Adobe DNG Format, Why?

King_Boru

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Morning all,

This is a just a quick one. Having read up on the format for a few weeks trying to find the bad sides to using it (couldnt find any) I decided to test convert my entire Aviation folder. I used Lightroom to convert it all, organize, edit and delete shots I didnt want. It has taken a couple of days, though quicker than using Aperture (might be system specs?). Once I had decided that all was done and I was happy I conducted my space spaving calculation.

For the techies a D200 .NEF RAW file is 15.5MB's in size. An Adobe .DNG (Lossless) converted file in a merge 5.5MB's in size. This is an approx space saving of %66.

Does it lose quality? In short, No. I converted a .NEF to a 300dpi, uncropped JPEG and did the same for the .DNG (same file). Zooming to %200 on both there is no difference, well, no difference as to what they eye can see.

What was the point of this test? Why did I do it? Major reason was to save space but the other was to get away from the propiertry format (.NEF). Having .CR2, .CRW and all sorts spread across the drive, to me, is pointless. Let them all be the same, let your converter/editer/organizer see them all as the same.

Small comparison in space requirments: RIAT 2007 folder prior to conversion was 6.0GB's. Post convertion it was just 1.2GB's.

Conclusion? If the top guns in the camera maker world decide to support this format from the time of capture we wouldnt have to invest hundreds of pounds into external/network/CD storage. I'm not saying that you shouldnt backup your files, you always should, just that you wont need those 1TB solutions that set you back £250 a pop.

Anyway, hope this has been of some help.

King.

EDIT What to do next is the question? Do I convert the entire library? (its a big library!)
 
One thing is that conversion to DNG can use more advanced algorithms since it has more processing power available in a PC than on a camera.

Not a Canon v. Nikon dig, but I'm amazed at the size of the .NEF you quoted. CR2 files seem to average about the same size as the number of pixels - i.e. 8MB for a 1D Mk II and 12 MB for a 5D. It's quite a saving in cards. As I travel quite a lot, that's something I hadn't realised.
 
I own the Samsung GX-10 (same as Pentax K10D) & the only available RAW format is Adobe .DNG Samsung don't have their own version.
Only downside is the files are 16mb in-camera !!

simon
 
I own the Samsung GX-10 (same as Pentax K10D) & the only available RAW format is Adobe .DNG Samsung don't have their own version.
Only downside is the files are 16mb in-camera !!

simon

Those file sizes would be due to the fact that DNG format has a 'Private Section' for the manufactuer to write their 'stuff' so the additional mb's would probabl be for that? :shrug:

There is an option to preserve in the ocnvertion the original RAW data/image. This would result in the files being around 20/21mb's in size which is a silly amount.

Interesting.
 
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