Fuji EX raw converter update better ?

Hi all,

I´ve done some re-convertions on older raw files and notice that after the upgrade, EX raw converter delivers much more vibrant and colorfull pictures that in most cases, need no (or very little) post processing to get great results. (testings with 16/bit Adobe RGB).

As an example, exposure now is much more accurate with camera settings - in the previous version of EX, I frequently needed to compensate to +1/3 to get proper exposition ...
Can anybody confirm this ?
--
Paulo Abreu, Fuji S2Pro - Nikon 18-35, 28-105, 80-200

'Buy a FujiFilm S2 Pro TODAY because ONE DAY you will be dead !'
http://www.pbase.com/psergio

Hi, Paulo! Can't seem to find my EX Version anywhere? How did you get the upgrade? Would you please post the link? TIA.

Dean

Paulo Abreu said:

Hi all,

I´ve done some re-convertions on older raw files and notice that
after the upgrade, EX raw converter delivers much more vibrant and
colorfull pictures that in most cases, need no (or very little)
post processing to get great results. (testings with 16/bit Adobe
RGB).
As an example, exposure now is much more accurate with camera
settings - in the previous version of EX, I frequently needed to
compensate to +1/3 to get proper exposition ...
Can anybody confirm this ?
--
Paulo Abreu, Fuji S2Pro - Nikon 18-35, 28-105, 80-200

'Buy a FujiFilm S2 Pro TODAY because ONE DAY you will be dead !'
http://www.pbase.com/psergio

Click to expand...

http://www.fujifilm.co.jp/download/rafcn_win/download.html

Regards,

Dean Guzman said:

Dean

Paulo Abreu said:

Hi all,

I´ve done some re-convertions on older raw files and notice that
after the upgrade, EX raw converter delivers much more vibrant and
colorfull pictures that in most cases, need no (or very little)
post processing to get great results. (testings with 16/bit Adobe
RGB).
As an example, exposure now is much more accurate with camera
settings - in the previous version of EX, I frequently needed to
compensate to +1/3 to get proper exposition ...
Can anybody confirm this ?
--
Paulo Abreu, Fuji S2Pro - Nikon 18-35, 28-105, 80-200

'Buy a FujiFilm S2 Pro TODAY because ONE DAY you will be dead !'
http://www.pbase.com/psergio

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

--
Paulo Abreu, Fuji S2Pro - Nikon 18-35, 28-105, 80-200

'Buy a FujiFilm S2 Pro TODAY because ONE DAY you will be dead !'
http://www.pbase.com/psergio

Paulo Abreu said:

As an example, exposure now is much more accurate with camera
settings - in the previous version of EX, I frequently needed to
compensate to +1/3 to get proper exposition ...
Can anybody confirm this ?

Click to expand...

I don't see this. I'm not even sure the EX converter is profile-aware, so I don't put a lot of faith in precision image tuning via the EX display. I expect to do Photoshop tuning, so I haven't watched the differences all that critically, I must confess.

The zoom feature, histogram, and 1/6 stop increments are nice, but incredibly slow to use. You can't zoom to 100% in one step, you have to go through each intermediate step with a slow redraw for each. Panning involves more slow redraws. The new viewer (updated at the same time as the converter) is even slower at creating image thumbnails than before.

EX still makes the best image files, but the slow workflow it used to provide is even slower now.

--
BJN

Anyone know a link to an English Mac version? When I try to run this updater, I get an error message that says the program and the update are in different languages. Thanks.

Paulo Abreu said:

Hi all,

I´ve done some re-convertions on older raw files and notice that
after the upgrade, EX raw converter delivers much more vibrant and
colorfull pictures that in most cases, need no (or very little)
post processing to get great results. (testings with 16/bit Adobe
RGB).
As an example, exposure now is much more accurate with camera
settings - in the previous version of EX, I frequently needed to
compensate to +1/3 to get proper exposition ...
Can anybody confirm this ?
--
Paulo Abreu, Fuji S2Pro - Nikon 18-35, 28-105, 80-200

'Buy a FujiFilm S2 Pro TODAY because ONE DAY you will be dead !'
http://www.pbase.com/psergio

Click to expand...

the main slowing for me is deciding what settings I favor
so many options
so little time
but if you care to have the very best output from your S2, go RAW

the new converter is still a little clunky, but a vast improvement over the former version

for even greater time consumption, you can always change your mind & re-work your images later!
--
pbase & dpreview supporter
Fuji forum member since 5/2001
http://www.pbase.com/artichoke

Hi BJN,

BJN said:

Paulo Abreu said:

As an example, exposure now is much more accurate with camera
settings - in the previous version of EX, I frequently needed to
compensate to +1/3 to get proper exposition ...
Can anybody confirm this ?

Click to expand...

I don't see this. I'm not even sure the EX converter is
profile-aware, so I don't put a lot of faith in precision image
tuning via the EX display. I expect to do Photoshop tuning, so I
haven't watched the differences all that critically, I must confess.

The zoom feature, histogram, and 1/6 stop increments are nice, but
incredibly slow to use. You can't zoom to 100% in one step, you
have to go through each intermediate step with a slow redraw for
each. Panning involves more slow redraws. The new viewer (updated
at the same time as the converter) is even slower at creating image
thumbnails than before.

Click to expand...

I agree with you about the the clumsy interface and the time it takes to process an image - but the results ... !

1. I started raw conversion with EX (first version) and converted +2000 pics - Altough each picture would eventually need a specific conversion setting, in usual, I converted using original tone, standard sharpness, high color and an exposure compensation of +1/3. Auto WB would work fine for most of pics - don´t ask me why the "usual" +1/3 EC but if I didn´t, I would get consistent under exposed pics, although the LCD JPG preview on S2 and histogram were OK. Then, I would make custom level (eventually +color again !!!) on PS to get acceptable results.

2. After buying Adobe raw Converter, I was amazed by the speed, great tone and color and the capability to spot everything in real time but, auto WB is disastrous and final resolution not as good as EX ... and ... the jaggies are terrible (not all pictures tough). An action for making a bit (1%) of tone adjustments on black and white point, aplying USM and saving as JPG was all that I needed for converting my pics.

3. Back to EX again. I think that the need for WB adjustments on every picture using Adobe Raw Converter is one of its major cons - It forces me to stop in every picture and take the time to set it. I made some reconversions of older raw pictures with EX after the upgrade and results are definitevely different - and auto WB is very accurate. Now, I think I will spend less time with EX than with Adobe ...

just some thougths ...

Regards,

BJN said:

EX still makes the best image files, but the slow workflow it used
to provide is even slower now.

--
BJN

Click to expand...

--
Paulo Abreu, Fuji S2Pro - Nikon 18-35, 28-105, 80-200

'Buy a FujiFilm S2 Pro TODAY because ONE DAY you will be dead !'
http://www.pbase.com/psergio

Because you have to buy the EX converter software seperately in the Europe, I previously tried Bibble and Adobe RAW, both of which had issues. I have now purchased the EX converter / shooting software (an extra £102 plus VAT...grrr, what are Fuji thinking making non-North American customers pay xtra?). Immediately upgraded to v.1.1. first impressions were..yuk!, horrid interface, but now, afer a bit of practice, I'm getting the best results yet from Raw files.

I do quite a lot of Macro work, and one thing I notice is that a RAW shot with no sharpening applied can look sharper than a fine Jpeg with standard sharpening. I realy think that some of the blurred image complaints might in some cases be down to jpeg noise reduction. Its a good reason by itself to shoot Raw.

But I hope Fuji improve the workflow of the EX converter.

RIL

I'm an American living over in Japan, which is where I picked up my S2. In Japan they also don't give the EX version away like they do in the states...

Every time I think I'm getting closer to spending the money on the EX converter I change my mind again..... I just don't know what to do... Half of me wants to wait until PS gets the code from Fuji and improves thier version of the RAW converter while the other half of me (albiet the impatient childish one) wants to get the EX converter now...

One thing for sure.... the LE version is of limited, or no use at all..

Kerry

ResIpsaLoquitur said:

Because you have to buy the EX converter software seperately in the
Europe, I previously tried Bibble and Adobe RAW, both of which had
issues. I have now purchased the EX converter / shooting software
(an extra £102 plus VAT...grrr, what are Fuji thinking making
non-North American customers pay xtra?). Immediately upgraded to
v.1.1. first impressions were..yuk!, horrid interface, but now,
afer a bit of practice, I'm getting the best results yet from Raw
files.

I do quite a lot of Macro work, and one thing I notice is that a
RAW shot with no sharpening applied can look sharper than a fine
Jpeg with standard sharpening. I realy think that some of the
blurred image complaints might in some cases be down to jpeg noise
reduction. Its a good reason by itself to shoot Raw.

But I hope Fuji improve the workflow of the EX converter.

RIL

Click to expand...

--

'There are at least two people in every photograph....the photographer and the viewer'... A. Adams

Kerry Smith said:

I'm an American living over in Japan, which is where I picked up my
S2. In Japan they also don't give the EX version away like they
do in the states...

Click to expand...

Much to Fuji's shame IMHO. The "free" LE converter doesn't offer any real raw shooting benefit. EX is really necessary to deliver a good portion of the S2's high quality capability. Charging an absurdly high price for powerful but poorly designed software doesn't reflect well on Fuji's marketing. Fuji should provide EX in every S2 box - you don't get the full product without it.

MuMinded said:

Every time I think I'm getting closer to spending the money on the
EX converter I change my mind again..... I just don't know what
to do... Half of me wants to wait until PS gets the code from Fuji
and improves thier version of the RAW converter while the other
half of me (albiet the impatient childish one) wants to get the EX
converter now...

Click to expand...

EX is the best .raf converter out there in terms of results. The interface isn't bad, but the speed and implemenation of controls is very poor. The EX results are worth waiting for on the best images, but I use Adobe Camera Raw as a "light table" to sort through my shots and do fast conversions for less demanding uses. The ACR plugin is far better and faster than the Finepix Viewer at displaying thumbnails and facilitating image selection. ACR's interface is cleaner and breathtakingly fast compared to EX. The conversions are fast too, but the quality isn't up to EX results.

Adobe blames ACR's shortcomings on Fuji for not sharing key file specs that would allow the plugin to recognize camera settings (it has to use poor automatice defaults now). If this is true, Fuji customers should write to the product managers urging them to coorperate with third parties. The more productive the S2 can be, the more marketable it becomes. I've already sent my thoughts to Fuji.

--
BJN

Completely agree with all you say. I use ACR to browse RAW files, but use EX to convert.

And for Kerry, I went through the same indecision about buying the EX converter. Fuji have lost some goodwill so far as I am concerned. My advice: bite your lip and buy it, if quality counts.

Of course, the boot is on the other foot with Epson, who provide the "grey ballancer" software for their 2100/2200 7600 and 9600 printers free in Europe, but not in North America.

Haven't these companies ever heard of the internet? Did they think we wouldn't notice?

RIL

BJN said:

Kerry Smith said:

I'm an American living over in Japan, which is where I picked up my
S2. In Japan they also don't give the EX version away like they
do in the states...

Click to expand...

Much to Fuji's shame IMHO. The "free" LE converter doesn't offer
any real raw shooting benefit. EX is really necessary to deliver a
good portion of the S2's high quality capability. Charging an
absurdly high price for powerful but poorly designed software
doesn't reflect well on Fuji's marketing. Fuji should provide EX in
every S2 box - you don't get the full product without it.

BJN said:

Every time I think I'm getting closer to spending the money on the
EX converter I change my mind again..... I just don't know what
to do... Half of me wants to wait until PS gets the code from Fuji
and improves thier version of the RAW converter while the other
half of me (albiet the impatient childish one) wants to get the EX
converter now...

Click to expand...

EX is the best .raf converter out there in terms of results. The
interface isn't bad, but the speed and implemenation of controls is
very poor. The EX results are worth waiting for on the best images,
but I use Adobe Camera Raw as a "light table" to sort through my
shots and do fast conversions for less demanding uses. The ACR
plugin is far better and faster than the Finepix Viewer at
displaying thumbnails and facilitating image selection. ACR's
interface is cleaner and breathtakingly fast compared to EX. The
conversions are fast too, but the quality isn't up to EX results.

Adobe blames ACR's shortcomings on Fuji for not sharing key file
specs that would allow the plugin to recognize camera settings (it
has to use poor automatice defaults now). If this is true, Fuji
customers should write to the product managers urging them to
coorperate with third parties. The more productive the S2 can be,
the more marketable it becomes. I've already sent my thoughts to
Fuji.

--
BJN

Click to expand...

joe cerulli said:

Paulo Abreu said:

Hi all,

I´ve done some re-convertions on older raw files and notice that
after the upgrade, EX raw converter delivers much more vibrant and
colorfull pictures that in most cases, need no (or very little)
post processing to get great results. (testings with 16/bit Adobe
RGB).
As an example, exposure now is much more accurate with camera
settings - in the previous version of EX, I frequently needed to
compensate to +1/3 to get proper exposition ...
Can anybody confirm this ?

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

MAC OSX converter- If you go on the MAC users forum on dpReview, you will find
a posting re; a CRW and it is from a Mr. Bryan Chang who has a really neat OSX
(MAC) converter. I have used it and converted a file, no jaggies that came very
close to what the Fuji EX converter can do. Does it in the same amount of time,

about 30 seconds. Takes a bit of tweaking to get the conversion you need, but the
conversions are very good. You have to use the lighten control more that what is
recommended and I could not get quite as much detail in the highlights, but that
could be my fault. The link for the Beta version is there and MAC users should
really give it a try!
**** Fellows

joe cerulli said:

joe cerulli said:

--
Paulo Abreu, Fuji S2Pro - Nikon 18-35, 28-105, 80-200

'Buy a FujiFilm S2 Pro TODAY because ONE DAY you will be dead !'
http://www.pbase.com/psergio

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Olá Paulo
Em português é mais simples. tenho o converter EX LE que vem com a Fuji.
Perguntoosso fazer o upgrade a partir das versões do site que indicaste?
Se possivel qual delas? 1116 ou 1113?
Desde já obrigado.

Hi JB!

JB from portugal said:

Olá Paulo
Em português é mais simples. tenho o converter EX LE que vem com a
Fuji.
Perguntoosso fazer o upgrade a partir das versões do site que
indicaste?
Se possivel qual delas? 1116 ou 1113?
Desde já obrigado.

Click to expand...

Portuguese:

Uma vez que se trata de um upgrade, julgo que apenas dá para instalar por cima do EX. A diferença entre o 1116 e o 1113 é que o primeiro permite compensação de exposição em sextos de stop em vez de terços.

English (sort of

Beeing an upgrade, I guess that it only instals over converter EX, not LE. The difference between the 1116 and the 1113 file is that the first one lets you compensate on 1/6 of stop and the second on thirds of stop.

Regards,

--
Paulo Abreu, Fuji S2Pro - Nikon 18-35, 28-105, 80-200

'Buy a FujiFilm S2 Pro TODAY because ONE DAY you will be dead !'
http://www.pbase.com/psergio