What software is best at noise reduction?

I have heard dozens of people swearing by LR3's noise reduction abilities. My question is this: what about ACR's noise reduction? I dont have lightroom but i do have ACR which is from the same company so i assume it uses the same methods. I am up to date and using the latest version, so how does it compare to LR3 noise removal?
i have used topaz denoise 3 & 5 plugins and find that topaz denoise 5 is not as good as ACR noise removal and topaz denoise 3 is actually the best in my opinion provided the noise levels are low to begin with. If the noise is bad then it shows worm like artefacts.
So what else is out there that does a good job and which one is truelly the best?

I've tried three:

TLR - used to be free, don't know if it is. Works very well - advantages: free and flexible.

Noise Ninja - works good, no longer use it because of below

Nik dFine - my current. Works well yet seems to be better at maintaining sharpness than others. Disadvantage - expensive.

If i didn't have LR3 already, I'd still purchase it for it's NR abilities. I've yet to use a NR software that has impressed me as much as LR3 does and it's only a bonus that I prefer to use it to process my RAW's over ACR.

Picture North Carolina wrote in post #13117686
I've tried three:

TLR - used to be free, don't know if it is. Works very well - advantages: free and flexible.

Noise Ninja - works good, no longer use it because of below

Nik dFine - my current. Works well yet seems to be better at maintaining sharpness than others. Disadvantage - expensive.

I also use Dfine. Did you know you can run it as a smart object in PS. Gives you the option to pull it back as much as you want. Although it works well sometimes Dfine can be a little aggressive and create plastic looking skin. It also creates a layer mask so you can mask out certain areas.

I find it easier to pull back and mask out than do it selectively. First I see what Dfine thinks needs to be done in auto then I correct to taste.

I did that here. Post #29

https://photography-on-the.net …read.php?t=1092​782&page=2

I use NoiseWare Pro, no complaints.

ISO6400 only using LR3's NR

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …g_photography/5​759999119/

boerewors wrote in post #13117372
I have heard dozens of people swearing by LR3's noise reduction abilities. My question is this: what about ACR's noise reduction? I dont have lightroom but i do have ACR which is from the same company so i assume it uses the same methods. I am up to date and using the latest version, so how does it compare to LR3 noise removal?
i have used topaz denoise 3 & 5 plugins and find that topaz denoise 5 is not as good as ACR noise removal and topaz denoise 3 is actually the best in my opinion provided the noise levels are low to begin with. If the noise is bad then it shows worm like artefacts.
So what else is out there that does a good job and which one is truelly the best?

There is no truly best. No one can answer that because it is would be subjective answer.
My friend swears by Topaz. I prefer Dfine. ACR/LR does a very good job I think although I don't normally use it. If the noise is not too bad I will use DPP's NR for batch processing. Individual images Dfine.

Some of the top ones were listed. For this you need to do a search on the web and eventually you will find a site that has done some testing and can provide an objective review.

digital paradise wrote in post #13117767
I also use Dfine. Did you know you can run it as a smart object in PS. Gives you the option to pull it back as much as you want. Although it works well sometimes Dfine can be a little aggressive and create plastic looking skin. It also creates a layer mask so you can mask out certain areas.

I find it easier to pull back and mask out than do it selectively. First I see what Dfine thinks needs to be done in auto then I correct to taste.

I did that here. Post #29

https://photography-on-the.net …read.php?t=1092​782&page=2

No, I didn't but good to know.

Typically I just make a copy of the layer then aggressively remove noise calculated to denoise the worst area. I create a black mask for the layer, then, with brushes of varying opacity, I brush the mask to create different levels of noise removal in different areas as needed, and no noise removal where not needed. Using it this way, I find dFine a superb app.

That will work as well. Always more than one way to do things. Ever since I discovered Smart Objects I'm starting to us them more for everything.

boerewors wrote in post #13117372
My question is this: what about ACR's noise reduction? I dont have lightroom but i do have ACR which is from the same company so i assume it uses the same methods. I am up to date and using the latest version, so how does it compare to LR3 noise removal?

ACR 6.x is identical to LR3.x in that respect.

René Damkot wrote in post #13126351
ACR 6.x is identical to LR3.x in that respect.

ahh thanks. at last i get the answer. almost went out and bought LR3

Lightroom 3

I use neat image. Love the flexibility of the software.