PEF or DNG

[>_<]

Hi guys,

First of all, nice forum you have here

I have a K100DS, and I shoot exclusively in raw. I use LR2 for RAW conversion.

Currently once I've finished importing I delete the original PEF files. However I've seen a few comments around here about also retaining the PEF files. I'm not clear why you would want to do this - they are both lossless copies of the original RAW sensor data, aren't they?

I'm curious about whether most people here archive the original PEF files in addition to their converted DNGs? I have no real issue with this if there's a real benefit - disk space is cheap - but if there's no point them I'll simply stick to my current workflow.

Thanks in advance and all that...

[séamuis]

I archive the PEF, I also use lightroom and do not convert to DNG upon import. I just import the PEF's into my catalog and then export to 16bit TIFF if I plan on doing anything further in photoshop.

[Marc Sabatella]

One thing to worry about - if you choose - is that some bit of info like wb or whatever - won't be properly maintained in the conversion (maybe the PEF version has *more* wb info than the DNG). Another is that PPL may not handle DNG files except the ones it creates. Another is that perhaps someday DNG will stop being supported, and some future application will still support K100D RAW but not DNG. Fat chance, I say, but anyhow, those are the sorts of things some worry about.

[High Roads Photo]

I shoot in Adobe Camera Raw (aka DNG). I started doing this, as Adobe would take 4-5 months to update its raw converter to the newly released cameras. So I was stuck using the Pentax converter. Its kinda clunky and small in size. As well, I have PS2/CS2 and Adobe doesn't update it anymore since CS3 came out.
In Adobes defense, they wanted to have a raw file that every camera manufaturer could use royalty free. Unfortunately when ever a new camera comes out, it gets a new raw format. Pentax, Nikon, and those bastids at Canon all do it. Adobe just wanted to simplify things.
Oh wait, Pentax tried this in the '70's with the "K" mount lens, as a way to make all lens interchangeable from brand to brand. I hope Adobe has better luck!

P.S. WHY do you have to be contortionist to adjust a Canon camera??? PENTAX got it right, why doesn't Canon?

[Gooshin]

i import all RAW files into a single "raw folder" labeled by date/image number. This is the only folder i back up on external drives and what not.

i use lightroom to work on images, but the only thing i export are 1megabite jpegs which i then either send to friends or upload to zenfolio or something.

importing PEF's and exporting DNG's is just a waste of electritcy IMO.

[nixcamic]

I shoot in DNG, then run the DNG files through Adobe DNG converter to add compression, then import them into aperture. Unless I'm just messing around, then I just shoot jpegs.

[metroeloise]

I am a newbie! Will be posting photos soon. And this question of which format to use comes up regularly. Each time it does two things happen: 1) I get new information and insights 2) Since I am a bit more progressed I get something that I might have read but not understood strategically. Gooshin, your insights overall have been a great help to me and this one nudged a few pieces into place. Thank you.

I had been all over trying to figure out an over all workflow and this make sense to me:

Originally Posted by Gooshin

i import all RAW files into a single "raw folder" labeled by date/image number. This is the only folder i back up on external drives and what not.

i use lightroom to work on images, but the only thing i export are 1megabite jpegs which i then either send to friends or upload to zenfolio or something.

importing PEF's and exporting DNG's is just a waste of electritcy IMO.

I will also back up my lightroom folders since they have the text information to rebuild particular versions. I also will be saving version jpegs collections made for particular purposes, such as: My conversions I use to sync to my n800, or phone. Save me time when I need to replace them.

My other motivation is to thank all the contributors to the forum for their patience. In other forums there is an emphasis to redirect posters to old post on topic, to use search (I understand why) but here there is a more friendly approach. And one outcome is that there is new information that gets passed on. Thanks.

[kerrowdown]

I always shoot PEF, you can convert PEF to DNG if you wish, but not the other way i.e. DNG to PEF, nuff said keep all options open.

[baw]

For me main advantage of DNG over PEF is the fact that DNG accepts IPTC embedding while PEF doesn't.
Also very usefull is the embedded preview in the DNG files. In ao Lightroom you can let the embedded previes show the changes you made to the original image as stored in the DNG.
Since most viewers etc. use the embedded preview this is a very nice feature.
The original is still available in the raw data. Deleting the edits from LR gives you the image as shot with the camera settings.

[vizjerei]

Originally Posted by baw

For me main advantage of DNG over PEF is the fact that DNG accepts IPTC embedding while PEF doesn't.
Also very usefull is the embedded preview in the DNG files. In ao Lightroom you can let the embedded previes show the changes you made to the original image as stored in the DNG.
Since most viewers etc. use the embedded preview this is a very nice feature.
The original is still available in the raw data. Deleting the edits from LR gives you the image as shot with the camera settings.

I thought so as other RAW program like Silkpix.. no matter you are using PEF files or DNG file or not...

I shoot PEF because it is smaller size, so it will fit more pics on my card. Other than that, I don't really see much different in the workflow, RAW editor and PP editing are all the same... I guess choosing a good RAW editor is more important...

[Clicker]

PEFs are Pentax's negatives, you want to save those it's Pentax's "optimum" exposure, DNG is the world standard (okay not absolute). So some people keep both becasue PEFs are the original negs and DNGs will save time when you have to process it with the rest of the world.

PEFs although compressed vs DNGs have "better" quality, i'm not going to argue the statement, just do the comparison tests yourself.

In short, PEFs are the proprietary negatives and DNGs are the trade's negative; so some people keep both, one for personal references and one for work references.

The above applies for those that shoot PEF's only, of course those who shoot only DNG will store only DNGs.

Hope i didn't confuse you more LOL

[Canada_Rockies]

I use PEF and process in Lightroom 2. I do not convert the files to DNG before using them in Lightroom. One reason is that I also use DxO and have Pentax Photo Browser to get more detail in the EXIF data.

DxO likes PEF and is very useful sometimes. I have stopped using it by default because I am impatient, but do use it when needed. I will then have two copies of the image, the original PEF and the new DxO output.

[nikonic]

I shoot DNG straight out of the camera and back up those raw files right away. Then I will delete bad shots, edit the ones I want to keep. Depending on what I'm using the image for I convert to TIFF or JPG. Then back up the adjusted raw files and converted images. After that I delete the raw files from the computer/hard drive and archive the converted JPEGs and TIFFS. Disc space is cheap but when you are shooting 5,000-10,000 frames per month at 24mb per shot it will go fast.

IMO DNG is the way to go. No waiting for Adobe to upgrade PS when a new camera comes out and hopefully less chance of obsolescence.