Selekt vs FastRawViewer
FastRawViewer is built for photographers who want to inspect RAW files directly, read exposure data, and make brutally fast keep-or-delete decisions before import. Selekt is built for photographers who want culling to feel organized, visual, and modern — scenes, comparisons, mobile sync, and a cleaner handoff into editing.
Same problem, different philosophy
Selekt: context-first culling
Selekt groups related frames into scenes so you can compare within context instead of dragging yourself through a giant flat timeline. It's for photographers who care about speed, but still want their own judgment driving every pick.
- Scene-based grouping for bursts and moments
- iPad, iPhone, and Android apps coming soon
- Modern UI with Lightroom-ready export
FastRawViewer: RAW-first triage
FastRawViewer is for technical inspection. It reads the RAW, exposes clipping and focus information, and helps you decide which files are worth importing into your editor at all. It's loved by photographers who think like editors and DITs.
- RAW histogram and exposure tools
- Perpetual-license mindset, no subscription pressure
- Best suited to desktop-only workflows
Key differences
Context vs inspection
Selekt is about grouping similar frames so the best choice becomes obvious. FastRawViewer is about inspecting technical image data before import. One helps you choose the strongest moment. The other helps you reject weak files with confidence.
Desktop now, mobile soon
Selekt runs on macOS and Windows today, with iOS and Android apps coming soon. FastRawViewer is a desktop tool. If you want to review on an iPad between shoots or keep culling on your phone, Selekt is heading that way.
Subscription vs perpetual
FastRawViewer appeals to photographers who hate subscriptions. Selekt's tradeoff is ongoing updates on desktop (with mobile coming soon) for $8/month. Neither is wrong. It depends whether you value ownership or cross-device convenience more.
Who each tool is really for
Choose Selekt if you:
- Want culling to feel visual, organized, and less like spreadsheet work
- Regularly compare bursts, portraits, or near-duplicate frames
- Need mobile review on iPad or phone (coming soon)
- Want a clean handoff to Lightroom with XMP metadata
- Prefer a modern native interface over a technical utility vibe
Choose FastRawViewer if you:
- Care deeply about RAW histograms, clipping warnings, and exposure analysis
- Want to reject files before import with maximum technical confidence
- Prefer perpetual-license tools and a no-frills desktop workflow
- Shoot high volume and think in terms of file triage before editing
- Don't care about mobile apps or scene-based organization
Feature comparison
| FEATURE | SELEKT | FASTRAWVIEWER |
|---|---|---|
| Fast image browsing | yes | yes |
| Scene-based grouping | yes | no |
| Side-by-side comparison | yes | partial |
| Keyboard-first culling | yes | yes |
| Auto-advance on rate | yes | yes |
| AI auto-culling | no | no |
| Full offline workflow | yes | yes |
| Mobile apps (iPad/iPhone/Android) | partial | no |
| Lightroom XMP export | yes | yes |
| Contact sheet / file browser style workflow | partial | yes |
| RAW exposure analysis tools | partial | yes |
| Modern native UI | yes | no |
| Annual subscription under $100 | yes | no |
Bottom line
FastRawViewer is excellent if your culling brain is technical: expose correctly, check clipping, reject junk fast, import only what survives. It's a sharp tool for a very specific kind of photographer.
Selekt is better if your bottleneck is choosing between similar moments, keeping context while you cull, and moving between desktop and mobile without friction. It makes culling feel less like file triage and more like editing taste at speed.
If your current workflow feels cold, flat, and old-school, Selekt is the upgrade. If you want a technical browser that tells you everything about the RAW before you commit to import, FastRawViewer still has a place.