New Feature Release 16.4 -> Money, money, money ...
The release of 16.3 was at the end of October 2023. Mid-May 24, half a year later another pay version 16.4 :(((
@CaptureOne: your management has learned nothing in the last year. Money, money, money ... but for what???
I have just extended my Adobe subscription for Lightroom/Photoshop by 5 years. At a price that CaptureOne wants to charge for the perpetual licenses for 16.3 and 16.4 in one year.
CaptureOne was my software of choice for many years. That is now history for me.
Goodbye
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Capture One includes disclosures about DNGs in every release notes document. The DNG specification also changes over time. It can take time for Capture One to update to support the latest specification. Also keep in mind that DNG files output from many software packages are not RAW files. They are linear RGB files that can be treated as raw from a gamma perspective.
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As an amateur enthusiast with a subscription plan , it is clear to me that Capture One is devoting most of its developer resources to satisfying the needs of comercial photographers. I can only assume that this is a marketing decision based on return on investment, but it leaves me disappointed with almost every update that contains few meaningful enhancements for non-professionals like myself. Why must I so frequently turn to external editors for so many now commonplace features? To be clear, I love the C1 interface and the results that I get, but it is increasingly becoming a niche program for a specific group of users.
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I'm just an amateur enthusiast too. But this whole discussion makes me ponder the irony that many of us amateur enthusiasts spend a lot of money on what are essentially professional cameras (at least I know I do) but expect "Pro" software features and pricing plans to cater to amateurs rather than primarily professionals. I've only myself to blame if I choose to use "Pro" software rather than, say, just Apple Photos or Snapseed. But I do choose to, despite the fact that I know full well that my work is not up to professional standard.
Just an opinion!
Ian
Disclaimer - despite being a Moderator in the forum I just do that as a volunteer. I do not work for or represent Capture One.
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@Ian
I first began using Capture One many versions ago. Even then it was considered a premium raw editing program, but there were few features aimed directly at professional and studio photographers that the rest of us could not also use. Well, times have changed. C1 has definitely gotten better, but current management has decided to distinguish itself from competitors by taking direct aim at high end users. In many ways, it is still a superior raw editor, but it is definitely behind the competition in terms of editing features. As examples, Lightroom, ON1, Luminar NEO and others were offering masking and AI features years before C1 got into the game. I realize that C1 is a fairly small company with limited resources that they must husband wisely, but pursuing the professional market predominately gives pause to non-professionals about sticking with the program.0 -
There are no other raw converters with tethering that cater towards professionals. There are numerous raw converters that cater to enthusiasts. What is the problem with one software catering to professionals!? This is not new for Capture One, although I’m guessing it’s new to the new comers.
Why do enthusiasts want to use a professional software then complain about the price? Just use a software that works for you. End of it
(typed in my phone, grammar and spelling assumed to be problematic)
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I wouldn't put Luminar and ON1 or any other RAW developer in the same basket as Capture One. None of above programs offer workflow enchantments delivered by Capture One. Unfortunately you need to work in very specific environment to really appreciate this and I'm 100% sure that enthusiast level of software utilisation can't show how good Capture One is.
"As examples, Lightroom, ON1, Luminar NEO and others were offering masking and AI features years before C1 got into the game."
Honestly AI masking is great for Youtube videos. It's good for quick and dirty edits. But when you have to prepare very precise mask nothing at the moment will replace manual selection with pencil tool. That's why Capture One was late with it. But I doubt many enthusiasts have need for this level of precision. At the moment I have better results with CO AI masking then with Photoshop AI selection and only use them on family photos and private projects for quick and simple masking.
Unfortunately people that doesn't use most of Capture One capabilities and use it just as RAW developer will suffer and have to deal with price tag meant for pro software not on par with ON1, Luminar or Lightroom.
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@Lukasz Galecki
Perhaps I was not sufficiently clear. I love Capture One, which is why I have stuck with it for so many years. I am reasonably proficient with the tools that I need. With some images, however, Photoshop is a necessity. C1 is lacking in some important areas. For instance, I am very serious about portraiture, and C1 does not have decent skin smoothing, eye touch up and modeling tools that Luminar does. That is just one example.
As for Photoshop, I have never had the time or inclination to become truly proficient. Many other amateurs, and I suspect some professionals, feel the same way. That is why other software makers have introduced simplified tools to accomplish many of the complex tasks that PS does. Capture One, in contrast, now seems more interested in adding features specifically aimed at professionals and studio workers. I would categorize those features as workflow enhancers.
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All software is frustrating in some way. The shortcomings of Capture One are reported repeatedly in depth in this forum and each has a point. The suggestions for future improvements are usually valid. Capture One has capabilities many of us will not need, just as does Microsoft Word. That said, if Capture One works for you, why would you quit using it before another software product was available that was better overall. Until then, why not keep using the version that you have, avoid learning a new workflow, suffering through importing your Capture One database, and the ultimate buyer's remorse that goes with the inevitable disappointments in a new application?
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Actually, Mask AI works great for me and is quite accurate.
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"I can understand, to some degree, concerns about future of CO. But to be frank It was never really meant for non pros. It main selling point is tethering and studio workflow oriented tools."
Tethering and Studio workflow tools are relatively recent additions. I am not unhappy that they are now included in Capture One, even though I will never use them. What I wish for are more tools that enhance the image editing process. I don't think that's too much to ask for. Maybe they will come when the fancy tools have been more fully developed, and C1 can devote more resources to the rest of the program.
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Tethering has been a feature of Capture One for years.
Ian
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@Ian Wilson
My bad, thanks for the correction. Tethering is not part of my world, so I blocked it out.
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Capture One was from its beginning capture software for Phase One digital backs. So basically tethering was always its feature.
I understand all people that mainly use it as RAW developer, but all of them should understand for some photographers all workflow is dependant on features only Capture One currently can offer. I tried ON1, Luminar Neo, Dark Table, RawTherapee, Lightroom Classic solo and with GFX tethering plugin. Non of above software is even close to match Capture One in workflow where efficiency and quality are essential.
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Most of us who are not studio or professional sports photographers use Capture One as a RAW developer and to catalog a variety of pictures not related to specific jobs. Studio and event photographers usually use sessions organization because it is job oriented. Capture One has to cater to both kinds of user. Capture One appears to prioritize what professional photographers shooting hundreds of photos a day need. Capture One appears to think this is a large enough number to warrant them being considered first. Consequently attention to improving the catalog database is not a priority nor is perfecting panorama and HDR images, for example.
I use a catalog because I photograph a wide variety of subjects. I need to be able to search metadata to locate images when they do not obviously fit into a project or album. So, when I pay for advanced software to develop my RAW images, I need Capture One's capabilities, and I live with the other limitations and unneeded features.
If Capture One could tell us that future development was based on user surveys, not a crystal ball, that would please me. As it is, I have no idea how Capture One sets its priorities, and what the trajectory of development is. Perhaps they do not either.
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