Fuji X-Pro 2 Sharpening Settings in Lightroom

[honozooloo]

So I've been using my X-Pro 2 quite a bit on assignment recently, and getting to "know" the RAW files better in Lightroom. And after some experimentation with sharpening settings, I've settled on this as my preferred sharpening setting:

Amount: 40
Radius: 2.0
Detail: 49

I thought this was interesting, because my preferred sharpening levels with my older X-Trans bodies (X-T1, X-Pro 1, X100s) were more like:

Amount: 36-38
Radius: .6-.7
Detail: 50-70

To be completely honest, until I worked this out I actually felt like the X-Pro 2's files were lacking a certain "pop" I'm accustomed to seeing at shallow DOF on all my other Fujis. And using my "usual" Fuji sharpening levels were probably part of the reason. Once I dialed in my X-Pro 2 sharpening settings to the ones I've settled on for the moment, I really started enjoying the output from the sensor more. There's a level of crispness, pop, but also a bit of organic grain (I don't use NR unless its over 3200 ISO) that's really, really starting to grow on me. I definitely find myself zooming in a bit more often to view at 100% and enjoy the results from this camera.

I'm using the latest LR (2015.6) and shoot compressed RAW if it matters. Just wondering what other X-Pro 2 users have settled on, if they happen to use LR as well.

 

[sojournerphoto]

I've been using

Amount 25 to 30, usually 25
Radius 0.5 up to 0.7 at iso 3200
Detail 100 down to 70 at high iso
Masking 0 up to 50 at high iso

Seems to give a nice clean output. I don't like the impact of higher amounts and agree that I use no luminance noise reduction and back the colour right off from the default 25 as well.

 

[borge]

So I've been using my X-Pro 2 quite a bit on assignment recently, and getting to "know" the RAW files better in Lightroom. And after some experimentation with sharpening settings, I've settled on this as my preferred sharpening setting:

Amount: 40
Radius: 2.0
Detail: 49

I thought this was interesting, because my preferred sharpening levels with my older X-Trans bodies (X-T1, X-Pro 1, X100s) were more like:

Amount: 36-38
Radius: .6-.7
Detail: 50-70

To be completely honest, until I worked this out I actually felt like the X-Pro 2's files were lacking a certain "pop" I'm accustomed to seeing at shallow DOF on all my other Fujis. And using my "usual" Fuji sharpening levels were probably part of the reason. Once I dialed in my X-Pro 2 sharpening settings to the ones I've settled on for the moment, I really started enjoying the output from the sensor more. There's a level of crispness, pop, but also a bit of organic grain (I don't use NR unless its over 3200 ISO) that's really, really starting to grow on me. I definitely find myself zooming in a bit more often to view at 100% and enjoy the results from this camera.

I'm using the latest LR (2015.6) and shoot compressed RAW if it matters. Just wondering what other X-Pro 2 users have settled on, if they happen to use LR as well.

I really like these settings. Thanks for sharing them.
I've recently acquired an X-Pro2 myself, and I had several different sharpening presets for the X-Trans II sensor. Applying them to the X-Pro2 files didn't quite get me the results I wanted.

Your settings are nice, although some times a bit over the top (for portraits for example). I found that if I added 15 masking for the base preset, and then made a preset that also had 50 masking for images of people with less than perfect skin, it seems to create results that I really like. The images start looking a bit film like, and natural in a way that the X-Trans II sharpening settings can't match at all.

Thanks!

 

[willie_901]

In my experience optimum XTrans rendering requires a more diverse range of sharpening parameters in LR CC compared to NEF raw. I use one of three groups of sharpening parameters presets as a starting point. I always use one of the Fujifilm Camera Profiles as well.

 

[honozooloo]

In my experience optimum XTrans rendering requires a more diverse range of sharpening parameters in LR CC compared to NEF raw. I use one of three groups of sharpening parameters presets as a starting point. I always use one of the Fujifilm Camera Profiles as well.

I agree! My preferred settings as posted seem to work best with shots taken at f/2.8 and lower, and mostly with portraits taken at the mid to close range. I tend to dial back detail settings a bit for foliage/landscapes taken stopped down at far distances (30m-infinity). I've also had more pleasing results using either Camera Profiles or RNI presets, the VSCO and other presets seem to exacerbate artifacting in shadows and cause weird color shifts (and not just because of the curves applied by the presets by design.

As with anything else, these sort of settings are a matter of taste and as such, there really isn't such a thing as right or wrong, just a difference of opinions/tastes. Glad this thread could help a few people get a little better dialed in.

Any other "tricks" people have discovered? I find that a light dash of Clarity (like +10 or LESS) can also help increase microcontrast and induce a little "pop," sometimes I feel like the X-Pro 2 RAWs have such crazy DR that evenly-lit subjects can actually look too "flat" for my tastes.