EX converter blowouts, ACR doesn't

[bjnicholls]

I decided to look more closely at how Adobe Camera Raw and the new Fuji EX converter handle .raf conversions. I initially wanted to see how far off the ACR color balance would be compared to the "as shot" white balance from EX. ACR does require a lot of adjustment to match the color temp set in the camera, but I expected that from earlier experience.

I discovered something I haven't seen mentioned before. ACR holds highlights from the raw file much better than EX does. I made conversions using the EX converter's lowest contrast setting - "original" and made conversions to hold as much highlight information as possible. No matter what I tried, even making a custom low contrast curve, the EX converter posterizes the highlight values and ACR doesn't. Here are some image links that show what I'm talking about from a couple of images:

My 60mm Micro Nikkor watch test shot:

http://users.sisna.com/bjnicholls/darkroom/watch-small.jpg

A pair of 100% details that show ACR does quite a good job with image quality. All of these images have ACR's sharpening and smoothness sliders set to zero:

http://users.sisna.com/bjnicholls/darkroom/EX-ACR-1A.jpg

Now look at the highlights on the watch stem. Notice how, despite my best efforts, EX blows out considerable highlight area detail:

http://users.sisna.com/bjnicholls/darkroom/EX-ACR-1b.jpg

My library interior test shot using the 12-24mm Nikkor:

http://users.sisna.com/bjnicholls/darkroom/libraryinside.jpg

A 100% detail showing ACR's slightly more prominent aliasing (reported by others, but not at all bad if you use the settings I did):

http://users.sisna.com/bjnicholls/darkroom/EX-ACR-2a.jpg

Now a crop (not 100%) that shows how badly EX blows out and posterizes highlight details compared to ACR:

http://users.sisna.com/bjnicholls/darkroom/EX-ACR-2b.jpg

EX is a very poor tool for retaining the highlight range from .raf files. I think ACR's slightly coarser aliasing (only visible in certain image areas) is less problematic than this blowout issue, or even the color hassles that can be corrected. I'm very surprised and disappointed by the EX converter's performance. It's past time for Fuji to publish file specs so that ACR can be optimized for .raf files and we can have a tool that delivers all the raw format potential.

[Rockyw]

I totally agree with you bjnicholls, The Adobe plug in is designed much better than EX, and even the pictures them selves do not have the muddy look EX gives them. FUJI had their head in their wallet and hurt themselves on this deal. They need to help make this plug in work with the S1 and 2 OR hire a few programers to update EX so it works and looks as good as ACR. Also this update should be FREE to all as a download and supplied in all new cameras sold in the USA. When a company puts profits ahead or their customer base, they hurt the customer and themselves. If they don't get on the ball and make this better without it costing their existing customers more money, it would be enough to make me go somewhere else for my second and other digital cameras the next time. Lets keep on them for a better EX and to help make the ACR work. Great Post!!!!

[bjnicholls]

Whoa, big fella!

ACR has many problems as a converter for .raf files:

- It can't extract shot settings data from the files. The color you're given is arbitrary and requires manual adjustment without the benefit of a reference image (unless you do as I did on these and use EX to compare).

- It leaves a row of blank pixels on conversion images that you must trim (even using an action is an extra step you shouldn't have to do).

- It does show more aliasing in some image areas.

- The default conversion settings produce inferior results, and you have to go through extra steps to override them.

Both applications fall short, but I do think that ACR is more likely to be the better tool if the Fuji file code is either published or cracked. Canon and Nikon both provide file specs for application developers. That may undercut sales of their own converters, but it makes their products more valuable and marketable.