RAW converter software?

dan denmark

dan denmark

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i'm wondering if there is a better, less gimicky piece of software for converting the RAW files from my X Pro1... i'm finding it is doing some weird things at the default settings to the overall contrast of my files, as well as clarity. the accompanying jpegs when i shoot seem to be contrastier (is that a word?) and sharper, especially at long distance shots (using the x-mount native 35). i just don't seem to be getting much sharpness from my images with long distance landscape scenes.

any thoughts on this conundrum..?
 
Adobe Camera Raw (part of photoshop) is really great. Especially the newer one, by all reports. I download my files in Adobe Bridge (also part of the PS package) converting them to digital negs (DNG files), and then use ACR to fiddle with them. If they need extensive fiddling of course I go to Photoshop proper, which for me, a rank amateur and self taught, is like driving an Army land clearing vehicle around the neighborhood offering to do the shrubs.

From what I understand, by the way, and this could be wrong and is subject to verification by those better informed, Lightroom is like ACR with very good database/workflow software attached.
 
sparrow6224 said:
...
From what I understand, by the way, and this could be wrong and is subject to verification by those better informed, Lightroom is like ACR with very good database/workflow software attached.
Click to expand...

Lightroom's not "like" Camera Raw. The Camera Raw image processing engine is the software module underneath all of LR's image processing operations; it's simply a built in component rather than a plug in. The rest of the LR application is a database and a set of output formatting routines for image file, print, slideshow, web and book products. :)
 
thanks, all. i should say, i am still working with PS CS3 as i've not found a need to upgrade for the little i use it for other than layers. and Cam Raw 4.x won't recognise the RAF file format.

years ago i worked with Capture One and i might give that a go again. anyone have any experience there?

dd
 
dan denmark said:
thanks, all. i should say, i am still working with PS CS3 as i've not found a need to upgrade for the little i use it for other than layers. and Cam Raw 4.x won't recognise the RAF file format.

years ago i worked with Capture One and i might give that a go again. anyone have any experience there?

dd
Click to expand...

Right now I am only aware of following photo SW which will support Fuji xtran raw files:
- silky pix
- adobe ps latest level only
- adobe LR 4.2
- adobe dng converter
- RPP (Mac based only)

There are a couple of iPad apps that support it, but I cannot remember which ones right now.

I use RPP purely for raw to tiff conversion. I bring it into aperture to do rest of the work.

The adobe dng converter is a free download. U may want to give it a try. Use the dng file to import to your down level version of LR.

Gary
 
I'm still waiting for something to support Darkroom or RawTherapee.
The lack of support here from Fujifilm for the documentation to help developers make RAW support is disappointing. Not everyone uses Lightroom. :-(
 
Not too many people know about it, but try Photo ninja. I like it better than Capture 7. The only problem is it is a/computer hog so you need at least 8gb memory and a quad core processor.
 
GaryLH said:
...

The adobe dng converter is a free download. U may want to give it a try. Use the dng file to import to your down level version of LR. ...
Click to expand...

... or PS (CS or newer) or any other app that supports Adobe's DNG "standardized" RAW format.
 
While Photoshop can be used for RAW conversion it should be noted that the primary role for that tool is photo manipulation. Lightroom and others listed are conversion / processing tolls and thus are better suited for the task.

Today many professional shooters use multiple apps for treating their photos. One I worked with recently uses a combination of Capture One, Lightroom and Photoshop to fine tune his imagery. His reasoning is that each provides different controls that yield widely varying results.
 
mobilexile said:
While Photoshop can be used for RAW conversion it should be noted that the primary role for that tool is photo manipulation. Lightroom and others listed are conversion / processing tolls and thus are better suited for the task. ...
Click to expand...

The "better suited for the task" is a very, very personal judgement. That PS is primarily an image editor doesn't make it less suitable for RAW conversion. In fact, PS itself (the core application) doesn't do RAW conversion but relies on the included ACR to handle the chore. This ACR is the same engine that in incorporated into Lightroom.
 
I use Lightroom. But for the X-Trans sensor I do not use the default sharpening and defringing parameter values I use for Bayer sensors.

ACR does have some performance issues with X-Trans raw. Green objects seem to suffer most. I have noticed obvious problems in less than 5% of the time. Most ACR issues are minimized or eliminated by parameter selection. Here are reports Adobe is currently working closely with Fuji to improve rendering.
 
An interesting side take on RAW conversion is ColorPerfect. You use Adobe DNG converter if you camera doesn't output DNG. Then you use ColorPerfect's MakeTiff to convert to an uncorrected in any way Tiff file. The dark goofy looking file is opened in ColorPerfect with PerfectRAW installed in it. All you really have to do is minor color adjustments. I will say if the RAW file is way off with its white balance it doesn't work as well.
 
If Fuji doesn't get their act together, they will give themselves a Black Eye.

If ACR, and therefore Lightroom, produce outstanding results, why not use them? Emphasis on "IF".

OP: Don't stay in the Dark Ages with CS3 and complain. Obviously you do need an upgrade for your Fuji camera. A fact of digital life. Every new release of ACR adds camera support & processing improvements. LR4.x is relatively inexpensive and provides all the manipulation any decent RAW file needs. The only drawback as I see it: Lightroom 4.x only runs on 64 bit operating systems. I still use Lightroom 3.6 because the upgrade for operating system AND Lightroom is cost prohibitive for my needs.

Wayne
 
Dwig said:
The "better suited for the task" is a very, very personal judgement. That PS is primarily an image editor doesn't make it less suitable for RAW conversion. In fact, PS itself (the core application) doesn't do RAW conversion but relies on the included ACR to handle the chore. This ACR is the same engine that in incorporated into Lightroom.
Click to expand...

Agreed, tastes differ but the feature set in apps dedicated to the task have advantages.
 
FYI - same raw file converted to tiff in lr4, RPP and silkypix

FYI - same raw file converted to tiff in lr4, RPP and silkypix

Same raw file converted to tiff in lr4, RPP and silkypix. Once converted to tiff, sent thru to Aperture for the normal work. All convert to tiff were very basic raw manipulatons. The three tiff files were run thru my normal aperture preset.

U judge which one u like better. Not intended to be anything more than to show what each program does to the raw file...

Did not do any hi light relate fixing in any of the raw developers. This was just intended as a quick sample.

This is the lr4 image

8210351836_6c4109582f_b.jpg


RPP image
8209263061_abcb686eff_b.jpg


Silkypix
8209263253_57a6b71806_b.jpg
 
GaryLH

I like the RPP version the best due to the richness of color and the detail.

It's almost like the first two images were bracketed in the camera and the 3rd image is the HDR.
 
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