Capture 1 (C1) is now the bedrock of my processing stream and I have been using it for long enough to form some more concise thoughts when comparing it to Lightroom, at least with the tools I use.
Core File Import.
No contest. Files, especially higher ISO ones are just better. This comes from a slightly sensitive M43 user’s perspective, but I can honestly say, I can now use ISO’s 3200-6400 without too much cause for concern.
Gone is the mushy, bland, contrast robbed base file I would have struggled with. Coming at the same time as the EM1x this combo have really freed me up to handle some pretty horrific light, very common in a school environment (for example last night’s play had lots of single, coloured side lights, for ultra moody sets). Where I once got jittery at 1600 under artificial light, I now feel about that same at 6400 under much tougher light.
Sharpening.
Not as overtly sharp as Lightroom, maybe not as snappy looking, C1 starts out less punchy (read more natural, but with less “Hollywood”), but on close inspection is usually holding very fine detail. The tool is more intuitive and the results more predictable. The too and fro of Lightroom’s sharp/noisy vs plasticky over noise reduced seems to be gone. The anti halo slider is also good for those times you need to push, then disguise the result. Sharpening, especially with the brush tool seems to even be able to sharpen the slightly un-sharp. This is very handy for groups or moving dynamics to even things out visually. I think PS does sharpening better than LR, but without the mass processing benefits.
Noise reduction.
This tool is less aggressive (effective?), but most of the work has been done on import processing. I very rarely need to use it, but if I do, I feel confident it will not monster my files.
Cropping/straightening/distortion.
I won't lie, I like Lightroom’s simpler tools better, especially the straightening tool. The C1 tools are more cumbersome for me as I prefer the slider tool for both distortion and straightening which are not it’s natural state of operation. There are more tools, which is great when you need it, but the simplicity of Lightroom’s tools (not as simple as previous versions) was a boon for mass processing jobs.
Marking and cataloging processed work.
Much the same and I will admit to being slack here with both. The colour code marking is quicker. I do seem to be able to get through bigger jobs faster. Colour categorising is a direct right click > select, not left click, > chose selection type > choose colour. Much quicker There is likely a shortcut for something like that in LR, but C1 came naturally. I usually mark primary exports red, secondary exports orange etc and “star” duds if needed.
Vignetting.
I will give this one to Lightroom. I found it’s shape and graduation tools better/gentler, but both work similarly for quick application.
Clarity.
I had an older version of LR (“stupid Adobe not upgrading older Macs making my get C1 for my EM1x”, or maybe “cheers Adobe for not………”), so I did not get to try their structure tool. I prefer the clarity tool in LR (often used with mild sharpening, then applied locally with the brush tool), as I find the C1 version punches contrast up too much, but the structure tool has it’s uses. Overall a tie I guess. I will say though, what I found was a must with LR is now more of an emergency tool.
Dynamic Range.
Again, like sharpening, no contest. The core file has more depth, the various controls offer even more. The one I missed at first was Brightness, with no LR equivalent to prompt me. This one is way better for taming strong sunlight as it avoids HDR-looking highlight recovery. It basically re-sets the files curve. Highlight recovery tends to go to a colour, often yellow, which can be fixed easily enough and can lean towards an HDR look. Shadows also recover well with obviously less noise.
De-haze.
I feel the opposite to clarity here. I found Lightroom’s de-haze to be clumsy and brash. C1’s tool is a magic wand. I now tend to smile to myself when I see some lens haze.
Colour Editor.
On balance, I like the C1 more for speed and if I need it for depth.
Lens Corrections.
No contest. C1 has all my lenses loaded, LR did not.
Black and White and Grain.
LR could have a lovely clean look to it’s mono conversions, something I embraced. I feel C1 is better, more mature, but so far, I have not explored enough to have an educated opinion. C1’s application is a little more direct and specialised.
Layers
Not really a fair comparison, because LR does not technically have layers (but bounces over to PS easily enough and can layer some things like HDR), but in C1 layers makes the core tools more powerful. LR has some annoying habits when splitting or not some functions. C1 allows you to experiment and mix-match your efforts easily. As a photographer, not a graphic designer, this form of one page layering is ideal.
So, summing up, how has life changed?
Shooting in to the light does not scare me (De-haze and dynamic range recovery).
I work faster, especially with big jobs (better base and faster colour categorising).
I try to shoot straighter to avoid slightly more cumbersome straightening procedures.
I am no longer afraid of ISO’s 3200 or 6400 and use 1600 without thought.
I use sharpening more, clarity less, but usually trust the file to be pretty good without either.
I have an even greater respect for M43 and it’s abilities (and I dare say many Fuji shooters feel the same). There is a slightly cropped 4x7’ billboard at both of the campus gates (below) taken from an early C1 file. In hindsight, I should have tried the Brightness tool as I first encountered the HDR like highlight recovery, but it was good enough for this. There is also a bus getting a full length shot from an EM1x and 300mm “snapshot” taken in torrential rain at camp. Several older full frame files failed to make the grade.
I am exposing more for the subject, rather than for the overall frame, because I can pull and push things better.
I am actually thinking a lot less about processing, while shooting.
Grainless and sharp, this has maxed out the printing process used, with 30% of the file wasted.