Which RAW converter?

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stepheno

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I do some database design on the side and my last job is paying in software (pukka , upfront). Well I'm torn between Dreamweaver 8 or another RAW converter. Currently I use RSP and am wondering if either Bibble or Capture One are significantly better - any one had any experience of them. TIA.

regards
 
Thanks Joe. I just thought to d/l the trial version of Bibble. It looks to do a good job but I don't care for the interface as much as RSP.

regards
 
Both the others have advantages and disadvantages but the main gripes/praise come from the interfaces. The gripes are that people not familiar with them find both hard to use and the praise tends to be that once you have got use to them, they usually give better results for certain types of shots. As usual though, for the majority of us we learn one piece of software and it becomes second nature, so the ease of use actually makes up for any shortfalls we might find.

I have used all three mentioned and none of them are not worthy of the money, as each is available as a trial I would strongly suggest that you download and test the other two in detail, preferably one for one month and the other for the next. Yes they really do deserve that much attention to get a real idea and a give a fair trial.

BTW at the end of going through what you are now contemplating I still returned to Rawshooter Premium. Its not that it gave better results (or worse for that matter) just that the workflow for me, was faster.

HTH
 
I have played around with a few RAW converters.........

Using Canon DPP at the moment.....it can be a little slow and clumsy but I am warming to it and it appears to handle reds better than the other's I have tried.

This is just my opinion of course;)
 
Sorry stepheno, you posted while I was typing out my reply ;)
 
Steve said:
P-E are you using the very latest version?
Click to expand...

No Steve just the disc that came with the MKII.

Have you any feedback on the latest DPP?

I am on; Version 2.0.3.7
 
I've used Capture one Pro, Nikon Capture and Photoshop CS2, they are all good, but i find CS2 the best, mainly cos i use Photoshop so much at home and through work that it is the easiest for me.
 
P-E said:
No Steve just the disc that came with the MKII.

Have you any feedback on the latest DPP?
Click to expand...
Not personally but I am aware that Canon are working really hard on getting the algorithms correct to give the best possible results. I have read that some of the real tech heads that have done in detail tests are speaking very highly of the output from the latest version.

The workflow from it is not the best but like I have already pointed out, we tend to favour what we know and if you take the trouble to learn the software I am sure it won’t be that bad. As someone who is already using it you will be in a better position than I to comment on that though. I would recommend downloading the latest version though.

I would be very interested in your opinion.

HTH

BTW the praise for Canon's software is indeed that the reds are really well controlled and that in the latest version, the detail to noise levels are supurb throughout the ISO ranges.
 
Interesting Steve......will have to go find out what the latest version is.
 
I would guess that if you are used to using one converter you won't like the way another works. I certainly found that being used to BreezeBrowser I don't like the interface of Bibble or Capture1, though RSE seems ok I wouldn't pay for RSP purely because I've already paid for BB.
 
P-E said:
Interesting Steve......will have to go find out what the latest version is.
Click to expand...
My 30D came with 2.1.0.2 but I managed to get a beta version of RSP that supports the 30D so continued to use that as its what I'm used to/prefer.
 
mfwild13 said:
My 30D came with 2.1.0.2 but I managed to get a beta version of RSP that supports the 30D so continued to use that as its what I'm used to/prefer.
Click to expand...

Just updated to 2.1.1.4.

I have RS Premium and I so wish it would work for me as it does others.
 
Why doesn't RSP work for you P-E?

Give some examples and we'll try to help.

I use RSP exclusively for Raw conversion
and will be able to share how I convert my images.
 
I appreciate everyone's contribution to this thread. So far I haven't seen anything that would make me change to Bibble. As Steve has said it really is down to the workflow and interface that one is used to.

Interesting that Canon DPP crops up. I tried that first when I got my camera - maybe it's worth a re-visit. I'll download Capture for trial and then decide - but for the moment I can't see myself changing from RSP. Thanks again.

regards
 
Matt said:
Why doesn't RSP work for you P-E?

Give some examples and we'll try to help.

I use RSP exclusively for Raw conversion
and will be able to share how I convert my images.
Click to expand...

Can't quite put my finger on it Matt.

I find the Colour Temp a little confusing.

Can't quite hit the contrast levels to how I would like and then if I open a converted Raw in CS2 the Histogram don't quite seem correct.

All the fiddling just results in frustration and I lose patience:doh: .............obviously RS does work as the results of peoples work on here prove:thumb: and I do like the layout/workflow of RS just not my results.

Would be interested to read your workflow in RS Matt..........I am always happy to listen/read and learn :thumb:
 
I've used PS CS2/Bridge, RSE, Nikon Capture and Silverfast. I now use the latest Bibble which incorporate NoiseNija, apart from not supporting RAw off my Leica it's fine, does a good job with the D200's NEF files, better IMO than NC4.4
 
I'll knock something together to show how I process my images for you P-E.

This may be a good opertunity, for all to share their techniques. :thumb:
 
Matt said:
I'll knock something together to show how I process my images for you P-E.

This may be a good opertunity, for all to share their techniques. :thumb:
Click to expand...

Will look forward to it:thumb:

Anyone explain the colour temp in RS?.

I can load an image in ACR with a colour temp of say 5700 and load the same image in RS and get a colour temp of 6850.

Even using the auto white bal picker seems off.

Ok I will shut up my moaning and wait for Matt to show me how:)
 
Well I've done the lot - installed and tried Bibble, CaptureOne, DPP (latest upgrade) and RSP (which I already have). Bottom line is I'm sticking with RSP - in my opinion it's streets ahead of the others so for what it's worth,

Bibble - discarded fairly quickly, poor interface and didn't care for the results.

CaptureOne - gave it some welly, did not like the interface and found it overly complicated to use. Maybe the pros will notice the difference in the end result but I didn't.

DPP - I could not see any profound difference in the upgrade from the original version, awful interface and screen layout.

The bottom line isthe workflow, and I know I'm used to RSP but I much prefer the workflow options and tools and the screen layout is spot on.

Many thanks for giving your views on the other converters - it gave me the impetus to try/retry them and I am now satisfied to stay with RSP. Matty - I would also be interested to hear about your workflow. Thanks all.

regards

ps please don't be offended if I've slagged your favourite - it is only my opinion.

regards
 
CS2 was the one I first started with. I probably would have stuck with it except for one thing, Adobe Bridge. I can make a brew while I'm waiting for it to open. It's the only snag in an otherwise superb programme.

regards
 
I've tried a lot of RAW converters and most recently I attempted to switch to Capture 1 since the Chromasia dude uses it. I figured good enough for him, was for me :) I didn't like the missing shadow and highlights contrast adjuster from RSP. That was pretty much the only thing I missed. I did however like the fact that it ran on my Mac. I also liked that settings were stored in the dir which would mean I could copy between the two computers without loosing settings. Lastly I liked the custom settings thing so you can save preset styles. Capture 1 does seem like the "better" product if I could only work out how to get around the shadow/highlights issue.

I was just reading this review today which suggests Capture 1 has better output than RSP. It hints at film like grain, which is a plus for me and my gigs :)
 
petemc said:
I was just reading this review today which suggests Capture 1 has better output than RSP. It hints at film like grain, which is a plus for me and my gigs :)
Click to expand...
I'm sure that is true, Pete and if I had the time and inclination I'd probably go with Capture 1, but I haven't, so I'll stay with what I know. Thanks for the reply.

regards
 
I would say Rawshooter Premium wa the best I've seen, but I keep going back to PS CS2 for speed and ease of workflow...Bridge/PS RAW/CS2.
Mainly because of the colour coding facilities in Bridge...duffers, maybes and keepers, then on the second sweep colour code them again for tiffs still to be edited and completed. Bridge opens the PS RAW Convertor automatically too when you click on the image.
If I had all the time in the world to spend on each image, Id use RSP but I'm in the middle of a 250 shot run with a deadline for a paying client so some time it's speed thats more important as long as I get acceptable results.
 
I've downloaded the C1pro trial to compare output with RSP.

Initially it does look like their output is superior to RSP,
but when you get down to the nitty gritty and make all
of the sharpening and noise supression settings the same,
the output is near identical.

RSP
rsp.jpg


C1pro
C1pro.jpg


You can pay £350 or £55'ish for a RAW converter.
I know where I would spend my money every time.
 
Looking at those two images, Matt, I would say that the RSP one is better.

regards
 
There is a very nice, detailed and independent write up by Petteri Sulonen on Rawshooter Premium. After reading through all 8 pages I think he pretty much tells it like it is pointing out both the good and bad.

Some of you may be interested?

linky
 
Excellent article, Steve, thanks. It's good that he doesn't completely whitewash RSP. Generally speaking I concur with what he says although he has posed me two problems - one, I haven't thought about appearances yet and two, do I shell out for the Colour Engine? I think probably es to the latter.

regards
 
Matt have you 'knocked' something together re RSE...........or have you posted elsewhere and I have missed it?
 
Not yet, its getting some time to do it.
I've made a start but don't have the finished article.
 
Matt said:
Not yet, its getting some time to do it.
I've made a start but don't have the finished article.
Click to expand...

Ok no problem........thought you had forgot me;)
 
I've posted what I've done in the Tutorials section.

See here

I will update as I complete each part.
 
:thumb: Good start Matt.

Looking forward to this tutorial.
 
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