I wrote a blog post earlier this year about why I switched to Capture One for image editing, after over a decade of using Lightroom. Here's the summary:
- I liked Lightroom's workflow but the software started to get messy throughout the years as they added features without optimizing it
- Lightroom lacked in color controls; Capture One excels in color, and color is extremely important
- Fujifilm RAW files couldn't be adequately demosaiced in Lightroom; Capture One handled them better (that worm thing?)
- I could do in Capture One what I needed extra plugins and software programs for working with Lightroom
- I would miss Lightroom's excellent cataloging features
DK-2000 Frederiksberg. Capture One Pro; Capture One for Fujifilm; Capture One (for Sony).
A couple of weeks ago, Phase One (makers of Capture One) announced a collaboration with Fujifilm.
Phase One is known for their medium-format digital backs for professional cameras. Capture One was developed to handle these detailed, beautifully-rendered large files.
Per their press release, 'We are proud to be working to share with Fujifilm shooters the opportunity to benefit from Capture One's highly responsive processing engine, unmatched color handling, precision-editing tools, and seamless tethered support.'
Capture One Fujifilm
Fujifilm has kinda skipped the full frame camera market and focused on APS-C and medium format sensors. This is why it's so exciting that Phase One is collaborating with them. It will unleash the full potential of Fujifilm's awesome sensors coming out in their more affordable medium format cameras, as well as their amazing APS-C sensors.
Capture One is offering two versions of their software specific to Fujifilm cameras. I've summarized them below, but for a full comparison between Capture One Express and Capture One Pro, check out their chart here.
301 Moved Permanently. Just started to use the Capture One Express (Free for Fuji) and wow - best I've come across yet - superb results. The snag is that I am finding that on some of my files the extreme highlights are covered in a yellow/green pattern. I thought at first that is was a 'burn out' warning but then found that it was carried over to Photoshop when exported. Capture One Express FUJIFILM (Free Download) Express Customized camera profiles for each supported FUJIFILM camera, enables an unmatched straight-from-camera color accuracy, providing the ultimate foundation for further adjustments with every RAW file.
Capture One Express Fujifilm
A 'lite' version of Capture One Fujifilm will be available with all Fujifilm cameras (yes, free!). This can be likened to your basic RAW file editor, allowing you to change basic color, contrast, and toning, as well as cataloging. Fujifilm previously had their own RAW editor included with their cameras; Capture One will be a powerful addition.
This version, Capture One Express Fujifilm, will provide RAW support for all Fujifilm cameras. It also includes what you would call a 'style pack' – Fujifilm's 16 in-camera film simulations (Velvia, Provia, Classic Chrome, etc) can be applied to your RAW files in Capture One (future release).
I think I mentioned this already, it's free.
Capture One Pro Fujifilm
For photographers who only shoot Fujifilm, you have the option to purchase a 'complete' version of Capture One Pro, but only with Fujifilm support.
Aside from full editing capabilities, this version will also give you tethering capability. Zoom, pan, compose, and capture through the software or mobile device. 'Live view' tethering will be available for the professional cameras (GFX, X-H1, X-T3, X-T2, X-T1, X-Pro2).
This version of the software doesn't cost much less than the full version ($159 per year vs $180). So if you have RAW files in other formats, or anticipate that you might in the future, you might as well get the full version of Capture One Pro. You can also purchase a perpetual license for $299, which includes support and updates 'forever'.
If you're a Lightroom user and still on the fence, Capture One offers a free trial period with complete functionality for 30 days.This is my very first tutorial in this blog, because it's one of the most asked in Raf (RAW) editing with Fujifilm mirrorless cameras aka X-Trans sensor based cameras.
Why I chose Capture One Pro (on PC)? Well I tried several other software like Lightroom and Photo Ninja and I have found that Capture One is the best for keeping details and sharpness with Fuji's RAW format Raf, the thing you must understand is that the X-Trans sensors are using is not Bayer sensors which are largely used with other brands, Lightroom for instance will give you tremendous results with Nikon and Canon RAW photos because they mastered for years the Bayer technology, while with Raf it's far from perfect.
Capture One Pro though is now considered as the best for 'translating' X-Trans information and so it's the best under MS Windows to edit them and specially sharpness.
You still can use third party apps in LR to have good results like using Nik Software RAW sharpener, but still then it's not as good as Capture One.
Ok now let's focus on the tutorial itself.
In Capture One Pro click on the Details (magnifier icon) to open the Details tab which includes Sharpness values.
Ok now that we have access to Sharpening and Noise Reduction sections like that we can proceed with the new values
This are the values 'out of the box' for Raf taken with ISO 200, with higher ISOs it will decrease the Amount value.
You must apply sharpness Amount and Radius depending on the lens you have, for example with my XC 16-50 lens I go further in the values because the lens is less sharp (hardware wise) than my XF 23mm f2, so if your lens (XC lenses, XF 18-55, XF 18mm f2…) is known to be in the 'sharp nut not from the sharpest lenses' in Fujinon world you should apply my 'Turbo sharpness' settings, for known very sharp lenses (XF 23mm f1.4 and f2, XF 14mm, XF 16mm, XF 35mm f1.4 and f2, XF 16-50…)
Sharpening 'Turbo' settings: (only to use with not very sharp lenses or else you can end with over-sharpened results)
Amount: 165 to 175
Radius: 1.1 to 1.2
Threshold: 0.5
Sharpening settings:
Amount: 150 to 160
Capture One Express For Fujifilm
Radius: 1.0 to 1.1
Threshold: 0.5
Noise Reduction:
Free Capture One For Fuji
Luminance for ISO 200 to 640: 0 yes Zero
Luminance for ISO 800 to 1600: 25
Luminance for ISO 1600 to 6400: 50
The 'Before and After' section
All these examples are 100% crops so you can evaluate sharpness on real scale.
With the Turbo settings applied on a ISO 200 photo taken with the XC 16-50 lens
XC 16-50 crop details with stock values in Capture One Pro
XC 16-50 crop details using my Turbo settings in Capture One
And now with the XF 23mm f2, you will notice that out of the box the photo is already sharper than the XC , so we used the normal sharpness value.
Before sharpness editing taken with the XF 23mm f2
Eclipse shortcuts cheat sheet. Last words:
I will post a tutorial about how to apply Clarity and Structure values on your photos and how it can affect the visual feeling of greater sharpness and details. Clarity in Capture One can reveal the hidden subtle details called 'micro-contrast' of your Fuji Raf photos, more present on Prime and expensive zoom lenses.
