RAW Format

[Mister Chino]

I know this question is an open door for puns, but I was just wondering if anybody else here shoots in camera RAW, and if so what converter program they use?

[meatpoledesign]

I shoot in Raw..

Here's the link mate

rawconverter.com - Home
Image Converter: convert JPG, GIF, BMP, PCX, PNG, TIFF, RAW file formats

[Mister Chino]

Thanks for the headsup meatpole, I currently use Capture NX then import to CS3, but have been thinking of switching to Aperture.....any opinions on Aperture?

[meatpoledesign]

No problem dude. I haven't tried Aperture but some say its great, but I am just so much more used to Photoshop. I currently use lightroom and then import to CS2.

Cheers

[papagmp]

I shot everything in RAW / NEF - I love the adobe CS2 converter. I can batch jobs and fine tune each image in the converter. Does 100% of what I need plus more.

quit using nikon view and fuji's software a long time ago - only use it when I'm shooting tethered to the laptop.

[paul7]

I use sometimes RAW files but not that often
RAW is just way too big for an amateur

[papagmp]

Originally Posted by paul7

I use sometimes RAW files but not that often
RAW is just way too big for an amateur

For me - size is not the issue - the raw file holds much more exposure and color data - If I miss by 1/2 a stop - It's still there in the RAW.

[MountainGoat]

I always shoot RAW. It works better than shooting JPG and if you make a mess with the colour balance, or exposure, you can recover.

Originally Posted by Mister Chino

Thanks for the headsup meatpole, I currently use Capture NX then import to CS3, but have been thinking of switching to Aperture.....any opinions on Aperture?

I've used Aperture, but I still keep going back to Adobe Lightroom. I find that it is a little easier on the interface. And the fact that it does not directly edit to the RAW file makes it a whole lot more comforting!

[Mister Chino]

Hey MountainGoat, I definitely agree with you on your first point, it's nice being able to go back and rework everything, one question though: in Aperture is the editing process destructive? Do you need to back up your RAW file before you begin editing it in case you don't like what you've done with it? If that's the case I'll definitely be checking out Lightroom instead!

[MountainGoat]

Mister Chino! Aperture is also a non-destructive process (did a quick Google at lunchtime), as well, but there is one flaw... Unless you are using Mac, there doesn't seem to be a Windows flavour of Aperture... Sadly. (EDIT) - As for backing up the files, that is first on the agenda! I would never run anything straight from the original. That is something that I learnt years ago, in the days when the 'best practise' was to go in, hard and fast, and not bother about the implications further on.... Thankfully opinions have changed!

I know one has been rumored for ages, but I cannot find a reference to it anywhere. If anyone wants to prove me wrong, I'd be more than happy!

[Mister Chino]

Backups are always in order for sure! Learned that the hard way myself lol. I would have been surprised if Aperture was destructive, and as a Mac user myself was why I was considering picking it up. I would probably just be using CS3 camera raw but it took a little while for Adobe to update compatibility to the D300 which is why I got used to using Capture NX in the first place.....just picked up a little toy by the way, ever check out Exposure 2? I occasionally use vintage film looks, and the program just nails them dead-on!

[MountainGoat]

Can't say as I have used exposure 2... I'll have to check that one.

I usually do the film graining on things in photoshop, and that is ok. But sometimes it doesn't cut it, and also even though the images that a digital SLR can bump out are on a par with film, I still miss that 'film' spark... Even though I have never worked out why and what it is!

[Mister Chino]

Isn't that funny? I spend a shitload of money buying and upgrading digital gear, but I still love the look of Delta 3200 pushed to 6400 in camera! I was pretty happy when I got to get those looks again with Exposure.

[MountainGoat]

I know that feeling... More than once, I have caught myself from attacking the plastic for a Nikon film body, and a big stack of Fuji films! No matter how good the images that come off a digital rig are, I still don't think that there is any good substitute for film, and proper lab paper...

I thought it was only me who thought this way!

[Mister Chino]

Hahaha with you on that one man! I still keep my film bodies around, in fact I was even looking at SpeedGraphics on Ebay-----old bellows large/medium formats from the 30s and 40s, the kind that reporters used to use back in the Capone era......they're not even that expensive!

[MountainGoat]

Originally Posted by Mister Chino

Hahaha with you on that one man! I still keep my film bodies around, in fact I was even looking at SpeedGraphics on Ebay-----old bellows large/medium formats from the 30s and 40s, the kind that reporters used to use back in the Capone era......they're not even that expensive!

It is not the plastic that is the problem... It is just the other half, who doesn't seem to conceptualise that taking photographs is more than just getting a cheap point and shoot, and pointing and shooting! I think that she would be a little more than suspicious if there was an F class Nikon or a bloody great rangefinder land right in the middle of the desk...

Balls on toast, I think!

[Mister Chino]

You could always buy her the gear for her birthday and then just borrow it, kinda like buying your wife a belt sander or a bowling ball? Then again, maybe not......

[MountainGoat]

Originally Posted by Mister Chino

You could always buy her the gear for her birthday and then just borrow it, kinda like buying your wife a belt sander or a bowling ball? Then again, maybe not......

LMAO!!! I have forgotten her birthday for the last three years! (Ooops!) But, I could actually 'justify' it by saying a 'client' wants some film work doing! Yeah, you know the client, as well... Mr Invisible!

[Mister Chino]

LOL you might actually get away with that one!.....just wondering, what is your affiliation with nenablue.com?

[MountainGoat]

Originally Posted by Mister Chino

LOL you might actually get away with that one!.....just wondering, what is your affiliation with nenablue.com?

At present, the affiliation is CCBill, on Nena Blue. We are looking at dropping a backup processor in at some stage. Got some good galleries in the webmaster's section, for a touch of inspiration! And we are just about to roll out a rebuild for the front end/webmaster's zone, so it looks more inkeeping with the photography on there, instead of a poor relation to the Micros**t website!

As for the idea about the client... Well, it would not be too hard to generate an 'order' e-mail... Just send myself one through my own personal website from 'someone' asking me to do a few rolls of film for them! Sorted... Film camera as an easter present!