Advise me please

[Katie]

For digital, I am and always have been a Canon digital RAW shooter. I love the LR interface, and have always used it (I do also have CS3). I plan to purchase an XPro1 in the next few days, and just wanted to see what the dealio is with RAW files. Should I be shooting jpeg or can I shoot RAW? Is it awful or just not optimum to use a RAW file? I have read lots from the forum and am just still not clear on whether RAW is totally supported for the XP1. ALSO, I have some Voigtlander lenses (28 1.9 Ultron and the 21 f/4) that I will be using on the XP1. I see that these lenses are supported by the Fuji adapter, so should I use that one or is there a better model for using the CV lenses?

Thanks so much for the info!

 

[willie_901]

LR 4 completely supports XP1 raw.

There are some issues with the current Adobe Camera Raw rendering of XTRANS raw files.

1. The default sharpening parmters rarely deliver the best results. This is easily fixed once you accept that Bayer sensors and XTRANS sensors are different.

2. Occasionally you will see color bleeding in high contrast areas. This is not chronic, but it does happen.

3. Foliage and perhaps other details loose detail. While I think this is a minor problem,others find it to be severe.

 

[lanceanz]

Hi Katie. I've got an X-E1 but from everything I've read, I understand the RAW files are the same as from an X-Pro1. There is a lot of discussion in forums and blogs, along with examples. I recommend you search for "X-pro1 raw" or, to catch more recent postings, search for "X-E1 raw".

The software that comes with the cameras does a good job of processing RAW, but it's widely regarded as having a bad interface. The retail version of the software (Silkypix) is expensive, with no upgrade pricing. It's not a DAM solution like LR.

Phase One has a beta of their Capture One Pro 7.0.2 that handles X-Pro1 RAW. It's been well received (almost raved about). You have to ask for the beta. It expires 31st Jan, so hopefully it will be released before then. Capture One Pro is also expensive, but from version 7 does the full workflow.

In my book, LR 4.3 doesn't do too bad a job of handling RAW. It's certainly usable. Everyone expects that Adobe is working to improve RAW processing, and the Fuji Guys have tweeted that Adobe has the necessary documentation to do a better job.

Until LR improves you can either accept the results, or process the files in the free Silkypix converter, and import the TIFFs into LR. I'm mostly taking RAW+Fine jpg so am covering my bets. When shooting RAW you will want a fast card. I use SanDisk Extreme Pro, and it does make a big difference. Sometimes I take sets of 3 jpegs using the "Film simulation" bracketing. The jpegs do look nice, but that form of bracketing doesn't allow you to include a RAW.

Overall, I'd recommend you take RAW+Fine and continue using LR 4.3. If you find LR's RAW conversion doesn't meet your needs, export from the free converter. You may even find you're happy with using the jpegs.

 

[KEH]

I have been less than thrilled with LR4 raw for my XE1, but I fully expect Adobe to catch up. As Lanceanz just suggested, my solution has been to shoot raw + jpeg. The jpeg I store is BW with a yellow filter -- I find the quality of the jpeg truly excellent and could easilty live with the results as long as I have been careful about not blowing highlights. And eventually the raw files will catch up.

Kirk

 

[lanceanz]

Breaking news - Capture One Pro 7.0.2 is being released 14th January, so either today or tomorrow depending on time zone. They have a generous 60 day trial period, so that would let you compare results. The Pro version is $US299 so that's probably incentive enough to stick with LR - even if Capture One RAW processing is better 🙂

 

[GaryLH]

Phase One has a beta of their Capture One Pro 7.0.2 that handles X-Pro1 RAW. It's been well received (almost raved about). You have to ask for the beta. It expires 31st Jan, so hopefully it will be released before then. Capture One Pro is also expensive, but from version 7 does the full workflow..

Capture one beta already ended. I was a beta tester, I received the email about it the other day. Those who already have the beta sw are allowed to use it until the end of this month.

So far I have been using RPP prior to this. The files from c1 are better than RPP, LR or adobe dng conversion.

RPP because it did slightly better on details plus batch processing capability so that I could import tiff16 to my preferred sw, Aperture.

Gary

 

[Katie]

I have done searches and read lots of info on the subject, leading to somewhat more confusion on my part. I'm not a pixel peeper so much anymore, but don't want smearing and quality degradation (making me regret the purchase). I also don't want to purchase and learn a new software interface. I am VERY confident with LR and PS (and have been forced to learn scanning software, too) but being a film shooter, I come from the group that would rather spend LESS time at the computer, and more time shooting (or printing in my darkroom).

While I am technically a B&W shooter, I shoot digital for color reasons. I cannot justify spending the time and money on color film, so I rely on digital for almost all my color work. I would like the ability to seamlessly work on both negative scans and digital files in LR.

So now another question. The reasoning behind shooting both RAW and jpeg is to process jpeg now and save RAW for when the software is better?

Thanks for answering all my seemingly stupid questions. I haven't bought one yet, but will be fondling one in the morning at Precision Camera in Austin and hopefully buying a preowned one tomorrow afternoon.

Is there any reason why I would want to buy one new instead of lightly owned? I try to avoid the brand new digital equipment, as the depreciation on new equipment makes me crazy.

 

[Katie]

what's RPP?

 

[GaryLH]

Breaking news - Capture One Pro 7.0.2 is being released 14th January, so either today or tomorrow depending on time zone. They have a generous 60 day trial period, so that would let you compare results. The Pro version is $US299 so that's probably incentive enough to stick with LR - even if Capture One RAW processing is better 🙂

Nice, thanks for update.. One of my friends already bought c1 v7. His wait for the upgrade will not be long.

Gary

 

[GaryLH]

what's RPP?

http://www.codyhatch.com/equipment/x-pro1-raw-comparison-lightroom-vs-capture-one/#!prettyPhoto

Mac only shareware. UI is horrible, but once u figure out what u need to do u can setup a default that can be applied when u drag and drop your raw files on the RPP icon and it will kick off a batch processing cycle.. If it was no for this, I would not use RPP...

Unlike others here I am ok using silkypix (the Fuji default raw developer that comes with the camera).

Given that my preferred sw is Aperture, no matter which raw developer, I would only use it to create a tiff that I can import into aperture.

However c1 is a complete package like LR or ps... Comparing what functionality it has, I think in general it manipulates raw files much better than adobe or apple sw.

Gary

 

[Katie]

I'm a PC.

why is my message too short.

 

[GaryLH]

I'm a PC.

why is my message too short.

10 char min. If I remember correctly on this forum..

Gary

 

[ColSebastianMoran]

So now another question. The reasoning behind shooting both RAW and jpeg is to process jpeg now and save RAW for when the software is better?
... snip...

Is there any reason why I would want to buy one new instead of lightly owned? I try to avoid the brand new digital equipment, as the depreciation on new equipment makes me crazy.

Raw+Jpeg... Because maybe you can use the jpeg and won't have to work with the raw. Because maybe you want to send the jpeg immediately to someone, and get a better image later from the raw. Because once in a while it's nice to be able to see how the camera software renders the raw (that's what happens) to compare to what you are getting from Lightroom. Because storage is cheap.

I do shoot raw+jpeg. I pour everything into Lightroom. I seldom look at the jpeg.

New vs. used? Will it make much different for the XPro-1 or XE-1? Sometimes I save money by buying the previous generation used, for example, buying a used X100 now when the successor has been announced.

Good luck with the purchase and enjoy your camera.

 

[GaryLH]

The Fuji jpg is one of the best out there, if not the best 🙂. I would say u maybe able to get by with using it about 90% of the time (I do).. Where raw comes into play is special processing such as getting more dynamic range of the picture, changing the look of the shot, trying to retrieve more detail out of the picture.

If u are using a destructive photo editor, then each time u save the changed jpg u get a worse version of the original. There are lossless photo editing sw out there. Examples are LR and aperture. What they do instead is to create a database of your edit session changes and saves those changes for future reference. The original file is never touched.

If u use a destructive editor, then it is best to immediately save the original jpg to a file type which is lossless such as tiff or dng.

Gary

 

[Darthfeeble]

I'll not address the RAW issue, it's been well answered before my post. I will say that I just finished a comparison of the RAFs converted in both Adobe DNG converter and Silkypix and compared them to the jpegs from the camera ( I shot RAW+Fine with no adjustments added). The cleanest sharpest shots to work with were the jpegs. Thus the in camera conversion tool seems to be the best of the three I compared. Hope this is a help. I've got the X Pro 1 and I love it. S

 

[semilog]

I've shot the X-Pro1 and X-E1 a lot. Files are identical to my eyes, both RAW and JPEG.

Lightroom does a fine job of handling the RAW files, unless you want to sharpen a lot. Then you have to be a bit careful with the settings, especially if you intend to print large.

For all but the most critical purposes the RAW output from LR is terrific.

I've also been using the Capture One beta. It's terrific, and appears to come close to extracting the full potential of the Fuji sensor. For critical work it may well become my RAW developer of choice in the future. Whether it does depends on what Adobe does in the next major releases of ACR/Lightroom.

But I'd emphasize that for 95% of my own work, the LR RAW conversion is great.

 

[Katie]

Thanks for the responses everyone! Clearly there is no reason not to purchase the xpro1 due to this raw issue. I'll happily try out raw in Lr and also shoot some straight jpegs to see how they fare!

Any advice re: adapter issue?

 

[willie_901]

Katie,

Since you said you are not a pixel peeper, have researched and understand the Adobe situation, and, are a dedicated LR user, I think you will be pleased with your new camera.

I am very pleased with mine.