PEF files

ryan.wadsworth · 01-04-2014, 09:25 AM

My K5 is scheduled to arrive in about a week and in the mean time I want to see if I can become familiar with the Pentax photo laboratory, however I don't have any PEF files to open with it (only have NEF as just switched from Nikon)

does any one know where I can download some PEF images for me to edit and see if I can get to know the workings of the photo lab?

**Canada_Rockies** · 01-04-2014, 09:38 AM

PM me. I'll send you a couple of mine. Describe what you want - scenery? High ISO?

JohnX · 01-04-2014, 10:00 AM

Why the Pentax software? You'll find you can open or convert .pef files in other software from Adobe, etc.

ryan.wadsworth · 01-04-2014, 10:11 AM

Originally posted by Canada_Rockies

PM me. I'll send you a couple of mine. Describe what you want - scenery? High ISO?

Thank you for your offer Canada_Rockies but the site wont allow me to PM you until I make some more posts (I only joined today)

ryan.wadsworth · 01-04-2014, 10:13 AM

Originally posted by JohnX

Why the Pentax software? You'll find you can open or convert .pef files in other software from Adobe, etc.

I was aware of this, I just wanted to see how the Pentax software was in comparison to raw processing in light room or Nikons View NX 2

SpecialK · 01-04-2014, 10:21 AM

Originally posted by ryan.wadsworth

the workings of the photo lab?

Not an answer to your question, however:

I believe you will find almost any other software far more satisfying and user-friendly, though I suppose you will need to determine that yourself. I started on v3.51 and I am up to v4.33. I migrated to Elements after v3.51, as PL was lacking in some basic functions (like cloning). Photolab processing results aside, the interface is unwieldy, and operationally it frequently hangs in directories with more than a few hundred photos - even after upgrading to the version that supposedly "fixed" that. Even chimping PEF files is tedious - 5 seconds or more to load an image.

For chimping (fast) and renaming files (easy) , and on the netbook for vacation backups and viewing, I use www.faststone.org. It also allows up to 4 images to be compared at one time. I've never used it to convert a file, though reportedly it is very capable. Did I say free?

I still use Photolab for making the exif list, and moving files (because it sees the 3rd file made by Elements) which I like to do "visually" rather than with a regular file manager.

Maybe it will work out for you - there are a couple fans of it on the forum.

**Canada_Rockies** · 01-04-2014, 10:41 AM

Originally posted by ryan.wadsworth

Thank you for your offer Canada_Rockies but the site wont allow me to PM you until I make some more posts (I only joined today)

E-mail sent

Na Horuk · 01-04-2014, 10:55 AM

I think you can also find K-5 raw files on a couple review websites, even from some reviews on these forums. And the K-5 can also save raw as DNG, which allows some more compatibility

johnyates · 01-04-2014, 01:48 PM

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/115-pentax-k-5/123379-sample-pef-downloads.html

bonaprof · 01-04-2014, 01:58 PM

You may want to set your raw photos to DNG instead of PEF. The camera is much faster than allowing Lightroom to change from PEF to DNG. I am not sure how long we will have DNG, but I bet longer than we will have PEF.

Na Horuk · 01-05-2014, 10:40 AM

True, I think some Pentax cameras already only have DNG and no option for PEF at all

g026r · 01-08-2014, 09:24 AM

Originally posted by Na Horuk

True, I think some Pentax cameras already only have DNG and no option for PEF at all

The K-30 for certain only does allows DNG as its RAW format. (And I assume likely the same for the K-50 as well.)

**Just1MoreDave** · 01-08-2014, 11:03 AM

The K-3 still does PEF or DNG, K-50 has only DNG.

Ricoh made the first compact camera to use DNG. Pentax was the first reasonably priced DSLR (K10D). I see that as good news for continued DNG use for Ricoh and Pentax.

01-04-2014, 09:25 AM	#1
ryan.wadsworth New Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 8	PEF files My K5 is scheduled to arrive in about a week and in the mean time I want to see if I can become familiar with the Pentax photo laboratory, however I don't have any PEF files to open with it (only have NEF as just switched from Nikon) does any one know where I can download some PEF images for me to edit and see if I can get to know the workings of the photo lab?

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01-04-2014, 09:38 AM	#2
Canada_Rockies Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sparwood, BC, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,385	PM me. I'll send you a couple of mine. Describe what you want - scenery? High ISO?

01-04-2014, 10:00 AM	#3
JohnX Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: London Posts: 1,116	Why the Pentax software? You'll find you can open or convert .pef files in other software from Adobe, etc.

01-04-2014, 10:11 AM	#4
ryan.wadsworth New Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 8 Original Poster	Originally posted by Canada_Rockies PM me. I'll send you a couple of mine. Describe what you want - scenery? High ISO? Thank you for your offer Canada_Rockies but the site wont allow me to PM you until I make some more posts (I only joined today)

01-04-2014, 10:13 AM	#5
ryan.wadsworth New Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 8 Original Poster	Originally posted by JohnX Why the Pentax software? You'll find you can open or convert .pef files in other software from Adobe, etc. I was aware of this, I just wanted to see how the Pentax software was in comparison to raw processing in light room or Nikons View NX 2

01-04-2014, 10:21 AM	#6
SpecialK Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: So California Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,482	Originally posted by ryan.wadsworth the workings of the photo lab? Not an answer to your question, however: I believe you will find almost any other software far more satisfying and user-friendly, though I suppose you will need to determine that yourself. I started on v3.51 and I am up to v4.33. I migrated to Elements after v3.51, as PL was lacking in some basic functions (like cloning). Photolab processing results aside, the interface is unwieldy, and operationally it frequently hangs in directories with more than a few hundred photos - even after upgrading to the version that supposedly "fixed" that. Even chimping PEF files is tedious - 5 seconds or more to load an image. For chimping (fast) and renaming files (easy) , and on the netbook for vacation backups and viewing, I use www.faststone.org. It also allows up to 4 images to be compared at one time. I've never used it to convert a file, though reportedly it is very capable. Did I say free? I still use Photolab for making the exif list, and moving files (because it sees the 3rd file made by Elements) which I like to do "visually" rather than with a regular file manager. Maybe it will work out for you - there are a couple fans of it on the forum.

01-04-2014, 10:41 AM	#7
Canada_Rockies Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sparwood, BC, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,385	Originally posted by ryan.wadsworth Thank you for your offer Canada_Rockies but the site wont allow me to PM you until I make some more posts (I only joined today) E-mail sent

01-04-2014, 10:55 AM	#8
Na Horuk Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Slovenia, probably Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,186	I think you can also find K-5 raw files on a couple review websites, even from some reviews on these forums. And the K-5 can also save raw as DNG, which allows some more compatibility

01-04-2014, 01:48 PM	#9
johnyates Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Saskatoon, SK Photos: Albums Posts: 1,345	https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/115-pentax-k-5/123379-sample-pef-downloads.html

01-04-2014, 01:58 PM	#10
bonaprof Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Ocean City MD Photos: Gallery Posts: 94	You may want to set your raw photos to DNG instead of PEF. The camera is much faster than allowing Lightroom to change from PEF to DNG. I am not sure how long we will have DNG, but I bet longer than we will have PEF.

01-05-2014, 10:40 AM	#11
Na Horuk Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Slovenia, probably Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,186	True, I think some Pentax cameras already only have DNG and no option for PEF at all

01-08-2014, 09:24 AM	#12
g026r Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,074	Originally posted by Na Horuk True, I think some Pentax cameras already only have DNG and no option for PEF at all The K-30 for certain only does allows DNG as its RAW format. (And I assume likely the same for the K-50 as well.)

01-08-2014, 11:03 AM	#13
Just1MoreDave Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Aurora, CO Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,340	The K-3 still does PEF or DNG, K-50 has only DNG. Ricoh made the first compact camera to use DNG. Pentax was the first reasonably priced DSLR (K10D). I see that as good news for continued DNG use for Ricoh and Pentax.