A quick test with the new Adobe Camera RAW compared to the JPEG file shot with the standard setting in the Canon 50D reveals what I hoped…the camera is way better than I first thought with my initial tests….thanks Adobe for picking up where Canon dropped the ball on software.
Sample image grabbed using Skitch from Apple preview and Adobe Camera RAW dialog box.
[ Update, a complete set of noise processing tests can be found on this post ]
I should point out that I have applied no noise reduction to the Camera RAW settings as I wanted it to be as ‘out of the camera’ as possible, where as the Canon in camera software does apply noise reduction which you can see by looking at the car door.
Canon in camera 50D with standard picture style (zoomed to fit)
Adobe Camera RAW 4.6 processing the RAW file from the Canon 50D (zoomed to fit)
I think the results speak for themselves, the RAW file feels much much sharper at 100% view than the JPEG ever did, finally I am happy with my 50D!
3 Comments
I have to differ with you. Do this simple test and you will look at ACR quite differently. Take a raw file shot at ISO 12800 and convert it with ACR (no adjustments) and then use the Canon utility to convert the file (just make sure you turn off the noise reduction in the Canon preferences). The Canon software will give you an astonishingly cleaner image than the Adobe ACR. I was shocked by the difference. But I do agree the 50D is excellent!
Hi Tom,
Thanks for the feedback.
I have to confess I have not tried the higher 12800 ISO to compare with. I will give some shots a go with your suggestions along with 6400 for good measure, although I will say that I would expect the results from the Canon software at anything above 6400 to be better than any 3rd party converter since I am sure Canon has a lot of software image tweaking going on to deal with those higher ISO’s. And I could be wrong but I do not believe Canon actually shares all their RAW file details with other companies which would enable better handling of the very high ISO’s. With the exception perhaps of using Camera RAW and then a 3rd party noise plugin, personally I love imagenomic’s Noiseware Pro.
I’ll give the higher ISO’s a work over and see what I get in DPP.
Thanks again for the feedback and suggestions, I appreciate it.
Peter.
I have completed a new post with a new series of tests with hopefully a comprehensive set of options, you can find it here
http://grfxguru.wordpress.com/2008/10/14/canon-50d-high-iso-noise-tests-adobe-camera-raw-dpp-noiseware-professional/