Capture One
Capture One is a photography software suite. It includes custom support for raw image files from over 650 cameras and tethering support for over 200 cameras. Originally produced by camera maker Phase One, the software department was split off into its own company, called Capture One A/S, in 2019. Both companies are majority-owned by the private equity firm Axcel. Before Axcel, Phase One including the software department was majority-owned by Silverfleet Capital.
In 2022, Capture One released its iPad app with a sub-set of features from the desktop app and Capture One Live, a cloud-based collaboration platform for getting feedback in real-time.
In 2023, Capture One was also released for iPhone.
In 2024, the Live for Studio app for iPad was released, which works together with Capture One Mac and allows review of photos saved on desktop via local network. The app requires the Studio tier of the desktop product, but is otherwise free.
Capture One Pro is available as subscription or one-time purchase Other product variants like Studio and Enterprise are only available as subscription. The camera maker-branded variants for Phase One and Fujifilm are free for eligible owners of the respective cameras.
Features
Capture One is available for macOS and Microsoft Windows. It is localized for Chinese, Chinese, English, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish and Swedish.Features include smart adjustments, advanced color, styles and presets, high dynamic range, skin tone editing, before and after, film grain, healing and cloning tool, dehaze, layers, keystone correction, black and white conversion, ability to print directly from Capture One, and extension to iPad and iPhone with Capture Pilot, noise reduction, color correction, spot removal, High Dynamic Range tools, lens tools and sharpening tools.
Run Modes
Through different license types, different feature sets in Capture One can be configured. On January 18, 2022, the company announced discontinuation of its Fujifilm, Nikon and Sony camera brand-specific run-modes. On December 12, 2023, it announced discontinuation of the Express Run Modes. For Fujifilm users, the Fujifilm RAW Converter Run Mode was introduced as a replacement for Express for Fujifilm in December 2023.| Run Mode | Feature Set |
| Pro | File and tethering support for all cameras |
| for Phase One | Same as Pro, but file and tethering support only for cameras from the respective maker. |
| Fujifilm RAW Converter | File support for cameras from the respective maker. No tethering. Across-the-board reduced feature set |
| Studio for Teams | Same as Pro, plus multiple viewer windows, more crop options, multiple compare variants. |
| Studio for Enterprise | Same as Studio for Teams, plus features for e-commerce studios, e.g. barcode-reader support and extended user management. |
| Cultural Heritage | File and tethering support for Phase One cameras, plus features for reprography, like controls for motorized copy-stands. |
Timeline
- 2024: Introduction of Capture One Studio product.
- 2023: Capture One for iPhone is launched.
- 2022: The Capture One Live service is launched, a cloud-based option to share and review photos
- 2018: Some Capture One features are released embedded in the Phase One IQ4 digital camera back
- 2010: The Capture Pilot companion app for iOS is launched
- 2003: The independent Capture One brand was established and began supporting other camera brands
- 2002: The Phase One H20 was launched and the older "Lightphase" back was renamed as the H5 / H10. At the same time the software was renamed to Capture One.
- 1998: Software launched as "Lightphase Capture", only camera supported was the 6mp Phase One Lightphase camera back.