| FIRST
IMPRESSION
Capture
One Pro is software specifically dedicated to handling and
editing raw images, with emphasis on raw workflow. This review
is based on version 3.7.1
Nikon
D2Hs, D2x and D50 users - you'll be happy to know that Capture
One version 3.7.3 is now able to read Nikon white balances
(pre-defined, auto and custom).
Please
note that I limited the scope of this review to raw workflow,
and don't touch on important functions like shooting with
a tethered D-SLR, or on using the Phase One camera back. For
a complete list of Capture One's features and functions, check
the Phase
One website.
First
off, to give you an idea of what Capture One looks on a PC:
The
application's main window is divided into 4 sections:
- Menu & Toolbars
- Thumbnail window, which displays the info about your images,
and is used to select images.
- Preview Window, where the selected image(s) is displayed
and updated in real time.
- Functional tabs
There
are five Function tabs, which correspond to the main stages
of the raw workflow:
- Capture
- White Balance
- Exposure
- Focus (where sharpening can be checked)
- Process (where the images are finally processed as tiffs
or jpgs)
As
I mentioned, the images are displayed and updated in real
time in the Preview Window.
This is one of the most important and impressive aspects of
Capture One - changes made to the images (whether WB or exposure
or sharpening) is displayed near instantly. This program is
a speed demon. If you've been editing your raw files with
an application like Nikon Editor up until now, then you're
in for a sweet surprise.
And
yes, you can size the thumbnails as you wish, and also re-size
the thumbnail window.
The
file browser is called up via an icon from the Thumbnail window
and appears below the thumbnails, as shown in this screen-grab.
It makes navigation as easily accessible as it needs to be
for an efficient workflow.
My
first impression was that Capture One Pro didn't look like
'standard' Windows-based software. There were fewer menus,
and there were more icons spread around the screen.
Also,
right-clicking did nothing in most instances. I've become
so accustomed to Windows-based programs where right-clicking
on anything shows the relevant options, that I felt initially
lost when Capture One didn't do the same. |
