ACR vs C1 - conversion at ISO 2500

[ptarmigan]

I've been experimenting a little, getting to grips with the M8, C1 and RAW conversion.

What are your thoughts on these three conversions - one with Aperture 2.1.3, another with C1 4.1.8, the other ACR 4.6 (CS3)?

Image shot with M8+35mm cron ASPH, ISO 2500 at 1/30th sec. Can't recall the aperture.

Conversion with no adjustments, no NR. Resized (bicubic sharper) in CS3 with tiny bit of sharpening added to each images for the eyes only.

[ptarmigan]

Apologies, I posted this in the wrong place. I presume I cannot move it myself?

[John Thawley]

For me, the last one is a no go... period. Highlights blown... detail on the book page gone. Seems noisier.

I have likes and dislikes about the first two. I think the middle one is a bit too contrasty and the top one lacks contrast. Given my druthers, I think I'd prefer to pull the top one back than attempt to push the middle one forward. I think the second one is going to increase the noise when you attempt to pull up the shadow detail a bit. The top appears to be an easier "save" to me.

Just an opinion, though.

JT

[ptarmigan]

John

Thanks for the comment. Here is 'no 1' reworked (from the original RAW file) with adjusted contrast, WB, HL recover, minor contrast tweak with curves and some N/R. No sharpening at all. Final PP after conversion with PS CS3. Resized as before.

1st Conversion was CS1, middle was ACR, final was Aperture.