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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
RAW files question: CR2 to DNG. Loose anything?
Brian Blanco, Photographer
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Tampa / Sarasota | FL | USA | Posted: 5:51 PM on 08.30.09 |
->> I'm pretty new to shooting RAW and I've got a couple of questions and need some help/advice.
In the past, on the VERY RARE occasion that I shot RAW I always did so where the camera captured both RAW and .jpg files and the RAW files were always there as a backup in the event that I needed the added latitude of the RAW file. Well, I've never actually attempted to process the RAW file before because the .jpg files were always sufficient.
RAW always remained a mystery to me and I'm finding myself way behind the RAW processing learning curve today because a little while ago I decided to try to edit some CR2 images that I shot Friday night under some insane lighting conditions. Easy right? All I have to do is open them in Photoshop and the little window pops up and I'm on my way... right?
Well, no. I got an error that said that "Photoshop does not recognize this type of file".
I've got CS2 and I'm attempting to open a file from a 5D (not the MKII) and it's just not happening. I haven't attempted to open any RAW files from my 1d MKIIn bodies but when I just now tried to open a CR2 file from my wife's 20D the little window popped up and I was in business. It's my understanding from combing the message boards that I need to download a plug in that supports the 5D files but for the life of me I cannot find the correct download.
So, easy fix- I download the Adobe DNG converter. Then the question pops into my brain (which is a bit fried after reading much of the "credential-related" threads as of late): Am I loosing any information or any latitude by converting to DNG from the original CR2 file? Would it be better to upgrade to CS4 or Lightroom when CS2, until today, has always handled all of my image editing needs? Should I continue to try to locate a Plug In that will open these files in CS2 and does such an animal still exist?
Essentially, I'm clueless when it comes to RAW images and I'm 'all ears' to any advice.
Thanks in advance everybody... I'm just one of these technophobes that gets locked into my ways and hates to learn any new tricks when it comes to technology. |
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Darren Whitley, Photographer
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Maryville | MO | USA | Posted: 6:49 PM on 08.30.09 |
| ->> Hard drive space. DNG files are larger files than CR2. |
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George Bridges, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Washington | DC | USA | Posted: 7:19 PM on 08.30.09 |
->> Brian,
Doing some research the last version of Camera Raw that was compatible with CS2 was version 3.7 which did handle original 5D files.
Unfortunately Adobe doesn't let you download it anymore.
However, if you can find someone who has that version (I'll look in my older versions of Photoshop on my work computer tomorrow) they can send it to you. If I remember correctly it does not require running an installer, you just drop it in the proper plug-ins folder.
Again, if I have it I'll shoot you an e-mail tomorrow and try to get it to you. |
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Brian Blanco, Photographer
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Tampa / Sarasota | FL | USA | Posted: 7:27 PM on 08.30.09 |
->> Thanks George, that's very kind of you. If you find it that'd be great but don't tear the office apart or anything because it appears that converting them is working so far; it's just an extra step.
Thanks again, you've always been very helpful. |
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Kelvin Ma, Photographer, Assistant
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Boston | MA | | Posted: 8:15 PM on 08.30.09 |
->> Brian,
For bulk processing of RAW files, I would recommend using either Aperture or Lightroom. It's basically what they were made to do. Think Photomechanic with all the RAW processing of PS built in.
Should you need to use Photoshop, Aperture will toss a version into PS as a TIFF, letting you do whatever you need to do. Save it, voila!, and you have an edited version back for viewing in Aperture. No need for plugins or anything.
It really speeds up the workflow for me and keeps the Photoshop work to a minimum — I'm still rocking CS! |
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Paul Stackhouse, Photographer
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Cary | NC | USA | Posted: 8:22 PM on 08.30.09 |
->> Brian,
If you have the Canon software CD from any of you cameras, you could install it and then upgrade to the latest. Digital Photo Professional has an option under Tools to Transfer to Photoshop. Two years ago I saw a Canon rep do some comparison RAW conversions using the Canon software and PS. The Canon conversion did look a little nicer, especially on the higher ISO files. DPP does have some noise adjustments available. It is free and there are some tutorials on the Canon digital learning center. But I do find Lightroom easier to work in.
I find that the DNG are slightly smaller files, if you do not enable the option to embed the original raw. Once you have DNG only, you loose the ability to use the Canon RAW conversion. |
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Melissa Wade, Photographer
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Clay Begrin, Photographer
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Petaluma | Ca | USA | Posted: 9:01 PM on 08.30.09 |
| ->> Brian, I had tried locating the ACR 3.7 version in my CS2 but Melissa posted the link prior to me locating the file. Just a note though in case the 3.7 plug-in doesn't work. The online "Read me" file indicates version 3.7 supports the 5D but not the 5DII. I recall back when I got my MkIII I was running CS2 and Adobe told me the only way to read the RAW files was to upgrade to CS3. This may be the case for you with the 5DII, however I'm not completely positive. |
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Brian Blanco, Photographer
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Tampa / Sarasota | FL | USA | Posted: 9:32 PM on 08.30.09 |
->> Melissa and Clay, thanks so much. I just noticed that George Bridges was nice enough to shoot me an email after having found one on his backup computer. It was, however, very kind of you to go digging around the net to find it for me too. I'm not sure why I had such a heck of a time finding the right plug in. Maybe it was the fact that I didn't know which version number I needed and maybe it's just because I'm not nearly as technology-friendly as my friend Kelvin a few posts up.
Kelvin, you're likely right. I should upgrade to Aperture or Lightroom but you've moved too far away now to teach me how to use it and so I may need to just buy it and have a weekend technology boot camp with Preston Mack.
Thanks everybody and now... back to the credential discussion. |
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