A7iii - what are the most neutral true to life image processing? Fastcap, lightroom examples

I tried camera jpeg (neutral), lightroom, and fastcap.

See this doc for examples (at 100%) zoom.. I used copy and paste screenshots, and I can see no degradation or color change, but you can download the full files yourself.


Files are available for download in that link

Adobe classic (version 8.0, camera raw 11.0) is pretty aggressive color contrast and sharpening even when the sliders are off. In camera jpegs are aggressive too. The fastcap has the most true to life colors by far, but there are artifacts in the brick pics?.

I want accurate colors. Do you guys know recommended settings for jpeg and which raw processing to achieve this?

bob13bob said:

I want accurate colors. Do you guys know recommended settings for jpeg and which raw processing to achieve this?

Click to expand...

If so, don't leave the colors to the raw converter. Use a color checker every time the light is different, and match the colors at post processing. This is essential if you are doing repro work, nd many studio photographers rely on their own profiles made with such a tool.

How to use a color checker:

so far, the raw files show the true color. But lightroom applies some kind of contrast and sharpening even when the mods are turned off. Is there a way to stop lightroom from mucking with the files on its own? sometimes I want need to change things, but I dont' want the colors to drastically change every time I modify the file in LR.

bob13bob said:

so far, the raw files show the true color.

Click to expand...

No, they are not. Raw files are data from the sensor, and the data need to be extracted/ interpreted to make a picture that we can see. The raw converter is the device that does this.

bob13bob said:

But lightroom applies some kind of contrast and sharpening even when the mods are turned off.

Click to expand...

All raw converters will interpret the raw files a bit different, depending on the profile for default settings. Defaults are just a starting point. Then you can adjust the colors to your likings, and even make your own startup profile.

Or you can use a color checker if you want the color values to match the subject.

bob13bob said:

Is there a way to stop lightroom from mucking with the files on its own? sometimes I want need to change things, but I dont' want the colors to drastically change every time I modify the file in LR.

Click to expand...

Go to the Develop module in Lightroom, the Basic tab, and pick a profile, or browse for a lot more options. Also, go to the Detail tab and set the values for sharpening and noise reduction to your taste. Save your own presets so that you can start with these later.

Lightroom doesn't do anything on it's own, unless you hit a button for auto adjustment. Lightroom does exactly what you tell the software to do - like other raw file converters.

Hi

I shoot my 7m3 in raw uncompressed neutral.

My Lightroom is 7.3

I use standard settings in Lightroom with color profile "adobe color"

The only thing i change is noise reduction luminance 25 for iso 1600-8000, 50 for iso 10000-51200.

And straighten the image if it's crooked.

Export it as dng with full resolution jpg inside.

I find this to be a good method for storing my pictures, fast way to browse them and still have negatives.

I find that color reproduction is very faithful and if i need something else in future i can change it.

Pawel

For Lightroom, I think you're going to want to create your own profile... or maybe several profiles for different lighting conditions: https://photography.tutsplus.com/tu...stom-color-profile-for-your-camera--cms-24339

I did a bunch of testing. most neutral settings. all output jpeg 100 quality.

Lightroom: portrait or adobe standard. contrast reduced. sharpening and noise reduction zero.

capture one: contrast reduced 30. sharpening and noise reduction zero.

fastcap image viewers: no settings changed.

lightroom renders skin tones poorly in many lighting conditions, very green/yellow. I'm shocked people use it.

capture one renders much better, but a little too red. but doesn't have samyang 35 2.8 profile.
fastcap is the best, but has not useful tools; just a straight raw > jpeg conversion.

bob13bob said:

so far, the raw files show the true color. But lightroom applies some kind of contrast and sharpening even when the mods are turned off. Is there a way to stop lightroom from mucking with the files on its own?

Click to expand...

Not without making your own profiles, as far as I know. All the profiles that Adobe supplies that I've tested have a tone curve applied.

If you make your own profiles, they will be most accurate if you make one for each type of lighting that you use.

bob13bob said:

sometimes I want need to change things, but I dont' want the colors to drastically change every time I modify the file in LR.

Click to expand...

bob13bob said:

I did a bunch of testing. most neutral settings. all output jpeg 100 quality.

Lightroom: portrait or adobe standard. contrast reduced. sharpening and noise reduction zero.

capture one: contrast reduced 30. sharpening and noise reduction zero.

fastcap image viewers: no settings changed.

lightroom renders skin tones poorly in many lighting conditions, very green/yellow. I'm shocked people use it.

capture one renders much better, but a little too red. but doesn't have samyang 35 2.8 profile.
fastcap is the best, but has not useful tools; just a straight raw > jpeg conversion.

Click to expand...

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Jim