The HEIF uses modern compression methods offering smaller file sizes and retaining higher image quality compared to JPEG. Some digital cameras and gadgets produced by Apple company can create HEIF/HEIC files of high quality. These files can be imported and further adjusted in Capture One 21 (14.0.0) and later versions. The support is provided for Apple HEIC and other photos converted to 8-bit HEIF to the extent that those are supported by the underlying operating system.
NOTE: Users running Windows might need to download the two extensions “HEVC Video Extensions” and “HEIF Image Extensions” from Microsoft to enable HEIF/HEIC support in Capture One.
The files of HEIF/HEIC format can be adjusted and improved by Capture One though there are some minor differences in the workflow compared to that of RAW images. As HEIF/HEIC files have been already processed to a certain extent by the camera or the conversion software, the White Balance settings can be adjusted to a limited extent. Also, the Lens Correction tool is greyed out when working with the files of HEIF/HEIC format. Please note that exporting to HEIF/HEIC as a format is not supported, so another available format should be selected for output in the Export Recipe tool.
Comments
25 comments
Would be nice have option export to HEIF/HEIC also
I agree.
Sony A1 and A7S3 can generate 10bit HEIF. Would those be read ignoring the 2 extra bits? Is 10bit support coming?
You should have provided a link where to find the HEVC Video Extensions specifically. I have a codec, and the public-domain Irfanview works fine with HEIC, but not Capture One... This is not a good showing.
When will C1 20 support this new file format? Or are C1 users beholden to need to upgrade to newer versions JUST to get a new format supported? This is not even a RAW format.
Apparently none of the A1 HEIF file flavors (.HIF) are recognized by C1. Would be really nice to see support as they seem to have much better quality than JPEG.
I bought the Sony A1 and shot 2,000 pictures in HEIF. After several days of trying to import these files into Lightroom 10.3 and Capture One, I am ready to give up!! Ant thoughts?
Dear Ron: my thought is still the same: "Not a good showing, dear Capture One!" Get a skilled student intern and knock down one image format after another. It is not a rocket science. HEIF is a format promoted by Apple, and that promises that we finally will make a step past JPEG. Previously several attempts failed, e.g. Jpeg2000 and several others. Here we have a small, compressed format with 10 bit per channel, thus 4-times more colors per channel. Very important.
Still, regarding A1: if you buy such performant and expensive body, why on earth would you not use RAW? I use HEIF in my cellphone, and only there (Samsung). I would not dream not to use RAW in any camera, and my mirrorless and middle class, or prosumer travel bodies (Canon, Leica and Nikon.)
To say that Sony A1 users should only use RAW is fairly ignorant. That camera shoots 30fps which is perfect for sports photography. But following e.g. a multi hour dance event doing bursts like these will yield too much data in RAW for cf-express type a cards, hence the HEIF 10bit format being preferred. Especially with 10bit those files are perfectly fine for post-production, just look at what you can do color wise in Davinci Resolve with a 10bit video file.
Anyways, I too find it strange that Capture One 21 does not support Sony A1 HEIF files, that camera is now more then 6 months on the market... Please add that format, even the macOS finder can display them.
Please add exporting to HEIF/HEIC as an option. That is my number one request.
Yes, please add exporting to HEIF/HEIC 10bit.
Let me chime in the 3rd here: Has the Capture One 22 resolved all issues with HEIF/HEIC? I will not stay with Capture One if that is not so. I will unwillingly venture back to Lightroom.
I have Capture One 22 build 15.0.0.192 on macOS and it does not support Sony A1 HEIF files. I cannot speak for Lightroom, as I do not have it. Keeping my fingers crossed that they'll add support, although that position becomes ever more painful over time.
I must say, I think that whoever makes these decisions at Capture One is mistaken. I see the value in this extraordinary prowess in image processing, and the unique tethering solutions, but the fact is that in numbers, only a small group of experts uses these. They have newest equipment in value of ten of thousands and than the cost for CaptureOne is minimal.
But the revenue will be made by numbers of licenses, and that is a market comprising in vast majority of hobbyists and 'prosumers.' We do not use a $10,000+ body, we use these around 1-3 thousand. And we use smartphones, as do many professionals as well. With my Samsung in the pocket I find myself more and more often leaving cameras behind. Heif/heic with its 10bit per channel quadruples the amount of information per channel, or 64 time more colors. All this with a smaller file. Finally JPEG shall step-wise move toward museum. The popular public domain program Irfanview handles these files without an issue. Only Capture One has problems, and these we report for a year meanwhile. To no avail.
As I said: Not a good showing, dear Capture One.
I agree with ThomasH, and can we at least get a roadmap on HEIF/HEIC 10 bits?
The Canon DIGIC X based cameras (like EOS R3/R5/R6) also generate 10-bit HEIF images. The format is more efficient than JPEG, and contains more bit depth that gives better dynamic range and processing headroom. The use of this format is a key feature for these cameras, as it enabled HDR PQ images. Please add support for 10-bit HEIF images.
It's a year since my last comment here and nothing happened...
Capture one, can you please add options for exports to HEIF format. HEIF is way more efficient than JPEG (a 30 yers old format), have better dynamic range, images are smaller with crisper with more details. HEIF become supported supported by Apple, Canon, Sony and even Microsoft Windows can open it (with extension).
I've changed RAW to HIF by mistake on my Sony A7iv today instead of the intended switch from Uncompressed RAW to Compressed RAW for higher fps. Once I realised the mistake I thought my biggest issue will be limited editing power but instead I cannot even open these files in C1 at all. £199 well spent. MacOS Photos it is...
Hello, I have had the same problem with Sony HIF files. The only way round it I have found is to view them in the Sony Imaging Edge Viewer (free to download) then select the HIF files I want for C1 and save them as Tiff files (edit/export HEIF format files). Bit cumbersome but it works well and I certainly notice the improvement in quality.
The Fujifilm X-H2S and X-H2 cameras support 10-bit HEIF. Can support for this be implemented in Capture One?
Please 🙏
Several Fujifilm cameras including the new X-T5 also support HEIF, however my X-T5 files cannot currently be imported into C1. I personally know of others also frustrated by this -- we'd certainly appreciate a fix or, at least, a workaround tutorial! Thanks in advance!
Indeed, and I am not sure how to help here. I have raised in the past several times this topic with Capture-1. Even if one can import these HEIF images, somehow the files are being held open by a process. One cannot rename directories and delete files. Frustration all along, for years by now.
This is a symptom of a more broader issue with I have with Capture One: Whereas their imaging processing prowess is fantastic and very powerful, they constantly neglect the "boring stuff," such as support for smaller consumer grade cameras and the file handling. Elementary stuff algorithmically, but tedious in the making. Adobe is so good at it. Just think about it: A professional with $200,000 equipment and you, me, us, with a $1000 camera pay the same price for a copy of Capture One. But the number of these professionals is very small compared to the millions of amateurs and hobbyists. We are the most important group of users, this is simply so. But someone at Capture One has a difficulty to grasp this. Personally I am on a brink of giving up Capture One and crawling back to Adobe, swallowing my pride, and the subscription models, and resuming my Lightroom operations.
Yes, Reading through these comments it appears their response has been.. crickets.
ThomasH, I agree totally with your sentiments. Waited for years for the option to have an exported file overwrite a previously exported file of the same name.
Although C1 is incredibly powerful, I have found it time consuming to use, especially as a large portion of my work is tweaking and cropping my travel images. Lately I have been using DxO Photolab which does a great job and is incredibly fast - 3 or 4 clicks and the job is done.
DxO doesn't support HEIF yet but I'm sure it will have the capability well before C1 considering past user requested upgrades to C1 as a guide.
Also be very wary of the subscription model of C1 - if you stop paying you will lose access to ALL edits you have ever done in C1. Took a long time and many emails to get them to admit this very disturbing fact.
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