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12-04-08, 09:11 PM
#1

Raw File Editors - Third Party vs Own Brand

Just wondering what everyone else thinks about this, or whether you have experienced the same.

When I got my D40, it came with Nikons PictureProject - that allows you some basic editing of RAW files. I also have photoshop and lightroom.

However I noticed something which I didn't pay much attention to back then (as I didn't use photoshop/lightroom for my raw files as they loaded a million times faster in PictureProject...) and that was that when I opened RAW files in a third party program (like lightroom) the image was much more 'flat'. Flat colour, less vibrant, less sharp etc Yet when I open a D40 RAW file in PictureProject, the image is much more like if the camera setting was set to jpeg; more vibrant colours, sharper etc.

It actually makes sense - people wanting to edit RAW files (like professional photographers) will want the base image to work off, and then apply their own 'magic formula' to the images. But it does take some time to set up your magic formula to begin with!

This is one of the reasons I am thinking about not bothering to upgrade because my D40 and Nikon do all the hard work for me I have even more respect for my D40 after learning this... I just wish PictureProject worked with the other Nikon cameras too!
Kit 1
Nikon D300
Nikon 55-200mm VR
Kit 2
Nikon D40
Nikon 18-55mm
My Compact/P&S: Panasonic Lumix TZ7


     
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12-04-08, 09:15 PM
#2

Re: Raw File Editors - Third Party vs Own Brand

Azz you are talking yourself out of it.

if you can afford it go for it if its going to be tricky think again
LENSBABY


     
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12-04-08, 09:17 PM
#3

Re: Raw File Editors - Third Party vs Own Brand

I used to use picture project with my D50 before I got photoshop.
Kit 1
Canon 1D Mark 3
Canon EF 17-40mm f/4 L USM
Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM
Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS USM
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II
Kit 2
1D2 & 40D


     
Azz's Avatar
Azz
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12-04-08, 09:19 PM
#4

Re: Raw File Editors - Third Party vs Own Brand

lol Jols - I always feel guilty when spending money! Will just have to sell my studio gear to pay for it

Phil - did you notice a difference in how RAW files looked? Maybe it was only with the D40? :-/

(Nikon told me it doesn't work with the D300 - and I confirmed that as I couldn't use it with Stanokellas D300 file.)
Kit 1
Nikon D300
Nikon 55-200mm VR
Kit 2
Nikon D40
Nikon 18-55mm
My Compact/P&S: Panasonic Lumix TZ7


     
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12-04-08, 09:23 PM
#5

Re: Raw File Editors - Third Party vs Own Brand

So are you really having second thoughts?
LENSBABY


     
Azz's Avatar
Azz
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Join Date: Sep 2007
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12-04-08, 10:26 PM
#6

Re: Raw File Editors - Third Party vs Own Brand

Yeah.. but I spoke to soon!

I just transferred some D40 Raw files from todays shoot... and a few days ago I upgraded to CS3... guess what? PS no longer takes PictureProjects output!!! But gives you the same 'flat' file to tweak!! What a nightmare Think I might just start shooting in jpeg now

Only way is to save the image from picture project after you've made edits, but that involves extra hassle/time that I can do without. So looks like I might as well get a new camera anyway
Kit 1
Nikon D300
Nikon 55-200mm VR
Kit 2
Nikon D40
Nikon 18-55mm
My Compact/P&S: Panasonic Lumix TZ7


     
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