DNG

[Girevik]

I've never converted my RAW files to DNG, but I'm thinkng maybe I should start. Does anyone know of a utility that will go through a folder and all of it's subfolders and convert all of the RAW files to DNG and then delete the RAW?

[brian.austin]

Google is your friend:

Free Adobe DNG Converter for Windows.

Free Adobe DNG Converter for Macintosh.

[Jacco]

I wouldn't delete the RAWs, as they are the originals.

[brian.austin]

Originally Posted by Jacco

I wouldn't delete the RAWs, as they are the originals.

DNG offers an option to embed the original RAW file within the DNG file. It's nice for edits back to the original but it's not a backup technique for obvious reasons.

[Paul Shields]

I went gung-ho into the DNG world a couple of years ago and converted all my original RAW files to DNG. Haven't looked back since, but if you really need to keep the 'originals' (I don't see DNG as any different to the original in my processing) then as Brian says you can embed the RAW file into the DNG encapsulator.

[cannockwolf]

i have lightroom import from the card to dng format no problems so far,

its about time all the camera makers took up a single format for raw, i mean they did it with jpeg didnt they? the dng format is licensed free of charge from what i can make out o i cant see the problem

[Mr. Pickles]

The "problem" some have with the DNG one-stop scenario is for their camera to produce as nice as image as their own software can produce, they have to state what their real algorithm really is. In other words, fat chance.

For some "lesser" companies that aren't in the top two of camera manufacturers, it seems it would make some sense to go with DNG and pretty much drop software form the list of items included in the package. Let others handle that aspect. Probably won't happen, but I'd look into it if I was a CEO just to see what is spent on software as a whole...

[pbmb]

The reason I do not convert my files to DNG is that Capture NX2 would not recognize them if I do. Is there a way around that?

Thanks

[Sparc]

Originally Posted by pbmb

The reason I do not convert my files to DNG is that Capture NX2 would not recognize them if I do. Is there a way around that?

Thanks

Sadly not (unless you keep both). It's something I have also posted about in the Capture NX group on Flickr. They really need to support this soon.

[Girevik]

Wow, I never got my e-mail notifications of any replies. All this time I thought my post had died out.

I'm well enough aquanted with Google, but I was looking for some very specific features that ould be tough to search for in a browser so I thought someone here might be using something like what I'm looking for who could help me out.

I HAD looked at the Adobe converters and didn't think they met what I was looking for since they didn't to through sub-directories or remove the original .NEF file.

Originally Posted by brian.austin

Google is your friend:

Free Adobe DNG Converter for Windows.

Free Adobe DNG Converter for Macintosh.

[OzzyJim]

Gday,

I have a Pentax K10D and in the settings it allows the user to select .PEF (Pentax's raw format) or .DNG. The problem with that is .DNG isn't supported by the editing software that came with the camera, and .PEF can be read with adobe camera raw and imported into photoshop and converted to DNG or in Pentax's original software. I personally haven't seen much of a difference in file quality (except for size), so have continued with PEF. My question is, If you have no problems with the NEF format why change?.

James.

[mcbit]

What advantage does converting to DNG have over the original RAW format?

[brian.austin]

Originally Posted by Girevik

Wow, I never got my e-mail notifications of any replies. All this time I thought my post had died out.

I'm well enough aquanted with Google, but I was looking for some very specific features that ould be tough to search for in a browser so I thought someone here might be using something like what I'm looking for who could help me out.

I HAD looked at the Adobe converters and didn't think they met what I was looking for since they didn't to through sub-directories or remove the original .NEF file.

The more specific the features you're looking for, the more likely it is you'll have to pay for it.

Adobe Lightroom will do what you're looking for.

[Girevik]

Originally Posted by mcbit

What advantage does converting to DNG have over the original RAW format?

The theory is that since the DNG is a common format, all software packages will support it, where RAW is manufacturer specific. Lets say that Nikon changes it's RAW format, and 3 years down the road editing software stops supporting what my D70 uses...that kind of thing.

[mcbit]

Originally Posted by Girevik

The theory is that since the DNG is a common format, all software packages will support it, where RAW is manufacturer specific. Lets say that Nikon changes it's RAW format, and 3 years down the road editing software stops supporting what my D70 uses...that kind of thing.

Ta!

[Eero Makela]

One disadvantage I found with the DNG converter for Nikon NEF files is that they do not convert it correctly. Unless I am missing something. I read some where that Nikon NEF info has some proprietary settings that adobe can't read and hence does not make the same adjustments that a nikon program would

I usually process all the my files via NX Capture into TIFF files (this only when I want to do some major edits on photos using PS)

[Girevik]

So all that said, I take it I probably won't find a free or cheap software to do what I'm looking for (process all subdirectories and convert; deleting the original would be a plus but not as big a deal).