Trying to learn Capture One--Any good books?

Rob-F

Rob-F

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I have a copy of Capture One that came with my Leica D-Lux 4. I read an article in Photo Techniques that compared Capture One with Adobe Lightroom and Aperture. The author concluded that Capture One has the best IQ of the three, but is also the hardest to learn. I think I need something like a tutorial, or something that goes step-by-step. The "help" screen doesn't do it for me.

Any good books on this? I tried Amazon. They list two books on digital capture, but nothing specifically on Capture One. One of them, though, Raw Workflow from Capture to Archives, is co-authored by Joe Farace, which inspires some confidence. Has anyone used this?

Any other ideas?
 
Ecclesiastes.

Vanity of vanities, saieth the Preacher, vanity of vanities, all is vanity. (Chapter I, verse 2).

Yes, it's great. But it's a hard path.

Cheers,

R.
 
Roger Hicks said:
Ecclesiastes.

Vanity of vanities, saieth the Preacher, vanity of vanities, all is vanity. (Chapter I, verse 2).

Yes, it's great. But it's a hard path.

Cheers,

R.
Click to expand...

OK Roger, you have my attention. What would you recommend instead? Guess it's between Aperture and Lightroom. So far, I just have Photoshop Elements, Version 2. BTW, all I'm trying to do is get into raw conversion.

Not sure how the quote fits in. Is it vain to use Capture One?
 
Rob-F said:
OK Roger, you have my attention. What would you recommend instead? Guess it's between Aperture and Lightroom. So far, I just have Photoshop Elements, Version 2. BTW, all I'm trying to do is get into raw conversion.

Not sure how the quote fits in. Is it vain to use Capture One?
Click to expand...

Dear Rob,

The key word is ALL: Aperture, Lightroom, Capture One. ALL is vanity.

I use Capture One. Just play around with the bloody sliders until you're happy. Then you start beginning to realize how to use one of the most counter-intuitive, opaque, ill-documented programs ever devised by man.

I got my M8 just after it came out. I'm just beginning to get used to Capture One. I live in hope...

Cheers,

R.
 
It took me a while to dig into the 3.7.5 version that came with my M8, but it didn't take so long to make use of the basic features, and get used to its interface with a bit of "playing around". Then the upgrade to v4 took relearning the controls due to all the changes, but I've worked up a fairly smooth fast procedure now with again trying out various features to see how they work. So, just dive in, you'll find your way without much strain!
 
Hi, I've been on Capture One & Phase one backs from ... well I had serial #287 anyway. The new version 5.0 is out. There is a web site Capture-U.com

https://secure.capture-u.com/

Great tuts to learn.

Take the time to learn it, thats what all the Tech's (like me) use for big clients & paying gigs.

Steve
 
Thanks for the link, Steve. I read over the little tutorial. Then I tried to download a RAW picture from my D200. I didn't expect the Microsoft scanner & camera wizard to read it, and it didn't. It didn't even find it. So I tried from within Capture One. That should work, right? It's a RAW converter, so I guess it should read directly from the camera. OK. D200 hooked up to the USB port and turned on. I clicked File -->import and a box came up with a few choices, including "D200." GREAT! I clicked it and . . . and . . . the OK box grayed out. There was nothing left to click except CANCEL. I tried a few other ideas. Always the same box with the grayed out OK button. WHAaaaaa! WHAT GIVES??
 
OK I got it to open a RAW file from my Leica D-Lux 3. The dialog box that comes up asked what I wanted to use to open the file, and there was an option for Capture 1. I clicked that, and the picture did indeed open in Capture one.

But it doesn't work with the D200. The Microsoft Scanner and Camera wizard comes up immediately. It won't read the RAW file off the Nikon. Only JPEGS. I wonder: could this be a Leica-specific version of Capture One 4 that recognizes only Leica? The disk reads: "Capture One 4 Raw workflow software by Phase One for Leica Cameras"

Still it seems like the bottleneck is with the computer, not with the Capture One program. The problem occurs before Capture One comes into play. The computer has decided to go directly to the Microsoft Camera and Scanner Wizard without asking me which program should be used to import the files.

Experts? Feel free . . .
 
I copy the DNG files to a folder on my computer, then in the Capture One 4.8 "library" feature I designate that as the Capture Folder, then immediately the files appear in a catalog format. If I insert an SD card reader (with card) in a USB port on the computer Capture One will automatically open a new window to display those thumbnails (both the DNG and JPG). This happens inadvertently, startling me, as I just want to copy the SD contents to the a folder on the computer, not open them right away. I never connect the camera directly, but I imagine it should have the same result as inserting the card reader.
 
Confused in St. Louis

Confused in St. Louis

I took a photo in RAW with the D-Lux 3 and downloaded to Capture One, which then displayed it. So far, so good; but wait, it identified it as a JPEG. I re-checked the camera. Yep, definitely says the image is in raw. Re-checked the computer. Yep, definitely in JPEG there. What is that, voodoo? Too close to Halloween?

OK. So I tried to learn a little more about Capture One, by clicking on things and moving sliders, like Roger said. I could shift between features like Color and Exposure with no problem. But all the stuff was grayed out, so I could not actually do anything--like under exposure for example. It wouldn't let me do anything.

I wonder if maybe the fact that the picture was in JPEG rather than RAW (and why was it) would explain why the buttons were grayed out. Maybe it is beneath the dignity of Capture One to be given a JPEG. But then, why did it show it as JPEG.

I have just about had it.

Signed, Confused in St. Louis.
 
Dear Rob,

Yup, that's it: Capture 1 finds JPEG beneath its dignity, and won't work on it. Been there, failed to get anywhere with that.

Are you shooting JPEG and DNG simultaneously? I was caught on that one. The DNGs were there, lower on the list of imports. Or is there some sort of automatic conversion taking place?

Sorry I can't help more but as I said, it's a counterintuitive program with rotten documentation.

Cheers,

R.
 
Roger, the D-Lux 3 gives only a choice of JPEG at two levels of compression; or else RAW. I selected RAW. The displayed picture on the LCD indicates RAW rather than a combination with JPEG or DNG. So yes I think some automatic conversion must have taken place.

"A countrintuitive program with rotten documentation" d'accord!!

I think PS CS3 with Camera Raw is in my future. I bought a book on it. Easy to follow, with examples, etc. Guess I'm ready to give up on Capture One. Pour Moi, it's been "Capture None."
 
😀I just got a Mac! It has a raw converter built right in! All I did was set the D200 to RAW; took a picture; and plugged it to the Macbook. The Mac recognizes it's a RAW file and downloads it, no fuss, no problem. Then you click "adjust" and sliders come up for color temp, highlights, shadows, overall contrast, saturation . . . well, you know, the whole bit. Easy to use!

In a few days I will have Aperture as well.

Capture One, Capture None, I'm Done.

Mac rules! I'm never going back to Windows. 😀
 
Glad you found a workable workflow, Rob! I have had Photoshop since version 2.5 but have found all versions frustrating and unintuitive to use, the language and terms unintelligible. Despite "brain transplants" in the form of new Macs over the years! Capture One was a bit opaque to begin with but fiddling with the controls doesn't damage anything and it's been relatively easy I think to find a comfortable and efficient process. It even handles the PEF RAW files from my Pentax dSLR.

I'll guess it's iPhoto that opens your images when the camera connects to your new Mac. As mentioned I never connect the camera to my computer, nor use iPhoto... But that system is very versatile so I hope that works out for you, and have fun!
 
Doug said:
Glad you found a workable workflow, Rob! I have had Photoshop since version 2.5 but have found all versions frustrating and unintuitive to use, the language and terms unintelligible. Despite "brain transplants" in the form of new Macs over the years! Capture One was a bit opaque to begin with but fiddling with the controls doesn't damage anything and it's been relatively easy I think to find a comfortable and efficient process. It even handles the PEF RAW files from my Pentax dSLR.

I'll guess it's iPhoto that opens your images when the camera connects to your new Mac. As mentioned I never connect the camera to my computer, nor use iPhoto... But that system is very versatile so I hope that works out for you, and have fun!
Click to expand...

I don't have Photoshop--only Photoshop Elements 2. I have a copy of Elements 4, but don't like it as well. I was a bit baffled by elements 2 at first, but now I feel very comfortable with it. The feature that lets me correct perspective in architectural shots is especially useful to me. But I also use cloning, sharpening, correction of contrast, etc. Now that I have iPhoto, I find it much better for white balance/color cast correction, contrast control, etc. Since I don't have Photoshop, I don't know how much more intimidating it might be!

Yes it is iPhoto that opens my pictures now. On the PC computer, the Camera and Scanner Wizard was opening the pictures. Since it apparently did not have a raw converter, I believe that is why I couldn't get Capture One to do anything--it had nothing to work with. If I could have opened my raw files, I might have had a better experience with Capture One. Probably not great, but better.

My iMac should be arriving today (I'm writing this on my new 13" Macbook--love it.) It is supposed to have Aperture pre-installed. Between Aperture, Elements 2, and iPhoto, I should have enough to keep me busy and happy for a while without worrying about Lightroom or a full Photoshop CS3 or CS4.

Hmm, I wonder if there will now be confusion between opening files with iPhoto vs. Aperture?
 
Rob, did your new iMac arrive safely, and if so how's it working? Since my previous post I've ordered a new iMac too, should arrive in 10 days or so. At the time I was on vacation using a 12" PowerBook, nifty for travel and formerly my wife's. The new iMac 27" won't have Aperture, but I do have Photoshop CS4 that I should learn to use.

For years, though, I've found a Mac-only shareware program, GraphicConverter, mostly sufficient for final editing for printing and web uploads. It is full of useful tools like a skew control for straightening perspective distortion, but lacks stuff like feathered selection and layers. I believe registering is $35, you might look it over...
 
Doug: the iMac arrived safely (from Shanghai)! It works fine. I am having problems with software that I already owned, not working on the Mac: PSE 2 and the driver for my Scan Dual IV (so far). Downloading an OS-X driver has not succeeded so far.
 
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