Raw Images

[davebondanza]

When I open a raw image in PSP Ultimate taken by a EOS 7D MKII and 24-70 L4 lens side by side with Canon's DPP and increase the size to 200%, the Canon software shows a much more detailed and sharper image. The PSP And AS2 photos look soft. Interestingly is that the AS 1 image does look better than the PSP Raw image. Is this an invalid test or is the Canon DPP raw reader simply better?

[Joelle]

I only use DPP, which is excellent.
Have 'sampled' PSP, but prefer DPP.


Joëlle

[DaveQ]

DPP will render the best quality images. It is made by Canon, for Canon, who does not share their camera Sensor data and lens algorithms with any RAW software converter, be it Corel, Adobe, DxO or others. These software providers have to reverse-engineer data from Canon sensors and lenses, whereas Canon use the actual algorithms they have built into their cameras and lenses. This is why DPP will always render superior images. Best of all, it is free

[brucet]

Nikon is also in the same boat. They simply don't share the details with non Nikon providers.
PSP's RAW converter has always been a weak point of PSP. Most, if not all, users wanting RAW conversion steer clear of conversion in RAW.

regards

[photodrawken]

Is this an invalid test or is the Canon DPP raw reader simply better?

It might be an invalid test because you might be comparing apples to oranges, in a sense.

Here's what I mean: If you are opening the RAW image in Canon's software and doing nothing to the image, and then opening the image in other software and doing nothing to the image, the differences in "sharpness" are probably due to the Canon software automatically applying sharpening (and other corrections). Other software programs invariably do not automatically apply sharpening (or many other corrections).

The "real" test you should do is to open the image in Canon's software and apply as much sharpening, etc., as you like. Then open the image in the other software and apply as many corrections as you can.

The question you want to answer is: "Can I ultimately get better results using other software than I can using Canon's software?"

[davebondanza]

Thanks for the replies. I was wondering, I don't believe the Canon DPP software is applying any type of automatic sharpening, although who knows what the developers have in their code. Notably, I cannot get the same results seen in DPP when using Paint Shop Pro, After Shot, or even Photomatix. There is a new version of DPP just released, but it has a bug in it that consistently shuts it down while browsing folders on USB or NAS drives. Canon is looking into it. So the quandary for clean sharp Raw files continues...