DNG vs PEF?

**BruceBanner** · 03-19-2017, 10:38 PM

My K-1 arrived today! I noticed it shoots .PEF in raw, I'm used to (and have codec support for) .DNG files, is there any difference between the two? They seem to take up the same amount of space/size...

Cheers,

Bruce

**clackers** · 03-19-2017, 10:45 PM

Just change it, Bruce.

Adam · 03-19-2017, 10:46 PM

There are plenty of threads on the topic if you look at the similar thread links below, TD;LR, there is no practical difference and no reason not to always shoot DNG if you use adobe software.

**K(s)evin** · 03-19-2017, 10:48 PM

You can choose PEF or DNG in the menu of the K-1. Don't have mine handy or I'd tell you exactly where.

Have fun. The K-1 rocks!!

**Tas** · 03-19-2017, 11:12 PM

Originally posted by BruceBanner

My K-1 arrived today! I noticed it shoots .PEF in raw, I'm used to (and have codec support for) .DNG files, is there any difference between the two? They seem to take up the same amount of space/size...

Cheers,

Bruce

As everyone else has said here, change it to .DNG for shooting RAW. There's better support across platforms compared to .PEF.

Enjoy the new camera, I went from a K5 to the K-1 and the six years was well spent by Pentax in making an awesome camera.

Tas

**BruceBanner** · 03-20-2017, 12:00 AM

Yeh sorry i didn't explain myself properly, I meant that i noticed that you could toggle between the two, just that was there a difference between the two in terms of quality etc. Windows 10 natively supports DNG i noticed (have not had to install a file viewer/codec), .PEF is not natively supported. What uses .PEF's then? Is DNG an adobe thing exclusively?

Gimbal · 03-20-2017, 12:28 AM

Way back in time .pef had an advantage in being a compressed format while .dng was not, now however .dng is also compressed (lossless of course) so…

**Tas** · 03-20-2017, 12:52 AM

Originally posted by BruceBanner

Is DNG an adobe thing exclusively?

No, it is more widely adopted as a standard than .PEF, hence the future viability of a .DNG file is likely to be better than a proprietary system. I also read somewhere that .DNG will become an ISO standard, if so it would improve it's future viability.

I'd recommend you take the same image using both formats and add your assessment of the two files as well. You might prefer the PEF files in which case your question will become which change from which file type to which processing software supports K-1 PEF files.

Good luck mate.

Tas

peterh337 · 03-20-2017, 02:15 AM

I would use DNG unless there is a specific reason not to.

DNG has gone through various versions and has thus suffered from forward compatibility i.e. unless you had the latest Lightroom you could not read it. The last Nokia phones generated the very latest version of DNG which almost nothing other than the very latest could import. I have a vague recollection of the Sony A7 doing something similar. This is completely pointless...

But the K1 generates an old and widely supported version of DNG. I have no problem importing it into Lightroom 3.6 (which I still have on an old winXP machine), ACDSEE v7 and some other stuff which is years old.

**newmikey** · 03-20-2017, 02:19 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by peterh337

I would use DNG unless there is a specific reason not to.

I'd actually turn that on its head and say I would use PEF unless there is a specific reason not to such as usage of Adobe raw software. All other raw converters seem to do fine with PEF and, while DNG isn't any worse than PEF, it's not any better either. On top of that, should the need arise in future, you can always convert PEF to DNG but you can never convert DNG to PEF - it's a one-way street.

peterh337 · 03-20-2017, 02:47 AM

Sure there will be user specific angles on this. But say for example someone keeps the raw files long-term (instead of jpegs). Most image viewers don't support PEF while most do support DNG. PEF is a pentax-only thing.

D1N0 · 03-20-2017, 02:54 AM - **2 Likes**

DNG is the Red Pill, and PEF is the Blue Pill. You've gotta choose.

**cpk** · 03-20-2017, 05:28 PM

Originally posted by peterh337

Most image viewers don't support PEF while most do support DNG.

I don't believe this is true, at least, in the Windows world. IrfanView, FastStone, FastPictureViewer all read PEF files.

**boriscleto** · 03-20-2017, 06:11 PM

Originally posted by cpk

I don't believe this is true, at least, in the Windows world. IrfanView, FastStone, FastPictureViewer all read PEF files.

If you install the PEF codec. Viewers don't really read RAW files anyway. They mostly just display the JPEG preview. The exception would be FastRawViewer...

About | FastRawViewer

**cpk** · 03-20-2017, 09:01 PM

Originally posted by boriscleto

If you install the PEF codec.

Good point, but whether or not they read the jpeg preview or the actual raw file should not be an issue since one is only "viewing" the file. I will look into FastRawViewer.

03-19-2017, 10:38 PM	#1
BruceBanner Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 5,404	DNG vs PEF? My K-1 arrived today! I noticed it shoots .PEF in raw, I'm used to (and have codec support for) .DNG files, is there any difference between the two? They seem to take up the same amount of space/size... Cheers, Bruce

03-19-2017, 10:46 PM	#3
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,597	There are plenty of threads on the topic if you look at the similar thread links below, TD;LR, there is no practical difference and no reason not to always shoot DNG if you use adobe software. Adam PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide \| Site Help \| My Photography) PentaxForums.com server and development costs are user-supported. You can help cover these costs by donating or purchasing one of our Pentax eBooks. Or, buy your photo gear from our affiliates, Adorama, B&H Photo, KEH, or Topaz Labs, and get FREE Marketplace access - click here to see how! Trusted Pentax retailers:

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03-19-2017, 10:45 PM	#2
clackers Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Melbourne Photos: Albums Posts: 16,397	Just change it, Bruce.

03-19-2017, 10:48 PM	#4
K(s)evin Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Colorado Posts: 476	You can choose PEF or DNG in the menu of the K-1. Don't have mine handy or I'd tell you exactly where. Have fun. The K-1 rocks!!

03-19-2017, 11:12 PM	#5
Tas Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Brisbane, QLD Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,202	Originally posted by BruceBanner My K-1 arrived today! I noticed it shoots .PEF in raw, I'm used to (and have codec support for) .DNG files, is there any difference between the two? They seem to take up the same amount of space/size... Cheers, Bruce As everyone else has said here, change it to .DNG for shooting RAW. There's better support across platforms compared to .PEF. Enjoy the new camera, I went from a K5 to the K-1 and the six years was well spent by Pentax in making an awesome camera. Tas

03-20-2017, 12:00 AM	#6
BruceBanner Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 5,404 Original Poster	Yeh sorry i didn't explain myself properly, I meant that i noticed that you could toggle between the two, just that was there a difference between the two in terms of quality etc. Windows 10 natively supports DNG i noticed (have not had to install a file viewer/codec), .PEF is not natively supported. What uses .PEF's then? Is DNG an adobe thing exclusively?

03-20-2017, 12:28 AM	#7
Gimbal Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Sweden Posts: 2,106	Way back in time .pef had an advantage in being a compressed format while .dng was not, now however .dng is also compressed (lossless of course) so…

03-20-2017, 12:52 AM	#8
Tas Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Brisbane, QLD Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,202	Originally posted by BruceBanner Is DNG an adobe thing exclusively? No, it is more widely adopted as a standard than .PEF, hence the future viability of a .DNG file is likely to be better than a proprietary system. I also read somewhere that .DNG will become an ISO standard, if so it would improve it's future viability. I'd recommend you take the same image using both formats and add your assessment of the two files as well. You might prefer the PEF files in which case your question will become which change from which file type to which processing software supports K-1 PEF files. Good luck mate. Tas

03-20-2017, 02:15 AM	#9
peterh337 Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: London Posts: 573	I would use DNG unless there is a specific reason not to. DNG has gone through various versions and has thus suffered from forward compatibility i.e. unless you had the latest Lightroom you could not read it. The last Nokia phones generated the very latest version of DNG which almost nothing other than the very latest could import. I have a vague recollection of the Sony A7 doing something similar. This is completely pointless... But the K1 generates an old and widely supported version of DNG. I have no problem importing it into Lightroom 3.6 (which I still have on an old winXP machine), ACDSEE v7 and some other stuff which is years old.

03-20-2017, 02:19 AM - 1 Like	#10
newmikey Site Supporter Join Date: May 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,289	Originally posted by peterh337 I would use DNG unless there is a specific reason not to. I'd actually turn that on its head and say I would use PEF unless there is a specific reason not to such as usage of Adobe raw software. All other raw converters seem to do fine with PEF and, while DNG isn't any worse than PEF, it's not any better either. On top of that, should the need arise in future, you can always convert PEF to DNG but you can never convert DNG to PEF - it's a one-way street.

03-20-2017, 02:47 AM	#11
peterh337 Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: London Posts: 573	Sure there will be user specific angles on this. But say for example someone keeps the raw files long-term (instead of jpegs). Most image viewers don't support PEF while most do support DNG. PEF is a pentax-only thing.

03-20-2017, 02:54 AM - 2 Likes	#12
D1N0 Pentaxian Join Date: May 2012 Location: --- Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,802	DNG is the Red Pill, and PEF is the Blue Pill. You've gotta choose.

03-20-2017, 05:28 PM	#13
cpk Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Montreal Posts: 638	Originally posted by peterh337 Most image viewers don't support PEF while most do support DNG. I don't believe this is true, at least, in the Windows world. IrfanView, FastStone, FastPictureViewer all read PEF files.

03-20-2017, 06:11 PM	#14
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,475	Originally posted by cpk I don't believe this is true, at least, in the Windows world. IrfanView, FastStone, FastPictureViewer all read PEF files. If you install the PEF codec. Viewers don't really read RAW files anyway. They mostly just display the JPEG preview. The exception would be FastRawViewer... About \| FastRawViewer

03-20-2017, 09:01 PM	#15
cpk Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Montreal Posts: 638	Originally posted by boriscleto If you install the PEF codec. Good point, but whether or not they read the jpeg preview or the actual raw file should not be an issue since one is only "viewing" the file. I will look into FastRawViewer.