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Archive 2014 · Iridient or Photo Ninja - X TRANS

  
 
adamfuji
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Iridient or Photo Ninja - X TRANS


I am using an X100S. In my opinion both Iridient and Photo Ninja bring out that extra fine detail from the X TRANS files.

I have used both Iridient and Photo Ninja on a "trial" basis.

I am very impressed with both. Both have advantages and disadvantages.

I love the detail slider in P/N.

Price aside , what would you go for ?

Thanks, Adam.



May 08, 2014 at 09:35 AM
Healey
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Iridient or Photo Ninja - X TRANS


Just going through the same as you. I am a pre-print processing specialist and the X-trans were killing me. I always work from RAW files unless I have no choice because I frequently push files so hard and the jpeg compression limits me too much.

If I had to choose one I would go for P-N. I am honestly still learning P-N but the main thing is it does have good descriptions of what the adjustments do, while in Iridient it is basically still trial and error.

The color from the Photo Ninja seems more natural, the Fuji RAF profiles seem very heavy handed in the greens and the blues are too vibrantly bright. I always thought it is geared for landscape photography in Japan (green lush and mossy and ocean all around) not in the Southwest. This bias is stronger in the Iridient.

The highlight recovery seems better on P-N and the Fuji RAF needs that. It is interesting in that it Fuji seems is strong in the dark pixels and weaker in the bright pixels, opposite of what I am used to seeing from Nikon and Canon. More like an old Imacon back. I have yet to do a camera calibration to confirm that, I am waiting for a normal lens to shoot my color chart with but will do that ASAP.

Also the color aberration correction is much better in the P-N than Iridient on very contrasty dark and bright areas on the edges of the image. So every outdoor shot in New Mexico for practical purposes. But on just this one thing, Camera Raw is better.

But honestly I will probably end up buying both. Even if just for the sharpening options that Iridient provides. Because I am probably the fussiest person alive when it comes to printing and each one has its strengths. But I will buy the P-N first.

In a world where I have to spend $3200 for replacement inks and printheads over $400 for a single roll of paper, what is a couple of hundred bucks for software that makes my prints better and lets me work faster?



May 08, 2014 at 09:58 AM
adamfuji
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Iridient or Photo Ninja - X TRANS


Healey , Thank you so much for your very thorough reply. Food for thought. Thanks again.


May 08, 2014 at 12:19 PM
galenapass
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Iridient or Photo Ninja - X TRANS


I agree with Healey. I started off with PN, but then also added Iridient for the sharpening. Get PN first, if you feel like you need it, add Iridient later.

PS - I also like the fact that I can run PN on both a Mac and PC (which may or may not be a concern for you).



May 08, 2014 at 12:45 PM
corposant
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Iridient or Photo Ninja - X TRANS


Healey wrote:
Just going through the same as you. I am a pre-print processing specialist and the X-trans were killing me. I always work from RAW files unless I have no choice because I frequently push files so hard and the jpeg compression limits me too much.

If I had to choose one I would go for P-N. I am honestly still learning P-N but the main thing is it does have good descriptions of what the adjustments do, while in Iridient it is basically still trial and error.

The color from the Photo Ninja seems more natural, the Fuji RAF profiles seem
...Show more

Have you tried just processing a flat file (no sharpening) through ACR/LR and then Smart Sharpening/High Pass in Photoshop?



May 08, 2014 at 01:53 PM
adamfuji
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Iridient or Photo Ninja - X TRANS


Thanks corps ant - However I only have LR 5.4


May 08, 2014 at 02:28 PM
Healey
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Iridient or Photo Ninja - X TRANS


corposant wrote:
Have you tried just processing a flat file (no sharpening) through ACR/LR and then Smart Sharpening/High Pass in Photoshop?


Well I don't want to hijack the thread but since you quoted me I guess this is directed to me also?

I was using ACR with no sharpening at all and no noise reduction (cause Fuji does not need any at all on native ISO) doing all the work through photoshop. I use my own sharpening method, using masks and layer blending, roughly based on Bruce Fraser's methods.

ACR method provides the most accurate color, best highlight recovery, and removes the chromatic aberration from the wide angle lens the best. But the detail is quite a bit less than acceptable and it is not recoverable with mere sharpening, the information is just not there to sharpen. Almost like there has been a gaussian blur put on the image first. You need edges to sharpen. Actually I was thinking of sending the lens back because I thought it was a dud. That is just how badly ACR interprets X-trans RAF files.

Sometimes if I need it I am actually converting the X-trans RAF using Photo Ninja, then rendering it to TIFF and reopening it in Adobe Camera Raw. Because once it is TIFF Camera Raw cannot mess it up, it is doing no RAW conversion. Once I have a custom camera profile I should not need to use ACR, but until then it is a good crutch.

And I think I am like you when you say use a "flat" file. Make a dull looking file with the maximum amount of info contained in it and then work the magic in PS to get the best possible final IQ. Yes?




May 08, 2014 at 05:26 PM





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