

I re-edited my RAW files in Capture One Pro to provide comparison images. However, while Capture One Pro will open RAW files, my Lightroom Classic edits were lost. Though the night photo edited in Capture One Pro initially had more noise, the program did a good job of removing noise in the sky. The program did a good job retaining the detail in the bird’s wings while also softening the background. I compared the photos edited in Capture One Pro with and without noise reduction. But Capture One Pro beat them all on the night image. Some plug-ins did better with the wildlife shot than either Capture One Pro or Lightroom Classic. Plans start at $14/month, and there is a free trial.Ĭapture One Pro was the only program to get good results with both images. Capture One ProĬapture One Pro is a complete photo editing program competitive with Lightroom Classic. Here’s how I ranked the complete post-processing programs. I then looked at noise reduction plug-ins for Lightroom Classic or Photoshop. I started my search for the best noise reduction software by looking at complete post-processing programs that include noise reduction. My settings were f/8.0 1/500th of a second, ISO 6400. Noise removal programs can create a waxy look that would be noticeable in the feathers. I wanted to see how the programs handle the blurred background and detail in the bird’s feathers. The other was a wildlife image taken at ISO 6,400 with a shallow depth of field. My settings were f/4.0 10 seconds ISO 10,000. I chose this photo to see if the programs could distinguish between noise and stars. One image was a night shot taken at ISO 10,000.

I edited the baseline images in Lightroom Classic before applying noise reduction. They were shot at high ISOs and had noticeable digital noise. I used two images in my quest to find the best noise reduction software. Best Noise Reduction Software to Buy in 2021īefore we dive into the best software, let’s look at the images I used to test noise reduction.
