Capture One Pro

stevebuk · 18 Jan 2013

Hi all,

I currently use Aperture and get on really well with it for cataloging and editing my images. However, I've got a but frustrated with the slow pace of camera support. It doesn't support form Fuji X10 and now I own an XE-1 that isn't supported either. So I've decided to take a look at alternatives. I have Lightroom 3 and could upgrade to 4 but think this also has a few problems with the XE-1. Finally I looked at Capture One and it seems to look rather nice, if a little expensive :razz:

I was wondering if any others had made the switch from Aperture to Capture One and if so pros / cons?

I have a library that contains all my RAWS and don't use external references. I find this very convenient. How does this work in Capture One? Or do you edit in C1 and then import into Aperture for cataloguing?

It also seems some say it is easy to learn, others difficult. Could anyone advise if it is something easy to migrate to my Aperture?

I'd appreciate any feedback.

Thanks
Steve

markmullen · 19 Jan 2013

I tried Aperture and Lightroom and got on with neither before settling on Capture One, which I love.

With CO7 you can do a lot of the cataloguing in the application, I use Media Pro to run my cataloguing as I did when I was using CO6 which didn't have cataloguing built in, and will probably continue to do so.

It takes a bit of learning but when you do it is very powerful. Phase One are pretty good at getting camera support updated, although the manufacturers don't release the camera SDKs to them early like they do Adobe so there is a small lag between a new camera coming out and it being supported.

Keep an eye on Teamwork and Capture One Complete, both of whom run offers from time to time, COC sometimes bundle training with their offers too.

stevebuk · 21 Jan 2013

Thanks Mark. I'll check the sites you mention and give the 60 day trial a go. Just not sure how I am going to work with regard to cataloging. I may import the finished files as tiff's from CO7?

craftysnapper · 22 Jan 2013

Steve one thing to be aware of Capture One are not that brilliant at supporting the latest cameras unless they are popular mainstream.

stevebuk · 22 Jan 2013

Thanks Paul. Good to know. However, they are one of the few to support the XE-1!

craftysnapper · 23 Jan 2013

stevebuk said:
Thanks Paul. Good to know. However, they are one of the few to support the XE-1!

True but I believe it is not fully supported and you cannot use the adjustment brush and gradient on that file format.

I've always been a fan of CO but I'm beginning to come to the conclusion that to be a CO user you have to pick your camera to suit their software and not the camera you want as it can be over a year before some models are supported if ever.

I've been waiting for the K-30 to be supported since it was released and when even piddling little companies like ACDsee and the like can support it, it makes you wonder what CO are playing at.

So am back to using LR4.3 which by the way does support the K-30 and the XE-1.

markmullen · 23 Jan 2013

craftysnapper said:
True but I believe it is not fully supported and you cannot use the adjustment brush and gradient on that file format.

I've always been a fan of CO but I'm beginning to come to the conclusion that to be a CO user you have to pick your camera to suit their software and not the camera you want as it can be over a year before some models are supported if ever.

I've been waiting for the K-30 to be supported since it was released and when even piddling little companies like ACDsee and the like can support it, it makes you wonder what CO are playing at.

So am back to using LR4.3 which by the way does support the K-30 and the XE-1.

In fairness to Phase One they're a small outfit, IIRC about 30 developers, compared to the hundreds that outfits like Adobe have, and have always been more angled towards the professional user, CO itself being originally for Phase backs. As such it would make sense to dedicate their dev time to supporting the latest pro gear rather than a more niche consumer level camera like the K30, as good as it might be.

craftysnapper · 23 Jan 2013

markmullen said:
In fairness to Phase One they're a small outfit, IIRC about 30 developers, compared to the hundreds that outfits like Adobe have, and have always been more angled towards the professional user, CO itself being originally for Phase backs. As such it would make sense to dedicate their dev time to supporting the latest pro gear rather than a more niche consumer level camera like the K30, as good as it might be.

And yet they supported the Pen E-PL5 as soon as it came out and only a handful of people were using it.

What you say is true but they aim there advertising at that very sector of the market because it is the biggest market, but don't tell you that till after you have brought their very expensive software.

markmullen · 23 Jan 2013

craftysnapper said:
And yet they supported the Pen E-PL5 as soon as it came out and only a handful of people were using it.

It also depends on how quick the manufacturers supply Phase One with the SDK for their new cameras, maybe Olympus were quicker off the mark than Pentax?

craftysnapper said:
What you say is true but they aim there advertising at that very sector of the market because it is the biggest market, but don't tell you that till after you have brought their very expensive software.

I'm not sure I agree, I see very little Capture One advertising, it is one of those products that seems to spread by word of mouth. On the Capture One web front page:

Phase One Website said:
Capture One Pro 7 is the professional choice in imaging software
Capture One Pro 7 is the worlds best raw converter rendering precise colors and incredible detail with support for leading high-end cameras. It contains flexible digital asset management, all the essential adjustment tools and fast performance in one customizable solution.

There is no suggestion that it suits everyone, nor supports every camera.

craftysnapper · 23 Jan 2013

markmullen said:
It also depends on how quick the manufacturers supply Phase One with the SDK for their new cameras, maybe Olympus were quicker off the mark than Pentax?

Well as the K-5 11 and K-5 11s were released not long ago and were immediately supported by Phase One; that argument does not really fly does it Mark.

Perhaps it's Phase Ones hatred of the DNG format that has something to do with it after all it took them 2 years to support Pentax K-r's DNG format just when the model was discontinued. Pehaps they will support the K-30 in another two year time. I've been using CO since ver 3 but I do not think they will be getting any more of my money soon.