Fuji S5 Pro post-processing comparisons (love Cameras, hate Computers (software))

Erik Baumgartner wrote:

fPrime wrote:

Erik Baumgartner wrote:

fPrime wrote:

dadu007 wrote:

fPrime wrote:

Congrats on picking up an S5 Pro! As you’ve found, there’s no currently made Fuji camera (GFX included) that can quite match the S5 Pro’s colors.

Every converter has options for developing RAW files, and particularly with HU some of these are less than obvious to brand new users. You might just not be using HU with best practices yet.

If you’d like, post a link to a RAW file from your S5 Pro and the output from RAW Therapee that you like. I’d be happy to run it through my own optimized HU processing so that you can see the rendering differences.

fPrime

Sure! I'd love to see what you can do with the file in HU.

Here's the link to a folder with the .jpg from my Raw Therapee and the original .RAF from my Fuji S5 Pro. I also included a screenshot of the file loaded fresh in HU:

Fuji S Pro RAF and RT jpg

Thanks! You actually chose a good RAW here with skin tones, highlights close to being blown, plenty of detail, and outdoors where the WB is relatively predictable. I went with 5000K for WB and didn't apply any lens corrections outside of CA removal since I wasn't sure which 35mm was used.

Here's my HU VS-3 output for the file you shared:

HU VS-3

And just so we can flip back and forth here is the RT processed file:

RAW Therapee

Before I bias the comparison with my own observations, what differences can you see between these two?

fPrime

Any particular reason to avoid Lightroom and Capture One (other than the cost)? They do a decent job as well.

I'm glad you guys are happy with this old camera but, sorry, I don't see anything magic about the color, rendering, anything really.

Lightroom

Hi Erik,

I’m trying this file in LR just to see what I can pull out of it. What sharpening settings or sharpening method did you apply to your edit?

fPrime

It did get a gentle run through Topaz Denoise which helped clean things up a bit, but otherwise it’s just Lightroom sharpening with a subtle radial Texture/NR/Sharpening adjustment added to help bring some increased definition to the mushy detail around the periphery - whatever lens was used doesn’t hold a candle to any of my Fuji glass. I’m not at my computer so can’t help with specifics.

Thanks, if it was anything past “standard” LR sharpening settings let me know.

Personally I leave LR sharpening off as I find deconvolution sharpening in PS to be more effective. Sharpening the S5 Pro, however, usually requires a bit more kick than the settings used with Bayer sensors thanks to its thick AA filter and interpolated 12MP resolution.

fPrime