC: ... in Europe, you don't get free refills
It depends on where you choose to buy that cup of coffee.
0 -
> BeO: ...but then nothing happened
What did you actually excpect?
0 -
I'm kind of in the same boat as you. I don't mind paying for software I frequently use and I'm quite happy about Capture One.
But the perpetual license update system is just not working for me. There's not even a guarantee of getting a 'free' update to your perpetual license, since C1 can just increase the version number and call it a day.
You buy 16.3.6 today and suddenly C1 bumps its version to 17.0.0. No more bugfixes for you. I don't need/want the new features, I want just the bugfixes for my perpetual license.
As far as a subscription goes, I'm not against it but the pricing really isn't competitive for my use (amateur, I don't tether etc.). I want a lite version of a subscription where I'm not paying the full subscription fee for features I don't use/want.
Actually, many customers bought C1 because they didn't want the Adobe subscription. And now C1 is making the Adobe subscription actually better in my case.
1 -
My biggest issue in CaptureOne right now is not really the licence model, but that the version 16.3 while it introduced a lot of a great stuff, make it also quite buggy...
1 -
It's probably worth tracking down the cause of your problems. I don't think 16.3 is inherently buggy, at least in my experience. Maybe it doesn't play nicely with some aspect of your system?
Ian
2 -
First of all, sorry that you'll be leaving us. It's 100% your choice and I respect you coming on here and sharing your viewpoint – and also for expressing it in a sensible way.
I'd like to avoid getting into the semantics of perpetual vs subscription. We like to think we don't differentiate ourselves too much from software vendors that provide a timestamp of the software at the time of purchase, it's also worth noting that service packs are included and that we don't necessarily have a "major release" anymore. The idea of the new license model was to allow us to break away from this cycle and "release when ready"In any case, we don't want you to feel strong-armed, manipulated, cheated, or ANY of those things.
Is there anything we can do to make this sentiment a reality? Or have you made your choice?
The grass may appear greener, but I want to be sure that we've done all we can to make sure you don't leave with a sour taste. Having said that, I respect your decision and feel free to leave things as they are – you're always welcome back!
0 -
Nicolas Det That's not what our in-house analytics say. Support would certainly be open to hearing about any bugs or issues you're facing in 16.3
If you are working in a production environment, then you are always free to roll back to a version that you are more comfortable with here: https://www.captureone.com/en/account/download0 -
Hi Jack W,
Well, unfortunately, it's not my experience but nice to hear it works for others.
At my place, and since the beta, it does not start most of the time. One colleague has he exact same behaviour.
Support case, and bug report have already been submitted.
Cheers
0
Post is closed for comments.
Comments
13 comments