Which is best for Fuji files: Lightroom or Capture One?
There can be two main software options when dealing with Fuji raw files that most photographers tend to use, Adobe Lightroom and Capture One. However, the choice depends on the personal preferences of the user, as both have strengths and weaknesses.
Inspired by Ivor Rackham’s recent article, Lightroom vs ON1 Photo Raw 2023I decided to test the differences in handling Fuji files to see which software best suited my purposes.
Classic Lightroom
Lightroom is the software that I use to edit all the raw files for Fuji and Nikon. The interface is intuitive and now very familiar, plus it’s easy to navigate and learn and integrates seamlessly with Photoshop and the plugins I use. One of my main criticisms, however, is the handling of Fuji files, as it seems to produce a slight blur. This is not always the case and is only really noticeable when zoomed in at 100%. If this is the starting point for an edit, the results can sometimes be a bit disappointing, though not always.
Capture One Express for Fujifilm
As a new user when it comes to Capture One, I can understand why some would argue that it has a harder learning curve for newbies, but if you’re already a Lightroom user, it shouldn’t make too much of a difference. layout and usability. Yes, it might not have the same file management or cataloging facility, but since I’m still learning my way these sessions seem like a way for me to get on, but maybe there’s a good option than that I still need to discover.
From the start, the handling of color and sharpness was obvious when placed next to Lightroom editing, and understandably, I handled the edits a little differently due to this. With the edits I’ve done so far in Capture One. I prefer the end result due to the starting point of the raw files.
In the quick video, I review the look and feel of both the software and the speed and image editing above to see the relative differences and how the Fuji files are handled, which is obvious from the start. I think I’ll switch to Capture One for raw editing of Fuji files and use it alongside Lightroom, since you can edit in Lightroom as an external editor. I’d love to hear comments about your experience with both and any other software you use for your Fuji files.