I have been using Photo Ninja for many of my images for some time now and have been pleased with the results but did notice noisier images than if I used an alternative editor to process the same image, but now I realise why that is, so I might well return to Photo Ninja more often and see if it does a "better job" than another editor.
Barrie
Yes I noticed the same thing, which is why I decided to try and get an answer as to whether it was intentional or not. Personally I prefer sharper + more noise versus softer + less noise. There are lots of ways to reduce noise in an image, and Photo Ninja has them too with Noise Ninja, but its far harder to reinstate genuine sharpness on a softened / noise reduced file. One of the reasons I've been so enthusiastic about PN is the lack of 'background' NR going on before I can even start to process a raw file. What Adobe / Fuji (whoever is to blame) do to Fuji X files is an obvious example. These files have been a revelation in PN, finally showing the benefits of no AA filter.
It's interesting that Jim Christian makes the case that much of how a Raw Processor works is down to the developer and choices that are made. And his explanation of his choices is fascinating. I can see that not everybody wants that, and there are lots of occasions when I don't myself, but it's nice to have the option.
One of the reasons that I asked for and published his comments, is that being a small company it's possible to make contact with the people who design the software. He originally contacted me about some comments I made on my blog about the user interface and it's possible to have a dialogue in cases like this . Doing that with Adobe, Apple and Phase One is virtually impossible unless you are one of their chosen few.
I really like the software and I'm happy to try to make it better known, because I know that I'm not alone in preferring to process my raw files this way. I'm not getting anything out of it, I'm paying for it just like anybody else, but in these days of homogeneity and corporate 'take it or leave it' attitudes I think it's great for something like this to be a different option. I like it, but I make no claims that it's the answer or the right choice for everybody. Neither is Jim Christian. But the more informed we are about choices can only benefit us, as far as I'm concerned.