On Thu, Oct 9, 2008 at 7:02 PM, Godfrey DiGiorgi <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > On Oct 9, 2008, at 3:12 PM, Adam Maas wrote: > >> But if you want to see what's the best each camera can do, CaptureNX >> is the way to go for NEFs, while ACR/LR is the best choice for PEFs. >>> > > > Why did I know you were going to say that? > > The "best" is irrelevant. If you want to compare two cameras' performance, > without adding the additional liability of comparing image processing > software performance, you should use just one RAW conversion tool. That way > you know you are comparing the camera functionality, without software > tailored to each one's individual foibles masking issues. > > If your workflow and image processing is based on LR/ACR, CaptureNX is > irrelevant. My efforts to test CaptureNX with NEF files and compare the > output to the same files processed in Lightroom proves to me that the > results are virtually indistinguishable with adequate exploitation of the > two image processing applications' capabilities. > > And do you mean to say that Pentax' dedicated RAW conversion software isn't > the "best" for Pentax cameras' RAW files? Heavens! ... ]'-) > > G >
Unfortunately, software is an integrated part of the camera's actual performance. Certain RAW converters do better with some cameras and other cameras do better with different software. For example, a Sony A700 will demonstrate poor IQ when coupled with ACR or Lightroom, particularly at ISO 1600+, while it produces much better IQ from Sony's (atrocious) IDC software or Capture One. ACR & Lightroom are well known to be the best choice for Pentax cameras, while Canon and Nikon's proprietary software is superior for their cameras (I'm aware of your comparison between LR and CaptureNX. My comparison told a very different story, particularly with regards to colour, where CaptureNX combined with Picture Controls is very visibly superior in control and accuracy to ACR with a D300, ditto high ISO performance due to CaptureNX's better NR). -- M. Adam Maas http://www.mawz.ca Explorations of the City Around Us. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List [email protected] http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
