Having used Capture One for a while now, I came to understand that I never gave the software a proper review. Not an article that talks about tips, or one that only talks about the positive, but a proper in-depth review. The good, the bad, and the ugly. Well, here is my review of the latest version of Capture One.
Introduction
Capture One is regarded as the software to use if you are a professional photographer working with big clients and big budgets. Being software designed primarily for full-time pros, there are features such as tethering and batch exporting, which may not be found in other photography software. The latest iteration of Capture One also introduced Capture Pilot, which allows you to share your images with your clients for preview and selection. This, and so much more, is why you should switch to Capture One 23 now.
Key Features
Let's talk about some of the things that make Capture One 23 stand out for photographers. While this is by no means an exhaustive list, it shows some of the latest features that made my workflow much smoother.
Smart Adjustments
I use a bunch of different custom presets. That speeds up my workflow by a lot and lets me keep a cohesive visual style to my images and work. One problem with using presets, though, is that if your image is not properly exposed, it won’t work as well, and you’d have to go and make each individual adjustment. As I like to color grade and then cull images, it is important for me to see the final product. The main difference between smart adjustments and simply copying and pasting settings is that when I work on location, my lighting might change quite a lot depending on weather conditions. As this messes with exposure, I can't simply apply a style. Smart adjustments have sped up my editing by quite a lot, and unfortunately, I don’t know of other software that has this feature.
Culling
I used to select images simply from the editor window. Although it was pretty fast and there were no problems with it, I always felt that something was missing. There just wasn’t enough speed in the selection process. One other thing that was missing is the ability to check focus at the culling stage. Sure, you could zoom in on every image, but imagine how long that would take if you have more than a thousand images to get through before a tight deadline. The cull view solves those problems really well, allowing you to both select images without having to wait for the file to load, but it also has another incredible feature: face focus. I can’t say enough how great it is. It automatically detects the subject's face and shows it in a separate box. It is so good it detects reflections of that same face as well and obviously works with multiple faces too. This saves time and allows you to spend less time in front of the screen. One negative thing is that you can’t view your images with adjustments on them at the culling stage. It would be great to enable that as well, as many photographers like to view the adjustments already at the culling stage.
Layers
While the core layers functionality has been around for a while now, with the new update, you are able to stack your presets as layers on top of one another. For example, suppose you have either bought or made yourself (slower but more fun) a series of presets that control the overall grade of the image. As such, it can make the whole photo warmer, colder, redder, or bluer. Then, you also have various color grades that control things such as contrast and curves. By stacking various styles on top of one another and changing opacity, much like in Photoshop, you can have even more flexibility and fun in your workflow. Another reason this is so great is that you can save styles for each set of tools, such as curves or color editor. One can control the color grade, while the other can control contrast.
Capture One Live
Capture One Live is a whole new thing in itself. It is somewhat like the old app Capture One had to share images on the same network, enabling people with the app installed to view the images without having to run to the tether station. Now, this has been made even better, as Capture One Live allows you to upload a low-res preview to the cloud, which is then shared with the client, who is able to rate, color tag, and comment on the images right away. The files upload fairly quickly, depending on the internet connection. Once the client rates the images, those ratings will show up in your editor, meaning no time wasted whatsoever. This is collaboration on the next level. I spent far too much time inputting individual filenames into Capture One. This alone is once again enough reason to love Capture One 23.
Tethered Capture
This deserves a special mention, as it is one of the reasons I went to Capture One initially, and it’s superior to any other software. It supports most full frame cameras; however, issues creep in once you switch from full frame to medium format. While Phase One is seamless (duh), switching to a different brand may bring in issues. I could not get a Fujifilm medium format camera to tether to Capture One 23 Pro. It only worked after getting the Fujifilm Acquire software. Another stupid one is lack of Hasselblad support. While I understand that it’s a competitor, I feel Capture One is losing way more money by removing any support for Hasselblad files and tethering. It’s a little sad, too.
What I Liked
- Smart Styles
- Capture One Live
- Layers
- Culling view
What Could Be Improved
- Hasselblad tethering
- Pricey compared to other software
- AI tools such as masking
Closing Thoughts
Costing at $300, Capture One is the same price as a cheap light or a tripod. You could even get a used lens for that money. Alternatively, you can sign up for a subscription, which is between $14 and $20, depending on what option you pick. Lastly, there is now Capture One mobile, as well as Capture One for iPad, which is a useful tool for those of us who might not want to bring a laptop on set. That said, seeing somebody tether into a phone made me smile a lot.
Actually, compare to the what new versions of photoshop can do... capture one is tragically outdated
Capture One (like LR) is just a RAW editor and tool for photographers. Photoshop is a tool for further processing of the developed images, either by the photographer himself or a (professional) image editor. This makes a comparison of Capture One/LR with Photoshop superfluous. Or is Adobe putting unnecessary resources into the development of LR instead of only having Photoshop in its portfolio?
Photoshop has all kinds of "tricks" up it sleeve - many of which C1 does not have. However, in my experience C1 is superior to Adobe for RAW conversion and this is a critical difference and worth the money. If AI magic is for you, then Adobe is the right choice. Oh, and saying C1 is "just a RAW editor" is nonsense.
Photoshop is great at photoshoppin but it's terrible for editing and managing large amounts of images. Photoshop can do deeper edits but if you want to edit on a raw level only, then you need to use software like Capture One and LR. Yes you can edit at a RAW level in photoshop as long as the image stays as a smart Object. As soon as you rasterize that smart object image the editing capacity of that image is now at a jpeg level instead of a RAW level. The problem with using photoshop as a primary RAW editor is that several functions in photoshop require the RAW/Smart object file to be rasterized before using those functions which like I said before defeats the purpose of shooting RAW. That's why the basic RAW work flow has been to import into a RAW editor like C1 or LR and THEN out put for deeper detailed editing in photoshop. I don't use C1 as a retouching software even though it has the capability to. I leave that job for affinity photo because it's much better at it. Another great thing about Capture One (well just about any software that isn't Adobe) is that it just works. I switched to Affinity Photo for retouching over photoshop and C1 for mass edits and image management because Adobe products slow to a crawl after just a few images. The Adobe launcher itself barely works. Adobe also has upwards of 10+ processes running in the background sucking up recourses that should be used for productivity not running superfluous data collecting malware. I'm not saying you can't use photoshop as a primary RAW editor. I did for a long time. I'm just saying comparing C1 to photoshop is comparing apples to oranges. Photoshop and C1 have two different main purposes. Different tools for different jobs.
Adobe is bloatware, the amount of software it installs across my Mac borders ridiculous. Your comments are not factual, as PS is an image editor, C1 is a pure RAW processor. I never got to grips with LR and I only used a very minor part of PS power. Different tools for different jobs IMHO
Agreed. Try and get rid of Adobe and you'll find it is a frustrating experience. Even with Adobe's own removal tool, the crap still lingers and you have to do a deep dive and manually delete the infestation. Just another reason I went to Capture One.
Strange comparison. C1 is more like Bridge + ACR and a bit of Photoshop
This article misses one of the key areas where Capture One stands out. It's the only really excellent digital asset management system out there. Not quite as good as the excellent Apple Aperture (RIP) which was in intuitive and critically for me allowed for the batch export of metadata. That feature is critical for me as I need to be able to accurately locate where images were taken (as part of environmental investigations), so now I use Photo Metadata export as an initial step... Apart from that, Capture One is my go to DAM.
I had a reader reach out to me saying that Capture One canceled his lifetime Capture One license was deactivated this month. He did not elect to switch to the monthly subscription and his license was suddenly deactivated with prompts to sign up for the monthly subscription. I asked him to provide me a screenshot and he did. I asked him to contact customer support and they have not replied. Is Capture One now deactiving liscences for people not moving to the monthly subscription?
--- "Is Capture One now deactiving liscences for people not moving to the monthly subscription?"
I have a perpetual v20 (bought in 2019/20) on my laptop and they haven't tried to force me into a subscription. Looking at my account online, I even still have v7 (2014) that's still active.
The only thing I can think of is maybe the reader inadvertently updated to the newest version, which would have a totally different license key which would deactivate what they had before on the current device. I'm pretty sure all they need to do is re-install the one they had and re-enter in the license info.
Have them log into CaptureOne.com and review their license(s). Below is what mine looks like for v20. If nothing else, they can: Reset All activations or call customer service.
I use CP1 Pro 21, and everything is fine. It's version 14.4.1, activated, perpetual license. I agree with your assumption. Maybe by looking for updates (which will not come for older versions) some have accidentally upgraded. If not, strange.
Oh that's insightful feedback I will relay that to him. Thank you
I purchased Capture One pro clear back in 2019 I use it alot. Last week i opened it to find a notice from capture one saying they deactivated my software. If i log in to my account it shows that i purchased a perpetual license. Now when I try to open my software i only get an advertisement to purchase the new software. I have to replace it but it does not make me want to buy Capture One
See my post above.
I'm on version 22 for Sony that got ditched and changed into a full version - and i won't upgrade anymore. If they ever return to the older system where you could skip one major upgrade - it becomes more affordable, i may be getting in again...
I will never rent software by the month/year (so no adobe for me!).
Good software but very expensive compared to Lightroom. And I still need Photoshop subscription.
If you shoot tethered, you're wasting everyone's time not using Capture One. In the commercial advertising world, it's the industry standard - period.
I can't speak for other camera brands software, but, Sony's Imaging Edge Desktop - Remote (tethering) is pretty darn robust and fast. We were shooting 10 hour non-stop days and did not glitch once. Well, it did, when someone tripped over the cable. :D Other than that, I was pretty impressed. First time I've used Sony's software for tethering. And, it's free!
Unfortunately, this statement is not very helpful, as the software mentioned is designed by Sony for Sony products. Other brands also use brand-specific tether solutions. Capture One works with all brands except Hasselblad. And it's really superbly production-proof. And yes, this software costs money because it is not brand-specific. As far as I know, LR is also chargeable?
It could be helpful for those that have a Sony. Or, those that have a Canon, Nikon, etc that didn't think to use their brand's software for tether. You'll never until you try for yourself. And, it's helpful for those that currently don't have Capture One; or don't plan to.
My statement wasn't a commandment. It was merely a suggestion that there may be options that are just as good. Sony's software for tethering purposes is a perfect example.
What isn't helpful, is being a fanboy.
I used the Sony software taking images of coins. It was indeed pretty good. The only down side I found is that if the camera went to sleep you had to restart the camera and the software to get it to work again. Other than that it was pretty reliable.
Mine (a7iii and a7Rii) doesn't go to sleep while tethered to Remote.
Also, even if I power off (or unplug the cable), as soon as I power on and plugged in, Remote automatically re-connects to the camera. No need to restart anything.
I have no issues on either on my PC or Macbook. The tethering is just as simple as any usb device.
The only thing I can think of with your situation is you have an older version of the software. The latest version I have, 3.6 (I think it came out early this year). Or, maybe older firmware on your camera(s).
Not sure what you mean by "wasting everyone's time". I have both C! and LR and I don't see ANY difference in speed when loading images while tethering. Maybe a few years ago, C1 was a bit faster, but not in today's world. There was even a photographer who did a side by side comparison of the two and LR beat out C1. But to each their own and that's the beauty of having choices.
i tried tethering with my GFX100s and my D800e. It was really slow. is there anything you think i'm doing wrong to make it slow?
I'm not sure. When I tether on my Mac and Windows PC, it goes pretty fast. And my Windows laptop is 5 years old. The Mac is new, but not sure what could be causing the issue. Maybe try a powered Tether Tools cable?
Woah they have POE cables for tethering? I'll pick one of those up and see how it goes. Thanks for the info!
It's just a USB powered cable.
"The latest iteration of Capture One also introduced Capture Pilot …"
Capture One Pilot? Are you really serious? Capture One Pilot is a very old function of Capture One. It still works, but not comparable to Capture One Live.
"I could not get a Fujifilm medium format camera to tether to Capture One 23 Pro. It only worked after getting the Fujifilm Acquire software."
To use my FujiFilm GFX100s with Capture One 23 Pro for tether operation took me less than 10 seconds. Without software from Fuji ...
"Another stupid one is lack of Hasselblad support. While I understand that it’s a competitor, I feel Capture One is losing way more money by removing any support for Hasselblad files and tethering."
It probably has nothing to do with Hasselblad being a competitor, like many other brands that are usable with Capture One. Rather, Capture One apparently does not have a licence for the native Hasselblad file format .3fr. Hasselblad's Phocus software is not as comprehensive as Capture One. But it is much better than LR in terms of color science. Phocus is the import module for Hasselblad's .3fr files and the RAW editor for the correct implementation of the special colour rendering developed by Hasselblad.
As for the cost, any professional (does it for money!) photographer should be honest with himself. How much is the studio rent compared to the subscription costs? How much would the leasing costs be for all the equipment that is constantly being replaced with the latest? If a professional photographer does not earn the subscription costs for Capture One or LR/PS in one working hour per month, he should rethink his business model.
As a private user, you may think about how many bar or restaurant visits per month you have to forego for example in order to be able to pay the monthly costs for Capture One or LR/PS …
"To use my FujiFilm GFX100s with Capture One 23 Pro for tether operation took me less than 10 seconds. Without software from Fuji"
I suppose it's pretty situational because I can barely get my GFX100s to tether with C1. As much as I love C1 that's one of my faults with it. It connects but holy hell is it slow. One photo can take up to 15 seconds to show on screen.
I also did a cost assessment for C1 vs Adobe products back last year. It is probable it's not valid today but, at the time, it was significantly cheaper year over year to buy C1 outright and pay the discounted upgraded fee than to rent Adobe year over year. It was also cheaper than C1's own subscription plan. I then added in the cost of Affinity Photo which was $50 at the time as a photoshop replacement and it was still cheaper than paying for a sub. in the first year of buying C1 it's more expensive by about $50 but then when the next update rolls around it's cheaper to pay the upgrade fee of aroun$160-$200 than to stay subbed to Adobe at around $264 per year or $239 if you do the lump annual adobe payment. you also don't HAVE to upgrade either saving you even more money. I skip at least one year in between or more unless I buy a camera so new (GFX100s) or they had features significant enough (pano stitching and HR merge FINALLY with C1 22) to warrant an upgrade. So for me it made more sense performance wise and cost wise to go with C1. I just wish they'd release C1 and Affinity photo on Linux so I can ditch windows once and for all. I would totally buy them again if they did.
I have used C1 since version 2.7. It is the standard for Pro Commercial Photographers. Since Capture One was split off from Phase One two years ago, they have added many new features and also introduced new subscription plans. I plan to continue to use the non-subscription version of the software. It works for me across the various systems I use.
Regarding FUJI GFX cameras and tethering. I use my GFX all the time with C1 and have no problems.
There is a way to trick C1 into processing files from a Hassy camera. It involves changing the metadata on the Hassy files to reflect a different sensor: the Sony sensor used in the Fuji or the Phase One cameras. As I understand it, Sony makes the sensors for the Phase, Hassy and Fujifilm cameras. I've not done this trick, but I've seen it written up and should be relatively easy to find via a search engine.
C1 is superior software - excellent and stable tethering, fantastic color, support for just about every camera on the market with the exception of Hasselblad and DJI. (the partial owner of Hasselblad now) and once you understand how to use it, it just makes sense.
The author mentions Photoshop as if it is the only imaging software available. I've used PS for years, but recently switched to Affinity and have no regrets. There are other options available - depending upon your needs.
All in all, IMO, C1 is the standard for commercial and museum/historical photographers.
"It is the standard : It is superior : It is the standard for pro's...."
Sure.
This comment looks like it was written by a bad AI (?)
"This comment looks like it was written by a bad AI (?)"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMpVpUGBefA
......
I have ditched Adobe, my use dropped to less than twice a month, because I could do everything I needed in C1 and if I needed to Affinity Photo. The C1 pricing structure is frustrating and has changed each year for the last 2 years. However you can still buy a perpetual license for the current version but updates will cease in a given period of time. The iPad and iOS App are also useful. So while Adobe (in particular LR) is the market leader, my use of C1 is daily so it makes more finical sense to drop Adobe and stick with C1. Other peoples milage with either software will vary, but the biggest C1 has its the massive inconsistency it has with its pricing structure.
Time to switch for good? For somebody I guess.
I bought this thing a few years ago and the importing process was not working for me at all. First you couldn't even zoom in to the preview images. Next they were low resolution so no way to tell what was sharp and what wasn't.
While I can use bridge for rating and labeling and pulling only the stuff that I want into Lightroom. Or I can do all of that in Lightroom if I needed to. It was really bizarre how limited the import screen was compared to lightroom.
I searched for weeks on how to have a decent import screen/process, and it just wasn't available. I ended up subscribing to cc and It has worked out like gang busters for my design clients and photos alike.
+ There was no ability to edit the left hand side to put menus there even with the Lightroom styled window setting. The PC like interface isn't as aesthetically nice either with chunky fonts and just a rough look overall.
I'm mac-based so we've definitely seen a lot better. Can't speak on Windows. Yes being a Lightroom user since literally version one has my process set up a certain way, but the simple things like importing I don't think is a tall order to ask to be able to see proper previews.
Good luck with your switch.
So much ado over importing select images from the media card.
On that note, apparently, C1 catered to folks with haphazard workflows and they made updates to the import process which includes culling enhancements:
1. Selectively import images instead of importing everything.
2. 100% zoom ability when previewing.
3. Group similar images to help decide which one(s) to import. Grouping sensitivity is user adjustable.
4. AI zoom on multiple faces (or eyes only) to check for focus.
5. Rate/Color tag.
Note: Culling features can be done pre and post importing.
Just a larger view of the attached image:
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53082559304_6388219069_o.jpg
Thanks for listing all of that out, but it's useless information because those features didn't exist when I bought it. At the time I was actively looking for a way to avoid the Adobe subscription but it just didn't work out. I'm glad they finally made a decent import screen; which you would expect from a so-called professional package.
That said, I specifically wrote about my experience.. regardless, it didn't have what I needed and I moved on. And along with my Adobe subscription that I had to get, is the fact that my creative clients all use Adobe. Regardless of my feelings it is what it is and it's a better value. At the end of the day they're both business expenses, And you do what's best for your wallet and your clients.
Lastly, making silly quips about "haphazard" workflows ..good job. I'm looking forward to your video that tells everyone like it is, your way or it's not professional or haphazard. I really don't understand these guys on the internet trying to prove others wrong like it's their god-given mission. It's very lame.
Relax.
If you get this bent out of shape over me making a generalized comment, I'd hate to see your triggered tantrums in the comments if I were to create such videos. Maybe take your own advice, and relax.
Why is it always you? If you see your comments are not going over well with somebody just move along. You're not convincing me of anything and I have no desire to do the same with you.
Do us both a favor and if you see my comment move on. You obviously know what's best..ahem.. so how you haven't figured that out yet is beyond me. Have a good day, and thanks for the useless feedback.
When I see someone make false and/or outdated statements, I'm compelled to correct them.
Also, this is a discussion forum. If your feelings are easily hurt, don't post. Surely, you are old enough to know whatever you say may be countered. Do yourself a favor, have you big boy pants on when you post.
You're not compelled, its more like some form of psychosis. Nothing personal.. you're but not listening.. move on.
Probably cant tho. Shame. Maybe become a spokesperson for C1, It sounds like you married a copy.
Yes, I'm compelled to call out liars and/or those with outdated information so they not are emboldened. Nothing personal.
Projection at it's finest. Similar what I told you before, you need to take your advice and you move on. I've already proven you wrong, and yet, you continue.
Lol when you think about it. All your nonsense retorts triggered because I said, "C1 catered to folks with haphazard workflows". Boy, I must have touched a nerve. Grow some skin, son.
"Time to switch for good? ". I agree - it's time to switch AWAY from Capture One (C1).
I've used C1 for close to 10 years now and was using Lightroom (LR) previously. The first version I used, 10, said it could import your images from LR directly into C1. I thought that sounded great so I did it. It took 6 months and many email exchanges with C1 tech support before my import was successful and my new C1 catalog was ready to use, due to all the bugs and crashes during the import process. When my import finally succeeded, I had imported ~20k images and C1 had created an additional variant (essentially a "clone") of every image so I had to manually delete these 20k variants.
I'm using C1 22 (v15.3) now. Since v10, I have had a lot of trouble with C1 bugs, crashes, and lock-ups. It fairly often crashes - just disappears from the screen with no stack trace or crash notification. It also locks-up frequently. The latest thing that causes it to lock-up is using the magic brushes on masks - click on the wrong thing and C1 just goes off for a 10-15 minute nap, leaving you wondering what the **** it's doing.
I have sent probably 50+ crash reports (after C1 crashes, the next time you start it it will usually ask if you want to tell C1 what you were doing at the time the crash happened). Never any feedback from C1 on these crashes and they don't seem to get fixed.
The last upgrade I did wiped out most of my masks. One of the tech support reps said that this was known to happen sometimes when upgrading "older" catalogs. Tech Support and I exchanged something like 15 emails and their final response was, "nothing we can do". I didn't discover that they had trashed all of my masks until months after the upgrade.
Even before this latest problem happened, I felt like they didn't test their releases very well and questioned whether they tested them at all before releasing them. |
I have been "this close" many times i the past to just giving up on C1 but a little voice always told me, "no, you're being too hard on them - all software has bugs. Just stick with it". Now, after having most of my masks wiped out, I have realized I should have gone with my gut feeling and bailed on C1 years ago when I first felt it was unstable. I don't care what "great"(?) things a software package can do if it is, IMHO, wildly unstable, and C1 is certainly that!
It seems like the 'wild' capture one fanboys are on a rampage in these comments. It's utterly insane - everyone uses what they need to use and that should be it. If you ever recommendation make it and keep it pushing. But some people just need to be 'right' and the comment section is where they get to expound their vast knowledge of what is the best.
I know a lot of people like to rag/hate on Adobe (and probably/maybe rightly so). That said, for $10 a month for LR and PS, that's still a heck of a deal over what C1 offers. IMHO
I'd rather pay more and get a better product - but to each their own. If expense is the main criteria for choosing software, then look at Affinity Photo.
I'm surprised that tethering with Fuji GFX cameras requires extra software to be installed as it works seamlessly with my Fuji X-mount cameras!
Even wireless tethering works with the latest Fuji cameras, the hassle being in the in-camera setup side and not in CaptureOne.
I started using C1 in 2014 when I moved to Fujifilm. I was having a hard time getting the look I want in LR so I tried C1. Never look back since. It has its shortcoming but everything has shortcomings.
So I read the entire thread, pro adobe, pro c1 and wonder how many even calibrate their stuff. Personally I tried a few times c1 since the original Beta and just can't get used to it. I'm not judging C1, it's probably good. I have been shooting digitally professionally for almost 25 years and I don't feel that changing to C1 would make a difference. Color calibration is more important in my opinion.
It is a steep learning curve. I tried and gave up a couple times but now I use it daily for the color and DR control...