CS2 version	Photomatix version

Registration errors are again visible along the ridge line in the CS2 version. This is not adjustable in the HDR Conversion function so would have to be fixed afterwards in post-processing. The Photomatix version shows minimal hints of registration errors along the ridge line as well. The clouds and trees again are better, although the trees still show some noise.

CS2 version	Photomatix version

The CS2 version again lacks detail and tone compared to the Photomatix version.

CS2 version	Photomatix version

Color tone and apparent detail were quite lacking in the lower right corner of the CS2 version. The Photomatix version is much preferable, despite the noise.

CS2 version	Photomatix version

The CS2 version has blocked up again here and lost detail in the trees and rocks. The registration errors show up again along the ridge line. Possibly some heavy handed adjustments of mine need to be backed off. The Photomatix version is more pleasing over-all, but the noise shows here in the trees as an annoying blast of speckling.

CS2 version	Photomatix version

The open ice on the far left is smooth in the CS2 version, but again lacks punchy detail. The Photomatix version has the detail but also shows the noise again. At least here the noise is less distracting; not all noise is bad, sometimes it can add desirable texture.

When examined at the level of 100% crops, it appears that both CS2 and Photomatix have their pluses and minuses. Actual image detail present is comparable between the two versions. The major differences are in the results of tone mapping. Overall my preference for the results of Photomatix is borne out by looking at the details as well as at the whole. However, I am not trying to do a sell job on Photomatix. It is a tool like any other and if it does something you need, give it a shot. If not, use something else.

For example, while CS2’s registration errors were significant in this example, I have found cases where CS2’s alignment function did a better job than Photomatix. This might be a situation where using the Photomatix plug-in would allow the best of both worlds – HDR 32-bit file generation (including alignment) using CS2, and tone mapping using Photomatix.

Note: Photomatix Pro does have a partially manual alignment mode that may help with a troublesome series of input images. Using this mode, two control points can be specified, as with various image stitching applications, to help the alignment function figure out how to register the successive images.

Here are two more images of a different scene that provide another view of the differences between CS2 and Photomatix tone mapping. Both images were processed from a series of three exposures taken at an interval of 2 EV. Nearly identical finishing work was done on both, although the effort was not as extensive as for the main example images above.

CS2 version	Photomatix version

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