Noise reduction - "NEAT IMAGE"

[Shane]

In early 2016 I did a matrix test for capture sharpening using deconvolution methods comprising some 360 combinations and varying parameters on an older D200 830nm IR image.
Matrix involved:
ACR Deconvolution Sharpening & Noise Reduction
Focus Magic Deconvolution sharpening
InFocus Deconvolution sharpening
Neat Image* Noise Reduction
DeNoise Noise Reduction
Dfine Noise Reduction

* Neat Image older 32bit version

My conclusion for that specific model and subject matter was a combination of Focus Magic and Neatimage. I have since upgraded NeatImage to the 64bit version.
I then had a friend, who beta tests software for Nikon, Topaz and (originally) Nik software, review my processed images and he came to the same conclusion.

Note: I found CS6 ACR chroma NR worked well but luma NR not so well.

[Akira]

Welcome back, Shane, and thanks for sharing the results!

Good to know that ACR chroma NR worked well.  Hope that holds true with regard to the current version of ACR.

[David H. Hartman]

Is any of this better than Nikon's Better Quality 2013 as found in Capture NX2 and Capture NX-D?

Dave Hartman

[Valerie S.]

Capture NX-D does some interesting things. I think the NR is really good. But it doesn't offer much as far as a repeatable workflow.

I use Neat Image for files with my D5 depending on the end product. It's pretty amazing at 12.800. Plus, I'm in PS and can do whatever I want there after. It's a really good plugin to have, in my opinion. I hate LR and never use NR or sharpening in ACR.

[MFloyd]

Are you aware that Lr and Ps are using the same engine (ACR) ?