Capture One & Lightroom

[roguewave]

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I have just spent a great deal of time comparing the images rendered by these 2 software packages. Forgetting about all the neat organizing and database oriented features, as well as the various "tools" that assist in the post processing for RAW/DNG files, I have come to the conclusion, right or wrong, that there are several differences in how the RAW/DNG conversions from each package are very different. I like both software packages & wish I could get features from both, in one setting. That's not possible. I'd love to hear from others that have used and continue to use both applications.

 

The most visible difference, to my eye, is that Capture One renders RED as much warmer in almost every comparison. My subjective view is that the RAW files are rendered warmer & with a bit more contrast by Capture One. I assumed the default settings and performed the comparisons on 2 calibrated SynchMaster 305T plus monitors, using both for OSX Lion & Windows XP Professional. I must add that on Windows XP there was more variability, but well within normal limits.

 

I'm anxious to get the opinions of other users, particularly those that continue to use both packages. Thanks. Ben

[nggalai]

Funny, I’m in the middle of similar comparisons right now, too. Have been for close to three months.

 

It’s not only colour rendition that’s different between Lightroom and Capture One. THAT you can control using custom camera profiles (ICC for C1, DNG profiles for L3). For me, it’s more the way both programs interpret data for tonality.

 

Capture One seems, to me, to have the edge on gradation over Lightroom. This is especially apparent once you start twisting knobs, especially in the Exposure and Color panels: C1 has a smoother look to me, it looks more realistic than L3’s renditions. With L3, I find I need to tune stuff far more carefully or the results look flat and unnatural quickly. For me, I get decent to great results easier using Capture One.

 

Example: Highlight recovery. With Lightroom, I can recover more if I want to, but even a little recovery flattens the image and/or produces very intense speculars. The image looks plasticly quickly. WIth Capture One, I can recover less – blown is really blown quicker – but the results look more pleasing and natural. Same thing with shadows.

 

I think this might be due to Phase One manufacturing/selling digital CCD backs. Seems they “get” CCD better than the more general-purpose Lightroom. For comparison, I’m really not fond of Olympus files developed in Capture One.

 

Jury’s still out on what I’ll settle with. Main reason for my constant switching of three months is that I’ve been a Lightroom user since Version 1.2 – old dogs, new tricks. Also, I’m used to having an image library, smart folders, keyword sets etc. which in the case of Capture One means Media Pro which still is quite buggy and not really a joy to work with.

[archi4]

I have both LR3 and COne pro and have stopped comparing long ago - some files are better in one and some in the other, although I have made some custom LR DNG profiles for skin tones only and some using x-rite's color checker passport.

Lightroom for image library, smart folders, keyword sets and printing because media pro is not as good for these functions.

I have developed a pretty good feeling for where I want to develop the RAW file (DNG for the M9 and RAF for the X100) and when opened in LR will sometimes switch to Capture One using a very handy LR plugin called "Open Directly" develop it in C1 and then export the TIFF to my watched folder in Lightroom. I then have a TIFF developed in C1 and the original DNG both in the LR library. The whole process is fast and easy.

Open directly is available at: Open Directly - John Beardsworth

[roguewave]

Sacha & archi, thanks for your insights. Any chance that you could post some of images to demonstrate the differences? I think that a number of members would be interested & would chime in with their experiences & images. Since these 2 packages represent the most popular & advanced software solutions, along with Phocus, maybe we could start an ongoing "laboratory" to help us understand and use these tools.

[archi4]

Ben,

The differences are quite subtle and as uploads to the forum probably useless.

Probably the best way to compare would be a DNG with no adjustments exported as full size TIFF and sent to an email address using the WeTransfer program.

Using the procedure I outlined above you could make the comparison with one of your own DNG files more easily with the advantage that they would not be influenced by my white balance settings or any other discrepancy,

I just saw your NYC night shot and only just managed to make this post, as it really made me speechless.

maurice

[nggalai]

Sure, Ben. Here’s two images I took today which illustrate what I “feel” about the differences quite plainly. I think. It’s rather subtle at first glance, but I know what I prefer.

 

Scene 1: Darkish foreground, blown highlights.

 

Lightroom 3:

 

 

Capture One Pro 6:

 

 

Scene 2: Backlight.

 

Lightroom 3:

 

 

Capture One Pro 6:

 

 

I feel L3 is starker in its tone curve – while at the same time making it flatter – while C1 retains more of a subtle gradation, even though highlights blow more quickly (see Scene 1). I’m sure you could get the results closer to each other, but well, it took me about 30s with Capture One, and 3 minutes with Lightroom to get comparable results. Even though I’ve used Lightroom for over three years now.

 

But what results one considers “nicer” is down to personal taste. Personally, I like C1’s renditions better, but your mileage may vary.

 

Edit: I should add Lightroom has a custom colour profile for my M9, Capture One uses all defaults.

[Luke_Miller]

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The most visible difference, to my eye, is that Capture One renders RED as much warmer in almost every comparison.

 

I agree. I use both LR 3.5 and C1 6.3 and while I generally find C1 to produce slightly more accurate skin tones over my LR custom profiles, I have the same red issue. Two family members that I photograph at family events have skin tones that tend towards ruddy. In C1 that characteristic is exaggerated to the point I have to create a preset to de-emphasize the red tones in order to make them look natural. That is not necessary when processed in LR.

[delander †]

I use both packages. I started out as a real fan of Capture One but have gradually moved over to Lightroom (and ACR in Photoshop) and now do most of my post processing in the Adobe products. The develop controls in LR/ACR are very flexible although a bit daunting when you start. After some use you get learn what they all do and can quickly make adjustments to the image.

 

I must also admit that all the video tutorials for LR and PS on the www are very informative, there is very little for Capture One.

 

And then there are the books, ever see one for Capture One?

 

Jeff

[delander †]

If I process the same M9 image in each package and use the 'as shot' white balance they both choose different colour temperature values, which particularly affects the rendition of red objects. LR results in a colder red with an added magenta tint. C1 chooses a warmer colour temperature. Of course either can be adjusted to give the colour you wish.

 

Jeff