|
||||||
| Log-in/register to unlock all the member quick-links and features! |
 |
 Admin Team
 |
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: South Wales, UK
Posts: 15,385
 |
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!
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 |
 Fondly Remembered
|
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Perthshire Scotland
Posts: 8,168
|
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 |
|
Admin Team
|
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: South Wales, UK
Posts: 15,385
|
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.)
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 |
|
Admin Team
|
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: South Wales, UK
Posts: 15,385
|
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
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 |