Sensors have advanced significantly over the past two decades. Concurrently, modern software is reinvigorating the raw files captured by older cameras. Let’s take a look.
Digital camera performance has seen a dramatic improvement over the past two decades. Full-frame and APS-C sensor resolutions have soared from 6 MP to 60 MP, exemplified by models like the Sony A7 R5 (61 MP) and the Leica M11, Q3, and SL3 (all 60 MP). Dynamic range has also expanded significantly, increasing by several EV, from 10 to a current 14.8 EV, based on DXOMARK tests. Furthermore, acceptable noise levels, as rated by DXOMARK, have progressed from 500 ISO twenty years ago to 3700 ISO today.
Software has changed significantly too. In 2003, Lightroom had not been released, and the initial version of Camera Raw only came out that year. Capture One has broadened its support beyond its proprietary cameras. Given this massive progress in sensor technology, the question remains: has image processing software, particularly for the Raw format, seen a comparable level of advancement?
Raw vintage
Reviewing our digital archives reveals that the earliest Raw files date back to the 2003-2005 period—truly vintage! These files were captured using several cameras, including the Fujifilm S2 Pro, the Nikon D100 (released in 2002), and the Kodak DCS Pro 14n (from 2003). This provided an interesting opportunity to re-process them and compare the results with the JPEG or TIFF exports originally created at that time.
However, it’s important to acknowledge environmental differences that could influence any observed discrepancies. In the early 2000s, most professional photography studios relied on 17-inch or 19-inch Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) monitors. Naturally, the image processing experience on a modern 27-inch flat screen is fundamentally different from that on a smaller CRT display.
The portrait was captured in 2003 with a Kodak DCS Pro 14n (14 MP). The Parisian public garden scene was taken in 2004 with a FujiFilm S2 Pro (6 MP). These results demonstrate the effectiveness of modern software advances on older digital captures.
Compatibility and obsolescence
While digital photography has been defined by technological progress, one persistent challenge is tool incompatibility and obsolescence. The good news is that Raw files from older cameras, such as the Fujifilm S2 Pro, can still be processed. Options like Camera Raw, Lightroom, Capture One, and Silkypix Raw File Converter EX all support them, though DXO PhotoLab does not. Given Adobe’s extensive Raw format compatibility list, focusing on Lightroom or Camera Raw is a natural choice. Furthermore, these older files benefit significantly from the continuous evolution and effectiveness of AI noise reduction technology.
Process version
Software is constantly evolving, meaning any advantage one program gains is quickly matched by competitors. This was evident with highlight recovery from an old Nikon D100 image, where Capture One initially offered superior results. However, the latest version of Lightroom has closed this gap. Regardless, when facing technical issues with older photographs, it remains valuable to explore what competing software has to offer.
The latest version of Lightroom (version 6) offers better highlight recovery during calibration compared to earlier versions. In the development module, blown highlights are indicated in red.
Resolution and file size
On another note, out of curiosity, in 2003 we doubled a 4 × 5-inch Ektachrome shot with a digital photo taken with the Fujifilm S2 Pro. Revisiting the original TIFF file, created with the Fujifilm demosaicing software of the time, reveals a lack of sharpness. However, a new TIFF generated from the same RAW file using the latest version of Lightroom shows a clear overall improvement in sharpness and definition. This enhancement is consistently observed across all photos taken with this camera. While this quality boost doesn’t magically turn the 6 MP sensor into a powerhouse of definition, the resulting images display greater detail and nuance. Essentially, contemporary software provides tangible gains, making it valuable to reprocess older images, although one should temper expectations and not anticipate the dramatic improvements seen with advancements in sensor technology itself.
The initial 6 MP TIFF file was generated in 2003 from the Raw file using the Fujifilm Raw Converter software, which was preferred at the time over the nascent Camera Raw. In contrast, converting the Raw file with the latest version of Lightroom yields a distinctly sharper TIFF. Furthermore, while the image’s original 6 MP size can be enlarged using generative AI tools like Firefly in Photoshop, that capability falls outside the scope of this article.
Discover the photography courses at Spéos
Spéos offers various training courses ranging from simple one-week photography workshops (initiation and advanced level) to 3-year courses. The long courses to become professional photographers allow you not only to master all the photographic techniques and its vocabulary (blurs, hyperfocus, sharpness zone, depth of field, backlighting, focal length, shutter release, autofocus, wide-angle, rule of thirds, etc.), but also all the stages of shooting and image processing.
Visiting the school allows you to discover the premises, the studios and the equipment, and is undoubtedly the best way to familiarize yourself with your future way of working. This is why, in addition to the open days, Spéos offers throughout the year personalized visits by appointment to come and discover the school with a member of the team.
Text and photos: Philippe Bachelier, teacher of Printing techniques at Spéos