Lightroom 2 vs Photoshop CS4 vs Digital Photo Professional

In light of this post by Stephen Alvarez discussing possible sharpness problems in CS4, I decided to open the same image in Lightroom 2, Photoshop CS4 (via Camera Raw) and Canon’s Digital Photo Professional. The resulting images showed little differences in sharpness though to my eye CS4 and Lightroom 2 have the same level of sharpness. DPP checks in with the smoothest, cleanest image, which only seems natural since Canon supplies it with the camera. Also notice there are some slight color differences between the 3.

The point appears to be use the program you’re most comfortable with, one doesn’t seem to provide a significant advantage over the other in terms of IQ.

Click to expand the image. The sample is a %100 percent crop taken from a considerable distance, of a building under construction. I didn’t nail critical focus, but I was in taxi when I took the photograph so apologies in advance…The image was opened in the 3 respective programs with NO manipulation, and in Lightroom 2 the calibration was set to camera neutral, the same setting I had used on the camera.

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1. 

   G Dan Mitchell says:

   January 28, 2009 at 10:39 am

   “The point appears to be use the program you’re most comfortable with, one doesn’t seem to provide a significant advantage over the other in terms of IQ.”

   That is a point that I’ve felt strongly about for some time. I really don’t think that any of the programs have any intrinsic ability to produce an objectively “better” image than the others. What I do think is that photographers get used to the interface and controls of one program and learn to use it effectively – and then dismiss the others as being less good primarily because they don’t know how to use them as well.

   Dan

   reply
2. 

   Patrick says:

   January 28, 2009 at 1:47 pm

   G Dan Mitchell,
   For the most part I agree, though I can envision some exceptions to that rule…But in the end NOBODY will care what you used…software, camera, lens, etc. They’ll either like the photo or they won’t. Comparisons only matter relative to some other example, but your work will always be it’s own island.

   reply