This is something of a pre-series post, explaining a little change in direction.
Up until now, I’ve been adding to and tweaking my popular “Photogrammetry testing” series, in which I try out as many free photogrammetry packages as I can to try and find the best. I use a standard dataset and a single computer with consistent specs, and then I compare models and processing times.
Now, free software isn’t always the best solution for someone. Often the commercial packages offer, if not advances in speed and reconstruction quality, then at least a nicer User Experience (UX).
It seems somewhat one-sided of me to extoll the virtues of free software without ever comparing them with their commercial counterparts.
So that’s what I’m going to do. I’ve requested trial licenses from a number of companies so I can run the software in a full capacity, rather than a limited trial or free version. I’ll run my Styracosaurus model at default and tweaked settings, and show you the reconstruction and tell you how long it took. I might also try a larger dataset while I’ve got access to the software, just to see how it scales.
The programs I’m planning on testing are:
- Reality Capture (in progress)
- 3DF Zephyr Full (in progress)
- Agisoft Metashape (formerly photoscan – in progress)
- Autodesk ReCap Photo
- Pix4d
- Context Capture
If you work for a company that makes photogrammetry software that I haven’t listed, or if you have a favourite program I’ve not mentioned, that you’d like to see reviewed, drop me a line and I’ll see what I can do.
In the mean time, if you want to be kept up to date as these reviews happen, either subscribe to the blog or follow me on Twitter. I’m planning on roughly one per week, but we’ll see how much other commitments get in the way of that.
When I’ve finished with these, I’ll write an up to date summary of all the free and commercial options.
Dr Peter L. Falkingham 
Just thought I’d give you a quick tip about Regard3d, you’ve mentioned it in the past while talking about MVE, but I haven’t found if you look at the program specifically. Not that I’d recommend it (as an amateur) because I haven’t successfully gotten any models out of it, I’ve had more look with VSFM, COLMAP and especially MeshRoom. (I’m stuck on 2018.1.0, waiting paaatiently for the promised update that fixes reconstructions with unmatched photos.)
Anyway, thank you for your work and wonderful tutorials, it’s what got me into photogrammetry in the first place. Check me out on SketchFab if you have nothing better to do, I’ve had some success with animals (fur) but that’s about it.
by Erik Krug Aase on Sketchfab
Thanks. Yeah, I saw Regard 3D hit v1.0 recently, but like you I’ve had limited success. Will check out those sketchfab models – thanks.