Hi - I am thrilled with my new K-5IIs but am very disappointed that Corel's AfterShot Pro cannot read either type of RAW file produced. I can't afford Adobe software. Can someone help me? I want to be able to process RAW files. thanks!

[Docrwm]

Welcome to the Forum. You have two low cost options that I know of, I'm sure others will offer alternatives to mine as well.

There is the software that shipped with your K-5IIs (isn't it a great camera!) - If you updated the update can be downloaded here:
http://www.pentax.jp/english/support/digital/dc_utility4_win.html

You might try the free open source RawTherapee which runs on all of the same platforms as AfterShot Pro (Apple, Windows, and Linux). It fully supports all the variations of the DNG format so will work with your raw files.

[jford]

There's an open-source converter for the DNG format. I know it's available for Linux; I don't know about Windows, but probably. Google "dcraw". There's a GIMP plugin, too. I also have used ufraw, which is a graphic front-end to dcraw, and find it extremely helpful.
I DON'T know whether there's anything for the PEF raw format.
Good luck.

Thank you both for your answers. I'm puzzled though - why is this so hard? Why is Pentax creating files that aren't able to be read by most programs?? Is the only other option to buy an Adobe product?

[Docrwm]

DNG is the UNIVERSAL Raw file format from Adobe. The better question is why are software makers producing software that can't read the universal file format?

Enjoy your camera.

[slip]

Hi - I am thrilled with my new K-5IIs but am very disappointed that Corel's AfterShot Pro cannot read either type of RAW file produced. I can't afford Adobe software. Can someone help me? I want to be able to process RAW files. thanks!

If you know anyone in school, you can get a copy of Adobe photoshop elements cheap.
I owned coral products before and they are very buggy.

Cheers

Randy

[Miguel]

Why is Pentax creating files that aren't able to be read by most programs?? Is the only other option to buy an Adobe product?

It is an issue that pertains to and is perpetuated by all camera makers. Each new camera model seems to have a new variation on their maker's basic RAW file. Consequently, each software publisher has to update their designs to accommodate yet another PEF, or NEF etc. version.
It's kinda dumb and labor intensive if you ask me.
Having a DNG option is supposed to fix this problem, but many non-Adobe publishers haven't gotten on that bandwagon.So it is still an incomplete solution.
Welcome to digital photography.

M

[stormtech]

Another option is Faststone Image Editor. I just tried it and it views the IIs files just fine. Please keep in mind however - you can edit and convert raw files to jpeg with Faststone, but it is not a non-destructive editor meaning that unless you work with a copy, your original raw file will be gone once you edit or convert it.

[alexfoto]

Ufraw support that camera so the same should be true even for rawtherapee since both are based on dcraw.
But seem that is required that these raw editor must use the last dcraw release (9.17) since if you see this:
Multithreaded DCRAW for Windows
based on dcraw 9.16 isn't present that specific model but only the previous one.

[Na Horuk]

I think wikipedia has a list of free raw converters btw. You can try looking at those to see which ones support K-5IIs. Its not really Pentax' fault, pretty much any camera that comes out needs some time for other brand's raw software to catch up.

[ak_kiwi]

Hi Catherime, Here is something that "BPT" suggested when I had the same problem -

"You can use exiftool to rename the camera model number in the exif data to a K5 and then aftershot pro works just fine."

[Na Horuk]

Oh, and also, you can write them an email. Some developers respond with a little patch, because it is in their interest to support as many cameras as possible.