Phocus Mobile 2 v3.0.0

[Iskander]

Update Phocus Mobile 2 v3.0.0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OV1gnEI6uuo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKW51kiOwXk

[Ralf Mueller]

This looks wonderful.
Do you think there is a chance Hasselblad adds this to Phocus desktop software as well and for 'older' camera raw files like H6D and CFV-50c series?

[Hendrix_CI]

I would have posted this in the software section, but there is no Phocus Mobile v3.0 tread there, and there is one here, so .... ?

CI First Look: Hasselblad Phocus Mobile V3.0 And Hasselblad Natural Noise Reduction


Steve Hendrix/CI
steve@captureintegration.com

[MGrayson]

Thanks for the article, Steve. It works well (I just tried it), but what a bizarre workflow! To add to the confusion, The App Store still calls it "Phocus Mobile 2" and inside the app it's "Phocus Mobile v3.0"

Matt

[vidio]

Unfortunately there is a major limitation to Phocus Mobile 2 (or3). The program creates a new 3FR file which is fine. But if you export that file out in order to do further work in Phocus for the Desktop it does not handle the file properly and applies an additional smoothing that is too extensive. So the desktop rendering of the exact same file does not look like the mobile version. It's particularly noticeable with skin tones on high ISO shots. This means as of now you can't work on the denoised files in Phocus Desktop.

The irony is that if you import it into Adobe there is no such problem. It looks the same (or very close to it) as the mobile version and you can work on the file in ACR or Lightroom.

[niviblad]

Unfortunately there is a major limitation to Phocus Mobile 2 (or3). The program creates a new 3FR file which is fine. But if you export that file out in order to do further work in Phocus for the Desktop it does not handle the file properly and applies an additional smoothing that is too extensive. So the desktop rendering of the exact same file does not look like the mobile version. It's particularly noticeable with skin tones on high ISO shots. This means as of now you can't work on the denoised files in Phocus Desktop.

The irony is that if you import it into Adobe there is no such problem. It looks the same (or very close to it) as the mobile version and you can work on the file in ACR or Lightroom.

You should try deactivating the noise reduction of the desktop program, maybe? I can't test, I don't have the X2D yet... so no HNNR for me.

[Paul2660]

Bizarre is a good word for this. Good article by Steve Hendrix. Basically confirms what I have previously stated.

The effect is permanent and this can't be altered like Denoise in Adobe. Your raw file is altered and currently Phocus can't work with the files after you have used this. (So if you believe like me the best color come from Phocus you can't currently use this).

It seems the best way to implement this is to copy the files you want to use it in to a different card, then import from that card and back and keep these as different versions.

I am still curious if the tool removes the vast number of hot pixels that appear when the camera is used at ISO ranges above 400 and shadow areas need to be pushed.

Paul

Paul

[vidio]

You should try deactivating the noise reduction of the desktop program, maybe? I can't test, I don't have the X2D yet... so no HNNR for me.
[/quote]

I did try unchecking the noise filter box in Phocus but it had no effect. Is there another way to "deactivate noise reduction?"

[mjhillsc]

The capabilities of the noise reduction are very exciting, especially for those who want to hand hold the 907x CFV 100c in lower light.  But, the workflow is quite curious and cumbersome.  Given the experience of @vidio (and I was able to replicate the same), it makes one wonder:
1. Did Hasselblad rush this announcement to beat the Leica SL3-S?  Seems a fool's errand, if so.
2. Are Phocus Desktop's days numbered? 

Having posed these questions, I do reflect on the fact that there are so many things that are more efficient in the iOS environments rather than the Mac OS environment.  But, extensive photo editing is not one of those things.  So, where is this world going?

[Iskander]

Please note if you are already using the HNNR function.

I had noticed with some RAW files that the radius of the sharpening setting had changed in the new file after using HNNR.
During my tests, it turned out that all radius settings < 1.0 were ignored and set to 1.0 by default. Settings >= 1.0 seem to be applied correctly.

After contacting Hasselblad support today, they responded very quickly after an email exchange. They were able to identify the problem and forwarded it to the development team.

I can only thank the Hasselblad support team for their quick response.

[niviblad]

You should try deactivating the noise reduction of the desktop program, maybe? I can't test, I don't have the X2D yet... so no HNNR for me.

I did try unchecking the noise filter box in Phocus but it had no effect. Is there a mother way to "deactivate noise reduction?"
[/quote]
That was the way to go... at least that's what I would have tried, so I don't know what I would try then...

[Hendrix_CI]

You should try deactivating the noise reduction of the desktop program, maybe? I can't test, I don't have the X2D yet... so no HNNR for me.

I did try unchecking the noise filter box in Phocus but it had no effect. Is there a mother way to "deactivate noise reduction?"

That was the way to go... at least that's what I would have tried, so I don't know what I would try then...
[/quote]


I tried unchecking every single tool, but no change.


Steve Hendrix/CI
steve@captureintegration.com

[tjelt]

What a strange way to roll out a major feature upgrade. 
- A couple of links to third party Youtube videos and a few screen shots. 
- On a product forum. 
- In the wrong category. 
- No email announcement from Hasselblad. 
- Nothing on their web pages. 
 
I just don't understand it.  Does anyone from Hasselblad read this forum?  Can we talk?  Seriously – I have ideas for you. 

Thank you to Hugh Brownstone and Ted Forbes for taking the time to make those introductory videos.  If you haven't watched them both I highly recommend it. 

Thank you as well to Steve Hendrix from Capture Integration for the excellent article introducing Hasselblad's new noise reduction feature. 

I have great respect for the team at CI and I appreciate the approach Steve took in reviewing this new feature.  That being said I believe he perhaps understates how significant this feature really is.  Every now and then Hasseldblad surprises by punching above its weight and I believe this is one of those times. 

I did some testing of my own.  I took a series of images of 3 different scenes.  For each scene I took pictures at ISO levels of 25,600, 3,200 and 64.  I did some testing with both HNNR Purity and HNNR Detail and quickly decided that (for my purposes) the Purity option is better.

I then brought the images with and without HNNR Purity into Lightroom.  After this I sent a copy of each unaltered Raw image to both Topaz Photo AI and ON1 NoNoise.  These programs returned denoised copies of the images as DNG files.  So, I have a matrix of images as follows:

Unaltered Raw, HNNR Purity, ON1 NoNoise, Topaz Photo AI with denoise applied – at ISO 25,600, 3,200 and 64.  I used the default settings wherever possible.  One scene was intentionally underexposed and required an increase in shadow and exposure. 

The good news:

Hasselblad's HNNR is clearly better across the board.  At the moment Topaz has the edge over On1's Nonoise product.  NoNoise tends to remove too much detail.  NoNoise also changed the color of the images. 

A comprehensive discussion regarding the parameters for capturing and processing as well as the intended purpose of the images for which you might use HNNR is beyond the scope of this post. 
 
I will say that the quality of noise reduction that they have been able to achieve is remarkable.  It will allow you to get shots you otherwise wouldn't have even tried to get before.  With the X2D it will allow you to capture low light shots that were unthinkable even just 5 years ago.  It also adds value to the 907x and cfv as that system's lack of IBIS is a serious draw back to hand-held operation. 
 
The bad news:

The new HNNR feature requires you to process your images through Phocus Mobile 2 (or is it 3 now?).  Having to run your images through a mobile device wirelessly before their (most) likely destination on your desktop is less than ideal.  I'd much rather see this feature implemented in a desktop application. 

Phocus Mobile is an excellent app and is another example of Hasselblad punching above their weight.  But it is not a regular component of my workflow (to be fair neither is taking images that require high ISO). 

I highly recommend you give the feature a try.  I can provide copies of the images if you are interested.   

Tim
Tim@luminessence.photography

[Iskander]

Hi Tim, sorry for assigning to the wrong forum.
I was probably a bit hasty, as I normally only post in the X1D/X2D forum and I didn't realize there was a software forum.

Perhaps an admin can reassign it.

But I also have to keep wondering why Hasselblad doesn't send out a newsletter in this case of a major update, for example.

Another example: I haven't seen any information about face detection on the website recently either. A function that works really well and in my opinion is a good sales argument.

Hasselblad could definitely go more on the offensive here.

On the other hand, I'm glad that Hasselblad has been more active again recently. The app has received an unusually large number of updates recently. In addition, quite a few new lenses have been launched on the market.

Unfortunately, no work is being done on the further development of Phocus for desktop. At least it seems that way.
I don't even want to talk about the Windows version, which concerns me as a Windows user.

[MGrayson]

Unfortunately, no work is being done on the further development of Phocus for desktop. At least it seems that way.

Except for multi-shot. For studio shooters, that's bigger news than HNNR (fantastic as that is).