What software should I (we) use for the best results?

[Tom V]

As a longtime Mac user & commercial photographer, and new S2 user (actually haven't received the camera yet), I am trying to find out what software I should use to get the best quality images from the S2 raw images.

[kari]

hi Tom!

my picks would be fujis ex converter, because it's free in usa and it's just ok, and for the rest of the work photoshop, what ever number you might have. le -version comes with camera, it might not be enough for all purposes, but it's ok to start.
my thinking is to be simple, you do what you have to, that's enough. if you wish to, with ps you can do more and special aswell.

this is also cheapest but also best way to go ;-)

kari

[Tom V]

Kari,

Thanks for the advice.

I have Photoshop 6.01 and will soon upgrade to Photoshop 7.

I would like to get the most color accuracy and image sharpness possible from the S2. In the online reviews, the thing that convinced me to go with the S2 was the unbeatable sharpness when the image is from the RAW format. To get the best color accuracy, I believe that the RAW image should be converted directly to the AdobeRGB color space profile, and that is not possible with the included EX software.

I have color calibrated monitors, and use good color management throughout my workflow. I hardly expect that sRGB files will produce the best possible images.

I am also interested in using the computer to control the computer, or saving the files directly to the computer hard drive, bypassing the in-camera storage media.

I shall continue to investigate all this until I understand it all.

[kari]

hyper-utility software includes shooting via mac, see manual page 100. if i'm right it's included in usa, not here in finland ;-(

i know it will run in os9, coming hopefully next monht also for osX.

i'll try to check about sRGP ... adobe rgp conwersion or no conwersion from raw.

kari

[cbandes]

Tom - the HyperUtility RAW converter does allow you to select AdobeRGB as the color space for the RAW file. You have a choice of either AdobeRGB or FinePixRGB for output spaces.

I am not currently aware of any software options aside from Fuji's included conversion software. Theoretically Bibble will support the S2 in a month or two, but right now we have no choice besides the Fuji software - which is a shame, because the Fuji sw doesn't work well on OSX and it's just plain clunky.